User Guide: Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore

Introduction

Note that you must complete the installation and configuration of the Brightcove-Sitecore connector before performing the tasks described in this topic.

Defining Video Cloud Players

A player is needed to display a single video or a playlist of videos. A player defines what kind of capabilities are available to the visitor who wants to watch a video. Content authors can add new players, edit existing players and delete existing players.

Add Player

This section describes how to manually create the Sitecore item that corresponds to a player.

1. In Brightcove Video Cloud, navigate to the Players section.

   

2. Select a player you want to create in Sitecore. Note the Player ID value beneath the player name. You will need to enter this into Sitecore in the following section.

   

3. In Sitecore, in the Media Library, select the Brightcove Account item.
4. Select the Accounts item.
5. Select the Players item.
6. Right-click Players and click the Insert and Brightcove Video Player
7. Add a new Brightcove Video Player item. You will be prompted to enter the player ID. Enter the value from Brightcove Video Cloud.
8. You will want to be sure you add both single video and playlist-enabled players.

Set Default Players

For videos and playlists to be previewed in Sitecore, the default players must be specified. This section describes how to set the default players.

1. In Sitecore, in the Media Library, select the Brightcove Account item.
2. Select the Accounts item.
3. In the Settings section, set the values for the Default Video Player field and the Default Playlist Player field.

   

4. Save the item.

Editing and Deleting Players

Player items can be edited or deleted just like any other Sitecore items.

Working with Brightcove videos

Importing, Adding, Previewing and Deleting Videos

Sitecore Data Exchange Framework is used to synchronize content between Sitecore and the Brightcove cloud. Content authors can also upload new videos to the Brightcove cloud using the upload option in the Brightcove ribbon in the Content Editor (see Add Video below).

Importing video

A Sitecore content author or administrator can trigger the video import process by running the pull or sync pipeline batches in the Brightcove DEF tenant. Note that the sync pipeline batch will export any pending edits to Brightcove as well as import pending changes from Brightcove.

Add Video

Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore allows content authors to add new videos. Content Authors can upload a new video to the Brightcove cloud by clicking the upload button in the Brightcove ribbon in the Content Editor.

Edit Video

Video items are edited just like any other Sitecore items, but the changes must be synchronized with Brightcove using the push or sync pipeline batches.

Delete Video

Deleting a video item will NOT delete it from the Brightcove cloud. If you want to delete the video item as well as remove it from the Brightcove cloud you must check the Delete checkbox under the Synchronization tab on the video item and then run the push or sync pipeline batch.

Search for Videos and Playlists

To search for videos or playlists, click the magnifying glass icon to open the Search tab.

Enter search terms in the field and click the search icon.

You can select filters on the right to narrow the search results.

Importing, Adding, Previewing and Deleting Playlists

A playlist is a collection of videos in a single player. Sitecore Data Exchange Framework is used to synchronize content between Sitecore and the Brightcove cloud.

Add Playlist

Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore allows content authors to add new playlists.

1. Open the Sitecore Media Library.
2. Navigate to the account with the videos you want to create a playlist for.
3. Navigate to the Media Library item.
4. Navigate to the Playlists folder and right-click on it.
5. Add a new Brightcove Playlist item.

   

6. For the Name field, enter a descriptive name for the video.
7. For the Video Ids field, select the videos you want to include in the playlist.

Edit Playlist

Playlist items are edited just like any other Sitecore items.

Delete Playlist

Deleting a playlist item will NOT delete it from the Brightcove cloud. If you want to delete the playlist item as well as remove it from the Brightcove cloud you must check the Delete checkbox under the Synchronization tab on the playlist item and then run the push or sync pipeline batch.

Add Video to Pages

Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore allows content authors to insert media into their pages in a variety of ways. This section covers the options that are available.

Rich Text Editor

Rich text fields allow content authors to insert formatted content into their pages. Content authors use the rich text editor to create and edit this formatted content. This section covers the features that Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore adds to the rich text editor.

Embed Media

Media can be embedded directly in a rich text field.

1. In the rich text editor, click the Embed Media button.
2. Use the search screen to find the media you want to insert. Click the row that represents the media you want to insert. Click the Next > button.
3. iii. Depending on the type of media you select, you will see additional options. For example, if you select a video, you must specify the player that should be used to display the video, along with the dimensions for the player. Click Finish.
4. The media is embedded in the rich text field.

Rendering

Sitecore renderings allow content to be positioned at a specific location on a page. Sitecore allows two kinds of renderings: Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore includes a rendering that allows content authors to insert media in pages.

1. Use Page Editor to add a rendering to a placeholder.
2. Select the Embed Media rendering.
3. The rendering has been added to the placeholder. Now click the Embed Media Element button.
4. Use the search screen to find the media you want to insert. Click the row that represents the media you want to insert. Click the Next > button.
5. Depending on the type of media you select, you will see additional options. For example, if you select a video, you must specify the player that should be used to display the video, along with the dimensions for the player. Click Finish.
6. The media has been selected for the rendering.

Synchronization Between Sitecore and Video Cloud

This section covers keeping videos and playlists synchronized between Sitecore for the following scenarios:

• When videos and playlists are deleted from Brightcove
• When videos and playlists added in Sitecore
• When videos and playlists are deleted from Sitecore

Importing from Brightcove to Sitecore was covered previously here.

Playback Event Analytics

The Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore allows video playback events to be recorded for use in the Sitecore Digital Marketing System (DMS). This section covers the options that are available.

Playback Events

Playback events are used to record DMS page events as the result of video player actions. For example, when video playback starts, a DMS page event can be written.

Default Playback Events

Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore comes with the following playback events:

• Playback Started
• Playback Completed
• Playbacd Error

Configure Playback Events for Account

By default, the playback started, and playback completed events are recorded. This is enabled on the Settings section of the Brightcove Account item.

By default, the playback started, and playback completed events are recorded. This is enabled on the Settings section of the Brightcove Account item.

Disable Playback Events for Account

All playback events can be disabled for a specific account.

1. In Content Editor navigate to the account under Media Library > Brightcove > [Account Name].
2. The Playback Events Rules field describes the conditions that must be met for playback events to be registered. By default, the condition is where true, meaning always. Click the Edit Rule button to change the condition, or to remove the existing rule.

   

Specify Playback Events for Media

Each playlist and video item has a field named Events. This field determines which playback events will be handled for the specified item.

The following screenshot indicates that playback events have been specified for the video:

Create New Playback Events

You can add new playback events in order to capture more detailed information about video playback metrics.

1. In Content Editor navigate to Media Library > Brightcove > [Account Name].
2. Add a new item using the template Playback Event.
3. For the Page Event field select Playback Changed
4. For the Parameter field you can enter a value in one of the following formats:
   • Number - after the video is played this number of seconds, the page event is recorded. An example of a valid value is 15
   • Percent - after the video is played this amount, the page event is recorded. An example of a valid value is 50%
5. Save the item.
6. Publish the item.
7. Now you can add the new page event to your playlist and videos.

Reports

Brightcove Video Connect for Sitecore includes several reports that pertain to video playback.

Started Playback

This report shows a list of the videos that have triggered the video started event.

Completed Playback

This report shows a list of the videos that have triggered the video completed event.

Incomplete Playback

This report shows a list of the videos that have triggered the video started event but not the video completed event.