To access the plugin settings click on Pro Radio SideKick > Settings
Some features are only available with the Premium license, which you can purchase in the Add-Ons area.
Any widget seen in the demos and most of the functionalities are available with the Free version, but there could be usage limitations.
Below, a screenshot of the available options:
Song History
This section controls the functions to enable the collection of played songs. The functionality will be explained in detail in the next chapter of the manual.
Enable song history: If enabled, a Wp Cron function will check and store the radio song history for the enabled channels.
History update interval: How often you want Sidekick to update the song history. Premium version allows to choose also 1, 2 and 5 minutes. If you play short songs, is recommended to use 1 minute. The more often you trigger this function, the more CPU it can use. Please note by default this is a WP Cron. This is NOT a linux Cron job. This means it only executes if the website is opened. To set a proper cron job and prevent missing history udpates, check the Advanced section of this manual.
History length: Hoe many songs to store for channel. With SideKick Premiuim you can store and display up to 10 tracks for up to 3 radio channels.
SideKick Companion
This section contains helper functions to streamline your radio maintenance work, save even more time and add songs more easily.
Autocompile song: if enabled, in charts and songs post type you will find a red ninja star (yes, a Shuriken) which means that field has ninja skills: start typing a song title or artist to begin a search. Click on a song to autocompile all of the song fields.
SideKick Premium allows unlimited autocompiles.
Can vote for current track: (premium) if enabled, a heart icon will appear in the player next to the song title. Clicking this button will increase the song Likes counter, which is useful to create charts or find most liked songs, and much more.
This option only appears in the main player bar. If you have it hidden, that's not available.
Add songs to archive when liking (premium): if the current song is not stored in the Songs post type, SideKick will instantly add the song, autocompiling missing fields with the iTunes data.
Music chart votes affects the global song ranking (premium): SideKick will connect a song from the chart to the global songs archive. If users upvote or downvote a song in the charts, this will affect the single song global rank in positive or negative (likes counter)
Dedications Integration
This functionality is only available for SideKick Premium. Doesn't require Dedications Premium, works also with Dedications Free which comes in bundle with Pro Radio. So, Sidekick Premium does NOT require Dedications premium.
Store song in database when publishing a dedication (Premium): When you approve a dedication, Sidekick will compile any missing information, including artwork, and store the song in database. If the song is there already, it will increment its likes punctuation (dedications = like).
Dedications form - use local songs archive and radio history (Premium): the Dedications song search and autocompile will offer suggestions from the local songs archive, radio history, or custom tracks you add manually or from charts. Dedication autosuggest is NOT limited to iTunes database anymore! You can add any track you want. If you radio plays oldies or underground stuff, white-labels, or custom podcasts, this feature is for you!
Debug
This feaure enables a custom post type named Debug. Once enabled refresh the page. It appears on the left:
In case of problems, this will contain useful information. Before contacting the support for any issue, we recommend using this function and storing some debug info.
Important!
Let me repeat: important! Do NOT leave the debug option enabled for too long!!
This will create a TON of debug logs in your database. We're talking about 1500 log entries a day, so you wanto to make sure it's OFF once your'e done with testing!
Once done testing, you can delete all logs from the SideKick Logs menu.
