BRIGHTAUTHOR USER GUIDE Software Version 3.5 BrightSign, LLC. 16795 Lark Ave., Suite 200 Los Gatos, CA 95032 | 408-852-9263 | www.brightsign.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Getting Started .................................................................................................1 What is BrightAuthor? ............................................................................................................................ 1 What Kind of Presentations Can I Create?............................................................................................. 1 What Type of Screen Layouts Can I Use? ...........................................
Creating a Multi-Zone Presentation ...................................................................................................... 26 HTML5.................................................................................................................................................. 30 RSS, Text, and Media RSS Feeds ....................................................................................................... 32 Live Video and SignChannel ...................................................
Media End ............................................................................................................................................ 69 GPIO Event .......................................................................................................................................... 69 BP900/200............................................................................................................................................ 70 Synchronize.........................................
Publishing with Local Storage .............................................................................................................. 81 Publishing with BrightSign Network ...................................................................................................... 85 Publishing with Simple File Networking ................................................................................................ 88 Publishing with Local Networking .......................................................
Chapter 11 – Frequently Asked Questions ....................................................................124 Appendix A – Remote Control Protocols .......................................................................126 Change Log ......................................................................................................................127 Version 3.5 .........................................................................................................................................
CHAPTER 1 – GETTING STARTED What is BrightAuthor? BrightAuthor is a software application that helps you create and publish digital-signage presentations for BrightSign players. You can play BrightAuthor presentations on any of the following BrightSign models: XD230, XD1030, XD1230, HD120, HD220, HD1020, HD110, HD210, HD210w, HD410, HD810, HD1010, HD1010w, and TD1012.
types of interactive event supported by a player depend on the connectors and inputs that player has (for example, players with a USB 2.0 port support touch screen and button board events, and players with an Ethernet port support UDP events). What Type of Screen Layouts Can I Use? You can choose from a variety of ready-to-use layout templates or create your own template. Layout templates fall into two basic categories: • • Full Screen: A slide show of media that occupies the full screen.
o Windows 7 32 or 64 bit BrightSign – Any of the following models with firmware version 3.10.6 or later: • • • • • • HD110 HD210 and HD210w HD410 HD810 HD1010 and HD1010w TD1012 Any of the following models with firmware version 4.2.25 or later: • • • HD120 HD220 HD1020 Any of the following models with firmware version 4.2.
• • SDHC card SDXC card (supported on HD120, HD220, HD1020, XD230, XD1030, and XD1230) Card Reader/Writer – Not required if using a USB flash drive. The card reader/writer must be connected to your PC and must be compatible with your storage card. Input Device – All models except HD110. One or more of the following types of input devices: • Touch screen equipped with a touch controller that supports the standard HID specification.
Note: BrightAuthor requires the latest version of Microsoft .Net Framework. If this component is not already on your PC, BrightAuthor installs it during the installation. However, if BrightAuthor needs to install Microsoft .Net Framework, the installation may take up to 45 minutes to complete and you may need to restart your PC to complete the installation process. Step 3: Launch BrightAuthor 1. Double-click the BrightAuthor icon on your desktop. 2.
• • MP2 (MPEG-1 Layer 2) at Constant Bit Rate, as part of a video file (.mpg, or .ts) at 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz MP3 at Constant Bit Rate, 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 32 KHz at up to 224 Kbps bitrate, as a standalone file (i.e. not encoded as an audio track in a video file) • AC3 5.1 passed through (un-decoded, RAW data) HDMI. Audio streams in this format are supported by BrightSign players, but will require an AC3 decoder (HDMI AV receiver). • WAV Image files - For still images, use BMP, PNG, or JPEG files.
CHAPTER 2 – SETTING UP UNITS Before you can create and publish presentations, you must first set up your BrightSign players. How you set up your units will depend on how you want to publish presentations to the players. If you’re using BrightSign Network, Local Networking, or Simple File Networking to publish your presentations, you must set up your BrightSign units by adding them to your network.
2. On the menu bar, click Tools > Setup BrightSign Unit. 3. Under Name Specification, do the following: a. Enter a Name and Description for this unit. b. Select whether you want to append the unit ID to the name or use only the name.
