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Digital Signage User Manual

Version: 1.5

Date: 19/12/2013

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Terms and Conditions

The digital signage application including the Content Management System (CMS) is permitted to be

copied or distributed. If the digital signage application is not activated with a license, the CMS can

be used normally, but the digital signage application will be closed after running for 1 minute.

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Overview

The content of the digital signage can be managed by the Content Management System (CMS) in

network mode or USB mode.

A schedule file defines which layout should be shown at the moment. A schedule file can define

unlimited schedules of layouts. When the digital signage application starts, it will only read the

schedule file “Schedule.txt” but not the other schedule files.

A layout file can define unlimited regions for showing contents. However, showing a lot of contents

at the same time will affect the performance.

If USB mode is used, only “Schedule.txt” is read. Therefore, creating other schedule files may not be

useful.

If network mode is used, “Schedule.txt” in the digital signage can be overwritten by another schedule

file. Therefore, creating other schedule files can be useful.

Update Procedure for network mode:

Refer to the last page of this manual.

Update Procedure for USB mode:

1. Insert the USB drive installed with the Signage application into a computer. (The computer must

be installed with .NET Framework 4.0)

2. Run “X:\Signage\Signage_CMS.exe” in the USB drive.

3. Update the content using the CMS. Close the CMS.

4. (Optional) Run “X:\Signage\Signage.exe” in the USB drive to preview. Press “Esc” to quit the

application.

5. Remove the USB drive from the computer and insert it to the digital signage while the digital

signage application is running.

6. The application will be closed and updated automatically. After it is updated, the application will

be run again automatically.

7. Remove the USB drive.

Remarks for USB mode:

� The application folder “Signage” must be placed in the root directory of a USB drive.

� The digital signage application will not update the files with older modified date.

� The digital signage application will only read the default schedule file “Schedule.txt”.

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Content Management System (CMS)

If USB mode is used, run the “Signage_CMS.exe” in the USB drive directly.

If network mode is used, run the shortcut of the CMS in the desktop.

Different tabs can be found at the top of the CMS.

The file list in each tab will be refreshed by changing the tab.

The functions in each tab are described in the following pages.

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Image

� Select the file name to preview the image.

� Click the “Add / Update” button and then choose the images to be added or updated. Click

“OK” to add the image.

� Select the file name and then click the “Delete” button to delete the file.

� Click the “Delete All” button to delete all the images.

� Click the “View Files” button to manage the images using the file explorer.

� Click the “Refresh” button to refresh the file list.

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Video

� Select the file name to preview the video.

� Click the “Add / Update” button and then choose the video to be added or updated. Click “OK”

to add the video.

� Select the file name and then click the “Delete” button to delete the file.

� Click the “Delete All” button to delete all the videos.

� Click the “View Files” button to manage the videos using the file explorer.

� Click the “Refresh” button to refresh the file list.

Suggested Format

Video Format wmv mp4

Video Codec Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Video Codec (AVC)

Audio Codec Windows Media Audio (WMA) Advanced Audio Codec (AAC)

Video Bit Rate 2000 - 8000 kbps 1000 - 2000 kbps

Audio Bit Rate 128 kbps 128 kbps

MP4 videos with very high bit rate may affect the performance. (The video bit rate of mp4

should be lower because the compression ratio of mp4 is higher than that of wmv)

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Layout

� Type the value next to “Resolution” and press “Enter” to change the layout resolution. Restart

the CMS after the resolution is changed. If network mode is used, this will not affect the

resolution of the digital signage application.

� Click the “100%” button to view the layout in 100%. Click the button again to “fit to screen”.

� Click the “Add Text Region” button to add a new region for displaying text.

� Click the “Add Media Region” button to add a new region for displaying images and videos.

� Click the “Add Weather” button to add a new region for displaying weather information. This

function requires Internet access.

� Click the “Change Background” button to change the background of the digital signage.

� Select a region and click the “Delete Selected Region” button to delete the region.

� Click the “Delete All Regions” button to delete all regions.

� Click the “New Layout” button to create a new layout.

� Click the “Save As…” button to save the layout to a new layout file.

� Click the “Open Layout” button to load the layout from a layout file.

� Click the “Save Layout” button to save the layout to the file with the name shown inside the

brackets.

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Media Region

� Click the green region to select the media region.

� Uncheck the “Snap to edges” checkbox to allow the region to be moved and resized freely.

� Drag the region (or type the value next to “X” and “Y”) to change the location of the region.

� Resize the region (or type the value next to “Width” and “Height”) to change the size of the

region.

� Click the “Edit Playlist” button to edit the playlist.

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Edit Playlist

(The files shown on the left hand side can be added in the “Image” tab and “Video” tab.)

� Select the file name on the left hand side and press “Enter” (or click the “Add to playlist” button)

to add it to the playlist.

� Click the “Refresh” button to refresh the file list.

� Click the “Set as default” button to set the value on the left to default value, which will apply to

newly added items only.

� Check the “Stretch images in this region” checkbox to stretch all this images in the region.

� Select the item on the right hand side to view or edit the idle time, animation time and transition

effect of the selected item.

� Select the item on the right hand side and click the “Up” and “Down” button to change the

order.

� Select the item on the right hand side and click “Remove” to remove it from the playlist.

� Click “Remove All” to remove all items in the playlist.

� Click the “Save Playlist” button to save. (This will also save the layout, so there is no need to

click the “Save Layout” button.)

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Text Region

� Click the blue region to select the text region.

� Click the “Edit Text” button to edit the text properties.

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Edit Text

� Different type of text can be chosen. The RSS function requires Internet access.

� Edit the text properties on the left hand side and preview on the right hand side.

� Click “Save” button to save. (This will also save the layout, so there is no need to click the

“Save Layout” button.)

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Schedule

� Select the file name on the left hand side to view or edit the schedule of the selected layout file

on the right hand side.

� Select the file name on the left hand side and click the “Delete Selected File” button to delete

the layout file.

� Click the “Save As…” button to save the schedule to a new schedule file.

� Click the “Open Schedule” button to load the schedule from a schedule file.

� Click the “Save” button to save the schedule to the file with the name shown inside the brackets.

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Update (For Network Mode Only)

� Select the IP on the left hand side to be updated.

� Click the “Select All” button to select all the IP.

� Click the “Select None” button to unselect all the IP.

� Select the file name on the right hand side and click the “Delete Selected File” button to delete

the schedule file.

� Select the file name on the right hand side and click the “Update” button to update the selected

schedule file to the selected digital signage. The digital signage application will be restarted

automatically. (This will update the media files in the digital signage and delete any unused

media files according to the layout files. By default, only new files and the files with different

file sizes will be updated.)

� If an error occurs, click the “Restart Signage PC” will send a message to request the digit

signage to restart.

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