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Page 1: User’s Guide - Oddcast · 8.11 Embed a Scene in a PowerPoint presentation.....65 8.12 Limit audio playback ... enterprise. Conventions ... Avatars are sophisticated animated speaking

User’s Guide Version 2.0d

5/09/2007

Oddcast Media Technologies

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names and data used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Oddcast, Inc.

Copyright 2007 © Oddcast, Inc.

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Table of Contents

Part I Getting Started .................................................................. 8 Chapter 1 - Introduction to SitePal.................................................................... 9

1.1 The SitePal process ............................................................................9 1.1 Additional documentation and resources ..........................................10 1.2 Advanced features ............................................................................10

Chapter 2 - Quick Start Guide to SitePal ........................................................ 11 2.1 Open a Scene ...................................................................................11 2.2 Create your Character.......................................................................13 2.3 Add audio to your Scene...................................................................16 2.4 Customize your Scene ......................................................................18 2.5 Publish your Scene ...........................................................................23

Part II Creating Scenes.............................................................. 27 Chapter 3 - Working with Scenes ................................................................... 28

3.1 Log in to your account .......................................................................28 3.2 Use the Scene List ............................................................................29 3.3 Edit a Scene......................................................................................30 3.4 Save a Scene....................................................................................31 3.5 Set options for a Scene.....................................................................31 3.6 Link a Scene to a Web resource .......................................................33

Chapter 4 - Working with SitePal Characters.................................................. 34 4.1 Select a model ..................................................................................34 4.2 Save a model in the Character Library ..............................................35 4.3 Choose features and accessories for a model ..................................36 4.4 Adjust the appearance of a model.....................................................37 4.5 Adjust the color of a model's features ...............................................37 4.6 Position the Character in a Scene.....................................................37 4.7 About SitePal Custom Models ..........................................................39 4.8 About SitePal Specialty Models ........................................................40

Chapter 5 - Working with Backgrounds .......................................................... 41 5.1 Change the Scene background.........................................................41 5.2 Upload your own background image.................................................42

Chapter 6 - Working with Audio...................................................................... 43 6.1 Select an audio message for your Scene..........................................43 6.2 Record your own audio message......................................................44 6.3 Upload audio files .............................................................................45 6.4 Use a phone to record audio .............................................................47 6.5 Create an audio message using text .................................................47 6.6 About creating Text-to-Speech audio................................................49 6.7 Use voice talent to record audio........................................................49

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6.8 Manage your audio Library ...............................................................50 6.9 Play multiple audio messages...........................................................50

Chapter 7 - Working with the Skin Editor ........................................................ 52 7.1 Select a Player skin...........................................................................52 7.2 Edit the Player Skin Options .............................................................53 7.3 Change the settings for the Player skin.............................................53 7.4 Set the Player Skin Colors ................................................................53 7.5 FAQ Player skin ................................................................................54 7.6 Lead Generator Player skin ..............................................................55 7.7 AI Player skin ....................................................................................56

Chapter 8 - Publishing and embedding a Scene............................................. 58 8.1 Use the Publish Wizard.....................................................................58 8.2 About SitePal publishing targets .......................................................59 8.3 Properties for embedded code ..........................................................59 8.4 Generate an example HTML page from Embed code .......................61 8.5 Embed a Scene in a Web page.........................................................61 8.6 Embed a Scene in a Flash movie......................................................61 8.7 Embed a Scene in a MySpace page .................................................62 8.8 Publish a Scene to an eBay auction..................................................62 8.9 Email your Scene to anyone .............................................................62 8.10 Embed a Scene in an HTML email message ....................................64 8.11 Embed a Scene in a PowerPoint presentation ..................................65 8.12 Limit audio playback..........................................................................65

Part III Managing Accounts......................................................... 67 Chapter 9 - Working with your SitePal account............................................... 68

9.1 Extend your SitePal account manually..............................................68 9.2 Extend your account automatically....................................................69 9.3 Update your billing information..........................................................69 9.4 Edit contact information for your account ..........................................70 9.5 Change your account password........................................................71 9.6 Upgrade your SitePal account...........................................................72 9.7 Add Scenes and audio streams to your account ...............................72 9.8 About audio playback limits...............................................................73 9.9 Prevent unauthorized playback of your SitePal Scenes....................74 9.10 Reactivate your SitePal account .......................................................75 9.11 Deactivate a SitePal account ............................................................75 9.12 Remove Oddcast branding ...............................................................75 9.13 View a report of activities on your SitePal account............................76

Chapter 10 - Profiting from SitePal ................................................................. 78 10.1 About the Affiliate Program ...............................................................78 10.2 About the Authorized Reseller Program............................................79 10.3 Add advertising banners to a Web page ...........................................79 10.4 Shop at the Reseller Store ................................................................80

Chapter 11 - Managing Reseller accounts...................................................... 81 11.1 Manage accounts..............................................................................81 11.2 Manage users ...................................................................................84

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Part IV Advanced Techniques..................................................... 87 Chapter 12 - Advanced techniques and API examples ................................... 88

12.1 Use cookies to play alternate audio files ...........................................88 12.2 Publish a scene in different pages with different audio .....................90 12.3 Use JavaScript to play audio messages randomly............................91 12.4 Vary audio messages by the time of day...........................................93 12.5 Concatenate audio messages...........................................................93 12.6 Queue concatenated audio messages..............................................94 12.7 Create a FAQ with SitePal ................................................................96 12.8 Invoke playback by clicking on a character .......................................98 12.9 Respond to click or rollover events ...................................................98 12.10 Use Dynamic Text-to-Speech ...........................................................99 12.11 Use SSML tags with TTS ................................................................100 12.12 Fine-tune SSML-driven TTS ...........................................................101 12.13 Troubleshoot Dynamic Text-to-Speech...........................................102

Chapter 13 - Artificial Intelligence and the AI Knowledge Base..................... 103 13.1 Set up the AI Management Center ..................................................103 13.2 Define concepts for your AI Knowledge Base .................................105 13.3 Edit the AIML file system.................................................................107 13.4 Compile your AI Knowledge Base...................................................108 13.5 Implement your AI Knowledge Base ...............................................109 13.6 Deploy your AI Knowledge Base.....................................................110 13.7 Access AI Management Center report logs.....................................110

Appendices................................................................................. 112 SitePal Best Practices.................................................................................. 113 SitePal Glossary .......................................................................................... 118 Index............................................................................................................ cxix

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Preface

How to use this manual

This manual is designed for users of SitePal virtual host software. No programming knowledge is needed to use SitePal to create your own talking character and embed it in a Web page. Part 4 of this manual is designed for advanced users.

This manual contains the following parts:

Part 1 – Getting Started Includes the Quick Start Guide to SitePal. This chapter leads you through the essential steps of creating your SitePal Scene and embedding it in a Web page.

Part 2 – Creating Scenes Provides all the instructions for using SitePal to create and embed SitePal Scenes. This part includes chapters about working with SitePal Models, Characters, backgrounds, audio, and Player skins, and shows how to publish and embed Scenes in various Web environments and email.

Part 3 – Managing Accounts Describes how to manage all types of SitePal accounts. This part also includes information about how you can profit from SitePal by participating in the Affiliate Program and the Reseller Program.

Part 4 – Advanced Techniques Provides information about advanced techniques and how to use the VHost API and JavaScript to extend the functionality, flexibility and capabilities of SitePal.

Appendices Includes a SitePal Glossary and a guide to SitePal Best Practices that explains the concepts of Oddcast’s VHost technology and how to maximize the effectiveness of your Web enterprise.

Conventions The following graphical alerts are used is this manual to draw your attention to a tip, note, warning, or item that you can skip over.

Tip

Note

! Warning

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System Requirements

PC • OS: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP

• Browsers: Internet Explorer 5.5, Internet Explorer 6, Firefox, Mozilla, Opera, etc.

• CPU: 400Mhz or faster

• Other: Flash Player 6 or better

Macintosh • OS: OS X 10.2 or better or Mac OS 8.1or newer

• Browsers: Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Mozilla

• CPU: 400Mhz or faster

• Other: Flash Player 6 or better

Linux Although SitePal is not officially supported on Linux at this time, Oddcast is not aware of any of problems or issues with any of the system configurations that we have reviewed.

Note: Some older or non-standard browsers, usually those released before 2001, may not be compatible. Specifically, Netscape browser versions prior to 4.7 and Internet Explorer versions prior to 5.0 are not officially supported.

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Part I

Getting Started

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Introduction to SitePal

Chapter 1

Introduction to SitePal

SitePal is an avatar creation software developed by Oddcast for small businesses and consumers. Avatars are sophisticated animated speaking characters that you can add to Web pages, email messages, Flash movies, and eBay auctions.

SitePal is an easy-to-use and affordable solution that can deliver amazing business results. A SitePal Character

• adds a personalized touch to your Web site

• enhances a customer’s experience

• increases the profile of your brand

1.1 The SitePal process Using SitePal's online interface, you can create and deploy your own virtual salesperson in just minutes. No programming knowledge is required to use SitePal.

The following describes the simple process of creating and deploying your own SitePal Character on your Web site:

1. Edit a Scene In the Scene Editor, you design your Character, choose a background, and add the audio that you want your Character to speak.

2. Create your Character Design your SitePal Characters to fit your Web site design and style. Change its looks, position, features and accessories, and then save the character in your Character Library.

3. Audio in your Scene Add audio for your Character to speak by recording the message with a microphone or the telephone, uploading an audio file, or by converting text that you type into synthesized speech.

4. Personalize your Scene Choose a background image, choose and configure the Player Skin in which your Character appears, and position your Character in the Scene.

5. Publish your Scene Use the Publish Wizard to embed your finished Scene in a Web page or explore one of the many other available publish locations.

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Introduction to SitePal

1.1 Additional documentation and resources You can find additional documentation and reference information on the SitePal Support page. Included on this page are the following resources:

• SitePal User’s Guide

• SitePal Online Help

• Quick Start Tutorial Movie (Video)

• SitePal Best Practices (PDF)

• API Reference & Examples

• Tech Notes

1.2 Advanced features If you’re an advanced user, you’ll be interested in SitePal’s advanced features and capabilities:

• Use the VHost API and JavaScript to extend the functionality and flexibility of SitePal Scenes.

• Use Dynamic Text-to-Speech (TTS) to determine the text that your Character speaks dynamically when your Scene plays.

• Use the AI Knowledge Base to bring your SitePal Character to life with the power of artificial intelligence (AI).

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Quick Start Guide

Chapter 2

Quick Start Guide to SitePal

This guide leads you through the basic steps of creating your SitePal Scene and embedding it in a Web page:

1. Opening a Scene

2. Creating your Character

3. Adding audio to your Scene

4. Customizing your Scene

5. Publishing your Scene

2.1 Open a Scene You create your own SitePal Scene by editing a pre-configured Scene that is included with your SitePal account. You edit a Scene by selecting it from your Scene List. In the Scene Editor you select a model for your Character and adjust its features, change the background for the Scene, add audio, and choose a skin for the SitePal Player.

1. Go to the SitePal page at http://www.sitepal.com.

2. Click My SitePal Login in the upper-right of the SitePal page.

The SitePal Login Page loads.

Figure 1 - SitePal Login page

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Quick Start Guide

3. Enter the email address and password for your SitePal account, and then click Enter.

The home page for your SitePal account loads. Your account home page may contain different content than is shown here.

Figure 2 - Account Home page

4. Click Enter.

Your SitePal Scene List page loads. The number of Scenes in your Scene list depends on the number of Scenes included with your SitePal package and the number of additional Scenes that you have purchased.

Figure 3 - Scenes List page

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Quick Start Guide

5. Click Edit for a Scene that you want to use.

The Scene Editor appears.

Figure 4 - Scene Edi or t

2.2 Create your Character You create your own Character by selecting a pre-configured SitePal Model and modifying its accessories, features, and color.

1. Click the Model tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

2. Click the “more Models” button to view all the available models.

Figure 5 - Model Panel

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Quick Start Guide

3. Click the thumbnail image of the model that you want to use.

The model you selected appears in the Preview Panel.

4. Click the Shades accessory to choose eyewear for the model.

Adjust the features of the model

1. Click the Adjustments tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

Figure 6 - Adjustments panel

2. Use your mouse to drag the orange slider in the Shoulder adjustment bar to increase or

decrease the size of the model’s shoulder.

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Quick Start Guide

Adjust the color of the model’s features

1. Click the Coloring tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

Figure 7 - Coloring panel

2. Click the Hair button.

3. Drag the selector up or down in the narrow rectangular color ramp to choose the shades of color you want to work with.

The shade that you select appears in the color range box on the left of the color ramp.

4. Drag the small circle in the color range box to pinpoint the exact color that you want.

The color that you set is shown in the small square box to the right of the color ramp.

5. Click Apply in the lower-right of the Scene Editor.

Your changes to the model are saved.

Save the model as your SitePal Character

1. Click the Character Library tab at the top of the Libraries Panel.

Figure 8 - Character Libra y r

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2. Click Save Character.

The Save Character dialog box appears.

Figure 9 - Save Character dialog box

3. Type a name for the new character, and then click OK.

4. Click OK when you are alerted that the Character was saved successfully.

2.3 Add audio to your Scene SitePal uses advanced technology to synchronize your audio recordings with your Character's lip movements. This effect is known as lip-syncing and it enhances the overall realism and impact of your SitePal Characters.

You can add audio for your Scene by recording it with a microphone, uploading an audio file, record by using a telephone, converting written text into synthesized audio, or by having professional voice talent record your message. To learn more about adding audio to your SitePal account, see Working with audio in the SitePal User’s Guide.

For this example, add audio to your Scene by uploading an audio file.

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

Figure 10- Audio Library panel

2. Click Add Audio.

The Add Your Own Audio to SitePal dialog box appears.

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Quick Start Guide

Figure 11 - Add Audio dialog box

3. Click Upload Audio File.

The Add New Audio dialog box appears.

Figure 12 – Upload Audio file

4. In the Name text box, type a name for your audio message.

5. Click Browse and locate your audio file.

The Enhance Audio Quality option analyzes your audio file and then modifies it to improve its overall quality. The option is primarily for audio files originally recorded at a low volume. For higher-quality audio files this enhancement is unnecessary, and in some instances, can degrade the quality of an audio message.

6. Click Upload.

7. When you are alerted that your new audio is ready, click OK.

The Character in the Preview Panel speaks your new recording and saves the new audio message in the Audio Library. This message is now the selected audio for your Scene. The name of the selected audio message is framed in red.

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Figure 13 - Selected Audio for Scene

2.4 Customize your Scene A background is a graphical image that you incorporate in a SitePal Scene. Backgrounds give your SitePal Scenes context and atmosphere. Use an appropriate background to give your Web site a polished, professional look that reinforces the relevancy of your SitePal Scene.

You can use the predefined backgrounds that are included with SitePal, or you can upload your own images to use in your Scenes. To learn more about uploading a background image to your SitePal account, see Working with backgrounds in the SitePal User’s Guide.

Select a background for your Scene

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Background Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

The Background Library appears.

Figure 14 - Background panel

2. Select a category of backgrounds.

For example, you can select the Travel category.

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Quick Start Guide

3. In the list of backgrounds, click the thumbnail image of the background that you want to use.

The background is applied to the Preview Panel and the thumbnail is highlighted.

Figure 15 - Selected Background

4. Click Apply in lower-right of Scene Editor.

The background that you selected is applied to your Scene.

Customize the Player skin for your Scene

The SitePal Player is the window in which your SitePal Scene plays. The Player skin is the frame of the window in which your SitePal Character appears. SitePal includes many styles of preconfigured skins that you can apply to your Scene. You can modify the skins by modifying their appearance and choosing which playback controls to include with your Scene.

1. From your Scene List, open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

The Skin Editor appears.

Figure 16 - Skin Edi or t

2. On the Skin Select tab, click the left or right scroll arrows to select the Standard skin type.

To learn about using the FAQ, Lead Generator, and AI functional skins, see Working with the Player skin in the SitePal User’s Guide.

3. Click the drop-down menu and select a category of skins.

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The skins that are available for the category appear in the list box.

4. In the list box, click a skin.

The Preview Pane is updated with the skin that you selected.

5. Click the Settings tab.

Figure 17 - Player skin settings

6. In the Scene Title text box, type a title for your scene.

Leave all the other skin options selected so that all the playback controls are included with your Scene.

7. Under Set Skin Colors, select the Color2 pre-defined color scheme.

8. Set the base color scheme by dragging the selector up or down in the narrow rectangular color ramp.

9. Pinpoint the exact color that you want by dragging the small circle in the larger color range box.

The Preview Panel is updated to show the new color scheme. The color that you set is shown in the small square box to the right of the color ramp.

