FIT ꢀ FIT Sport
Honda Music Link
User's Guide
ꢀTable of Contents
Honda Music Link
Designed specifically for Honda vehicles, Honda Music
Link allows you to play music from your Apple® iPod® on
your vehicle's audio system. Honda Music Link connects
your iPod directly to your vehicle's audio system for the
best sound-quality results. (It does not convert music
from your iPod to an FM radio signal to use your
vehicle's radio to play music.) Once connected, Honda
Music Link allows you to use the audio system's controls
to play and search for music from an iPod, and it charges
your iPod battery.
To get the most out of Honda Music Link, first install
the Honda TTS software application provided on the
Honda Music Link CD-ROM. (See Using Honda Music
Link With HondaTTS.) Honda TTS is an optional
software that installs on the Mac or PC you use with
your iPod. It provides voice prompts to help you find
music on your iPod, and it allows you to shuffle songs,
shuffle albums, seek/skip to the next song or album, and
search playlists, artists, albums, and genres.
NOTE: Honda TTS is not required to operate Honda
To get started using Honda Music Link quickly, see
the Using Honda Music Link Without HondaTTS*
section of this guide or the Quick Reference Guide.
Both will show you how to connect your iPod, play music
(either shuffle songs or shuffle albums), and skip to the
next song or album.
Music Link.
* Text-to-speech (TTS)
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What's Included
Your Honda Music Link kit includes a dealer-installed
Honda Music Link cable located in your vehicle's glove
box, a Quick Reference Guide to get you started quickly,
and a Honda Music Link CD-ROM (for use on a personal
computer).
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What You Need
• iPod: 4th-generation or later iPod, (including iPod
video and iPod nano®), and iPod mini®. (See right.)
Honda Music Link cannot be used with iPod shuffle®.
Make sure your iPod has been updated with the latest
firmware from Apple. Visit www.apple.com/ipod/
download for more information.
NOTE: Use the USB 2.0 or FireWire cable that came
with your iPod or iPod mini to ensure proper operation.
• Mac: OS 10.3.9 or 10.4.7
- OR -
2nd-generation iPod
3rd-generation iPod
1st-generation iPod
PC: Windows XP (SP2) or Windows 2000 (SP4)
with TTS engine
NOTE: Use iPods formatted for Mac only with Mac
computers, and use iPods formatted for PC only with
PCs.
download for more information.
Installation Note: Honda Music Link can be installed on applicable vehicles equipped
with factory- and dealer-installed Honda audio systems and Honda CD players/changers.
American Honda makes no guarantee that Honda Music Link will operate or operate
properly on vehicles equipped with non-Honda audio systems or non-Honda CD
players/changers.
iPod video, iPod nano, 4th-generation iPod, and iPod mini
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link Without Honda TTS
ConnectingYour iPod
DisconnectingYour iPod
Make sure your iPod is in music mode (not photo
mode). Then, find the Honda Music Link cable installed
inside the glove box, and plug it into the dock connector
port on the bottom of the iPod. When the Honda Music
Link cable is properly connected:
To disconnect the iPod, squeeze both sides of the
Honda Music Link cable connector, and unplug the
cable. You can connect and disconnect your iPod while
the audio system is on or off.
IMPORTANT:
• A large check mark appears on the iPod screen.
(See below.)
• For your safety, do not connect or disconnect the iPod
while driving.
• You cannot operate the iPod using its controls (click
wheel, etc.). It can only be operated using your
vehicle's audio system controls.
• Secure the iPod in the glove box. Do not place it on or
allow it to fall onto the vehicle floor, where it can get
stuck under the brake pedal or accelerator pedal.
• Your vehicle charges the iPod battery when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II) or ACC (I) position. It
does not charge the iPod when the ignition switch is
in the LOCK (0) position.
• Do not leave the iPod in the vehicle in high
temperatures or expose it to extended periods of
direct sunlight; doing so may damage it.
• To avoid damaging the Honda Music Link cable, do
not pull strongly on the cable. Always keep the
connector dry, and cap the connector when it is not in
use.
MENU
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link Without Honda TTS (Continued)
Audio System Controls
Identifying the Audio System Controls for Honda
Music Link
Use the audio system buttons (shown in blue; see right)
to play music from your iPod, once it's connected to
Honda Music Link. Note that Honda factory-installed
audio systems vary from model to model and may have
slightly different button names for the same function.
