Configure Caption Lines, Rolling, Partials, and Clear Behavior

Tune caption formatting using the Bridge defaults and XPression template constraints.

Written By 4ALL.LIVE

Last updated About 1 month ago

Tune caption formatting using the Bridge defaults and XPression template constraints.

Best for: XPression operators, graphics engineers, caption operators, broadcast engineers, production IT, and licensed desktop administrators.

Before you start

Requires an active 4All organization/event, authorized desktop account, eligible XPression Bridge license, supported app build, and a network path to 4All plus the selected XPression protocol.

  • Document the 4All event/language and XPression scene/DataLinq design.
  • Know the bridge/XPression machines, IP interfaces, protocol, direction, port, firewall owner, and final program return.
  • Prepare a backup output and an off-air test scene.

Configuration

  1. Start from current defaults. 40 max characters per line, 2 lines, rolling flow, partials source, word step, leftward horizontal direction, upward vertical direction, and 100% roll speed.
  2. Choose line count. 1, 2, or 3; match the actual XPression text fields.
  3. Choose max characters. Test real font/box; character count is not visual width.
  4. Choose rolling or instant. Rolling reveals progressively; instant replaces state.
  5. Choose partials or final-only. Partials reduce latency but rewrite; final-only is steadier and later.
  6. Choose word or character step. Word is the normal readable baseline.
  7. Choose direction. Left/right and up/down according to scene design.
  8. Set speed. Supported range begins at 25%; 100% is real-time.
  9. Set clear timeout. Test silence, Stop, disconnect, and scene changes.
  10. Run the caption test script. Long words, punctuation, Unicode, speaker changes, clear.

What success looks like: The Bridge transports the correct 4All caption state to the intended XPression scene with verified formatting, timing, monitoring, and recovery.

Check your setup

  • XPression fields never overflow unexpectedly and roll/clear matches the graphics cue.

Troubleshooting

Roll falls behind

Increase speed, reduce characters/lines, or choose instant/finals according to design.

Text repeats

Check partial/final reduction, reconnect, and template polling.

Characters corrupt

Verify UTF-8/parser/font.

Security and operational notes

  • Defaults are starting points, not broadcast standards.
  • Slow rolling creates deliberate lag; monitor rollLagChars/rollLagMs.
  • Test the actual scene font and safe area.

Documentation status: Draft based on XPression Bridge repository version 0.1.59. Validate the installed release, supported OS, license policy, and live graphics workflow before publishing.