Data sources

A source is a table of data in your project: a guest list, a run of show, sponsor logos, or data from a website. You bind a layer’s fields to a source, so the graphic fills itself. Then you step through the rows in Control instead of typing.

Kinds of source

Kind	What it’s for
Data table	Rows and columns, like a guest list. You type or paste the data.
Schedule	A run of show that tracks what’s Now and Up next.
CSV link	A CSV file or Google Sheets link that Kinetra fetches again and again.
API	JSON or CSV fetched from a URL. Advanced mode only.
Poll	The results of a live poll. Created from the Polls page.

Sources are saved in the project’s sources/ folder.

Create a source

1. Click Sources in the sidebar (Ctrl+3).
2. Click New source.
3. Pick the kind, type a Name and click Create.

Data tables

A data table works like a small spreadsheet.

• Add row and Add column add data. Click a column’s name to rename it.
• Turn on Image column for a column of pictures, such as headshots or logos.
• Paste rows copied from Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets. With several columns, Kinetra asks which column goes where.
• Make row N current chooses the row that bound fields show.

A table can have up to 16 columns and 1,000 rows. It saves by itself.

Schedules

A schedule is your run of show. Each item has a Date, Start, End, Title, Subtitle and Location. Kinetra works out each item’s status from the clock:

Status	Meaning
NOW	The item has started and not ended.
UP NEXT	The next item to start.
DELAYED	The item has been delayed.
PREVIOUS	The item is over.
CANCELLED	The item was cancelled.

• Add item adds one item. Paste rows or Import CSV… adds many: each row needs a title and a start time (HH:MM or a date and time).
• Shift all by N min moves every item earlier or later.
• Ripple delays: when on, delaying an item also moves every item after it.
• Status labels sets the text shown on air for each status, for example “LIVE” instead of “NOW”.

A schedule can hold up to 500 items.

Run the schedule during the show

You change the schedule live from Control, through an automation with a schedule panel (see Automation): Start now, +5 min, Delay by…, Set as next…, Cancel and more. Graphics bound to the schedule update at once.

CSV links and Google Sheets

A CSV link fetches a CSV file from the internet every few seconds. Use it for a Google Sheet, or any other CSV published at a URL.

1. Create a CSV link source.
2. Paste the link to the CSV file.
3. Click Test link to fetch it once and check the data.
4. Pick the columns you want.

Get a Google Sheets link

1. In Google Sheets, choose File › Share › Publish to the web.
2. Choose the sheet you want, and Comma-separated values (.csv).
3. Click Publish and copy the link.
4. Paste it into the CSV link source.

Google may change these menus. Kinetra can’t sign in to Google, so the sheet must be published; a private sheet doesn’t work. Anyone with the link can see the published data.

API sources

API sources are in Advanced mode. They fetch JSON or CSV from a web address.

• Request: GET or POST, the URL, and Headers. For a key or password, click the key icon on a header to make it secret: the value is kept in Windows Credential Manager (on a Mac: the macOS Keychain), never in the project, exports, backups or logs. On another computer you enter it again.
• Format: JSON or CSV. For CSV, choose whether the First row is the header and the Delimiter.
• Polling: fetch Every N s (1 second to 1 hour, default 10 s). With Poll only when used on, Kinetra only fetches while a graphic or flow uses the source.
• Mapping: click Test request, then pick the list in the response that holds the rows (Use as rows) and the values you want as columns (Add as column).
• Status shows when it last fetched, any error, and Retry now and Pause.

Responses can be up to 2 MB and 1,000 rows.

Bind a field to a source

1. Open the screen in the layout editor and select the layer.
2. In the Inspector, under Fields, click the link icon next to a field (Bind to source).
3. Pick the source and the column. For a schedule, first pick the item: Now or Up next.

The field now shows the value from the source’s current row, for example “Guests · Name”. Click Unbind to type the value yourself again.

• Timer fields can bind to a schedule’s countdown, to count down to the next item.
• List fields (such as a ticker’s items) link to a whole data table with Link to data table…. You can sort and limit the rows.

If you delete a source, its bound fields go back to the layer’s own values.

Step through rows in Control

In Control, each source used on the selected screen shows previous and next buttons. Click next to show the next guest, sponsor or score.

Turn on Auto to step by itself. In its settings, choose Every N s, Loop, and the Transition: Update in place or Play out & in. Auto only runs while a graphic that uses the source is on air.

You can also step with MIDI and OSC or with flows.

Sending data to Kinetra from other software

Kinetra fetches data; other software can’t push data into it over HTTP. To react to other software, use an OSC message: it can step a source or start a flow that sets fields.

Tips

• Keep column names short and clear: they’re what you pick when binding.
• Paste from a spreadsheet instead of typing long lists.
• For a show with many guests, put them in a data table and step with next, instead of making a layer for each guest.

Common problems

“Could not connect to …” or “The request timed out after 15 s”

Check the URL and your internet connection. Kinetra tries again by itself, waiting longer each time.

“HTTP 401” or “HTTP 403”

The site refused the request. Check the API key or password in the headers. Kinetra stops trying until you change the request or click Retry now.

“Secret missing on this machine”

Secret headers stay on the computer where you entered them. Enter the value again on this computer.

“Response is larger than 2 MB”

Ask the API for less data, for example with a filter in the URL.

A column key is locked

When screens use a column, its key can’t change, so the bindings keep working. Unbind the fields first.