10. Click Save to save your Scene.

The Skin Editor closes and you are returned to the Scene Editor.

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Quick Start Guide

Position the Character in a Scene

1. In the Preview Panel, click Move / Zoom .

You use the Zoom/Move controls to position the Character in the Scene.

Figure 18 Move/Zoom controls

2. Click one of the Zoom buttons to increase or decrease the size of the Character.

3. Click one of the arrow buttons to move the Character.

You can also move the Character by holding down the mouse button on the Character and dragging it.

4. Click the Close button or click Move / Zoom to hide the controls.

5. Click Save in lower-right of Scene Editor.

Your Scene is saved and the Scene Editor closes.

When you use the Scene Editor to modify your Scene, any changes you make are automatically reflected in all of the Web pages in which the Scene is embedded.

Set the options for your Scene

1. From your Scene List page, click Scene Options for the Scene you just saved.

The Scene Options window appears.

2. Under Playback Settings, on the first drop-down menu, select Limit to 2 for the playback limit.

3. On the second drop-down menu, select per Day for the period of time for the playback limit.

Your Scene will play as soon as the Scene is loaded. The Scene will be played twice to each viewer in a day. You can select Unlimited to play the Scene every time the page loads. The viewer can still click the Play button to play the Scene at any time.

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Figure 19 - Playback Settings

4. If you have a Web site that you would like to link to your Scene, under Link Settings, in the

URL text box, type the address for the Web site.

Figure 20 - Link Settings

5. If you entered the address of a Web site to link to, select the Clicking on the scene opens the

link check box.

6. Under Follow Cursor Setting, select the Follow cursor in scene option.

Your Character's eyes will follow the mouse pointer when the cursor is inside the frame of the SitePal Player.

Figure 21 - Follow Curso Settings r

7. Click Save.

Your settings are saved and the Scene Options window closes. To learn more about Scene options, see Working with Scenes in the SitePal User’s Guide.

8. From your Scene List page, in the text box under the Title column, type a name for your Scene.

Figure 22 Rename a Scene

9. Click Save All Changes above the list of Scenes.

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Your title for the Scene is saved and the list of Scenes is sorted alphabetically.

2.5 Publish your Scene Publishing a Scene means to embed, or insert, the code for a SitePal Scene in a Web page or a Web environment. The embedded code generates a link to your Scene which is hosted on an Oddcast server. You use the SitePal Publish Wizard to set the properties for your embedded code and copy the code into a Web environment.

1. From your Scene List page, click Publish for your Scene.

The Publish Wizard window appears. To learn more about Publishing targets for SitePal, see Publishing and embedding a Scene in the SitePal User’s Guide.

Figure 23 - Publish Wizard window

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2. Click the Embed in Web Page publish option.

The next page of the Publish Wizard loads.

Figure 24 - Publish Wizard

Copy your Scene code to a Web page

Follow these steps if you want to create a sample Web page and embed your Scene code in the page.

1. Create a new file in a text editor, such as Notepad.

2. Copy the following HTML code and paste it in the text file.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="content-type"> <title>Bigg &amp; Littal Airport</title> </head> <body> <p> <big>Bigg &amp; Littal Airport</big><br> <span style="font-style: italic;"> For airplanes of all sizes</span> <br> Long and Winding Road<br> Binary, &nbsp;NY, 10101<br> <br> Bigg &amp; Littal has a runway to fit your plane. Please call us at 555-1212 to learn more.<br> <br> </body> </html>

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3. Save the text file with an HTML extension.

For example, mySitePal_sample.html.

4. Open the sample HTML file.

Your browser opens the sample page.

Figure 25 - Sample Web Page

Now you can embed the code for your SitePal Scene in this page.

5. In the SitePal Publish Wizard window, click in the panel that contains the code for your Scene.

All the code text is automatically selected for you. For this example, you do not need to change any of the properties under Settings. These settings are properties for the code that you embed in a Web page. To learn more about properties for embedded code, see Publishing and embedding a Scene in the SitePal User’s Guide.

6. Right-click the selected code and then click Copy.

7. In your text editor, paste the Scene code starting on the line following this line of code:

<body>

The HTML code for this page should appear as follows. The SitePal Scene code appears in blue.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="content-type"> <title>Bigg &amp; Littal Airport</title> </head> <body> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=27732&js=1"></script><script language="JavaScript"

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type="text/javascript">AC_VHost_Embed_27732(300, 400, 'FFFFFFF', 1, 1, 482566, 0, 0, 0, 'bb7ac132f1f3494275f85e2f222d9115', 6);</script> <p> <big>Bigg &amp; Littal Airport</big><br> <span style="font-style: italic;"> For airplanes of all sizes</span> <br> Long and Winding Road<br> Binary, &nbsp;NY, 10101<br> <br> Bigg &amp; Littal has a runway to fit your plane. Please call us at 555-1212 to learn more.<br> <br> </body> </html>

8. Save the HTML text file.

9. Open the sample HTML file.

Your browser opens the sample HTML page and plays your embedded Scene.

Figure 26 - Scene embedded in sample Web page

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Part II

Creating Scenes

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Working with Scenes

Chapter 3

Working with Scenes

In SitePal, you generate Scenes that contain animated, speaking characters. A Scene is a composition of a customized character, an audio message, background, and a player skin. You use the SitePal Publish Wizard to embed your Scenes in Web pages, eBay auctions, and email messages.

3.1 Log in to your account 1. Go to the SitePal page at http://www.sitepal.com.

2. Click My SitePal Login in the upper right of the SitePal page.

The SitePal Login Page loads.

3. Type the email address and password for your SitePal account, and then click Enter.

The home page for your SitePal account loads. Your account home page may contain different content than is shown here.

Figure 27 - Account Home page

At the top of your Scene List page, click Log Out to log off of your account and return to the Login page. If you have more than one SitePal account, you can log in to a different account by selecting the account from the Current Account drop-down menu.

Figure 28 – Account selection drop-down

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Working with Scenes

3.2 Use the Scene List The number of Scenes in your Scene list depends on the number of Scenes included with your SitePal package and the number of additional Scenes that you have purchased. If there are multiple pages of Scenes in your list, use the navigation controls directly above and below the list to view other pages of your list.

• To view the next page of Scenes click the right arrow .

• To view more Scenes on a page, select the number of Scenes that you want to view per page

on the drop-down menu .

Figure 29 - The Scene List From your list of Scenes, you can do any of the following:

To Do this

Preview a Scene Click the thumbnail image for the Scene.

Edit a Scene Click Edit .

Rename a Scene In the Title column, change the name of the Scene in the text box and then click the Save All Changes button.

Change the settings and options for a Scene Click Scene Options .

Publish or embed a Scene Click Publish .

Add a new Scene Click the Add New Scene button. Learn about adding Scenes and audio streams to your SitePal account.

Save changes to titles when you rename a Scene Click the Save All Changes button.

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Working with Scenes

To reorder your list of Scenes in the Edit Scenes window, click the Title heading above the column of your Scene names.

You cannot delete Scenes from your SitePal account.

3.3 Edit a Scene You use the Scene Editor to customize a SitePal Scene and make it your own. In the Scene Editor you can select a model for your Character and adjust its features, change the background for the Scene, add audio, and choose a skin for the player. The player is the window in which your Oddcast Character appears.

The Scene Editor consists of four panels:

1. Libraries Panel The panel on the left side of the Scene Editor. The Libraries Panel includes the Audio Library, Character Library, and Background Library.

2. Preview Panel The panel in the center of the Scene Editor. The Preview Panel shows changes to your scene and includes controls for playing your scene, adjusting the position and scale of the character.

3. Tools Panel The panel on the right side of the Scene Editor. The Tools Panel includes the Model Panel, the Character Adjustments Panel, and the Coloring Panel.

4. Player Skin Panel Use the Player Skin panel to choose and edit the Player skin.

Figure 30 –The Scene Edi or t

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Working with Scenes

3.4 Save a Scene To save all changes to your Scene and return to the Scene List:

• In the Scene Editor, click Save.

To save all changes to your Scene and continue to work in the Scene Editor:

• In the Scene Editor, click Apply.

To discard changes to your Scene and return to the Scene List:

• In the Scene Editor, click Cancel.

! If you do not save your Scene, the changes that you have made since opening the Scene in the Scene Editor are not retained. The next time you edit the Scene, it will appear as you last saved it.

! Saving your Scene has an immediate effect on any published SitePal content. For example, if you save changes to a Scene that you have already published to a Web page, the Scene is automatically updated on the Web page and will reflect your saved changes.

3.5 Set options for a Scene To set options for Scene:

1. In the Edit Scenes window, click Scene Options for a Scene.

The Scene Options window appears.

Figure 31 - Scene Options

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Working with Scenes

2. Set the options that you want for your Scene.

3. Click Save to save your changes and close the Scene Options window.

You can set the following playback options for a Scene:

Playback setting Description

Play On Load

When the Play On Load check box is selected, the audio for your Scene is played as soon as the Scene is loaded.

On the first drop-down menu, set a playback limit. Select Unlimited play the Scene each time the page loads. On the second drop-down menu, specify the period of time for the playback limit. Learn more about playback limits.

Play On Rollover Play the Scene when a user moves the mouse cursor over the Scene. The Scene plays only once on rollover for each user visit.

Play/Pause On Click Play or pause the Scene when the user clicks within the Scene.

You can set the following link options for a Scene:

Link setting Description

URL

The Uniform Resource Locator, or Internet address, of the target Web page or Web resource for the link. You can also use the URL setting to call a JavaScript function. For example: http://www.oddcast.com

Clicking on the Scene opens the link

Open the linked Web page when a user clicks anywhere in the Scene. Learn more about link settings.

Link is automatically opened

Open the linked Web page automatically after the audio message starts or stops. In the first text box, type the elapsed time in seconds. On the seconds after drop-down menu, select audio starts or audio stops.

For example, to set the link to open just before the end of a 30-second audio message, in the Link is automatically opened text box, type 25, and then select audio starts on the seconds after drop-down menu.

Open Link in

Open the linked Web page in:

• the same frame of the current browser window

• a new browser window

• a named frameset

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Working with Scenes

You can set the following Follow Cursor options for a Scene:

Follow Cursor setting Description

Do not follow cursor The Character's eyes do not follow mouse cursor.

Follow cursor in Scene The Character's eyes follow mouse cursor when the pointer is inside the frame of the SitePal Player.

Follow cursor in whole page

The Character's eyes follow the mouse cursor when the pointer is anywhere in the host HTML page. If you select this option, enable the JavaScript API property for your Scene when you publish it.

Note: Enabling this feature adds JavaScript to the Scene code that you copy to a Web page. To use this feature, the Web page or environment where you embed your Scene must allow JavaScript code.

3.6 Link a Scene to a Web resource You can set up an interactive link to a Web resource from your SitePal Scene. You can link your Scene to a Web page, a frame, or a JavaScript function. The link is triggered by the events you select. These events can be invoked manually, automatically timed, or by a user clicking a button or clicking anywhere on the Scene.

You can specify the target of a link to any of the following:

Target value Link behavior

_self The browser loads the Web page in the same frame that contains the link. Setting this value has the same effect as selecting same window in the Scene Options window.

_blank The browser loads the link target in a new window. Setting this value has the same effect as selecting same window in the Scene Options window.

_parent The browser loads the link target in the immediate frameset parent of the current frame. This value is equivalent to _self if the current frame has no parent.

_top The browser loads the page into the full, original window and cancels all other frames. This value is equivalent to _self if the current frame has no parent.

_framename The browser loads the page into the frame that you specify.

If you set the option for opening a link automatically, make sure that the link triggers at the right time by trimming your audio message properly. A properly trimmed audio message contains less than one second of silence at its beginning and end.

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Working with Characters

Chapter 4

Working with SitePal Characters

You use the Scene Editor to create and modify the Characters that you use in your Scenes. The Tools Panel in the Scene Editor contains the Models Pane, the Adjustment Pane, and the Coloring Pane. You use these tools to select a model for your Character and adjust its features and characteristics. As you modify your Character, the Preview Panel in the Scene Editor shows these changes.

After you create a Character that you want to keep or use, save the Character in the Character Library.

It is important to understand the difference between a SitePal Model and a SitePal Character: Models are pre-defined and serve as the basis for the Characters that you create. Characters are Models that you have modified to use in a Scene.

4.1 Select a model You can create your own SitePal Character by selecting a model and customizing its appearance.

1. On your Scene List page, click Edit for a Scene that you want to edit.

The Scene Editor appears.

Figure 32 - Scene Edi or t

2. Click the Model tab at the top of the Tools Panel; click the “More Models” button to view all the available models.

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Working with Characters

3. Click the thumbnail image of the model that you want.

The model you selected appears in the Preview Panel.

The number and type of pre-defined SitePal Models that are available depends on your SitePal account package.

Models with the button are available for purchase. You can try these models within the context of the scene editor but you will be unable to save the scene until you complete the purchase of the model.

4.2 Save a model in the Character Library After you modify a model and create a Character that you want to use, you can save the Character in the Character Library. The Character is saved as it appears in the Preview Panel. You can use your saved Characters in any of your SitePal Scenes or you can modify the saved Characters to create new Characters.

To save a SitePal Character:

1. Click the Character Library tab at the top of the Libraries Panel.

2. Click Save Character.

The Save Character dialog box appears.

Figure 33 - Save Character dialog box

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4. Type a name for the new character, and then click OK.

5. Click OK when you are alerted that the Character was saved successfully.

To load a saved Character:

• Click the Character in the Character Library.

The Character appears in the Preview Panel

To delete a saved Character:

1. In the Character Library, click the X above the name of the Character.

2. Click OK to confirm that you want to delete the Character.

To rename a saved Character:

1. In the Character Library, click the name of the Character.

The Save Character dialog box appears.

2. Type a new name for the Character, and then click OK.

! You can store a maximum of 100 Characters in the Character Library. If you reach this limit you are prevented from saving new Characters. You can delete existing Characters from the Character Library to make room for your new characters.

4.3 Choose features and accessories for a model You can customize a model with the following features and accessories:

Hair

Facial hair (male models only)

Shirt and clothing

Headwear

Eye wear

Necklace

Mouth

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1. Click the Model tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

On the Model tab, features and accessories that are not available for a model are inactive.

2. Click the arrows next to a feature to browse the customization options for any available feature.

The Character in the Preview Panel is updated to show the features and accessories that you select.

4.4 Adjust the appearance of a model You can refine how your Character looks by changing its mouth, nose, shoulders, head, and age. You can also change the height and width of a Character, and you can adjust the blush level for female models.

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Adjustments tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

2. Use your mouse to drag the orange slider in an adjustment bar to the left or right for the desired Character attribute.

Not all SitePal Models support age adjustments.

4.5 Adjust the color of a model's features You can set the color of your character's eyes, hair, skin, makeup, and lips.

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Coloring tab at the top of the Tools Panel.

2. Click the feature you want to change.

3. Drag the selector up or down in the narrow rectangular color ramp to choose the shades of color you want to work with.

The shade that you select appears in the color range box on the left of the color ramp.

4. Drag the small circle in the color range box to pinpoint the exact color that you want.

The color that you set is shown in the small square box to the right of the color ramp.

You can also set the color of a feature by entering the hexadecimal value of the color in the HEX box.

You can create Characters of either gender that accurately represent a range of ages and ethnicities by simply adjusting a character's skin color, hair color, hair style, age, and eye color. This is useful if you want a SitePal scene on your Web site to appeal to a wide demographic and cultural audience.

4.6 Position the Character in a Scene You can use the Zoom/Move controls to position the Character in the Scene Editor and Skin Editor.

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1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Preview Panel, click Move / Zoom .

Do any of the following:

To Do this

Increase or decrease the size of the Character Click the Zoom buttons .

Move the Character Click the arrow buttons .

Move the Character by using the mouse

Hold down the mouse button on the Character and drag it to a new location.

Undo your changes to the position and size of the Character

Click the Reset button .

Center the Character Click the Center button .

Close the Move / Zoom controls Click the Close button X or click Move / Zoom .

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4.7 About SitePal Custom Models A SitePal Custom Model is a talking, animated character that Oddcast designs to your exact specifications. For example, you can create a SitePal Model that looks exactly like you, or you can create a SitePal Model from your company logo or mascot.

Here are some of the benefits of using Custom Models in your SitePal scenes:

• Provide your customers with a unique and truly memorable online experience.

• Increase the profile of your brand and make it stand out in a crowd.

• Maximize the value and flexibility of your marketing efforts by using a SitePal character customized just for you and your business.

