Specifications
Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2011 Black Box Network Services
724-746-5500 | blackbox.com 10
iCOMPEL Digital Signage - User Guide (V8.1.1)
1. Welcome to iCOMPEL Digital Signage
Welcome to iCOMPEL user's guide.
There is plenty of information here to help you get started using your iCOMPEL
You can browse through the Table of Contents or the PDF bookmarks, use the Index at the end of the guide, or use the
Adobe Reader search facility to find any term.
Learn about Important terms
Learn about the iCOMPEL user interface
Find out about creating digital signage
Find out about enhancing your digital signage with additional features
Find out about using Ad hoc features and overrides
Check the status of your iCOMPEL and regular maintenance tasks for your iCOMPEL
Find out about managing Digital Signage Networks
1.1 Terms you need to know
The product uses a number of special terms that you need to understand so that you can get the best out of the system.
Here's a list of the key terms to help you get started quickly.
iCOMPEL
An iCOMPEL is a digital signage player that connects to a Screen and a network. You manage the iCOMPEL through a
web browser over the network.
Screen
A Screen is the hardware that shows the output of an iCOMPEL. It is attached to the iCOMPEL, and is not the same as
the monitor for your computer. The Screen is usually an LCD panel or LCD TV; it could be a Plasma screen (though
Plasma screens are not recommended for most digital signage systems); or a projector and screen arrangement.
Schedule
Your iCOMPEL is designed to run continuously. You control which Layouts are displayed on what days and at which times
by creating a Schedule. The Schedule might say that Layout X runs from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Mondays to Fridays, Layout
Y runs from 2:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and Layout Z runs at all other times. More about Schedules...
Layout
A Layout is the arrangement of all the different display areas (Zones) and background images that are displayed together.
Your Layout may include video in one Zone, scrolling text in another Zone, and a sequence of still images in a third Zone.
Your audience sees everything in your Layout, so you need to take care to design Layouts that are appealing and effective.
More about Layouts...
Zone
Your Layout is made up of a number of defined rectangular areas known as Zones. Each Zone can display Media items.
You can decide on the number of Zones in your Layout, their sizes, and where they are placed. You generally need
different Zones for different media types - one for scrolling text, one for a promotional video, and so on, though some media
types can share the same Zone. Each Zone can display a sequence of media items which you have chosen and arranged
into a Playlist. More about Zones...
10
12
15
67
79
111 94
98
15
20
23