Using the Audio System Controls
Honda Music Link allows you to use the buttons on your
audio system to control iPod functions. There are two
ways* to listen to music: You can shuffle all albums or
shuffle all songs. Selecting disc number 5 on your audio
system corresponds to the shuffle all albums play mode,
while selecting disc number 6 corresponds to the
shuffle all songs play mode.
(Fit Sport shown)
NOTE: It may
take up to 10
seconds to
activate a play
mode.
• To select Honda Music Link, press the AUX button on
your vehicle's audio system.
• To select a play mode, use the DISC– (Preset 5) and
DISC+ (Preset 6) buttons to scroll thru the disc
numbers. When the desired disc number is shown in
the audio system display, press and hold either
SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second
(or, on some models, until you hear a beep).
Use to select
Honda Music
Link.
Use to scroll
thru the disc
numbers.
Use to activate
a play mode
and seek/skip
forward and
backward.
* See page 9 to learn how to use additional play modes/categories.
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Getting Started Quickly
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link Without Honda TTS (Continued)
Playing Music
Pressing and holding the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button will
not skip to the previously played album. Honda Music
Link continues to shuffle albums in random order
whether you press and hold the forward ( ) or
backward ( ) SEEK/SKIP button.
1. Connect the iPod (see page 6), turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) or ACC (I) position, and turn on
the audio system.
2. Press the AUX button to select Honda Music Link. If
the audio system plays an accessory connected to
the auxiliary jack, press the AUX button again to select
Honda Music Link. Music Link begins playback with
the last song played on the iPod. If no song is
queued, Honda Music Link shuffles all songs in
random order.
In shuffle albums mode (Disc 5), Honda Music Link
only plays songs that have album information entered
in the info tags. If none of the songs on an iPod have
album information, all of the songs are treated as one
album. See Info Tags on page 9 for more information.
• To shuffle all songs in random order, select Disc 6,
then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or
for at least 1 full second. After selecting Disc 6, press
and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to the next
song ( ) or to the beginning of the song currently
playing ( ).
)
Selecting a Play Mode
• To shuffle the albums on your iPod in random order,
select Disc 5, then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP
button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to
the next song ( ) or to the beginning of the song
currently playing ( ) within an album.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
– Press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second to skip to the beginning of
another album.
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS
To get the most out of Honda Music Link, first install the
Honda TTS software application provided on the Honda
Music Link CD-ROM. This optional software installs on
the Mac or PC you use with your iPod. It creates voice
prompts to help you find music on your iPod, and it
allows you to shuffle songs, shuffle albums, seek/skip to
the next song/album or previous song/album, and search
playlists, albums, artists, and genres.
InfoTags
Each song on your iPod and in iTunes
has a set of "info tags" attached to it,
like Name, Artist, Album, Year, etc.
(below left). You can edit these info
tags by:
• Clicking on the desired song in
iTunes
• Going to File, then Get Info
• Clicking on the Info tab
HondaTTS
Honda TTS is a software application that creates text-to-
speech (TTS) files based on the information tags
attached to each song on your iPod. Once installed on
your computer, Honda TTS automatically launches every
time you connect your iPod
to your computer. It scans
the music on your iPod and
creates TTS files that contain
all of the voice prompts
Honda Music Link needs to
help you search for music.
Honda TTS scans the information
contained in the Artist, Album, and
Genre info tag fields. It also scans the
names of the playlists on your iPod. It
then creates TTS files for the first letter
of every artist, album, genre, and
playlist, as well as TTS files for the
names of every artist, album, genre,
and playlist on your iPod. The TTS files
are saved in your iTunes library and as
playlists on your iPod and in iTunes.
Each TTS playlist begins with "ZZZTTS"
(right).
TTS Files/Playlists
in iTunes
InfoTags Screen in iTunes
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Before Installing HondaTTS
Uninstalling HondaTTS
Before you install Honda TTS on your computer, make
sure you:
• Install iTunes 6.0.4 or later (available for download at
To uninstall Honda TTS on a Mac:
1. Go to System Preference/Login Items.
2. Delete Honda Helper.
3. Reboot.
• Set your iPod to synchronize manually. (Go to
Edit/Preferences, click on the iPod tab, and select
"Manually manage songs and playlists".)