4. Under Network Properties, set the following: a. Enable Wireless: Check this box if you plan to connect to the local network using a wireless connection. In order to use a wireless connection, you must purchase a wireless model (HD210w, HD1010w) or purchase an XD Wireless Module for your BrightSign XD player. Enter the SSID and Security key if the network is secured. b. Network Connection Priority: Use the up and down arrows to prioritize either the Wired or Wireless connection.
b. Connection Settings: Indicate whether the IP address is auto-generated or static. If you’re using a static IP address, enter the parameters in the fields below. c. Rate Limit Network Download Traffic: Set the parameters for downloading content. The options are divided into three categories: Outside content download window and During content download window (both of which correspond to the Limit content downloads setting in the Unit Configuration tab) , as well as During initial downloads.
8. Under Unit Configuration, click Networked with BrightSign Network, and then specify the following: a. (Optional) Enable diagnostic web server: Check the checkbox to enable the diagnostic web server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security. b. (Optional) Enable local web server: Check the checkbox to enable the local web server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security. c.
e. Turn on the BrightSign unit by reconnecting the power adapter. Important: Do not remove the SD card or flash drive from the player. Adding a Player to your Local Network With local networking, the setup files provide details about where presentations are stored and whether logging options are enabled. 1. In the BrightAuthor menu bar, click Tools > Setup BrightSign Unit. 2. Under Name Specification, do the following: a. Enter a Name and Description for this unit. b.
a. Data Types Enabled: Use these checkboxes to determine the types of data that will be transferred using the connection. You can enable/disable both downloads (Content, Text Feeds, Media Feeds) and uploads (Log Updates). b. Connection Settings: Indicate whether the IP address is auto-generated or static. If you’re using a static IP address, enter the parameters in the fields below.
4. Click Specify Firmware Update to indicate whether you want to update the firmware and to which version. The Firmware Update window is divided by BrightSign model. In the section that corresponds to your BrightSign unit, select a firmware version or Do not update, and then click OK. 5. Under Unit Configuration, click Networked with Local File Networking, and then specify the following: a. (Optional) Enable diagnostic web server: Check the checkbox to enable the diagnostic web server.
b. Enable event logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, state names, zone names, event types, and event data. c. Enable state logging: Creates a log that records current and last state names, timestamps, and media types. d. Enable diagnostic logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, firmware and script versions, and the current presentation. e. Upload logs o On startup: Uploads log files each time you start the unit. o At specific time each day: Uploads log files daily at the specified time.
3. Under Network Properties, set the following: a. Enable Wireless: Check this box if you plan to connect to the local network using a wireless connection. In order to use a wireless connection, you must purchase a wireless model (HD210w, HD1010w) or purchase an XD Wireless Module for your BrightSign XD player. Enter the SSID and Security key if the network is secured. b. Network Connection Priority: Use the up and down arrows to prioritize either the Wired or Wireless connection.
o Click Default limit to use the default limit on downloads. o Click Specify limit to enter a customized limit on downloads in the text field (in Kbits/second). 4. Click Specify Firmware Update to indicate whether you want to update the firmware and to which version. The Firmware Update window is divided by BrightSign model. In the section that corresponds to your BrightSign unit, select a firmware version or Do not update, and then click OK.
5. Under Unit Configuration, click Networked with Simple File Networking, and then specify the following: a. (Optional) Enable diagnostic web server: Check the checkbox to enable the diagnostic web server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security. b. (Optional) Enable local web server: Check the checkbox to enable the local web server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security. c.
a. Enable playback logging: Creates a log that records start and end times, zone names, media types, and file names. b. Enable event logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, state names, zone names, event types, and event data. c. Enable state logging: Creates a log that records current and last state names, timestamps, and media types. d. Enable diagnostic logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, firmware and script versions, and the current presentation. e.
Updating standalone units is the only case in which you should remove the storage card after setting up the unit. If your player has a USB flash drive slot, it is recommended that you use an SD card when setting up the unit, and keep it in the player as the internal storage. You can update the content on the SD card via a USB flash drive. See Publishing with Local Storage for details.
