This deceptively simple, yet extremely powerful, feature was added to ContentAgent in v2.45 and enables a whole new level of workflow automation.
The Decision node is a new type of workflow processor that allows workflows to branch depending on the contents of a specified metadata field in the input clip - meaning that a single workflow can be applied to a wider range of source clips and, depending on the clip's metadata, different results can be achieved. This can be especially useful when combined with Watch Folder or QuickWF list workflows as you can now use one 'master workflow' to fully automate jobs that previously would have required user intervention and many separate workflows.
Some common tasks where the decision node would become indispensible include sorting of files during import (e.g. storing files in different folders depending on clip's production title metadata) or identifying clips that need to have standards conversion applied before authoring to DVD. We'll explore these two examples in a bit but these are by no means the only applications. The decision node is extremely versatile and the only limits to how it can be utilized are your imagination and the meta data available.
So, how do you put this little node to use? Well, in the workflow designer, simply drag a copy of the node into your workflow at each point a decision needs to be made. (Note - When making decisions based on Media Info metadata or other groups, it’s wise to place a Metadata Extract node before your Decision node to ensure that information will be available.)
If you are using the Decision node for the first time, before adding it to the workflow, you will need to create a template by highlighting the node in the tool list and clicking "New Template".
When creating a Decision node template, load in a source file and start browsing its metadata fields. A standard media clip has two types of metadata fields – Clip and Flexible Metadata. The Clip metadata covers standard items such as the Title, Creation Date and File Size. Flexible Metadata is organised by groups and will contain fields that may be generated during a Metadata Extraction, or are user generated, e.g.. through the application of a metadata schema or because the clip was created through an ALE import.
Having specified a metadata field, the value for the loaded clip is shown so you can have a sense of what to test for. In the bottom part of the window, the "build a condition" section, build a logical statement that can be True or False using the statement button, dropdown and value box. Double-clicking in the template description box at the top of the menu will summarise what ContentAgent thinks you are testing for.
If you add this node to a workflow, you can now design a workflow that will branch depending on the result of the decisions you make. If you monitor the progress of the workflow in the Job Queue you will see how the Decision node has controlled which branches of the workflow are processed.
The workflow below shows an example of how clips could be sorted into folders when imported, perhaps by using the Import, run workflow: feature in the Import tab. The Titles of the clips will be tested and stored in one of three folders:
Another example workflow would be one for preparing files for use in an NTSC DVD. The workflow examines the clip metadata, then tests to see if the file type, frame rate and frame size are suitable for authoring. If they are not, the field order is tested to ensure good standards conversion, and then a Platinum template (with standards conversion enabled) is used to create an interlaced NTSC MPEG file. If this workflow is now loaded as a QuickWF entry, a powerful utility is available – just two mouse clicks away.
Note - When the Standards Converter is enabled on a Platinum template, if the frame rate and field order of the source file is known (i.e.. Media Info metadata exists for this clip) these values will override whatever may be set in the template. Consequently this workflow will create consistent results with clips that have a variety of source frame rates. To check how the Platinum Standards Converter was configured, check the Transcode Metadata for the created clip.
As mentioned before, the Decision node is extremely versatile so have fun playing with it and discovering a whole range of applications.