To uninstall Honda TTS on a PC:
1. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel.
• Disconnect (eject) your iPod from your computer.
2. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs.
3. Select the Honda TTS folder.
• Adjust the text-to-speech settings on your Mac or PC
to your preference. (See page 12.)
4. Click on the Remove button, and follow the uninstall
prompts.
• Close all other applications.
Installing HondaTTS
NOTE: Uninstalling Honda TTS does not remove any TTS
files in iTunes or on your iPod. Delete those files (TTS
playlists and TTS files in the iTunes library) manually.
Mac: Double-click on the Honda TTS.pkg icon in the
Mac Install folder, and follow the installation
prompts.
PC:
Double-click on the Setup.exe icon in the
Windows Install folder, and follow the installation
prompts.
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Running HondaTTS
If, upon connecting your iPod, you have not made any
changes to the music on the iPod, click the Cancel
button on the Honda TTS update screen.
Once installed, Honda TTS automatically launches every
time you connect your iPod to your computer. To run
Honda TTS, connect your iPod to your computer. To
update and create TTS files for the music on your iPod,
click the OK button on the Honda TTS update screen. To
manually run Honda TTS, launch the program from the
applications folder (Mac) or Start Menu (PC).
NOTE: If, after connecting your iPod and launching
Honda TTS, you receive a message that an iPod must be
connected to run Honda TTS, simply launch Honda TTS
from the applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (PC).
Honda TTS should now recognize your iPod.
The time needed to run Honda TTS depends on the
number of songs and playlists in your music library.
Allow about 10–15 minutes or more per 1,000 files.
After the initial run, the time to run Honda TTS should
decrease, as long as the TTS files from the previous
update remain in iTunes.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
If you make any changes to the music on your iPod (add
songs, delete songs, create new playlists, edit album
names, etc.), make sure you run Honda TTS.
HondaTTS Update Screen
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Text-to-Speech Settings
PC
You can change and adjust the text-to-speech settings
for TTS files (voice prompts) that Honda TTS creates.
Modifying the system voice and the voice speed may
help improve intelligibility.
1. Open the Control Panel
from the Start menu.
2. Select Speech or
Sounds, Speech, and
Audio.
Mac
1. Go to Finder/System Preferences.
3. Click on the Text To
Speech tab.
2. Select the Speech icon.
4. Select the voice
selection of your
3. Click on the Text to Speech tab.
4. Select the system voice of your preference from the
pull-down menu.
preference from the
pull-down menu. (Either
Microsoft Mary or LH
Text to Speech (PC)
5. Adjust and play the
speaking rate.
Michelle* is recommended, if available.)
5. Adjust and preview the voice speed.
NOTE: After changing
and adjusting the text-
to-speech settings,
delete all TTS playlists
and files in iTunes and
on your iPod, then run
NOTE: After changing and adjusting the text-to-speech
settings, delete all TTS playlists and files in iTunes and
on your iPod, then run Honda TTS.
downloads/user.asp. Click on the "Text-to-speech engines" link, and
select "Lernout & Hauspie® TruVoice TTS engine - American English
(1 MB exe)" from the pull-down menu.
Honda TTS.
Text to Speech (Mac)
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ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
ConnectingYour iPod
DisconnectingYour iPod
Make sure your iPod is in music mode (not photo
mode). Then, find the Honda Music Link cable installed
inside the glove box, and plug it into the dock connector
port located on the bottom of the iPod. When the Honda
Music Link cable is properly connected:
To disconnect the iPod, squeeze both sides of the
Honda Music Link cable connector, and unplug the
cable. You can connect and disconnect your iPod while
the audio system is on or off.
IMPORTANT:
• A large check mark appears on the iPod screen.
(See below.)
• For your safety, do not connect or disconnect the iPod
while driving.
• You cannot operate the iPod using its controls (click
wheel, etc.). It can only be operated using your
vehicle's audio system controls.
• Secure the iPod in the glove box. Do not place it on or
allow it to fall onto the vehicle floor, where it can get
stuck under the brake pedal or accelerator pedal.