5. Specify the following in the Wired and Wireless tab of the Advanced Network Setup window: c. Data Types Enabled: Use these checkboxes to determine the types of data that will be downloaded using the connection. d. Connection Settings: Indicate whether the IP address is auto-generated or static. If you’re using a static IP address, enter the parameters in the fields below. 6. Click Specify Firmware Update to indicate whether you want to update the firmware and to which version.
The Firmware Update window is divided by BrightSign model. In the section that corresponds to your BrightSign unit, select a firmware version or Do not update, and then click OK. 7. Under Unit Configuration, click Standalone, and then specify the following: • (Optional) Enable diagnostic web server: Check the checkbox to enable the diagnostic web server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security.
a. Enable playback logging: Creates a log that records start and end times, zone names, media types, and file names. b. Enable event logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, state names, zone names, event types, and event data. c. Enable state logging: Creates a log that records current and last state names, timestamps, and media types. d. Enable diagnostic logging: Creates a log that records timestamps, firmware and script versions, and the current presentation. e.
CHAPTER 3 – CREATING PRESENTATIONS Creating a Full-Screen Presentation In a full-screen presentation, your images and/or videos occupy the entire screen. 1. Create a new presentation project by navigating to File > New Presentation. TIP: If you don’t see New Presentation under File, make sure you have the Edit, Publish, or Manage tab selected in the upper-left portion of the screen. 2. Specify the following in the New Project window. a. Save as: Enter a name for the presentation. b.
players do not automatically rotate landscape content to display in Portrait mode (and vice versa). You will first need to rotate video or images in the source application (e.g. Paint Shop Pro Photoshop, Adobe After Effects) before publishing them to the player. g. Monitor overscan: Select a setting to determine how the image fills the display screen. • No overscan – use full screen: Displays images/video to the edge of the video signal.
and dragging, click File > Replace media files. In the Replace Media Files window, click Browse to select the folder that contains the files you want to add. This can be the same folder used in your Media Library or a new folder. A list of all files currently added to the playlist is displayed below Presentation Media Files. For each file you want to replace, select a new file using the dropdown lists beneath Replacement Media File. g. To create interactive events, see Making a presentation interactive. 2.
When using a multi-zone template, you need to know which type of content you can include in each zone. The colorcoded key at the bottom of the template screen shows the available content types, and the color-coded templates indicate which type of content you can include in each zone of the templates. The following list describes the available content types: • • • • • • • Images : Plays images. You can include multiple Images zones. Ticker : Plays an RSS feed or pre-defined text strings.
• Overscan - action safe: Restricts the image display to an area that is compatible with most displays. • Overscan – title safe: Restricts the image display to an area that is much smaller than the image generated by the video signal. Tip: Experiment to find the overscan setting that works best with your display. g. Click Create. 2. Click the multi-zone template you want to use, and then click Choose. 3. Add media to your Library: a. In the left portion of the screen, under the File tab, click Browse. b.
• To create interactive events, see Making a presentation interactive. 5. Repeat step 4 for each zone in the presentation. 6. Click the Layout tab to add new zones or adjust the position of your zones.
Zone button. In the New Zone window, type a name for the zone in the Zone name text field, and select a zone type. Click OK. To adjust the position and size of zones, drag and resize in the preview in the right portion of the screen. See Customizing template layouts for further details. 7. (Optional) Rename the playlist: a. Click Edit in the upper-right corner of the playlist area. b. Enter a new name for the playlist. c. Click OK. 8. (Optional) Set playback options: a.
Note: You can display HTML5 pages in Images zones and Video or Images zones. HTML5 video content that is embedded in an Images zone will still play. • • State name: Specify a name for the HTML5 state. Local Content: Select this option if you plan on publishing HTML5 content using page and media files located on the local storage of your computer. Click the browse button to locate the .htm file that you wish to display. • URL: Select this option if you wish to play an HTML5 page from a web address.
RSS, Text, and Media RSS Feeds Networked BrightSign players can include RSS feeds. These can include standard RSS (text) or Media RSS (feeds that contain video or images). Alternatively, you can create your own text feeds and add them to a Ticker zone like an RSS feed. Note: Text feeds are static, whereas RSS and Media RSS feeds are updated each time the BrightSign connects to the server. This is ideal for instant updates from sources such as Twitter. Text Feeds 1. Create a .