The following are examples of the variety of SitePal Custom Models that you can create:

Illustrated

Stylized

Wireframe

Anime

Animal

Photorealistic

To create a Custom Model, email Oddcast a photograph that you want to convert to a SitePal character. For more information about ordering a Custom Model, visit the SitePal Web site, contact [email protected], or call 877-300-6030.

You own any Custom Models that you purchase. Custom Models are not re-sold and are not used by Oddcast for SitePal or any other Oddcast product.

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4.8 About SitePal Specialty Models SitePal Specialty Models are premium models that you can purchase individually or as part of a collection. Specialty Models are organized into collections that span a variety of genres, from Anime to religious and political figures.

Specialty Models are functionally identical to standard SitePal models. Like other great SitePal Models, you can customize the Specialty Models, add them to your existing SitePal Scenes, and control them with the VHost API.

The following are examples of the variety of SitePal Specialty Models that you can purchase:

Teens: Teen Kevin

Japanese Animation: Kai

Fun: Flower

Animal Kingdom: Pixie

3D Characters: Angela

Anime: Nari

The Specialty Models that you purchase are added automatically to your Bronze, Silver or Gold account. Purchasing Specialty Models is a one-time expense. The models that you buy remain part of your SitePal account as long as you are a SitePal customer.

Oddcast is actively expanding the selection and diversity of Specialty Model offerings. Visit the SitePal Store at the SitePal Web site regularly to see new package offerings and announcements.

Some Specialty Models cannot be colored or aged.

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Working with Backgrounds

Chapter 5

Working with Backgrounds

A background is a graphic image, in the JPEG format, that you incorporate in a SitePal Scene. Backgrounds give your SitePal Scenes context and atmosphere. For example, if you add a SitePal Scene to a real estate Web site, you could use a picture of a house for sale as a background. Using an appropriate background gives your Web site a polished, professional look and reinforces the relevancy of your SitePal Scene.

You can use the pre-defined backgrounds that are included with SitePal, or you can upload your own images to use in your Scenes. You can store a maximum of 100 images in your Private Background Library.

The backgrounds included with your SitePal account are organized into diverse categories to help you find the right image for your purpose.

The backgrounds included in these categories, vary depending on your SitePal account package. The Private category stores the background images that you upload to your SitePal account.

! The backgrounds included with your SitePal account are yours to use, with perpetual rights, anywhere online. However, you must have the legal rights to use any background images that you upload.

5.1 Change the Scene background 1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Scene Editor, click the Background Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

3. Select a category of backgrounds.

4. In the list of backgrounds, click the thumbnail image of the background that you want to use.

The background is applied to the Preview Panel and the thumbnail is highlighted. You must save a Scene to apply the background to the Scene.

You can have no background for your Scene. At the top of a list of backgrounds, click No Background. The Scene background in the Preview Panel is shaded in light gray to indicate that the Scene has no background. If a Scene has no background, you can set the background to a solid color when you embed your Scene.

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Working with Backgrounds

5.2 Upload your own background image You can upload images from your computer to use as backgrounds for Scenes. All the images that you upload are stored in the Private category of the Background Library. You can use the images that you upload in any of your Scenes.

1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Scene Editor, click the Background Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

3. Click Upload Background.

The Upload Background window appears.

Figure 34 - Upload Background dialog box

4. In the Upload Info dialog box, type a name for the background image.

5. Click Browse and locate the image file that you want to upload.

The image must be a JPEG file and must be 300 pixels wide by 225 pixels high. If your image is a different dimension, select the Resize check box. If you upload an image larger than 300 x 225 and you did not check the resize checkbox, the image is centered in the Scene and cropped to these dimensions.

6. Click Upload.

When your image is uploaded successfully, it appears in the Private category of the Background Library and becomes the active background for the Scene.

To delete an image that you have uploaded, click the delete icon X above the name of the image that you want to delete.

You can store a maximum of 100 images in the Background Library. If you exceed this limit, you cannot add new images. To free up capacity in your Background Library, delete existing images.

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Working with Audio

Chapter 6

Working with Audio

SitePal uses advanced technology to synchronize audio with your Character's lip movements. This effect is known as lip-syncing and it enhances the overall realism and impact of your SitePal Characters.

You can use the following methods to add audio to your SitePal account:

Record by microphone Use a computer microphone to record your own audio messages for your Characters.

Upload audio file Use audio files that you upload as audio messages for your Characters.

Record by phone Use a phone to record audio messages for your characters.

Text-to-Speech

Use Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology to convert any written text into synthesized audio messages for your Characters.

Note: The Text-to-Speech feature is available with Silver and Gold SitePal accounts.

Voice talent Use professional voice talent artists to record audio messages for your characters.

! You can store a maximum of 100 audio messages in your Private Audio Library. If you reach this limit you cannot add new audio messages. To free up capacity in your Audio Library, delete existing audio messages.

6.1 Select an audio message for your Scene 1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Scene Editor click the Audio Library tab on the Libraries Panel.

3. Select the Private or Public category.

The Public category includes pre-defined sample audio messages. Use these messages to test and demonstrate Scenes. The Public category is read-only; you cannot add audio messages to this category.

4. Click the audio message that you want to use for the scene.

The message that you selected is outlined in orange to indicate that it is now the active audio message. SitePal automatically associates the active audio message with the current Scene, synchronizes it to the Character’s lip movements, and then plays it.

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Working with Audio

6.2 Record your own audio message Use a microphone connected to your computer to record an audio message directly to your Audio Library. You can use the audio message that you record in any of your SitePal Scenes.

1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

3. Click Add Audio.

The Add Your Own Audio to SitePal dialog box appears.

Figure 35 - Add Audio dialog box 4. Click Record by Microphone.

The Record dialog box opens. If you are prompted to install the SitePal Plugin, click OK to proceed and then follow the instructions on your screen.

Figure 36 - Record dialog box 5. In the Record dialog box, adjust the recording level for your microphone.

Drag the Mic Level slider to the left to decrease the level or to the right to increase it.

6. Click Record.

7. Record your message by speaking slowly and clearly into your microphone, and then click Stop Rec.

You can record for up to 60 seconds. While you record your message, monitor the Recording Time progress bar

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Working with Audio

8. Click Play to preview your recording.

If you are not satisfied with the recording, record your message again.

9. When you are satisfied with your recording, click Save.

10. In the Save Recording dialog box, type a name for your recording, and then click OK.

11. When you are alerted that your new audio is ready, click OK.

The Character in the Preview Panel speaks your new recording.

Compare the recording volume level of your recordings to the sample audio messages in the Public folder of the Audio Library. If your recordings are significantly lower or higher than the sample messages, adjust your microphone input volume.

6.3 Upload audio files You can upload your own audio files from your computer to the Private Audio Library. You can then use the uploaded audio in any of your scenes. The maximum length of an audio recording that you can upload is 60 seconds. However, you can concatenate, or chain together, multiple audio files together to produce messages longer than 60 seconds. Learn how to concatenate audio messages.

The following are requirements for uploading audio files to the Audio Library:

Channels 1

Sampling Rate 22.050 KHz or 44.100 KHz (22.050 KHz recommended for best results)

Audio sample size 16 bit

Supported audio formats WAV (PCM), MP3 (16, 32, 48, 64kbs), WMA (Windows Media Audio)

Maximum Audio Length 60 Seconds.

Maximum Text-to-Speech Length

600 characters

To upload audio to your SitePal account:

1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

3. Click Add Audio.

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Working with Audio

4. Click Upload Audio File.

The Add New Audio dialog box appears.

Figure 37 - Upload Audio window

5. In the Name text box, type a name for your audio message.

6. Click Browse and locate your audio file.

7. Clear or check the Enhance Audio Quality check box.

This option analyzes your audio file and then modifies it to improve its overall quality. The option is primarily for audio files originally recorded at a low volume. However, for higher-quality audio files, this enhancement is unnecessary, and in some instances, can degrade the quality of an audio message.

8. Click Upload.

9. When you are alerted that your new audio is ready, click OK.

The Character in the Preview Panel speaks your new recording.

! If the upload is unsuccessful, an error message that specifies the problem appears in the Add New Audio window. Make sure that the audio file you are attempting to upload conforms to the requirements for SitePal audio.

Although SitePal audio messages are stored and played in mono, the Audio Upload feature can accept WAV, WMA and MP3 files recorded in stereo.

If your site includes more than one Scene, the Enhance Audio Quality option can insure that multiple recordings are normalized to the same volume level. This can help you achieve a consistent user experience, especially if the recordings originate from different sources and individuals.

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6.4 Use a phone to record audio You can record and update your audio messages for your SitePal scenes over the telephone. Due to varying quality of many phone lines, the quality of audio recorded over the telephone is lower than audio that you record with a microphone or audio files that you upload.

To maximize the quality of the audio that you record over the phone, make your recording in a closed space with a minimum amount of background noise.

To record an audio message by using a phone:

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

2. Click Add Audio.

3. Click Record by Phone.

The Add New Audio dialog box appears. Use the information in this dialog box to record your message.

Figure 38 - Record By Phone window

4. In the Name text box, type a name for your audio message.

5. Follow the prompts to record, play back, and save your message.

You can record for up to 60 seconds.

Once you save your audio message, it is automatically assigned to the Scene you specified. Your Character delivers the new audio when your Scene is played.

6.5 Create an audio message using text Use this procedure to create an audio message by using Text-to-Speech (TTS).

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

2. Click Add Audio.

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Working with Audio

3. Click Text To Speech.

The Add New Audio dialog box appears.

Figure 39 - TTS Audio dialog box

4. In the Add New Audio dialog box, select a language from the Languages drop-down menu.

Each available language is associated with a unique set of voices.

Note: Not all voices are available in every language.

5. Select a voice from the Voices drop-down menu, and then click Voice Sample to hear a brief sample clip.

Note: Not all voices are available in every language.

6. In the Audio Name box, type a name for your audio message.

7. In the Say box, type the text that you want the Character to speak.

You can type a message with a maximum of 600 characters. The TTS engine can convert punctuation and all printable characters in your text, except angle brackets (< and >). Click Preview to see your character speak the text that you typed.

8. Click Save.

SitePal converts your text to spoken audio, synchronizes the audio message with your Character's lip movements, and saves the new audio message in the Audio Library.

Due to differences in the technology, some voices generate higher quality spoken audio than others. We recommend that you experiment with changing the punctuation and spelling of certain voices to achieve the best results.

For example, to make your character say the word VHost correctly with some TTS voices, you can try spelling it as “Vee Host”. This is known as phonetic pronunciation. Most dictionaries provide phonetic pronunciations of words. Use phonetic pronunciation to help you adjust certain TTS voices to pronounce specific words or phrases more accurately.

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6.6 About creating Text-to-Speech audio You can use the Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature to convert any text into synthesized audio that is spoken by your character. There are two types of TTS that you can use with SitePal:

Static TTS Type in your text through the TTS user interface.

Dynamic TTS Use JavaScript to call the API sayText function.

Static TTS is the simpler of the two, especially for non-programmers. Dynamic TTS is needed only when your text must be determined while your Scene is played. For example, you can use Dynamic TTS if you want your character to say a particular phrase based on a user's interaction with your Web site. Both TTS methods support the full range of SitePal languages and voices.

You can also influence your TTS results by using SSML tags. These are commands that you embed in your text to direct the TTS engine to interpret the text in a particular way. SSML tags provide support for the following effects:

• Inserting pauses in the text.

• Altering volume in mid-sentence, or for part of a sentence, for emphasis.

• Changing language in mid-sentence, or for part of a sentence, which is useful for multi-lingual audiences and applications.

• Changing pitch or rate of speech.

6.7 Use voice talent to record audio SitePal offers you the option of using professional voice talent artists to record audio messages for your Characters. Audio messages recorded by professional voice over specialists are typically more effective than those you record yourself or that you create using the Text-to-Speech feature. Oddcast recommends that you take advantage of this service if you are using your SitePal characters for commercial purposes. You can order these recordings through the Voice Talent Store at Oddcast.com.

A separate fee is charged for each voice talent recording. Any audio files you purchase from the Voice Talent Store are yours to use, with perpetual rights, anywhere online.

To use voice talent to record your audio:

1. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

2. Click Add Audio.

3. Click Voice Talent.

The Voice Talent Store opens in a new browser window. The store lists a variety of voices that you can sample.

4. Select a voice talent.

5. Complete the order form by following the instructions.

6. When you are finished, click Add to Shopping Cart at the bottom of the form and proceed to checkout.

Professional voice talent recordings are typically available for download within 2 to 3 business days, although some recordings require up to 5 days. You are informed by email as soon as your

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Working with Audio

order is ready. The email includes a secure link for retrieving the recording. You can check the status of the order by visiting your My Orders page. Click the Store link that appears at the top of your Home Page or Scene List page after you log in to your account.

As with any audio file, you can upload your professional voice talent recordings to your account and use them in any of your SitePal Scenes.

6.8 Manage your audio Library You can manage all the audio messages that are associated with your SitePal account in the Audio Library. From the Audio Library you can select, add, delete, and rename audio messages. The Audio Library includes a Public category and a Private category of audio messages.

Public This category includes pre-defined sample audio messages. Use these messages to test and demonstrate scenes. The Public category is read-only; you cannot add audio messages to this category.

Private This category is provided exclusively to store the audio messages that you add to your SitePal account.

To rename a recorded or uploaded audio message:

1. Click the audio message that you want to rename.

The Rename Audio dialog box appears.

Figure 40 - Rename Audio dialog box 2. Type a new name, and then click OK.

To rename a Static Text-to-Speech audio message:

1. Click the audio message that you want to rename.

2. In the Add New Audio dialog box, type a new name in the Audio Name text box, and then click Create.

If you do not want audio in a SitePal Scene, select No Audio from the list of audio messages.

6.9 Play multiple audio messages You can use the Multiple Audio Files feature to associate up to 20 audio messages with a single Scene. When you turn this feature on, the Scene will randomly play the audio messages that you select.

To use multiple audio files with a Scene:

1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

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2. In the Scene Editor, click the Audio Library tab in the Libraries Panel.

3. Select the Multiple Audio Files check box.

4. If an alert appears, click OK..

5. Select the buttons next to the audio messages that you want to play with your Scene.

Figure 41 - Mu ple Audio Files window lti

When you save your Scene, the Character will speak these audio messages randomly.

To stop playing multiple audio files, clear the Multiple Audio Files check box.

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Working with the Skin Editor

Chapter 7

Working with the Skin Editor

The SitePal Player is the window in which your SitePal Scene plays. The Player skin is the frame of the window in which your SitePal Character appears. You can use a preconfigured skin that is included with SitePal to create your own customized skin. You can also change the appearance of the player skin and select which playback controls to include with your Scene.

7.1 Select a Player skin 1. From your Scene List, open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

The Skin Editor appears.

Figure 42 - Skin Edi or t

2. On the Skin Select tab, click the left or right scroll arrows to select the type of skin that you want to use.

3. Click the drop-down menu and select a category of skins.

The skins that are available for the category appear in the list box.

4. In the list box, click a skin.

The Preview Pane is updated with the skin that you selected.

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Working with the Skin Editor

You can use the following types of skins for the SitePal Player:

Type of skin Use to create

Standard SitePal Scenes that include a speaking Character.

AI SitePal Scenes that incorporate the AI Knowledge Base. The AI skin includes a text box where users can type questions for your Character.

FAQ SitePal Scenes that incorporate the FAQ Skin allow your scene to answer frequently asked questions on your Web site.

LEAD SitePal Scenes in which visitors to your Web pages can submit their contact information.

7.2 Edit the Player Skin Options 1. Open a Scene in the Scene Editor.

If you make changes to the Scene before editing the skin, click Apply to save your changes.

2. In the Player Skin pane, click Edit Skin.

The Skin Editor appears.

7.3 Change the settings for the Player skin 1. Open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

2. Click the Settings tab.

Figure 43 - Player skin settings 3. In the Scene Title text box, type a title for your scene.

If you do not want to include a title for your scene, uncheck the Show Scene Title check box.

4. Click one of the buttons next the Scene Title text box to set left, center, or right justification for the title.

5. Clear the check boxes for the playback controls that you do not want included with your scene.

6. Click Apply or Save to save your Scene.

7.4 Set the Player Skin Colors

1. Open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

2. Click the Settings tab.

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Working with the Skin Editor

3. Under Set Skin Colors, select the button for a pre-defined color scheme.

4. To set the base color scheme, drag the selector up or down in the narrow rectangular color ramp.

5. To pinpoint the exact color that you want, drag the small circle in the larger color range box.

The Preview Panel is updated to show the new color scheme. The color that you set is shown in the small square box to the right of the color ramp.

6. Click Apply or Save to save your Scene.

If you click Apply, you can click Reset to reset the colors to preconfigured colors of the Player skin.