• Your vehicle charges the iPod battery when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II) or ACC (I) position. It
does not charge the iPod when the ignition switch is
in the LOCK (0) position.
• Do not leave the iPod in the vehicle in high
temperatures or expose it to extended periods of
direct sunlight; doing so may damage it.
• To avoid damaging the Honda Music Link cable, do
not pull strongly on the cable. Always keep the
connector dry, and always cap the connector when it
is not in use.
MENU
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ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Audio System Controls
Identifying the Audio System Controls for Honda
Music Link
Use the audio system buttons (shown in blue; see right)
to play music from your iPod, once it's connected to
Honda Music Link. Note that Honda factory-installed
audio systems vary from model to model and may have
slightly different button names for the same function.
Using the Audio System Controls
(Fit Sport shown)
Honda Music Link allows you to use the buttons on your
audio system to control iPod functions. There are six
play modes/categories, or six ways to listen to music.
Each disc number (1–6) corresponds with a play mode/
category in Honda Music Link. For example, selecting
disc number 1 on your audio system corresponds to the
search playlists category in Honda Music Link.
Use to select
Honda Music
Link.
Use to scroll
thru the disc
numbers.
Use to activate
a play mode/
category and
seek/skip
• To select Honda Music Link, press the AUX button on
your vehicle's audio system.
forward and
backward.
• To select a play mode/category, use the DISC– (Preset
5) and DISC+ (Preset 6) buttons to scroll thru the disc
numbers. When the desired disc number is shown in
the audio system display, press and hold either
NOTES:
• It may take up to 10 seconds to activate a play mode/category.
• When Honda Music Link is cycling through the alphabet or
announcing names, you cannot select another play mode/category.
You can only select another play mode/category when Honda Music
Link is playing a song.
SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Playing Music
– Honda Music Link announces the names of the
playlists that begin with the selected letter. Press
and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately
after hearing the desired playlist name. Honda Music
Link begins playing the first song in the selected
playlist.
1. Connect the iPod (see page 13), turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) or ACC (I) position, and turn on
the audio system.
2. Press the AUX button to select Honda Music Link. If
the audio system plays an accessory connected to
the auxiliary jack, press the AUX button again to select
Honda Music Link.
• To search artists, select Disc 2, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
Honda Music Link announces the first letter of each
artist.
Selecting a Play Mode/Category
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Honda
Music Link begins playing the first song of the first
artist that begins with the selected letter.
- OR -
• To search playlists, select Disc 1, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Honda Music Link announces the first letter
of each playlist.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Honda
Music Link begins playing the first song of the first
playlist that begins with the selected letter.
– To hear the artist names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least
1 full second.
- OR -
– To hear the names of the playlists that begin with a
desired letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( )
button immediately after hearing the letter, then
press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second.
– Honda Music Link announces the artist names that
begin with the selected letter. Press and release the
SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing the
desired artist name. Honda Music Link begins
15
playing the first song by the selected artist.
ꢀTable of Contents
Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Selecting a Play Mode/Category (Cont.)
• To search genres, select Disc 4, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Honda Music Link announces the first letter
of each genre.
• To search albums, select Disc 3, then press and hold
either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full
second. Honda Music Link announces the first letter
of each album.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Honda
Music Link begins playing the first song of the first
genre that begins with the selected letter.
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the desired letter. Honda
Music Link begins playing the first song of the first
album that begins with the selected letter.
- OR -
- OR -
– To hear the genre names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least
1 full second.
– To hear the album names that begin with a desired
letter, press and release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button
immediately after hearing the letter, then press and
hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1
full second.
– Honda Music Link announces the genre names that
begin with the selected letter. Press and release the
SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after hearing the
desired genre name. Honda Music Link begins
playing the first song in the selected genre.
– Honda Music Link announces the names of the
albums that begin with the selected letter. Press and
release the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button immediately after
hearing the desired album name. Honda Music Link
begins playing the first song in the selected album.
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Using Honda Music Link With Honda TTS (Continued)
Selecting a Play Mode/Category (Cont.)
• To shuffle all songs in random order, select Disc 6,
then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or
)
• To shuffle the albums on your iPod in random order,
select Disc 5, then press and hold either SEEK/SKIP
button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
for at least 1 full second. After selecting Disc 6, press
and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to the next
song ( ) or to the beginning of the song currently
playing ( ).