Media RSS Feeds 1. Click the Other tab below Media Library. 2. Drag the Media RSS Feed icon to the playlist area. a. When prompted, enter the URL for the feed. b. Click OK. Live Video and SignChannel BrightSign models HD810, HD1010, and HD1010w support Live Videos using the Live Video Module. The XD1230 supports Live Video through the HDMI Input port. All networked players support SignChannel content. A subscription is required to use SignChannel. Live Video Select a Video or Images or Video Only zone.
Dynamic Playlists A Dynamic Playlist enables you to easily update and share content in multiple presentations. For example, if you need to add daily announcements to your presentations and you don’t want to update each presentation separately, you can add a Dynamic Playlist to all of your presentations and insert a new video announcement in the Dynamic Playlist each day.
2. Click the Edit tab. 3. Under the Other tab, drag the Dynamic Playlist icon to the playlist area. 4. The Add Dynamic Playlist window will open. From the drop-down list, select which Dynamic Playlist you want to link to the current presentation. Click OK. Local Playlists A Local Playlist allows you to customize which Dynamic Playlist is used in a presentation depending on the player.
• Time on screen: Specify the duration (in seconds) that the stream will be played. This option is only available in non-interactive presentations. To customize the duration of a stream in an interactive presentation, use a Timeout or Media End event. RF In (ATSC) Use this feature to display live video that is passed to the BrightSign player through the RF Input. This feature is available only on the XD1230. When creating a new RF In state, you will need to specify a Channel from the dropdown list.
• Frequency: Enter the frequency of the ATSC channel. If the frequency is measured in megahertz(MHz), you will need to convert the value to Hertz(Hz): For example, a frequency of 57.00MHz would be entered into this field as 57000000Hz. • • • Encoding: Select the coding of the ATSC channel from the dropdown list. Video PID: Enter the Video PID of the ATSC channel. Audio PID: Enter the Audio PID of the ATSC channel.
CHAPTER 4 – MAKING A PRESENTATION INTERACTIVE You can use BrightAuthor to create interactive presentations. Interactive presentations respond to interactive events, such as input from buttons or other GPIO devices, or from devices connected to a BrightSign communication port.
state,” and the file transitioned to is the “next state.” In this guide, creating and linking interactive events between states will be referred to as “defining events”: a. In the Event Toolbar, click the interactive event icon that corresponds to the type of event you want to define. For example, to define what happens when a user presses button 1 on a button board, click .
b. Click (and hold) the file name below the thumbnail image of the current state. This media file is what the user sees before performing the interactive event you are about to define. Note: The first interactive event must begin with the Home Screen.
c. Drag the hand pointer to the thumbnail image of the media file you want to play next (the next state). d. Repeat steps a – c to define the remaining interactive events. Subsequent interactive events can start with any item and correspond to any other item in the playlist. For example, you can set the first interaction to display an image when the user presses button 1 from the Home screen.
Editing Interactive Events When creating an event with an Event icon from the Events tab, drag the Event icon onto the thumbnail of the media file you want to be the current state. An Event window will automatically open. Here, you can specify which media file you want to be the next state. You can further adjust how your media files transition from state to state by double-clicking the Event icons (or rightclicking and then clicking Edit).
Editing Media Properties You can edit individual files in the playlist by right-clicking and then clicking Edit. The Media Properties window will open. Here, you can view/change the State name and Current file. Use the dropdown list beside Select different file to swap the file with another in the playlist area. This is convenient for keeping the interactive events you have defined with the original file. You can also replace media files under File > Replace Media Files.
Media Lists and Play Files Media Lists and Play Files are convenient tools for defining interactive events with many files. They allow you to compile your files into one group that appears as a single thumbnail in your playlist area. Only files of the same type can be gathered in a Media List or Play File. Therefore, both are divided into three categories for each media type: • • Media Lists: Image List, Audio List, and Video List. Play Files: Image Play File, Audio Play File, and Video Play File.