You can also set the color of a feature by entering the hexadecimal value of the color in the HEX box.

7.5 FAQ Player skin Use the FAQ skin to create a SitePal Scene where visitors can hear answers to frequently asked questions. When a user clicks a question, your SitePal Character speaks the answer.

The FAQ Player skin is available only with Silver and Gold SitePal accounts.

1. From your Scene List, open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

2. On the Skin Select tab, click the left or right scroll arrows to select the FAQ skin.

3. In the list box, click a FAQ skin.

The Preview Pane is updated with the FAQ skin.

4. Click the FAQ tab.

5. Click Add.

A question dialog box appears in the FAQ Management panel.

Figure 44 - FAQ question dialog box 6. Under Edit Question Text, type a question and then click Choose Audio Answer.

The Audio Selection window appears.

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Working with the Skin Editor

7. Select the audio message that you want to use to answer the question that you entered.

8. Click Select Audio.

The audio you selected is associated with the question and Audio Selection window closes.

9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 to add more questions to your FAQ.

10. Click Save.

To remove a question from the FAQ skin, click the X in the question window.

To change the order of appearance of your questions, click the Order pull down menu and select a number.

7.6 Lead Generator Player skin Use the Lead Generator skin to create a SitePal Scene where visitors can enter their contact information and send it to you. You can use any text for your labels and messages in the lead generator form.

The Lead Generator Player skin is available only with Silver and Gold SitePal accounts.

! You must specify a valid email address in the Lead Generator skin. If you do not enter a valid email address, you will not receive the contact information that your visitors want to send you.

1. From your Scene List, open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

2. On the Skin Select tab, click the left or right scroll arrows to select the LEAD skin.

3. In the list box, click a Lead skin.

The Preview Pane is updated with the lead skin.

4. Click the Lead Generator tab.

The Lead Generator options panel appears.

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Figure 45 - Lead Generator skin options 5. Under Step 2: Form Customization, edit the labels and message caption that appear in the

form.

You can set the visibility of Field 1 and Field 2 in the form; this will allow you to customize the number of fields you would like visible in your form. Note that the Email and Comments fields are mandatory.

Four Form Fields Three Form Fields Two Form Fields

The form in the Preview Pane is updated as you edit the label text.

Under Step 3: In Case of Success, edit the success message text. Click Select Audio button if you want a sound to play when the contact information is sent.

6. Under Step4: In Case of Error, edit the error message text if you want a different message to appear if the data is not sent successfully. Click the Select Audio button if you want a sound to play if the data is not sent successfully.

7. Click Save.

The Skin Editor closes and the changes to your Lead Generator skin are saved.

7.7 AI Player skin Use the AI skin to create a SitePal Scene that incorporates the AI Knowledge Base. The AI skin includes a text box where users can type questions for your Character. Your Character responds to user questions with context-sensitive, spoken answers.

The AI Player Generator skin is available only with Gold SitePal accounts.

1. From your Scene List, open a Scene and click Edit Skin.

2. On the Skin Select tab, click the left or right scroll arrows to select the AI skin.

3. In the list box, click an AI skin.

The Preview Pane is updated with the AI skin.

4. Click the AI tab.

The AI skin options panel appears

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Working with the Skin Editor

Figure 46 - AI skin option 5. In the Enter Custom Button Label text box, type the button text that you want to use.

6. Clear the Show Response Text check box if you do not want the response text to appear.

7. Under Voice Selection, select the language and voice that you want your Character to use for responses.

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Publishing and embedding a Scene

Chapter 8

Publishing and embedding a Scene

Publishing a Scene means to embed, or insert, the code for a SitePal Scene in a Web page or a Web environment. The embedded code generates a link to your Scene, which is hosted on an Oddcast server. When you use the Scene Editor to modify your Scene, any changes you make are automatically reflected in all of the Web pages in which the Scene is embedded. Re-embed the code only if you change the properties that you set in the Publish Wizard.

Use the SitePal Publish Wizard to set the properties for your embedded code and copy the code into a Web environment.

8.1 Use the Publish Wizard

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

The Publish Wizard window appears.

Figure 47 - Publish Wizard window 2. Choose a publish option for your SitePal Scene.

3. Follow the instructions in the Publish Wizard to complete the process.

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8.2 About SitePal publishing targets You can use the SitePal Publish Wizard to publish a Scene to the following environments:

Embed in a Web Page

Use the Publish Wizard to embed a SitePal Scene in most types of Web pages. Learn more about embedding a Scene in a Web page.

Use this Publish Wizard option to publish to a variety of sites. The following are a few of those sites:

• Blogger

• FrontPage

• Homestead

• Macromedia Contribute

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Register.com WebSiteNOW!

• SwishMax

• Yahoo! SiteBuilder

Note: If your target environment does not allow the use of JavaScript, use the Web Page (No JavaScript) option for publishing your Scene.

Embed in Flash Use the SitePal Publish Wizard to embed your SitePal Character in a Macromedia Flash movie (requires a SitePal Gold account package). Learn more about embedding a Scene in a Flash movie.

Embed in MySpace Add flair to your MySpace profile with a SitePal Character. Learn more about embedding a Scene in your MySpace profile.

Publish to eBay Use the SitePal Publish Wizard to include a SitePal Scene in your eBay auction and dramatically enhance its effectiveness. Learn more about publishing a Scene to an eBay auction.

Email

Use the SitePal Publish Wizard to send an email message that includes a link to your Scene. Learn more about emailing a link to your Scene. You can also embed a SitePal Scene in an HTML email message.

8.3 Properties for embedded code Use the SitePal Publish Wizard to set the properties for the code that you embed. The properties that you can set when you publish a Scene do not modify your Scene in any way. These properties affect only how your Scene appears inside the host Web page. By setting different embed-code properties your Scene can appear different across multiple Web pages.

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Figure 48 - Properties for Scene code

Property Description

Scene Dimensions

The contents of your entire Scene, including your background image, are re-sized to the dimensions you specify.

The suggested dimensions are 400 x 300 pixels. To use different dimensions, as you type a different width, the height is automatically calculated so that it appears proportionally to the specified width.

Background Color

Select a color from the palette by clicking on a color box or click Transparent. Alternatively, you can enter the hexadecimal value for a color in the box centered below the palette.

Note: The color you select here also becomes the background color if you selected No Background from the Background Library in the Scene Editor.

Secure Protocol (HTTPS)

Select this check box if you want the embedded code for your Scene to work with the HTTPS (secure) protocol. This protocol is used by most Web-based e-commerce applications as well as private areas of Web sites.

Note: Although this format of HTTPS embed code works for both HTTP and HTTPS, it does not work in an HTML page launched from the desktop. The Web page must reside on a Web server.

JavaScript API

Select this check box if you make VHost API calls from the Web page or if you have set the Follow cursor in whole page option in the Scene Options window. Learn about the options that you can set for a Scene.

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8.4 Generate an example HTML page from Embed code If you do not have a Web page where you can embed your Scene code, you can embed your Scene in a sample Web page. In the Publish Wizard, click Generate Example HTML Page from this embed code link.

8.5 Embed a Scene in a Web page You can use the Embed in Web Page option of the Publish Wizard to embed your SitePal Scene in an HTML Web page.

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

2. Click the Embed in Web Page option.

3. Follow the instructions in the Publish Your Scene window for copying your Scene code into an HTML Web page.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

If your target environment does not allow the use of JavaScript, use the Web Page (No JavaScript) option for publishing your Scene. For example, eBay does not support JavaScript. The Web Page (No JavaScript) option does not support VHost API calls from the Web page or the Follow cursor in whole page option.

8.6 Embed a Scene in a Flash movie Use the Embed in Flash option of the Publish Wizard to embed your SitePal Scene in a Flash movie.

The Embed in Flash option is available in SitePal Gold account packages only.

To embed a Scene in a Flash movie:

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

2. Click the Embed in Flash option.

3. Follow the instructions in the Publish Your Scene window for copying your Scene code into your Flash movie.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

To embed a SitePal Scene in a Flash movie, you should be familiar with using Flash and its scripting language, ActionScript.

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8.7 Embed a Scene in a MySpace page Use the Embed in MySpace option of the Publish Wizard to embed a SitePal Scene in your profile on MySpace page.

1. Log in to your MySpace account.

2. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

3. Click the Embed in MySpace option.

4. Follow the instructions in the Publish Your Scene window for copying your Scene code into your MySpace profile.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

8.8 Publish a Scene to an eBay auction Use the Publish to eBay option of the Publish Wizard to include a SitePal Scene in your eBay auction. The Publish to eBay option is available only with the SitePal Gold account package.

To publish a Scene to an eBay auction:

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

2. Click Publish to eBay.

3. Sign in to eBay using the Web page that appears.

4. Follow the instructions in the Publish Your Scene window to embed a SitePal Scene in an eBay auction.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

Be aware of the following when publishing your Scenes to eBay:

• Your auction's description cannot be modified after the auction is bid on.

• The auction cannot be modified within the last 12 hours of bidding.

• Do not modify your Scene by using the Scene Editor through the life of the auction unless the change is specific to the auction. This is because changes made to a Scene through the Scene Editor are instantaneously reflected in the Scene.

• If you are using the same Scene across multiple auctions, your audio message should be generic.

8.9 Email your Scene to anyone Use the Email option of the Publish Wizard to send an email message that includes a link to your Scene. You can also embed a SitePal Scene in an HTML email message.

To email a link to your Scene:

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

2. Click the Email option.

3. In the From text box, enter the email address that you want to use to send the message.

4. In the Recipient(s) text box, enter the email addresses for the recipients of the message.

5. In the Message text box, type the message that you want to include with the link to your Scene.

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6. Under Settings, set the properties for your Scene code.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

Figure 49 - Email Publish Wizard 7. If you want to receive a copy of the message, select the Send me a copy check box.

8. Click Send Email.

The message is sent and the Publish Your Scene window closes.

The recipient receives a message that includes a link to your Scene and the URL of the Scene.

Figure 50 - Email with link to Scene

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The Scene loads in the Web browser when the recipient clicks on the link in the email message.

Figure 51 - Scene linked from email

8.10 Embed a Scene in an HTML email message You can embed a SitePal Scene in an HTML email, but the recipient may or may not see the Scene, depending on the email client and the settings the recipient is using. You can also send an email message that includes a link to your Scene.

Some email client programs can automatically remove the SitePal embed code. Therefore you should design your HTML email in such a way that it still makes sense to the viewer if the SitePal Scene is removed by the client. For such cases, you should include a link, or an image with a link, to a Web page embedded with your Scene.

The following describes the general process of how to embed a Scene in an HTML email by using Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0. You should test the HTML email with the embedded Scene by sending it to yourself before sending it to others. Your results can vary widely due to the settings and configurations of the recipient's email client program.

1. From your list of Scenes in the Edit Scenes window, click Publish for a Scene you want to embed in an email.

2. From the Publish Your Scene window, click the Embed in Web Page option.

3. In Outlook Express, on the Message menu, click New Message.

4. In the New Message window, on the Format menu, click Rich Text (HTML).

5. On the View menu, click Source Edit.

6. At the bottom of the window, click the Source tab.

The underlying HTML source code of the message is revealed.

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7. Modify the message's HTML source according to your design preferences.

Design the HTML so that it will display reasonably well if the SitePal Scene is stripped out by the user's email client.

8. From the SitePal Publish Your Scene window, copy the code.

9. Paste the code between the <BODY> and </BODY> tags.

10. Add a link to the Web page where your SitePal Scene is embedded.

Recipients of the message who cannot see the Scene in the email message can go to your Web site to view the Scene.

11. Click the Edit tab.

12. Enter email addresses in the To field, enter a subject in the Subject field, and then send the message.

8.11 Embed a Scene in a PowerPoint presentation Use the Microsoft PowerPoint option of the Publish Wizard to embed a SitePal Scene in a PowerPoint presentation.

To play a Scene in PowerPoint, you must be connected to the Internet during the presentation. Alternatively, you can load the Scene into the presentation while you're connected and then save it. You can then give the presentation without an Internet connection as long as you do not exit the PowerPoint program.

You must have Flash version 6 or higher installed on your computer and a SitePal Gold account package to perform this operation.

To embed a Scene in a PowerPoint presentation:

1. On the Edit Scene page, click Publish for a Scene.

2. Click the Embed in Web Page option.

3. Under Publish To, click Microsoft PowerPoint.

4. Follow the instructions in the Publish Your Scene window for embedding your Scene code in a PowerPoint presentation.

Learn about the properties that you can set for the Scene code.

If you view the Scene before you save the PowerPoint presentation, the Playing property reverts to False, and you must reset it to True.

8.12 Limit audio playback Conserving your available Audio Streams is important since there are a pre-defined number of Audio Streams allotted to each SitePal account package. The size of this allotment depends on the SitePal account package that you have. The number of Audio Streams that are available in your account is shown on your Account Info page. Learn more about audio playback limits.

In the Scene Options window you can limit the number of times an audio message is played and repeated to a user within a specified period of time.

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To limit audio playback:

1. Your SitePal Scene List page, click Scene Options for a Scene.

The Scene Options window appears.

2. Under Playback Settings, on the first drop-down menu, select a playback limit.

3. On the second drop-down menu, select the period of time for the playback limit.

For example, if you select Limit to 2 for the playback limit and per Day for the period of time, your Scene plays twice to each viewer in a day. You can select Unlimited to play the Scene every time the page loads. The viewer can click the Play button any time to play the Scene.

You can use the Secure Playback feature prevents unauthorized use of your SitePal Scenes on Web sites other than your own. When you activate Secure Playback option, the domain requesting the Scene is verified before the Scene is played.

To activate Secure Playback:

1. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal Home Page.

2. Scroll down to the Licensed Domains panel, and then click the first Define Domain link.

A dialog box appears.

Figure 52 - Define Domain Name 3. Enter the name of the domain in which your SitePal Scenes are embedded, and then click

OK.

For example, www.my_domain.com. If your Scenes are embedded in Web pages in another domain, click the other Define Domain link and enter that name of the additional domain.

4. In the Account Settings panel, select the Secure Playback check box.

Secure Playback is not compatible with the Publish to eBay and the Web Page (No JavaScript) publish option.

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Part III

Managing Accounts

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Working with your SitePal account

Chapter 9

Working with your SitePal account

When you are logged in to your SitePal account, you can view, change, or edit any aspect of your SitePal account.

To go to your Account Info page:

• Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of your Scene List page.

To return to your Scene List page from your Account Info page:

• Click My Scenes in the menu bar at the top of your Account Info page.

9.1 Extend your SitePal account manually Extend the duration of your account to prevent it from expiring. You also have the option of extending your account automatically by turning on Automatic Billing.

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal Home Page.

3. In the General Account Information panel, click Extend.

The Extend Your Account page appears

Figure 53 - Extend Your Account page 4. In the Extend Your Account window, select the account that you want to extend.

5. Click Continue and follow the instruction on your screen.

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Working with your SitePal account

9.2 Extend your account automatically You can authorize Oddcast to bill your credit card automatically to extend your account. Use the Automatic Billing option to make sure that your SitePal Scenes are not deactivated if your account license expires. Oddcast interfaces with VeriSign at the appropriate time to perform a repeat transaction, your credit card information is sent only once at the time you sign up for your account. Oddcast automatically generates an electronic invoice and emails it to you when your credit card is billed.

1. Set up recurring billing if you have a credit card number on file at Oddcast

2. Log in to your SitePal account.

3. On the top menu bar, click Account Info.

4. In the Automatic Billing pane, select the Automatic Billing check box.

Figure 54 - Automatic Billing panel 5. From the drop-down menu that appears next to the check box, select either Monthly or

Yearly.

Any special promotions offered in the VHost Store that apply to your account extension at the time of rebilling are automatically applied.

Turning off Automatic Billing does not deactivate your account. If you do not use the Automatic Billing option, visit the VHost Store and purchase an extension before your account expires. If you extend your SitePal account manually, you will receive a reminder from Oddcast in the mail that your account will soon expire.

9.3 Update your billing information Add or update your credit card information for your SitePal account

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. On the top menu bar, click Account Info.

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Working with your SitePal account

3. In the Automatic Billing pane, click Edit Credit Card Information.

The VHost Store appears in a new browser window.

Figure 55 - Billing Info page 4. Under Billing Information, enter the billing information for your account.

5. Under Credit Card Information, enter the number, ID code, and the expiration date for your credit card.

6. Click Update.

Oddcast does not store your credit card information on its servers. Instead, your credit card information is used only when performing an authorized transaction with our secure billing service at VeriSign, an industry leader in secure online transactions.

9.4 Edit contact information for your account 1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. On the top menu bar, click Account Info.

