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Passive Budgeting for BLOX Total CMS FAQs

  1. What is Passive Budgeting?
    Passive Budgeting is a feature in BLOX Total CMS that offers some of the benefits of budgeting assets to a publication's Edition without actively using Page Tracker's Budgeting tools to assign assets to Editions, Sections, or Pages.

    How Does Passive Budgeting Work?

  2. How does Passive Budgeting locate assets for an edition?
    Passive Budgeting uses your site's slugging convention to locate assets that can be placed on pages of that edition. The slugs typically contain a specific date and publication code which allows the system to identify and place assets correctly.

  3. What are some examples of slugging conventions?
    "YYMMDD %%pubcode%%"
    "MMDDYY-%%pubcode%%"
    "YYMMDD_%%pubcode%%"

    Setting Up Passive Budgeting

  4. How do I configure Passive Budgeting for all publications?

    Follow these steps:

    1. Identify your slugging convention.
    2. Have your Template Master or IT staff log in to the browser interface for each domain.
    3. Navigate to Desktop > Applications > Editorial > Page Tracker.
    4. Click on Application Settings and then on Assets and Assignments.
    5. Adjust the Options and Separators menus to match your slugging convention.
    6. Ensure Use for All Publications is checked.
    7. Click Save.

  5. Can I configure unique slugging for certain publications?

    Yes, follow these steps for each publication:

    1. Log in to the browser interface for each domain.
    2. Navigate to Desktop > Applications > Editorial > Page Tracker.
    3. Click on Application Settings and then on Assets and Assignments.
    4. Uncheck Use for All Publications.
    5. Save the settings.
    6. Navigate to Desktop > Applications > Other > Settings > InDesign > Page creation settings.
    7. Select the publication and click Edit.
    8. Adjust the Options and Separators menus to match the publication's slugging convention.
    9. Click OK and repeat for other publications as needed.

    Using Passive Budgeting

  6. What versions of BLOX Total CMS and Page Tracker do I need to use Passive Budgeting?
    You need at least BLOX Total CMS client version 5.66 and access to Page Tracker version 1.25 (released July 11, 2023, for non-appliance sites).

  7. How do I use Passive Budgeting in the Budget View?

    When placing assets, use the Budget View tab:

    1. Select the Edition of Active Page radio button.
    2. Check the Passive Budgeting checkbox.
    3. Assets with the applicable slugging convention will appear in the Budget View.

    Mixing Active and Passive Budgeting

  8. Can I use both Active and Passive Budgeting together??
    Yes, Passive Budgeting works at the Edition level and can be mixed with Active Budgeting, which provides more specific placement information in the Asset Manager's Publication's tab.

  9. Why might Active Budgeting still be necessary?
    • Certain Associated Press assets trigger specific rulesets based on their slugs.
    • Active Budgeting guarantees assets are used on specific pages, such as OpEd and Obituaries.

    Troubleshooting and Tips

  10. What happens if my site's slugging convention is inconsistent?
    Inconsistent slugging can cause issues with asset placement. It's crucial to ensure all departments follow the same slugging convention consistently.

  11. What should I do if I don't know my site's slugging convention?
    Determine your slugging convention before configuring Passive Budgeting. It's typically established during the initial training and installation of BLOX Total CMS.

  12. How do I verify that all publications have the correct slugging convention?

    Regularly check each publication code using the Edit button in InDesign > Page creation settings to ensure they follow the correct slugging convention.

    For further assistance or detailed instructions, please refer to the Passive Budgeting documentation provided by BLOX Digital (formerly TownNews).

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