• Image Timeout (seconds): This option is only available if you are creating an Image List. You can specify the length of time each image remains on screen. You can also use decimal values to specify the image timeout in milliseconds (for example, 1.500 = 1500msec). • Play from beginning on entry to state: Check this box to set the list to play from the beginning upon entry into the list. This box is only enabled if you have checked the above Advance to next item on media end event.
leave this box unchecked, subsequent transitions to the list will play the next file in the cycle after a user exits the list (for example, by using a command). • • Shuffle playback: Check this box to randomize the order in which files are played from the list. Event to transition to next item: Select an interactive event that allows the user to transition to the next file in the list. After selecting the event type, you must specify a trigger.
• • State name: Create a unique name for the Play File. This name will show up in the thumbnail in the playlist area. Transition (Image Play Files only): Use the dropdown list to create a special effect when a user transitions to an item in the Play File list. • Files: This list displays files added to your Play File. Each file has a Key and File Path. o Key: The key is the specific interactive event that will cause a transition to a particular file.
creating a transition to the Play File. For example, if you define a USB Input event that links an item to the Play File, the option to Specify USB Input will be disabled and replaced with . When a user performs an event via USB that matches a key, the corresponding file will play. o File Path: This is the location of the file on your computer. o Display Mode: Only Video Play Files have a display mode.
Live Text This feature allows you to customize content for more engaging presentations. Live Text is an image laced with various text and/or image fields. Live Text allows you to layer both static and updateable RSS and Media RSS content on top of images or videos and customize the position/size of items in relation to the background.
c. Live Text Data: Select this option if you want to use an updateable RSS feed in the text field.
Note: Feeds that appear in this dropdown list must first be created in the Data Feeds tab, which can be accessed through File > Presentation Properties. For more details on creating and customizing RSS feeds, see Setting Presentation Properties. If you know the exact title of the item you want, input it in the Item title field. Or, if you know the index number, input it in the Item index field. When using the Item index, subsequent RSS text fields will automatically contain the next item in the index (i.e.
a. b. c. d. • Sends the selected element behind all other elements. Sends the selected element behind the element that is directly beneath it. Sends the selected element in front of the element that is directly in front of it. Sends the selected element to the front of all other elements. Set Text Parameters: While an individual text field is selected, click this button to edit parameters for that text field. Subsequent text fields will automatically contain the text parameters of the previous text field.
o o You can change the default text parameters in the Edit Preferences window: Go to Edit > Preferences and click on the Live Text tab. Changes to the default text parameters only apply to future Live Text states; changes to preexisting Live Text states will need to be made manually. BrightAuthor 2.5 and earlier versions required a Background Text Color for each text field. Now you can use the checkbox beside Background Text Color to decide whether you want to include a Background Text Color.
f. Repeat steps c through f for each text field. g. Click OK. Live Text Videos Layering Live Text over a video requires two zones because you cannot add Live Text to a Video Only zone. Instead, you can add Live Text to an Image zone, and place it on top of a Video Only zone. To help you position text over the video, you need an image file cut from the video you want to use. Complete the following steps: a. Under Layout, click Add Zone. Add a Video Only zone. b. Click Add Zone again and add an Images zone.
Interactive Menus Interactive Menus are DVD-style menus that users can navigate with interactive events. By linking separate media to items in the Interactive Menu, you can allow users to interactively transition to a new state of their choice. Because they can serve as a bridge to many items and outline everything available to the user, Interactive Menus make great Home Screens. To create an Interactive Menu, add a Video or Images zone to your presentation.
experience between the user and menu, it might be best to define each possible action. The following actions can be defined in the Navigation section: • Up, Down, Left, Right: These are the primary actions a user will perform to navigate from one menu item to the next. • • Enter: With this button, a user can select a menu item and transition to a state associated with that menu item.
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Menu Items: In this tab, you will create the menu items and further specify how a user navigates across the menu. • Menu Item Number: Every menu item has a unique menu item number. The first you create is 1, the second is 2, and so on. Here, you can navigate between the menu items you have created by clicking the Previous and Next buttons. Everything else in the window corresponds to the menu item you have selected here. The Menu Items section is where you can create and adjust individual menu items.