– Press and release the SEEK/SKIP button to skip to
the next song ( ) or to the beginning of the song
currently playing ( ) within an album.
See theTips section of this user's guide for more
information.
– Press and hold either SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for
at least 1 full second to skip to the beginning of
another album.
Pressing and holding the SEEK/SKIP ( ) button will
not skip to the previously played album. Honda Music
Link continues to shuffle albums in random order
whether you press and hold the forward ( ) or
backward ( ) SEEK/SKIP button.
In shuffle albums mode (Disc 5), Honda Music Link
only plays songs that have album information entered
in the info tags. If none of the songs on an iPod have
album information, all of the songs are treated as one
album.
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Tips
Audio System Controls
Display Info
• RDM Button: Press the RDM button (Preset 2) on the
audio system to shuffle all songs within the selected
category/play mode. For example, if you select and
play a playlist (Disc 1) and then press the RDM
button, Honda Music Link will shuffle all songs within
that playlist in random order.
Honda Music Link does not display iPod information (like
song titles or artist names) on the audio system display.
Tag Info
• SongTitles: Honda Music Link does not search the
music on an iPod by song name; it only searches
music by artist, album, genre, and playlist name.
NOTE: The RDM button does not work while Honda
Music Link is in the shuffle all songs (Disc 6) play mode.
• Honda Music Link does not recognize punctuation
(commas, periods, question marks, dashes, slashes,
ampersands, etc.). It also does not recognize special
characters and accents (à, é, ï, ô, etc.). If punctuation
or special characters/accents are used in the artist,
album, genre, or playlist name, Honda Music Link will
announce it on your audio system as "punctuation" or
"not speakable."
• After pushing the appropriate button to activate a play
mode or category search, it may take up to 10 seconds
for Music Link to announce the alphabet or names
associated with that play mode or category search.
• Selecting a Disc Number: Unlike using a CD
changer, when using Honda Music Link, the preset
buttons (1–6) on your vehicle's audio system do not
directly correspond to Honda Music Link's different
play modes and category searches (Disc 1–6). To scroll
thru the disc numbers (play modes/category
• Make sure there are no spaces before the first letter
or number in the names of your playlists, artists,
albums, and genres.
searches), use only the DISC– (Preset 5) and DISC+
(Preset 6) buttons, then press and hold either
SEEK/SKIP button ( or ) for at least 1 full second.
• Keep your music organized with correctly spelled
info tags (artist, album, and genre).
• Do not keep empty playlists.
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Tips (Continued)
iTunes Settings
• Do not name your playlists "Podcasts." Doing so
may cause undesirable effects during searches
because iPod uses this name for podcasting.
• For best results, set your iPod to synchronize
manually. (Go to Edit, then Preferences, click on the
iPod tab and select "Manually manage songs and
playlists".) If you select "Automatically update all songs
and playlists," you may hear voice prompts when you
shuffle songs on your iPod. If you select
• Keeping theTTS files (playlists that begin with
ZZZTTS) in iTunes makes HondaTTS updates
quicker. If you delete these files, Honda TTS will need
to regenerate them the next time it runs. However,
with the TTS files in iTunes, Honda TTS only needs to
generate TTS files for any new music on your iPod.
"Automatically update selected playlists only," make
sure you check all of the playlists that begin with
ZZZTTS; otherwise, running Honda TTS will not
update all of the music on your iPod.
• Check the "Connect to Internet when needed"
check box in the iTunes preferences. (Go to Edit,
then Preferences, and click on the General tab.) With
this feature, when you load a store-bought music CD
on your computer, iTunes automatically looks up and
fills in the info tags for every song on the disc. This
feature not only helps you organize your music
accurately, it also saves time.
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Support
For more information about Honda Music Link and
Honda TTS, including FAQs, go online to
call Honda Automobile Customer Service at
1-800-999-1009, Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).
HondaTTS Software Updates
most recent Honda TTS software and software updates.
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©2006 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
American Honda accepts no responsibility for any lost data on an iPod,
even if the data is lost while using this product.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPod, iTunes, FireWire, and Mac are trademarks
of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
AAM 32121-33405 (0608)
4th printing
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