3. Scroll down to the Contact Information panel.

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Working with your SitePal account

4. Click Edit Contact Info.

The User Details window appears.

Figure 56 - Contact Information window 5. Change your personal and company contact information or your password.

6. Click Update.

9.5 Change your account password 1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. On the top menu bar, click Account Info.

3. Scroll down to the Contact Information panel.

4. Click Edit Contact Info.

The User Details window appears.

5. In the Old Password box, type your current password.

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6. In the New Password box, type a new password.

7. In the New Password Verification box, type your new password again.

8. Click Update.

9.6 Upgrade your SitePal account If you have a Bronze or Silver SitePal account, you can upgrade your account package. For example, when you upgrade from a Bronze to a Silver account, you can use the Text-to-Speech feature to create audio messages. If you upgrade to a Gold account you can add the power of an artificial intelligence (AI) to a Scene by using the SitePal AI Knowledge Base feature.

To upgrade your SitePal account:

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. On the top menu bar, click Account Info.

3. Scroll down to the Account Features panel.

Figure 57 - Account Features panel 4. Click Upgrade to silver or Upgrade to Gold.

The Select Your Account window appears.

5. Select the package that you want to upgrade to.

6. Use the VHost Store to find the upgrades you want, add them to your shopping cart, and proceed to checkout.

9.7 Add Scenes and audio streams to your account Your SitePal account includes a predetermined number of Scenes and Audio Streams. The exact number of each item varies depending on your type of account package. You can check the current inventory of Scenes and Audio Streams for your account on the Account Info page.

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal page.

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3. In the General Account panel, click the Buy More button for Streams or Scenes.

The SitePal Account Additions page of the SitePal Store appears in a new browser window.

Figure 58 - Account Additions window 4. Enter the quantity of Scenes or stream bundles that you want to add to your account.

5. Click Continue and then either continue to shop or proceed to checkout.

To purchase additional Scenes and audio streams from the SitePal Store:

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Store in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal page.

3. Under Accessorize My Account, click Additional Streams or Scenes.

4. Click Select for your account.

5. Enter the quantity of Scenes or stream bundles that you want to add to your account.

6. Click Continue and either continue to shop or proceed to checkout.

You can see the number of Audio Streams that have played in a given period of time by viewing a report of your SitePal account activities.

9.8 About audio playback limits Audio Streams are audio messages delivered over the Internet by the Oddcast server. Audio Streams are counted each time one plays in a Scene. For example, if you place a single Scene that plays one audio message on a Web page with an average of 1,000 page views a day, expect to use an average of 1,000 Audio Streams a day.

Conserving your available Audio Streams is important since there are a pre-defined number of Audio Streams allotted to each SitePal account package. The size of this allotment depends on the SitePal account package that you have.

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In the Scene Options window you can limit the number of times an audio message is played and repeated to a user within a specified period of time. Learn how to economize your use of streams by limiting playback.

Figure 59 - Playback Settings panel The number of Audio Streams that are available in your account is shown on your Account Info page.

The playback limit is implemented independently for each page in which the Scene is embedded. If a Scene is embedded in more than one page, there is an individual limit count for each one of the pages, and it is the limit that is set at the time the Scene is published.

9.9 Prevent unauthorized playback of your SitePal Scenes The Secure Playback feature prevents unauthorized use of your SitePal Scenes on Web sites other than your own. When you activate Secure Playback option, the domain requesting the Scene is verified before the Scene is played. This helps insure that your Scenes are shown only in Web pages located in a domain that you specify. The Secure Playback feature prevents someone from illegally hijacking your SitePal Scenes and audio streams.

When Secure Playback is not activated, domain verification is ignored for all Scene playbacks except for Scenes that contain Dynamic Text-to-Speech.

To activate Secure Playback:

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal Home Page.

3. Scroll down to the Licensed Domains panel, and then click the first Define Domain link.

A dialog box appears.

Figure 60 - Define Domain Name 4. Enter the name of the domain in which your SitePal Scenes are embedded, and then click

OK.

For example, www.my_domain.com. If your Scenes are embedded in Web pages in another domain, click the other Define Domain link and enter that name of the additional domain.

5. In the Account Settings panel, select the Secure Playback check box.

Secure Playback is not compatible with the Publish to eBay and the Web Page (No JavaScript) publish option.

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9.10 Reactivate your SitePal account If your SitePal account has not expired, you can extend your account or set up recurring billing to extend your account automatically. If your SitePal account is deactivated, you can still log into your Account Info page and activate the account.

To reactivate a SitePal account:

1. Log in to your SitePal and click Enter under My Account Info.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal page.

3. Under General Account Information, click Activate Account.

4. Select an Extension package and click Continue.

5. Click Continue and either continue to shop or proceed to checkout.

9.11 Deactivate a SitePal account 1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal Home Page.

3. Under General Account Information, click Deactivate Account.

The Account Deactivation window appears. Please note the information in this window about deactivating your account.

Figure 61 - Account Deactivation dialog box 4. Select a reason why you are deactivating your account (optional).

Your response will help us improve SitePal and our services.

5. Click Deactivate my account, and then close the Account Deactivation window.

You will receive an email message from Oddcast confirming that your account is deactivated.

9.12 Remove Oddcast branding 1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. Click Account Info in the menu bar at the top of the SitePal Home Page.

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3. In the Account Settings panel, click Remove Oddcast Branding.

The SitePal watermark in the SitePal Player is removed from your Scenes.

Figure 62 - Account Settings panel

The option to remove Oddcast branding is available only with a SitePal Gold account package.

9.13 View a report of activities on your SitePal account Your account includes a reporting feature that generates detailed statistics about your SitePal Scenes. The activities that you can track include:

• The number of times your embedded or published Scenes are viewed

• The number of Audio Streams that are played

• Information about the various audio messages and background images that you have uploaded

To view a report of activities on your SitePal account:

1. Log in to your SitePal account.

2. On the top menu bar, click Reports.

SitePal generates your report and displays the results.

Figure 63 - Account Reports window

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3. From the Report drop-down menu, select the report type that you want to view.

4. From the Period drop-down menu, select the time frame for the report.

The time frames that are available vary by report type.

You can view the following report types for your SitePal account:

Report type Description

1. User Sessions Overview

• Number of user sessions for period and total to date

• Average number of concurrent sessions

• Average session length

• Number of first-time sessions and total to date

• Number of repeat sessions and total returning users

2. Audio Usage - Overview • Number of user sessions

• Audio streams played for period and to date

3. Detailed Audio Usage

• Number of times each audio has played

• Total for all audio messages played

• Names of specific audio files that have were played

4. Account Activity Events List • A list of account activities (the list may be empty)

5. All About Assets

• Number of audio files uploaded for period and to date

• Average length of audio files

• Amount of audio data uploaded for period and to date

• Number of background images uploaded for period and to date

• Amount of background data uploaded for period and to date

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Profiting from SitePal

Chapter 10

Profiting from SitePal

You can profit by referring customers to Oddcast or by selling Oddcast products to your clients. The SitePal Affiliate Program and Authorized Reseller Program offer you lucrative business opportunities.

10.1 About the Affiliate Program The Oddcast Affiliate Program rewards you with commissions when new users buy SitePal through promotions placed on your Web site. Oddcast offers several advertising banners that make it easy for you to place promotions on your site, and you do not need to have a SitePal account to join the Affiliate Program.

To become an affiliate:

1. Visit the SitePal Affiliate Program Web site at http://www.sitepal.com/affiliates.

Figure 64 - SitePal Affiliate page 2. Click the Sign Up Now button.

3. Follow the instructions to complete the signup form.

You will receive an email confirming your enrollment in the program. To activate your affiliate account, you must click the link included in the email.

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Before Oddcast can pay you for commissions, you must update your taxpayer ID information on the Affiliate Program Account Info page. Click the Edit button, and then follow the instructions in the Payment Options section for downloading the appropriate form and faxing it to Oddcast.

Once your affiliate account has been activated, you can log into it using the email address and password you supplied in the signup form for the affiliate program. Once logged in, click the Banners link to choose from an assortment of banner advertisements that you can use on your Web pages. On the Affiliate Web site Reports page you can track impressions, clicks, purchases, and earnings.

An impression is when a visitor to your site views a page containing a banner ad.

You can opt to extend the analytical functionality of your reports through Campaigns. Campaigns can help you sort results based on banners ads and the Web pages containing them. By assigning different campaigns to ad banners in different pages or sites, you can analyze the results for each. Then you can use the Reports page to view combined results or sort them by campaign.

10.2 About the Authorized Reseller Program The SitePal Authorized Reseller program is a way for Web designers and developers to generate income by selling SitePal account packages and related services to customers.

• As a SitePal Authorized Reseller, you receive the following benefits:

• A 30% store discount on all SitePal account package purchases, account extensions, and account upgrades.

• The ability to manage multiple SitePal accounts on behalf of your clients.

• Marketing and sales collateral and ongoing business and tech support.

• A listing in the SitePal Reseller Directory.

To sign up as a SitePal Authorized Reseller:

1. Visit the SitePal page at http://www.sitepal.com/resellers.

2. Click the Sign Up Now button.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions about this program.

The annual cost to be a SitePal Reseller is $149.50. This price is subject to change.

10.3 Add advertising banners to a Web page You can view the available banner advertisements for your Web page on the affiliate program Web site at http://www.sitepal.com/affiliates.

The page displays a list of all available banners. Use the drop-down menus at the top of the page to display banners based on size, type, and audio. Scroll through the available banner types until you find one that suits your needs. Click the Preview button to see how it looks in a Web page.

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To embed a banner in your web page:

1. Log in to your SitePal Affiliate account.

2. Click the Banners link.

3. Click the Get HTML snippet button above the advertisement of your choice.

4. In the Snippet panel, select a campaign or Untitled from the Campaign drop-down menu.

Select the Open in a new page when clicked check box if you want the Oddcast page to open in a new browser window when a user clicks the banner ad.

5. Click Generate HTML Code.

The HTML code for the chosen banner ad is generated and appears in the text field.

6. Copy and paste the code into your Web page.

10.4 Shop at the Reseller Store All Reseller Accounts and Reseller products are purchased through the SitePal Reseller Store. The reseller price discount is available to you automatically as soon as you sign up to be a reseller. As a SitePal Authorized Reseller, you will make all of your discounted purchases from the Reseller Store.

If you already own one or more SitePal accounts, the reseller discount applies to any further extensions or upgrades to these accounts. The reseller discount applies to account extensions whether you extend your accounts manually or by using the automatic re-billing option.

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Managing Reseller Accounts

Chapter 11

Managing Reseller accounts

SitePal Authorized Resellers can manage their accounts by using a special management interface online at the SitePal Web site. As a SitePal reseller, you can use this facility to purchase additional accounts, extend your own account, add more Scenes, add more Audio Streams and even transfer the various accounts that you manage as a reseller to other parties.

SitePal resellers gain access to their reseller account information by logging into their accounts. The interface is nearly identical to the standard SitePal Account Information area with the following differences:

• There are two additional menus: Accounts and Users. These menus allow resellers to manage specific SitePal accounts and manage the users allowed to access each account.

• The SitePal Scene List is replaced with an Accounts List. This page gives resellers direct access to the various properties of each account

Figure 65 - Reseller Accounts page

11.1 Manage accounts The Accounts menu is the first page shown when you log in to your SitePal Authorized Reseller account. The Accounts menu includes options for managing properties associated with the account that you select.

Click the Account, Exp. Date, Streams Left, Scenes, Status and Level column headings to sort the list of accounts in ascending or descending order.

The following describes how to use these options.

Current Account If you have multiple SitePal accounts, use this drop-down menu at the top of the page to switch between different SitePal accounts.

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Buy New Account

Click this button to go to the SitePal Reseller Store and purchase additional SitePal accounts at a 30% discount.

Show Users Use this option to view and remove users associated with the current SitePal account. To remove a user, select the Delete check box and then click Delete.

Note: There are no Administrators or Users listed when you first log in to the Reseller management page because you have not defined any users.

Select Account Use this option to enter the account you are managing. This option takes you to the standard SitePal Scene List.

Account Name

The Account text box shows the name of the account you are managing. To change the name of the account, type a new name and click the Update button at the top of the page.

Note: Reseller Account names can include only alpha-numeric characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9 and spaces. Account names cannot include symbols and special characters such as dashes or underscores.

Exp. Date

This column shows the expiration date for the account you are managing. Click Extend to extend the subscription for the account.

Streams Left

This column shows the number of audio streams that remain for the account you are managing. Click Buy More to purchase more audio streams for the account.

Scenes

This column shows the number of Scenes that are available in the account you are managing. The number of Scenes in an account varies depending on the type of SitePal and whether additional Scenes were purchased. Click Buy More to purchase additional Scenes.

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Status

This column shows the current status of an account. The status for accounts is typically Active unless the account expires.

Level

This column shows the level, or the account package classification, of the account you are managing.

Transfer Account

Use this option to transfer the management of a SitePal account to another user. Transferring an account effectively detaches you from using and managing the account.

To transfer an account, click Transfer Account and follow the instruction in the window. You must have at least one user assigned to an account to transfer it.

Figure 66 - T ansfer Account window r

t

Please note the following when you transfer an account:

• Once you transfer the account to another user, you cannot administer the account or change the account.

• Transferring an account removes all o her users associated with the account.

For example, if DavidH, SusanM and JamesL are users associated with an account, and you transfer the account to DavidH, SusanM and JamesL can no longer to use the account. When you transfer an account, make sure that you inform the other users of the transfer and that these users can no longer access the account.

• If you have set up Automatic Billing for an account that you transfer, Automatic Billing is discontinued and Oddcast stops charging your credit card for the account.

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11.2 Manage users Use the Users menu to assign or associate different users with a specific SitePal account that you manage. The following describes how to use these menu options.

Figure 67 - Resellers Use s page r

Click the First Name, Last Name, Login column headings to sort the list of users in ascending or descending order.

Add New

Click the Add New button to create and assign a new user to the account you are managing. In the Users window you enter the personal information of the user and assign the user a password. Click Update to create the new user and return to the Users page.

Figure 68 - Create New User window

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Update user information

To change the First Name, Last Name, Login or Password for a user, edit the information

in any of these text boxes and then click the Save All Changes button .

Edit User Info

Click this icon to view a summary of a user’s personal information. Click Update to save any changes to the user’s information.

Figure 69 - Edit User Information Show Accounts

Click this icon to view a list of the SitePal accounts that a user is associated with. Click Delete in this window to remove a user from an account.

Figure 70 - Accounts for user

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Delete

Click this button to remove a user from an account that you manage, click the Delete button for a listed, and then confirm that you want to delete the user. You can also remove a user from an account by clicking Delete in the Show Accounts option

Figure 71 - Delete User

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Part IV

Advanced Techniques

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Advanced techniques and API examples

Chapter 12

Advanced techniques and API examples

This chapter shows you how to use the VHost API and JavaScript to extend the functionality, flexibility and capabilities of SitePal Scenes. Visit http://www.oddcast.com/support/examples/API/ for VHost API examples. Included on this page are links to examples of

• facial control functions

• speech functions

• navigation flow functions

• scene management attributes

• event callbacks

12.1 Use cookies to play alternate audio files You can use the value of a cookie to determine the number of times a user has accessed your page and vary the audio accordingly. For example, if a user is returning to a page, an audio is played that is different than the audio played on the user's first visit to the page.

