In this article, we will look at how we can use tags in Timbre to automatically sync items to feeds with matching tags as well as apply retention periods to Items/Storage assets using tags. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction to Tags 

Tags can be used to sort/classify your feeds or items in Timbre. There are a few ways that tags can be used:

  1. Simplify searching for specific items when the content library gets too large. 
  2. Automatically add any new items that share your feed’s tag to the feed. 


To add a tag, select a tag from the dropdown of your existing tags or add a new one by typing the tag name and hitting return. As the Account Admin, you are also able to limit what tags are made available to your team.


Feed tags are not reflected in the feed’s XML. Only the item tags pull through to the XML.


  1. Go to the Items or Feed page
  2. In the Search tags dropdown, start typing the tag you want to filter by
  3. Select the relevant tag



This will present a list of feeds or items that use the tag specified in the filter. You can select multiple tags in this filter and you can then select all feeds or items to perform a mass action (including adding more tags or replacing the existing tag).


Use Tags to Sync Items to a Feed

The sync based on tags can happen from the feed side as well as from the item side, meaning that once the feed is created and the option to sync is enabled, you can trigger the sync by adding a tag to the feed or by adding the tag to the item. We'll explore both options.



Option 1: Add a tag to a Feed 

Adding a tag to a feed will sync all items with a matching tag to that feed.

  1. Go to the Feed page and navigate to the settings of the page using Edit
  2. Navigate to the section handling tags, this is underneath the feed's artwork
  3. Start typing in the tag dropdown to find existing tags or hit return to create a new tag
  4. When creating a new feed, you have the option to sync all Items to that feed on creation that has a matching tag by ticking "Populate Feed with Items matching tags" - all items already created that have a matching tag will be added to this new feed
  5. To ensure all new items created (or tagged) with a tag matching the listed tags in this feed are synced to this feed, select the option "Automatically sync Items with matching tags" - this will ensure all Items tagged in the future with a matching tag will be synced automatically to this feed
  6. Once tags have been chosen and the feed saved (click on Update for existing feeds or Create for new feeds), you can review the items synced by navigating to the items modal on this same page - you may need to expand the modal by clicking on the dropdown arrow of the modal



Option 2: Add a tag to an Item 

Adding a tag to an item will sync that item to all feeds with a matching tag.

  1. Go to the items page and navigate to the settings of the page using Edit
  2. Navigate to the section handling tags, this is underneath the item's artwork
  3. Start typing in the tag dropdown to find existing tags or hit return to create a new tag
  4. Once tags have been chosen and the item saved (click on Update), you can review the feeds that the item has been synced to by navigating to the feeds modal on this same page - you may need to expand the modal by clicking on the dropdown arrow of the modal



Manage Tags 

Manage tags in Preferences will allow you to see what tags have been used as well as in what modules (Items, Feeds or both) they are being used. You will also be able to limit certain tags for Admin Only use and bulk remove tags that no longer serve you. 

  1. From the sidebar, head into Preferences

  2.  Under "Other Settings", Navigate to the modal named 'Manage Tags' and click on it to expand it

  3. Select "Admin Only" to restrict the use of a tag to users with admin user levels assigned. You can review tags that are in various states of use by filtering according to their usage: All, Used, Unused, Feeds, Items, Artwork



Select multiple tags to perform a bulk delete - beware that this cannot be undone and will remove the tag from any items or feeds where it is used.


Other Ways to Use Tags in Timbre

Tags in Timbre are a multifunctional tool that can allow you to integrate your items, feeds, artwork as well as retention periods. 


Renaming and tagging artwork

To add a tag to your artwork, hover over the image in your library to reveal the following options:


Delete Artwork
Edit Artwork name/tags
Copy Artwork URL to clipboard



Click the pencil icon to edit your Artwork's name and add tags.



To add tags simply type the tag you wish to add and click enter to apply it. Any existing tags that match what you're typing will appear in the dropdown. Click the "x" next to any tag to remove it.


When you have saved your edits. Your artwork's tags will now appear when you hover over it.


Retention Period Tags

To help manage your Timbre storage you can set up a retention period. A retention period indicates how long a storage asset should be retained before being deleted. This automatic deletion process will remove old or outdated Items/Storage assets based on your preferences. This can be done by using tags to apply retention periods to new items. In order to create tags to automatically apply retention periods to new items, simply head to Other Settings where you can find Manage Storage/Episode.  Click on + New Retention to add a new retention period with selected tags.


This is a permanent removal process that cannot be reverted. If you wish to set a default unpublish date for your Items, read our help guide on default account settings.



Clicking +New Retention to bring up the Retention Period modal. 



Your new retention period can be set to only apply to the tags you associate with the retention period. This will apply the retention period settings to the items to which you have applied this tag to. These tagged episodes will then be removed according to the retention period set.