I need to control Requests.

I have a lot of specialist show music and I don't want some tracks 'Request-able' around the clock.

I need the Request button on-line to be able to be made visible and then invisible at my control.

This means individual bands/songs are available for Request at specific times only.

So in the Song Info area I need a Request Tab - (Tick 'Yes') and Time (Set-Time Available)

Quick and dirty workaround:

Put those songs in a category other of their own. Change that category to something other than 'S' by moving it or tweaking the songtype with SQL. Regen your web page request list at the desired time and those songs won't be visible.

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- Stan Olochwoszcz
A proud licensed SAM user since 2002

Raritan Bay Radio

Post the code you currently use to display the request button. Are you using a custom page or sam template?

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- Rob Oyler, SVS

Sam template.

I've tried and have abandoned PAL scripts and manipulation/movement of the songs. The custom PAL script hangs SAM taking me off air and off-line.

After 18 months of PAL experiments I need a fix not a work around.

The far simpler fix appears to me to be to be able to remove the opportunity for request on a song by song or band by band basis by not displaying the Request tab on the web site.

I don't forsee that ever happening. It's easy to do at the web site level if using php. Which template 4.7.4 or pre-4.7.4?

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- Rob Oyler, SVS

Rob it should be a priority.

The lack of control on request content for stations that aren't 'one format fits all' style radio is a major issue. You can not have a station with specialist content and use SAM without creating major issues.

And this it seems to me is a potential market for Spacialaudio's products - community based broadcasters that don't fit a traditional single station format. However the Request control is mandatory.

The only way I am controlling some of the hard core content is with an external hard-drive and an electronic timer that turns it on and off..!

The site was created 18 months ago with whatever was the then standard MYSQL software - I'll need to get under the hood and check.

The SAM templates by default provides all songs requestable all the time by default as that is the most common denominator.
Controlling request options at the SAM level is, in my opinion as a developer and designer, too late in the process as the songs have already been presented to the listeners and a request attempted.

Instead, using the capabilities of SAM and categories allows nearly infinite custom capabilities at the web front end to control listener experience before songs can get displayed to users for them to request.

The general idea is:
Put the songs in a custom category called, for example, "Not Requestable".
On the PHP or HTML templates change the song selection criteria SQL to filter out songs that are in that category.

This example shows how to disable requests for a certain set of songs all the time.
Take this to the next level to only allow songs for a certain show or time period; such as only songs from an "Instrumental Rock" category are available for requesting during an Instrumental Rock show.
Or Christmas songs are requestable only from Dec 01 to Dec 31

For SAM to be able to define, control, and manage at this level would require, again in my opinion, too much effort for the return and still only present a small percentage of functionality that is inherent in the system due to the existing design.

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- Steve Kunitzer
- SVS (Spacial Volunteer Support) / Forum Administrator

Every attempt I've taken that involves MYSQL resuts in SAM hanging.

As a result I've been off-air for up to a minute while 4500 songs move from a visible category to an invisible category.

The next step is simply to avoid the manipulation/movement/recoding of music files and do it at the front end. I see this as an 'interface' issue.

The song isn't requested if there is no request button to push. But if there is an indication when it will be avilable then 'radio by appointment' and request at that time may be possible.

Create this solution as a push button tick-box.

Any attempt at SAM to control request behavior at this level will need to get pushed out to the web interface.
While you're free to make any kind of feature request you'd like I just don't see this being implemented anytime soon, if at all, given the current capabilities already provided by the system.

If you would like assistance in why SAM is locking up or other strategies to enable web request restrictions without having to move massive amount of data we'll help.

Otherwise feature request noted and I hope the software will eventually satisfy your requirements.

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- Steve Kunitzer
- SVS (Spacial Volunteer Support) / Forum Administrator

Guys thanks for he offer of help - and apologies in the delay in coming back to you we've all been sidetracked with a 'bit of a rumble' down here..

I am really pleased to advise that this has now been achieved and implemented with 100% success.

For my station that has numerous specialist shows that I want to broadcast (but not have available for general request) the ability to have these songs go 'invisible' and off my web site is a major break-through.

So for any station here that does have multiple formats and does want to control their request interface bentween station and listener, please get in touch with a PM.

I can provide you with the contact details of a talented web technician who has provided me with the outcome I have been seeking for some time. There is nothing in it for me other than helping the community of SAM Broadcasters - and I certainly wouldn't still be going without it here.

Get in touch!

The problem with changing songs to a catagory other than"S" is that when you play them through a clockwheel or any other method that you may be using, they do not show up on the "now playing" page.

With the old style php pages, you were able to do this by making changes to req/req.php. With the newer version, I have yet to find a way of doing this, other than disabling requests totally during specific shows. Not the best option but until somebody comes up with an alternative, that's what I'm stuck with

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http://www.nrgone.xyz
http://www.nrgtwo.xyz

I have identical issues, and I use HTML template (not PHP).
In fact, even Episodes can be requested. Which is something that shouldn't be at all!

NOTE: Episodes are not in any category. They are called by event scheduler.
I didn't find any way to make them disappear from request list

You need to modify your templates to disable the request button depending on other criteria than the songtype.
The logic for disabling by songtype is already there, so you can use that as a starting point and build your own logic from there.

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Benedikt Bauer - SVS (Spacial Volunteer Support)

Shop for readymade PAL scripts by countrywesterndj - Or get a custom script made by me (or others)

My Project:
Send "Now Playing" from SAM to Twitter and/or Facebook | Sourcecode

Not any clue on how to do it.