1. With the Scene Editor, set your Scene's audio option to No Audio and click Save Scene.

2. Copy the code below and paste it into the <head> section of your HTML page.

Paste this code before the following line of code:

// and do not exceed one line unless the new line also starts with //

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- var caution = false // name - name of the cookie // value - value of the cookie // [expires] - expiration date of the cookie // (defaults to end of current session) // [path] - path for which the cookie is valid // (defaults to path of calling document) // [domain] - domain for which the cookie is valid // (defaults to domain of calling document) // [secure] - Boolean value indicating if // the cookie transmission requires a secure transmission // * an argument defaults when it is assigned null as a placeholder // * a null placeholder is not required for trailing omitted // * arguments function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) { var curCookie = name + "=" + escape(value) + ((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "") + ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") + ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") + ((secure) ? "; secure" : "") if (!caution || (name + "=" + escape(value)).length <= 4000)

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document.cookie = curCookie else if (confirm("Cookie exceeds 4KB and will be cut!")) document.cookie = curCookie } // name - name of the cookie // * return string containing value // of specified cookie or null if cookie // does not exist function getCookie(name) { var prefix = name + "=" var cookieStartIndex = document.cookie.indexOf(prefix) if (cookieStartIndex == -1) return null var cookieEndIndex = document.cookie.indexOf(";", cookieStartIndex + prefix.length) if (cookieEndIndex == -1) cookieEndIndex = document.cookie.length return unescape(document.cookie.substring(cookieStartIndex + prefix.length, cookieEndIndex)) } // name - name of the cookie // [path] - path of the cookie // (must be same as path used to create cookie) // [domain] - domain of the cookie // (must be same as domain used to create cookie) // * path and domain default if assigned // null or omitted if no explicit argument proceeds function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) { if (getCookie(name)) { document.cookie = name + "=" + ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") + ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") + "; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT" } } // date - any instance of the Date object // * you should hand all instances of the // Date object to this function for "repairs" // * This function is taken from // Chapter 14, "Time and Date in JavaScript," in // "Learn Advanced JavaScript Programming" function fixDate(date) { var base = new Date(0) var skew = base.getTime() if (skew > 0) date.setTime(date.getTime() - skew) } var now = new Date() fixDate(now) now.setTime(now.getTime() + 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) var visits = getCookie("counter")

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//Use this section of the code to test your cookie; if it's set, the cookie will increment. if (!visits) visits =1 else visits = parseInt (visits) + 1 setCookie ("counter", visits, now) document.write("you have been here " + visits + " times(s).") //The code is set for one visit, but you can change the numbers to whatever you like: //Oddcast API function call: function vh_sceneLoaded(){ if ( visits <= 1 ){ sayAudio('sampleName') } else if (visits >= 1){ sayAudio('anotherSampleName') } } </script> 3. Change the name of the audio messages that are referenced in the last section of code.

Change sampleName to the name of the audio message that you want to play for first-time visitors, and change anotherSampleName to the name of the audio message you want to play for returning users.

4. If you want the user to be able to replay the original audio message, set up a replay link using the sayAudio function from the VHost API.

These functions do not work with the Enhance Audio Quality option or with the Web Page (No JavaScript) embedding option. You must set the JavaScript API property in the Publish Wizard to use this code in your page.

12.2 Publish a scene in different pages with different audio To publish the same Scene in different Web pages while using different audio messages for each page, you use the VHost API vh_sl deBegin event with a sayAudio or sayText function. i

1. Open your Scene in the Scene Editor.

2. Set the audio option for the Scene to No Audio, and then save the Scene.

3. Embed the Scene in your Web pages by using the Embed in Web Page option of the Publish Wizard with the JavaScript API option activated.

4. In <head> section of your HTML pages after the call to the VHost, place the following code and replace the name of the audio file Count with the name of an audio message from your Audio Library.

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ //event function

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playMyAudio(); } function playMyAudio(){ sayAudio('Count'); }

5. For each different HTML page, change the name of the audio message to the audio in your

Audio Library that you want to play.

The following shows the complete and functional code for this example:

<html> <head> <title> SitePal Say Multiple Audios Example</title> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=18&js=1"></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ //event function playMyAudio(); } function playMyAudio(){ sayAudio('Count'); } </SCRIPT> </head> <body> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> AC_VHost_Embed_18(229,350,'FFFFFF',1,1,578,1366,0,0,'2a718006e025d6cef28cc565cdeaeb8a',6); </script> </body> </html>

These functions do not work with the Enhance Audio Quality option or with the Web Page (No JavaScript) embedding option. You must set the JavaScript API property in the Publish Wizard to add these functions to a Scene.

12.3 Use JavaScript to play audio messages randomly You can randomly alternate the audio messages that play in a Web page using JavaScript. This example assumes that you have uploaded the audio files to the Audio Library that you want to play.

You do not need to use programming to play audio messages randomly. In the Audio Library you can select the Multiple Audio Files check box to select the audio files that you want to play in a Scene. For more information, see Play multiple audio messages.

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1. Copy the following code and paste it in your HTML page following the code that calls your SitePal Scene.

<!-- randomize audio code --> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- function random_Audio(){ var ranAudio= Math.round(Math.random()*5); return ranAudio; } function vh_sceneLoaded(){ var Audio=random_Audio() //specify random audio below, replace test1 through test6 with the //names of your audio files. var myAudio=new Array (6); myAudio[0]="test1"; myAudio[1]="test2"; myAudio[2]="test3"; myAudio[3]="test4"; myAudio[4]="test5"; myAudio[5]="test6"; var audioToPlay = myAudio[Audio] sayAudio(audioToPlay); } //--> </script>

2. Change the names of the audio messages in the code to match the actual names of the audio messages that you want to play. For example:

myAudio[0]="myFirstAudioFile";

To add audio messages to the array:

1. Copy the following code and paste it in your HTML page following the code that calls your SitePal Scene.

var myAudio=new Array (6);

For example, if you call 10 audio messages, change the (6) to (10).

2. Change the multiplier in the code to a number that is one less than the total number of audio files that you are calling in the script:

var ranAudio= Math.round(Math.random()*5);

For example, if you have 10 audio files, change the *5 multiplier to *9.

These functions do not work with the Enhance Audio Quality option or with the Web Page (No JavaScript) embedding option. You must set the JavaScript API property in the Publish Wizard to add these functions to a Scene.

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12.4 Vary audio messages by the time of day The following HTML code illustrates how you can use JavaScript to precede a regular audio message with a specific audio message based on the time of day.

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>SitePal Time of Day Example</TITLE> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=12194&js=1&followCursor=1"> </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ var now = new Date(); now.setTime(now.getTime() + 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000); d = new Date(); mins = d.getMinutes(); hours = d.getHours(); if(hours < 12){ sayAudio('goodMorning'); }else if (hours < 17){ sayAudio('goodAfternoon'); }else{ hours = hours - 12; sayAudio('goodEvening'); } sayAudio('regularMessage'); } </script> </HEAD> <BODY> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> AC_VHost_Embed_12194(327,500,'FFFFFF',1,1,217600,469151,0,0,'27f8f45d14efc8d47e78f86503522d26',6); </script> </BODY> </HTML>

12.5 Concatenate audio messages You can concatenate, or chain together, specific audio messages by using multiple instances of the sayAudio or sayText functions. In the following example JavaScript code, the sayAudio function concatenates four audio messages:

<head> <title> Oddcast VHost SitePal Say Multiple Audios Example</title> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=18&js=1"></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ //event function singAsong(); }

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function singAsong(){ sayAudio('LondonBridge 1'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 2'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 2'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 1'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 3'); } </SCRIPT> </head>

You can view the above example online. To see the complete source code for this example, open the example in your browser and on the View menu, click Source.

If you have the Text-to-Speech option available to your account, you can also concatenate text with the sayText function:

<head> <title> Oddcast VHost SitePal Say Multiple Text Example</title> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=18&js=1"></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ //event function singAsong(); } function singAsong(){ sayText('london bridge is falling down',5,1,1); sayText('falling down',5,1,1); sayText('falling down',5,1,1); sayText('london bridge is falling down',5,1,1); sayText('my fair lady',5,1,1); } </SCRIPT> </head>

You can view the above example online. To see the complete source code for this example, open the example in your browser and on the View menu, click Source.

For more information about the sayText function, see Using Dynamic Text-to-Speech.

12.6 Queue concatenated audio messages You can use the setStatus speech function to either

• stop playing the current audio message when sayAud o or sayText is called i

• queue, or sequence, the audio messages called by sayAudio or sayText to start playing after the current audio message finishes

The API function setStatus accepts an integer of either 0 or 1 as its first parameter, which initiates the interruptMode routine.

The value of the second routine of setStatus, progressInterval, steps through the audio message playback and should typically be set to 0. For more information about setStatus, see the VHost API Reference.

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If the parameter for interruptMode is set to 0, the current audio message stops playing when sayAudio or sayText is called. If the parameter is set to 1, the current audio message continues playing and all audio messages called by sayAudio or sayText are queued and played after the current audio message finishes.

function sayMyAudio() { setStatus(1,0); //The value of 1 in the first argument specifies //that the message not may be interrupted. sayAudio('count'); }

In the following complete example, setStatus is demonstrated with both of its interruptMode arguments and highlighted with comments:

<html> <head> <title> SitePal Say Multiple Audios Example</title> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=18&js=1"></script> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ //event function singAsong(); } function singAsong(){ setStatus(0,0); //The 0 value in the first argument specifies that the //messages will be queued. sayAudio('LondonBridge 1'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 2'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 2'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 1'); sayAudio('LondonBridge 3'); } function sayMyAudio() { setStatus(1,0); //The 1 value in the first argument specifies //that the message not may be interrupted. sayAudio('count'); } </SCRIPT> </head> <body> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> AC_VHost_Embed_18(229,350,'FFFFFF',1,1,578,1366,0,0,'2a718006e025d6cef28cc565cdeaeb8a',6); </script> <p> Click <a href="javascript:sayMyAudio();">here</a> to hear another message<BR> or click here to hear <a href="javascript:singAsong();">London Bridge</a> again. </body> </html>

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12.7 Create a FAQ with SitePal You can create an FAQ SitePal Scene by adding some questions as links on your Web site. When a user clicks a question, your SitePal Character speaks the answer. You can create an FAQ SitePal Scene programmatically, as the following example shows, or by using the pre-configured FAQ Player skin for your Scene.

This example uses the sayText() function to speak the answers. You could also use sayAudio() to have your SitePal Character respond with an audio file that you have uploaded to the Audio Library. To create your own FAQ with SitePal, add your questions and replace the contents of the sayTex ) commands with your own responses. t(

<html> <head> <title> SitePal - FAQ Example </title> <!-- begin VHost embed code --><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_embed_functions.php?acc=16851&js=1&followCursor=1"></script> <!-- end VHost embed code --> <!-- the setStatus(1,0) call in the vh_sceneLoaded event will set the audio Stream interrupt mode to True. --><script language="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded() { setStatus(1,0); } </script> </head> <body> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="CENTER"> <P>SitePal FAQ Example (Scene embedded in HTML)</P><BR> <P>sayText(txt,voice,lang,engine)</P><br> <P>sayAudio('audioTrackName', seconds)</SPAN> <BR><BR><BR><BR> </td> </tr> </table> <!-- below is the table that is used to align questions to the left of the VHost --><!-- easily modified by adding or removing table rows and adjusting the "rowspan" property of the table data entry containing the VHost --> <table width="650" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td></td> <td rowspan=6 align="right">

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<!-- begin VHost embed code --> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> AC_VHost_Embed_16851(196,300,'FF9900',1,1,261347,516209,0,0,'e5bd1aa695a66f5b74178e17aefa3d9e',6); </script> <!-- end VHost embed code --> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> <a href="javascript:sayText('To view the source of the page in Internet Explorer, click on view in the toolbar at the top and then click on source.',1,1,3);"> How do I view the source of the page? </a> </td> </TR> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> <a href="javascript:sayText('Send an email to support, at oddcast dot com.',1,1,3);"> How do I contact the Support Team at Oddcast? </a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> <a href="javascript:sayText('Oddcast is located on eighth avenue in new york city.',1,1,3);"> Where is Oddcast located? </a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="LEFT"> <a href="javascript:sayText('Only if you come bearing gifts.',1,1,3);"> Can I come visit Oddcast? </a> </td> </tr> <tr><td><br></td></tr> </table> <!-- end FAQ table --> </body> </html>

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12.8 Invoke playback by clicking on a character You can use SitePal API functions to control when an audio message plays. You can invoke playback when a user clicks the SitePal Character or clicks a button. You can also use the Playback Settings of the Scene Options to play audio in response to click and rollover events.

1. In the Settings tab of the Skin Editor, make sure that the Show Play/Pause Button check box is selected.

2. In the Scene List, click Link Setting.

The Link Settings dialog box appears.

3. Select the Click Anywhere on VHost to Trigger Event check box.

4. In the URL text box, type javascript:replay().

5. Select _self from the Target drop-down menu.

6. Click Update.

7. In the Scene List, under Playback Limit, select Never from the Play On Load drop-down menu.

This specifies that the Scene does not play automatically when the page loads.

8. Embed your Scene on a Web page if it is not already embedded.

If your Scene is already embedded, the change to the Scene takes effect automatically.

12.9 Respond to click or rollover events You can use JavaScript and the SitePal API to control the speech of your character in response to user clicks or rollover events. You can also use the Playback Settings of the Scene Options to play audio in response to click and rollover events.

The following code fragment is an example of how to make your Character speak on a rollover event by associating the onMouseOver event with a table cell containing the Character, in conjunction with the sayAud o or sayText VHost API functions. i

<Table cols="1" width = "400" ><tr> <td onMouseOver="sayAudio('Demo_F')"> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> AC_VHost_Embed_11851(300,400,'FFFFFF',1,1,173020,0,0,0,'dcf63db3e5ea03c7b2f0b7f336497f58',6); </script> </tr></td></table>

When a user moves the mouse over your SitePal Character, the sayAudio API function is invoked and the Character speaks the Demo_F audio message.

Similarly, you can modify the onClick event so the character speaks the audio message when a user clicks on your Scene.

onClick="sayAudio('Demo_F')"

You can also use other SitePal API functions, such as replay and stopSpeech, to control speech. For more information and example, see the VHost API Reference.

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12.10 Use Dynamic Text-to-Speech Dynamic Text-to-Speech (TTS) is an optional feature that you use to determine the text that your Character speaks dynamically when your Scene is played. For example, you could store your text in a database and have your character speak different TTS messages through a program that interfaces with the database.

To implement dynamic TTS inside an HTML page, you use JavaScript to call the SitePal API sayText function. This method supports the full inventory of SitePal languages and voices. For more information about Voice Family IDs, Language IDs, and Voice IDs supported by the sayText and sayAIResponse API calls, see Appendix B of the VHost API Reference.

The following describes the process of using Dynamic TTS with a SitePal Scene:

1. Turn off audio for the Scene that you want to use.

Open the Scene in the Scene Editor, and then select No Audio from the list of private audio messages in the Audio Library.

2. Embed the Scene in your HTML page.

In the Embed Scene window, select the JavaScript API check box. If you are publishing the Scene to an eBay auction, do not use the Optimized Playback option, which does not support Dynamic TTS.

3. Set the Licensed Domain.

TTS is licensed by domain. To use TTS you need to specify the domain name from which your pages are served. Domain-specific licensing is implemented as a security measure to prevent TTS-stream theft from your account. A TTS license includes two domains. You can change your licensed domains at anytime.

To set the licensed domain, go the Account Info page and activate Secure Playback. An example of a domain name is www.mycompany.com (do not include http:// or any path information). You can use multiple domains with your account to support deployments on several Web sites. Your account includes two domains, and you can buy additional domains in the VHost Store.

4. Review the sayText API function.

Review the syntax of the sayText function in the VHost API Reference. Call this function to invoke dynamic TTS in response to events. Use the function parameters to specify the language and voice that you want to use. For advanced functionality, review the available SSML tags that you can use to fine-tune TTS audio. For more information, see Appendix B of the VHost API Reference.

5. Call the sayText API function.

You can call sayText to induce speech at any time after the Scene is fully loaded. You can have your Character speak when a user clicks the Character, when the mouse rolls over a certain area of your page, or after a certain amount of time has elapsed. The following example shows JavaScript that plays the audio when a user clicks a link:

<a href="javascript:sayText(‘something’,1,1,1);">Click here to say “something”!</a>

In a similar way you can invoke TTS in response to rollover or other events that JavaScript can detect or generate. The following example shows JavaScript that plays the audio when the Scene first loads:

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<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> function vh_sceneLoaded(){ sayText("Welcome to my website!",1,1,1); } </SCRIPT>

The vh_SlideBegin callback function captures the vh_SlideBegin event. This event indicates that the Scene is loaded and ready to accept your call. For more information about Event Callback functions, see the VHost API Reference.

You can view an example of a Dynamic TTS implementation that uses the methods described above. Right-click and click View Source to see the source code for the page. You can copy and paste code from this page to use in your own implementation of Dynamic TTS.

12.11 Use SSML tags with TTS You can use the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) to control, manipulate, and refine Text-to-Speech.

SSML is a W3C specification and is based on the XML markup language that instructs a Text-To-Speech engine how to process text to generate audio. SSML provides a standardized way for authors of synthesized text to control such aspects of speech as pronunciation, volume, pitch, rate, and other elements of speech.

SSML is based on XML, so certain rules apply to the use of SSML tags:

• SSML tags must be properly nested and must not overlap.

• SSML is case sensitive: opening and closing tags must match exactly.

Incorrect:

<Say-as interpret-as="Currency"> $25.32 </say-as>

Correct:

<say-as interpret-as="Currency"> $25.32 </say-as> <SAY-AS interpret-as="Currency"> $25.32 </SAY-AS>

• Attribute values must be set in quotes.

