Opening the plugin
The Blockz plugin runs inside AP ENPS and lets producers insert automated cue blocks directly into their stories. This article explains how to open the plugin, fill in a block, and add it to a story.
In ENPS, select the story you want to add a block to.
In the bottom status bar, click the MOS button (bottom-right of the ENPS window).
In the menu that opens, select the Blockz plugin. The name varies by installation. Common names include: Blockz, Cuez Blockz,...
The plugin opens as a panel inside ENPS, alongside your rundown and story editor.
Note: if you do not see a Blockz plugin in the MOS menu, contact your broadcast engineer. The plugin needs to be configured for your ENPS installation.
The plugin layout
The plugin has three main areas:
Search bar: search blocks by name.
Block list (left): all available block types for your workspace, grouped by category. Each block is shown with a colored icon and its name.
Form area: the fields to fill in for the selected block. Appears once you select a block type from the list.
If no block is selected, the form area shows the Blockz logo and the message: "Select a Cue Block on the left. Cue blocks are the building stones of automation."
Selecting and filling in a block
Click a block type from the list on the left.
The form area shows the fields for that block.
Fill in the fields:
Text fields: type directly into the field.
Label fields (dropdowns): click the dropdown and select an option.
Media fields: upload or select media where shown.
Once the fields are filled in, click INSERT (blue button, top-right).
The block is added to the selected story as a MOS object.
Once a block has been inserted, the same button changes to UPDATE. Use it to save further changes to that block, instead of INSERT.
Changing a field value without re-inserting
For label (dropdown) fields, you do not need to update or re-insert the block when you change a value. Selecting a different option in the dropdown updates the MOS object in the story in real time.
For text and media fields, make your change and click UPDATE to update the story.
Working with different stories
The plugin is always scoped to the story currently selected in your rundown. When you select a different story, the plugin form clears. This is by design. Each story has its own set of blocks.
To add blocks to multiple stories, select each story in turn, fill in the plugin, and insert.
Clearing a block
To clear the current form without inserting, click the CLEAR button in the top bar. This resets the form fields but does not remove any blocks already inserted into the story.
What if the block list is empty?
If the plugin opens but shows no block types, contact your broadcast engineer. This usually means no block templates have been configured for your workspace in Blockz.