Incorrect:

<say-as interpret-as=Number:decimal> 3.14159 </say-as>

Correct:

<say-as interpret-as="Number:decimal"> 3.14159 </say-as> • The tags of empty elements must be closed.

Incorrect:

No time for a pause <Break size="none"> Keep going.

Correct:

No time for a pause <Break size="none"/> Keep going.

In addition, there is an SSML-specific markup rule:

• Tokens (that is, words) in SSML cannot span markup tags.

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A simple English example is "cup<break/>board"; the synthesis treats this as the two words "cup" and "board" rather than as one word with a pause in the middle. Breaking one token into multiple tokens this way will likely affect how the processor treats it.

Additional SSML markup guidelines appear in the SSML specification. A complete list of supported SSML tags and examples of how to use them appear in Appendix C of the VHost API Reference. A list of all SSML elements and attributes appears in the W3C SSML Recommendation.

12.12 Fine-tune SSML-driven TTS There are tools on the SitePal Web site that can help you fine-tune your SSML-driven TTS:

• The Loquendo tool is at http://www.oddcast.com/sitepal/support/ssml/loquendo

• The AT&T tool is at http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_minisite/support/ssml/att

• The NeoSpeach tool is at http://vhost.oddcast.com/vhost_minisite/support/ssml/NeoSpeach

Paste your SSML-marked up text into the tool's text field, click the Say Text-to-Speech button, and listen to how the engine interprets your text and tags. Then use the tool to edit your tags and retest the message until you obtain the desired results. When you are finished, use the text and the SSML tags in your Scene.

The following is an example marked up with SSML for the Loquendo speech engine:

Using <SAY-AS interpret-as="Acronym">SSML</SAY-AS> tags I can pronounce addresses, currencies, dates, time, and more. I can! pause <Break size="large"/> anywhere for any duration. I can! <prosody volume="soft">speak very softly, and then</prosody> <prosody volume="loud">surprise! speak loud!</prosody> I can! <prosody rate="slow">speak very slowly, and then:</prosody><prosody rate="fast">speak so fast, you could hardly follow!</prosody> I can! shift my pitch! <prosody pitch="high">I might be high.</prosody> and <prosody pitch="low">I might be low!</prosody> and everything in between.

The following is an example marked up with SSML for the AT&T engine. The voice tag gives you control over the voice of the TTS speaker from the input text. You can use this feature to change voices or language, as demonstrated below. This voice feature is supported only for the AT&T voice family and must be processed by the AT&T engine.

I can! change my voice while I speak! <VOICE Name="Audrey16">A different accent!?</VOICE> or speak in a different language!<VOICE Name="Juliette16">Merci beaucoup!</VOICE>

Text with SSML tags can also be used with the SitePal API sayText function.

Additional SSML markup guidelines appear in the W3C SSML specification. A complete list of supported SSML tags and examples of how to use them appear in Appendix C of the VHost API Reference. A list of all SSML elements and attributes appears in the W3C SSML Recommendation.

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12.13 Troubleshoot Dynamic Text-to-Speech Consider the following suggestions if your implementation of Dynamic TTS does not work correctly.

• Verify that you have properly copied the Standard Web Page embed code from the Publish Wizard into your page. Before copying the code, make sure that you have selected the JavaScript API setting.

• Verify that the licensed domain name has been configured properly on your Account Info page. One of the specified domain names must be identical to the domain name you see in your browser's Address field after stripping away the preceding http:// and any path information. For example, if your browser's Address field shows http://www.mycompany.com/abcd/index.html, your licensed domain name should be www.mycompany.com.

• Verify that the sayText function is actually being called. You can verify this by adding a JavaScript alert in the line before the sayText function call:

No time for a pause <Break size="none"/> Keep going.

If your implementation is correct, the alert will appear when your Character is about to speak. If you do not see the alert, your code is not calling the sayText function, and you need to examine your code for omissions.

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Artificial Intelligence and the AI Knowledge Base

Chapter 13

Artificial Intelligence and the AI Knowledge Base

Bring your SitePal Characters to life with the power of artificial intelligence (AI) by using the AI Knowledge Base. You can think of the AI Knowledge Base as the personality and brain of your SitePal Character, enabling the Character to respond to user questions with context-sensitive, spoken answers. The AI Knowledge Base is also referred to as a Bot.

For example, a user who is visiting an art Web site can type a question for a Bot, such as:

"How much a e these prints?" r

The SitePal AI engine retrieves the relevant information from your AI Knowledge Base, and then your SitePal Character speaks the answer:

"The price of the prints featured on this page is 45 dollars framed or 25 dollars unframed. These prints are available for immediate shipping.”

To use the AI Knowledge Base, you need to:

1. Design and embed your SitePal Scene in a Web page.

2. Edit your Bot's characteristics.

3. Teach your Bot concepts, which is the detailed knowledge for responding to keywords.

4. Use the API function sayA ResponseI to route visitors' questions to your SitePal character. Your character will automatically respond to these questions. (you must add a text field to your Web page so your visitors can type in their questions).

5. Use the vh_a Response API callbacki to capture and display the text response (optional).

6. Deploy your Bot on a Web site.

You use the Artificial Intelligence Management Center (AIMC) to edit the AI Knowledge Base. Your SitePal Gold account includes a Bot which has defined characteristics including name, age, and gender. This built-in Bot contains over 23,000 unique pieces of information. Using the AIMC is optional. If you do not edit your Bot, your character will respond based on the built-in information and pre-configured characteristics.

The AI Knowledge Base is available only with the SitePal Gold package.

The AI Knowledge Base is setup for English only. However, other languages are now supported. Please contact SitePal Support to learn how to add French, German or Italian AIML sets.

13.1 Set up the AI Management Center You use the SitePal Artificial Intelligence Management Center (AIMC) to edit and maintain your Bot. In the AIMC properties window, you can change your Bot's characteristics. In the AIMC's concepts window, you can teach your Bot detailed knowledge about a specific subject matter.

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The changes and additions you make to your Bot through the AIMC are reflected in its Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) File System. AIML is a derivative of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and is used to create pattern-based, stimulus-response knowledge content. AIML serves this content over the Internet with HTML, XHTML, and XML. Knowledge of AIML is not required for you to use the AIMC or to use the AI Knowledge Base.

To set up the AIMC for your Bot:

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

3. On the top menu bar, click Edit, and then click the Edit Bot Properties link.

4. Under Base Properties, enter the characteristics of your Bot.

Figure 72 - Base Properties for Bot

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5. Under Custom Properties, enter knowledge about specific subject matter for your Bot.

Figure 73 – Custom Properties

6. Click the Update Properties button.

To create a new custom property for your Bot, you must first write the corresponding code in the AIML file system. To learn more about AIML, see the AIML Primer.

13.2 Define concepts for your AI Knowledge Base Concepts are responses for a Bot to use when it encounters specific keywords or phrases that are entered by users.

To define a concept for your Bot:

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

3. On the top menu bar, click Edit, and then click the Edit Concepts link.

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4. On the Edit Concepts page, click Add.

The Add a New Concept page appears.

Figure 74 - Add a New Concept page 5. In the Keywords box, type a keyword or a list of keywords.

Separate each keyword with a comma.

6. In the Response box, type the responses for the keywords.

You must enclose each response in quotes.

You can enter multiple short responses in one Response box. Each discrete response in a Response box must be on a separate line.

You can enter one longer response in one Response box and then add additional Response boxes. Click Add Response to add an another Response box

7. Click Done when you are finished adding responses for the keyword or keywords.

To save your keywords and responses for a concept and continue to work on the concept, click Update.

To edit your keywords or responses for a concept, or to add more responses to a concept, on the Edit Concepts page, click the concept and then click Edit.

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13.3 Edit the AIML file system AIML code contains the underlying logic and Knowledge Base which governs your Bot’s responses. In the AIML File System, you can create new AIML files, edit existing files, or upload AIML files from your computer.

!

Editing AIML Code is optional! In most cases teaching your Bot by adding and editing Concepts is sufficient for achieving the desired result. Only in cases where detailed control and fine-tuning of your Bot’s responses is required is editing the AIML source code necessary. To learn more about AIML, see the AIML Primer.

To edit the AIML file system:

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

3. On the top menu bar, click Edit, and then click the [Advanced] Edit AIML File System link.

The AIMC Home page appears.

Figure 75 - AIML File System 4. In the AIML File System window, do any of the following:

To Do this

Create a new AIML file Click the Create a file button .

Refresh the list of AIML files Click the Refresh button .

Upload an AIML file from your computer

Click the Upload file button .

Perform an action on an AIML file

Click on one of the buttons for the file in the Action column. Hold the mouse pointer over a button to show the button name.

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! It is important that you backup AIML files before you modify them. The AIML files that are included with your account cannot be restored should you accidentally damage these files.

13.4 Compile your AI Knowledge Base When you change Bot’s properties or add new concepts, you create new AIML code. You need to compile this new code for these changes and additions to be activated and recognized by your Bot. The AIMC automatically generates a Staging Bot when you compile the AIML for your Bot. The Staging Bot is created so that you can test your changes before deploying your Bot on a live Web page.

To compile the AIML for your Bot:

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

3. On the top menu bar, click Edit, and then click the Compile AIML - Generate Staging Bot link.

A window appears displaying the AIML files that are being compiled. Depending on the extent of the changes or additions being compiled, this process can take up to 30 minutes.

The AIML files are compiled to the Staging AI Engine; the live AI Engine is not affected.

Figure 76 - Compi ing AIML Files l 4. Click the Test your Bot link.

5. Click Test Staging Bot.

The testing environment does not include your SitePal Character since just the Bot or personality is necessary to test your changes and additions in its behavior.

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Figure 77 - Testing a BOT 6. In the Input box, type a question that will test your changes to the Bot, and then click Submit.

When you are satisfied that your changes are working correctly, deploy your Bot to a Web page.

13.5 Implement your AI Knowledge Base To use the AI Knowledge Base with the SitePal Character on your Web page, you need to use the SitePal API sayAIResponse function along with the API vh_aiResponse event function. When a response to the sayA Response function is returned, it triggers the vh_aiResponse event function, which returns the text that is generated by the AI engine.

I

To implement the AI Knowledge Base on your Web page you should be familiar with general programming concepts and JavaScript.

Perform the following steps to implement the AI Knowledge Base into your web page:

1. Insert the following code into the <HEAD> section of your page:

<script language="javascript"> var tempText; function vh_aiResponse(args) { // args = AI text response var aiString = args; document.myForm.message.value += ("Q: " + tempText + "\n" + "A: " + aiString + "\n \n") + document.myForm.message.value; document.myForm.textToSay.value = ""; } </script>

2. Insert the following code into the <BODY> of your page under the code that calls your SitePal Character:

<form name="myForm" onSubmit="javascript:tempText=textToSay.value;sayAIResponse(textToSay.value, 5, 1, 1); textToSay.value=''; return false"> <input name="textToSay" value=""> <input type="button" value="Ask AI Engine"

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onClick="javascript:tempText=textToSay.value;sayAIResponse(textToSay.value, 5, 1, 1); textToSay.value=''; return false"> <br><br> <textarea name="message" value="" rows=6 cols=55 readonly vscroll="true"></textarea> </form>

The above sayAIResponse function has a female voice (the second parameter is 5 – the voice value). To see a list of possible values for the voice parameter, see VHost API Reference.

3. Go to your Account Info page and define your domain under the Licensed Domains section.

! The Licensed Domain must match the URL of the Web site which is hosting the AI implementation. This step is required for your security so that malicious users can’t steal your Audio Streams.

13.6 Deploy your AI Knowledge Base You must implement your AI Knowledge Base on a Web site before you can deploy your Bot to a live environment.

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

3. On the top menu bar, click Edit, and then click the Deploy Bot from Staging to Live link.

A window appears that informs you that that the AI Engine is being transferred to the live database.

13.7 Access AI Management Center report logs You can view logs of the conversations visitors on your Web site have with your Bot. You can also view the logs of test conversations that you have with the Staging Bot.

1. Log in to your SitePal account and go to your Scene List page.

2. On the top menu bar, click AIMC.

The AIMC Home page appears.

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Artificial Intelligence and the AI Knowledge Base

3. On the top menu bar, click Reports.

The reports page appears.

Figure 78 - AIMC Reports 4. Select Live Bot or Staging Bot.

5. Select the dates for which you want to view conversation logs.

6. Click Get Log File.

The File Download dialog box appears. 7. Click Open or Save.

Extract the files from the WinZip file or save file. The log file is a CSV file that you can open in spreadsheet.

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Appendices

Best Practices Glossary

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SitePal Best Practices

Appendix A

SitePal Best Practices

You can maximize the effectiveness of your Web enterprise by understanding the concepts of Oddcast’s VHost technology and by following these guidelines and best practices for implementing and maintaining SitePal Scenes.

1. Strive to create SitePal Characters that are unique and personalized for your business

Unique and personalized SitePal Characters can help your business standout from the rest. A specialized SitePal Character is appealing to prospective customers on both an aesthetic and emotional level. This type of customer-friendly Web environment can lead to increased traffic and better sales conversion.

With the Scene Editor you can create thousands of different Characters by adjusting various physical attributes. For example, you can change skin, eye and hair color, age, hairstyle, makeup, facial hair, and eye, nose and mouth shapes. You can also change accessories such as clothing and headwear. The Scene Editor is available with all SitePal accounts.

Given this, you are strong y encouraged to experiment as much as possible with SitePal’s Character design capabilities. The end results will be more than worth it.

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2. Create a SitePal that matches your image and appeals to the audience you are trying to attract with your Character

This is simple common sense. If your Web site caters to specific socio-demographic groups or market segments, it makes sense to use a SitePal Character that accurately reflects and engages that audience. Doing so will insure that you are projecting the right image while making your prospective customers feel more comfortable about doing business with you.

SitePal’s incredibly flexible character design tools make it possible to design Characters that fit a wide variety of businesses, site designs, and audiences.

3. High-quality audio makes for a high-quality SitePal Character SitePal is an audio-visual tool, so how your SitePal characters sound when they speak is just as important as how they look. Since most Web sites get only one chance to make a good impression, having SitePal Characters with inaudible or otherwise poor-quality audio is tantamount to turning away prospective customers. You can find guidelines for recording high quality, low bandwidth audio for SitePal at http://www.oddcast.com/support/docs/vhost_Tech_Note_3.pdf.

The following are best practices for producing high-quality audio for your SitePal Scene:

Tips for making your own audio recordings:

• Use a high-quality microphone and make sure that you are not too close or too far from the microphone when recording.

• Speak slowly and clearly while you record. Remember: haste makes waste!

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SitePal Best Practices

• While recording, try to minimize any background noise that can diminish the quality of your recording.

• Keep in mind the requirements for uploading audio files to the Audio Library:

Channels 1 (mono)

Sampling Rate 22.050 KHz or 44.100 KHz (22.050 KHz recommended for best results)

Audio sample size 16 bit

Supported audio formats WAV (PCM), MP3 (16, 32, 48, 64kbs), WMA (Windows Media Audio)

Maximum Audio Length 60 Seconds.

Tips for using pre-recording audio:

• If at all possible, use SitePal’s Professional Voice Talent services in lieu of making your own recordings. The difference in quality will far out-weigh the cost.

• Make sure the audio file is recorded at the proper volume level.

• Make sure that that your audio files meet the requirements specified by the SitePal application as this will minimize problems. This includes uploading mono (not stereo) audio files for the best results.

Tips for using Text-to-Speech audio:

• Only use the best-sounding Text-to-Speech voices. Not all SitePal Text-to-Speech voices have the same quality and some are better suited than others for certain purposes. You will need to experiment to see which ones work for you.

• Take advantage of Text-to-Speech’s Prosidy commands, which allow you to adjust various elements such as volume, the rate-of-speech and other Text-to-Speech features on a word-by-word basis. These commands are extremely powerful and can dramatically improve the quality and realism of Text-to-Speech messages if applied judiciously.

4. Be considerate when using audio with your SitePal Both research and experience tell us that many Web users find audio that they don’t initiate to be annoying, especially if they aren’t provided with a way to control it.

If you’re using SitePal for business purposes, the last thing you want to do is annoy prospective customers. Therefore, please be considerate when using audio with your SitePal by allowing your site visitors to have control over the playback of your audio messages.

Although there are several ways to do this, the easiest is to simply publish your Scene with a SitePal Skin. The SitePal Skin provides the option to adjust he volume and pause the playback of the audio. The SitePal Skin offers users a way to control your SitePal Character without negating the impact of its audio message.

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SitePal Best Practices

5. Use SitePal’s various audio capabilities wisely SitePal supports several different Audio technologies, with each being suited for specific situations. The following suggestions help you to choose the right technology for the right application:

Audio type Description

Recorded audio Use recorded audio for simple messages where audio quality is not paramount. Recorded audio is also useful when time or budget prevent you from taking advantage of professionally recorded audio.

Uploaded audio Use uploaded audio files for situations when you have access to a large library of pre-recorded audio files or when you want to use professionally recorded audio messages with your SitePal account.

Text-to-Speech Use Text-to-Speech audio to take advantage of interactive and dynamic messaging. Text-to-Speech can be controlled by way of a program to speak a certain message based on a visitor’s action on your site, time-of-day or some other event.

Text-to-Speech is also useful when you want some flexibility with regards to the sound of your audio messages but do not have the budget for creating professionally recorded audio.

Update by phone Record a message by using a phone for those times when you need to change or update an audio message and you do not have access to a computer or are traveling.

Professional Voice Talent Use a professional voice talent when you want to make the best possible impression to your audience. SitePal’s Professional Voice Talent services are provided by seasoned TV and radio voice-over specialists at very reasonable prices.

6. Avoid lengthy SitePal audio messages Currently SitePal supports audio recordings up to 60 seconds long. This number came about from research that indicated that most people start to “tune out” when exposed to spoken audio messages longer than 1 minute.

Even though SitePal supports recordings up to 60 seconds long, it is strongly suggested that you keep your audio messages under :30 seconds for maximum impact and to insure that your message was actually heard. Otherwise, you risk boring and alienating your audience.

7. Emphasize calls to action and always keep your SitePal’s messaging fresh

Regardless of what you use your SitePal’s audio messaging for, always emphasize calls to action as much as possible. For example, use terms such as “buy now”, “check out our special offer”, “register now”, or “available for immediate shipping.” Ultimately, it is the specific call to action that get visitors to do things on your site, including important things like buying your products.

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SitePal Best Practices

Calls to action are most effective when placed at the beginning and at the end of your audio messages.

In addition, you should always keep your SitePal’s messaging fresh and up-to-date. Regardless of how good they are, older audio recordings will eventually lose their effectiveness as people get used to hearing them. Therefore, to catch people’s attention and keep them interested, you should change your SitePal’s audio message frequently, at least every week or more often depending on the nature of your business.

8. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of all of SitePal’s features SitePal is much more than a “cool” technology that features animated speaking characters. In fact, SitePal is a complete environment for creating fully interactive Web sites.

For example, you can use SitePal’s API to create SitePal characters that can interact with your site’s visitors and perform a wide variety of actions based on their input. With SitePal Silver and Gold accounts, you can create Characters that access artificial intelligence by using SitePal’s AIMC technology. SitePal Characters that access artificial intelligence respond “intelligently” to user questions. And this only scratches the surface of what you can do with a SitePal!

You can view examples of what can be done with SitePal’s API by viewing these links: http://www.oddcast.com/support/examples/API/ and http://www.oddcast.com/support/examples/practical_examples/

9. Don’t devalue SitePal’s potential by implementing it poorly SitePal, for all of its merits and features, is only as good as its implementation. If implemented well, SitePal can produce impressive results for its users by improving site traffic, sales conversion, brand awareness, brand differentiation, and other benefits. However, if implemented poorly, SitePal won’t live up to its full potential.

Keep in mind the following issues to implement SitePal effectively:

Where SitePal will be used on your site

The role and/or function of your SitePal. Will it be used for promotional purposes, for pitching your goods and services or just for a “wow, that’s cool” factor? SitePal is good for many things but you must understand what you intend to use it for in order to see real benefits from it.

Where SitePal will be used on your site

Will it appear on the home page or in a specific section or sections of your site? Position on your site and its placement on the Web page are key variables when implementing your SitePal. Your SitePal should be visible to a user yet not obtrusive to their experience.

How SitePal will integrate into your existing site design

Are you going to artfully “graft” your SitePal to blend seamlessly into your site’s design or are you just going to “shoehorn” it in? SitePal works best when time and thought are given to how it will work with your site’s design.

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SitePal Best Practices

How often will you update your SitePal to keep it messaging fresh and unique

Will you keep the both look of your SitePal updated and its messaging fresh or will you let them go stale? SitePal will quickly revert to a novelty on your site if you don’t make the time or effort to keep it constantly updated with new messaging.

Although SitePal was designed to be easy-to-use and compatible with virtually all websites, it will not implement itself. If you are wary about or uncomfortable with the prospect of properly implementing SitePal there are many consultants available who will be glad to help you.

10. Don’t panic! The answer is probably in the SitePal User’s Guide (a.ka. The Hitchhikers Guide to SitePal)

Believe it not, chances are that 95% of the issues that most users face when using or implementing SitePal can be answered by reading the existing documentation. To that end, the team at SitePal has invested a significant amount of time and resources to giving SitePal customers access to professional quality documentation.

So when facing a problem, why not try looking in the SitePal User’s Guide? You can also find the information you’re looking for in the SitePal Online Help.

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Glossary

Appendix B

SitePal Glossary

The following are definitions of the names and terms that are used in SitePal and Oddcast’s VHost technology.

AI Knowledge Base

The artificial intelligence (AI) that enables a SitePal Character to respond to user questions with context-sensitive, spoken answers.

AIMC

Artificial Intelligence Management Center. You use the AIMC to edit the AI Knowledge Base (Bot).

AIML

Artificial Intelligence Markup Language. AIML is used to create pattern-based, stimulus-response knowledge content.

Audio

The message which your Character speaks in a SitePal Scene.

Audio Stream

One playing of an audio message is one audio stream.

Avatar

An animated graphical representation of a person, animal, or object. SitePal Characters are sophisticated speaking avatars.

Background

An image that appears as the background of a SitePal Scene.

Bot

A SitePal Character that uses the AI Knowledge Base.

Character

A SitePal avatar. A SitePal Character is based on a SitePal Model, or a model that Oddcast creates for you from an image that you provide.

Concept

Responses for a Bot to use when it encounters specific keywords or phrases that are entered by users

Lip-synching

The synchronization of an audio message with your Character’s lip movements.

Message

An audio message that your SitePal Character speaks.

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Glossary

Model

A pre-configured SitePal Character. You create your SitePal Character by starting with a Model.

Player

The window in which your SitePal Scene plays.

Player Skin

The frame of the Player window in which your SitePal character appears.

Scene

The presentation of a speaking SitePal Character in front of a background. A Scene is played in the SitePal Player.

Scene Editor

The tool that you use to edit and customize your SitePal Scene.

Skin

The frame of the Player window in which your SitePal character appears.

Skin Editor

The tool that you use to edit and customize the Player Skin for a SitePal Scene.

Text-to-Speech

The process that SitePal uses to synthesize typed text into an audio message that a SitePal Character speaks.

Index

A accessories for model................................36 account activites ........................................76 Account Additions page.............................73 Account Info page......................................68 activities on account ..................................76 Add a New Concept page........................106 Add advertising..........................................79 add audio ...................................................43 add Audio Streams ....................................72 add audio to your Scene (tutorial) .............16 add Scenes..........................................29, 72 Adjust model appearance..........................37 advanced techniques.............................v, 88 advertising banners ...................................79 aeactivate account.....................................75 Affiliate Program ........................................78 AI Knowledge Base .................................103

compile ............................................. 108 define concepts for ........................... 105 deploy ............................................... 110 edit AIML file system......................... 107 set up AIMC ...................................... 103

AI Player skin ............................................ 56 AIMC ....................................................... 103 AIMCreport logs ...................................... 110 AIML File System.................................... 107 AIML Primer ............................................ 107 API ............................................................ 90 appearance of model ................................ 37 artificial intelligence........................... 10, 103 assign a new user ..................................... 84 AT&T speech engine .............................. 101 audio

add streams ........................................ 72

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Index

by time of day ......................................93 cancatenate messages........................93 enhance quality ...................................46 languages ............................................48 no audio...............................................50 play multiple.........................................50 private category ...................................43 public category ....................................43 record by microphone..........................43 record by phone...................................43 rename ................................................50 select ...................................................43 Text-to-Speech ....................................43 upload requirements............................45 using text .............................................47 voice talent ....................................43, 49

audio files...................................................92 Audio Library tab........................................43 audio playback limits .................................73 audio usage report.....................................77 Authorized Reseller Program ....................79 Automatic Billing ........................................69 automatic link.............................................32 available Audio Streams......................65, 73 background

change.................................................41 delete...................................................42 upload..................................................42

Background Color setting ..........................60 Background Library....................................41 banners......................................................79 Best Practices..........................................113 billing automatically ...................................69 Bot ...........................................................103 branding removal .......................................75 Center the Character .................................38 chain together audio ..................................93 Change account password ........................71 Character Library .......................................35 Character Library tab.................................35 Character Models ......................................35 Characters

features and accessories.....................36 miximum ..............................................36 saving ..................................................35

Choose features and accessories .............36 Clicking on the Scene opens the link.........32 color of model features ..............................37 Coloring tab ...............................................37 colors of Player skin...................................53 Compile AI Knowledge Base ...................108 Concatenate audio messages ...................93 contact information ....................................70 cookies.......................................................88 Create a FAQ.............................................96 create Characters ......................................34 create Scenes............................................30

create your own Character (tutorial) ......... 13 Credit Card Information ............................ 70 current account menu ............................... 28 Custom Models ......................................... 39 customize your Scene (tutorial) ................ 18 Define concepts for AI............................. 105 define domain ........................................... 66 delete saved Character............................. 36 Deploy AI Knowledge Base .................... 110 Dimensions ............................................... 60 Do not follow cursor .................................. 33 documentation .......................................... 10 domain verification.................................... 74 Dynamic Text-to-Speech .................... 10, 99 Dynamic TTS ............................................ 49 Dynamic TTS troubleshooting ................ 102 eBay.......................................................... 62 edit a Scene .............................................. 30 Edit contact information ............................ 70 Edit Credit Card Information ..................... 70 edit Player skin.......................................... 53 edit Scene ................................................. 29 Edit the AIML file system ........................ 107 edit user info ............................................. 85 Email ......................................................... 59 Email link to Scene ................................... 62 embed a banner........................................ 80 Embed a Scene in a Flash movie ............. 61 Embed a Scene in a Web page ................ 61 Embed in a Web Page .............................. 59 Embed in Flash ................................... 59, 61 Embed in MySpace............................. 59, 62 embed in PowerPoint................................ 65 Embed Scene in HTML email ................... 64 Enhance Audio Quality ....................... 17, 46 example HTML page................................. 61 Extend SitePal account............................. 68 FAQ Player skin ........................................ 54 FAQ SitePal Scene................................... 96 features of model ...................................... 36 Fine-tune SSML-driven TTS ................... 101 Flash movie............................................... 61 Follow cursor in Scene.............................. 33 Follow cursor in whole page ..................... 33 Follow Cursor setting ................................ 33 General Account Information panel .......... 68 Generate an example HTML page ........... 61 glossary................................................... 118 guide ......................................................... 11 HTML email message............................... 64 HTML example page................................. 61 Implement AI Knowledge Base............... 109 introduction to SitePal ................................. 9 JavaScript 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 98, 100 JavaScript API setting............................... 60 languages ................................................. 48 Lead Generator Player skin ...................... 55

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Index

prevent playback....................................... 74 Libraries panel ...........................................30 Licensed Domains ...............................66, 74 Preview panel ........................................... 30

preview Scene .......................................... 29 limit audio playback ...................................65 Private category ........................................ 42 link a Scene ...............................................33 process for SitePal...................................... 9 Link is automatically opened .....................32

Link setting.................................................32 professional voice talent ........................... 49 Profiting from SitePal ................................ 78 link triggered ..............................................33 Properties for embedded code ................. 59 list of Scenes .............................................29 Public category ......................................... 43 load Character ...........................................36

log in ..........................................................11 publish Scene in different Web pages ...... 90 Publish to eBay ................................... 59, 62 log out ........................................................28

Loquendo speech engine ........................101 Publish Wizard.......................................... 58 manage account ........................................68 publish your Scene (tutorial) ..................... 23 Manage audio messages ..........................50 Publishing a Scene ................................... 58 manage Reseller accounts ........................81 purchase additional Scenes...................... 73 Manage users ............................................84 Queue audio messages............................ 94 maximum audio messages........................43 Quick Start Guide...................................... 11 maximum Characters ................................36 random audio ............................................ 91 Microsoft PowerPoint.................................65 reactivate SitePal account ........................ 75 Model tab ...................................................34 Record by microphone.............................. 43

Record by phone....................................... 43 models pre-defined ..........................................34 Record your own audio message ............. 44 selecting ..............................................34 recording quality........................................ 48 thumbnails ...........................................35 recurring billing ......................................... 69

Models remove Oddcast branding......................... 75 Custom ................................................39 remove user .............................................. 86

rename audio ............................................ 50 Specialty ..............................................40 rename saved Character .......................... 36 Move the Character ...................................38

multiple audio messages ...........................50 rename Scene........................................... 29 Mute button................................................53 report logs ............................................... 110 my account info page.................................28 report of activities...................................... 76 MySpace....................................................62 Reseller Program...................................... 79

Reseller Store ........................................... 80 name for Character....................................36 No JavaScript ............................................61 reset Character position............................ 38 Oddcast branding ......................................75 Respond to click or rollover....................... 98 open a Scene (tutorial) ..............................11 responses for a Bot................................. 105 Open Link in...............................................32 Save All Changes button .......................... 29 options save Character.......................................... 35

Play On Load.......................................32 save Scenes ............................................. 31 Play On Rollover..................................32 Scene background.................................... 41 Play/Pause On Click............................32 Scene Dimensions setting ........................ 60

options for Scene.......................................31 Scene Editor ............................................. 30 panels in Scene Editor...............................30 Scene List ................................................. 29 password ...................................................71 Scene title ................................................. 53 phone recording.........................................47 Scenes Play multiple audio ....................................50 adding ................................................. 29 Play On Load .............................................32 audio ................................................... 43 Play On Rollover........................................32 creating ............................................... 30 Play/Pause button......................................53 editing ................................................. 30 Play/Pause On Click ..................................32 editing ................................................. 29 playback by clicking...................................98 email link to......................................... 62 playback limits ...........................................73 linking.................................................. 33 Playback setting ........................................32 opening ............................................... 11 Player skin .................................................52 options for ........................................... 31 Player Skin panel.......................................30 previewing........................................... 29 position the Character................................37 renaming............................................. 29 PowerPoint ................................................65 saving ................................................. 31

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Index

working with.........................................28 Secure Protocol (HTTPS) setting ..............60 select a model............................................34 Select an audio message ..........................43 select Player skin.......................................52 Select Your Account window .....................72 settings

playback ..............................................66 Player skin ...........................................53 Publish Wizard.....................................59

Shop at the Reseller Store ........................80 show accounts ...........................................85 SitePal account..........................................68 SitePal Best Practices .............................113 SitePal glossary.......................................118 SitePal Player ............................................52 SitePal process............................................9 SitePal Publish Wizard ..............................59 SitePal publishing targets ..........................59 Skin Editor .................................................52 Skin Select tab...........................................52 skin types...................................................53 skins...........................................................52 Specialty Models .......................................40 SSML

AT&T tool...........................................101 fine tune.............................................101 Loquendo tool....................................101 NeoSpeach........................................101

SSML tags with TTS................................100 Staging Bot ..............................................108 target of link ...............................................33 test AI Knowledge Base...........................108 Test Staging Bot ......................................108 Text To Speech .........................................48 Text-to-Speech ..........................................43 Text-to-Speech audio ................................49

thumbnail models...................................... 35 time of day audio....................................... 93 title of Scene ............................................. 53 Tools panel ............................................... 30 Tools Panel ............................................... 34 transfer account ........................................ 83 triggered link ............................................. 33 Troubleshoot Dynamic Text-to-Speech .. 102 TTS ........................................................... 47 tutorial ....................................................... 11 unauthorized playback.............................. 74 unlimited play ............................................ 32 update billing information.......................... 69 update user information ............................ 85 upgrade SitePal account........................... 72 Upload audio file ....................................... 43 Upload audio files ..................................... 45 Upload background image........................ 42 upload requirements for audio upload ...... 45 URL........................................................... 32 Use a phone to record audio..................... 47 Use cookies to play alternate audio.......... 88 Use JavaScript to play audio randomly .... 91 user sessions report.................................. 77 Vary audio messages ............................... 93 Voice Sample............................................ 48 voice talent................................................ 49 Voice talent ............................................... 43 voices........................................................ 48 Volume bar................................................ 53 Web Page (No JavaScript) ....................... 61 Web page embedded code....................... 61 Wizard....................................................... 58 Working with audio.................................... 43 Working with backgrounds........................ 41 Working with the Player skin..................... 52 Zoom/Move controls ................................. 37

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