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The Navigation section is where you determine how a user moves from one menu item to the next. Although the actions were previously defined in the General tab, this is where you specify which menu item a specific action will bring a user. The possible actions are Up, Down, Left, and Right. In this section, each action has a dropdown list that displays the menu item number for each created menu item. By default, None is selected for each.
Event Handlers There are a variety of cases in which you might want your presentation to sit at a blank screen. The Event Handler fills the role of an empty placeholder in your presentation. Here are a few cases where an Event Handler would be convenient: • • • • You want a blank screen for a Home Screen so no content will play until the presentation is activated. You want to add a command that is performed before the first file in the presentation plays.
Define interactive events into and out of the Event Handler as you would with any other state. See Making a presentation interactive for details. If you define a Media End event after a video and link it to an Event Handler, the video will remain on the last frame when finished. For other file types such as images or audio, the display will sit at a blank screen when the files finish playing. Commands Adding commands to your playlist allows you to add extended functionality to your presentations.
Adding Commands to a State or Media File Double-click the media file thumbnail in the playlist area and click the Advanced tab. Click Add Command and use the dropdown list to specify a command. Use further dropdown lists and fields to set additional parameters for the command. Note: There are a few other options under the Advanced tab. They will depend on the type of file you have selected. For image files, you will see a Store Image in Cache checkbox.
Connector Volume: Changes the audio settings of a specific connector. • Set volume: Specifies the volume level. Select the Analog, HDMI, and SPDIF connector in the dropdown list and enter a volume value between 0 and 100 in the field. • Increment volume: Specifies how much the volume level increases with each interaction. Select the Analog, HDMI, or SPDIF connector in the dropdown list. • Decrement volume: Specifies how much the volume level decreases with each interaction.
• Serial bytes (comma separated): Sends the specified bytes to the specified serial port in comma-separated format. Link: Connects presentation zones or BrightSign players • Synchronize: Specifies the Synchronization trigger. • • Send zone message: Specifies the Zone Message trigger. Zones: Specifies the Link Zones trigger. GPIO: Sends a GPIO command. • • • On: Turns on the specified GPIO output. Other GPIO outputs are not affected. Off: Turns off the specified GPIO output.
• Set variable: Sets a specified value for a previously created User Variable. In the Variable field, type the exact name of the variable between two dollar signs on each side (for example, “$$variable1$$”). BrightAuthor will not recognize the variable without the dollar signs. In the Value field, specify a new value for the variable • • Reset variables: Resets all User Variables to their original values and all Media Counters to 0 Switch to Presentation: Switches to a different presentation.
9. Select the Advanced tab to add Commands to the Conditional Target. Commands will trigger when the conditional target is met. See Adding Commands for more information. 10. Click OK to save the conditional target. User Variables There are several ways you can change the values of User Variables in an interactive presentation. See Setting Presentation Properties for more information about creating User Variables and setting default values.
a. Select Specify fixed variable if you want to choose a fixed User Variable in the BrightAuthor presentation. Use the dropdown list to choose which User Variable the UDP input will modify. The UDP/serial string must be input in the form of . b. Select Input specifies variable if you want the UDP/serial input string to dynamically specify which User Variable is being modified. The UDP/serial string must be input in the form of : . 4.
CHAPTER 5 – INTERACTIVE EVENTS Interactive events can include any of the following. For all interactive events, make sure you define the next state after dragging the icon onto the current state: Event Timeout Description Displays an item for a predetermined period of time before the next action occurs automatically. To define the length of the timeout interval, double-click the Timeout icon in the playlist area.
Event BP900/200 Description Sets the action that occurs when a specific BP900 or BP200 button is pressed. There are six icons: BP900A, BP900B, BP900C, BP200A, BP200B, and BP200C. See BP900 and BP200 Button Boards for details. Synchronize Synchronizes content with another BrightSign player on the same network. When the Synchronize Event window opens, enter a trigger in the Specify synchronization keyword field, and then click OK.
Event Rectangular Touch Description Sets the action that occurs when the user touches the specified rectangular area on a touch screen. When the Add Touch Event window opens, drag the box to resize the touch area (or enter the exact Size and Position). To add additional touch regions to the selected item, click Add Touch Region, define the parameters, and then click OK. Keyboard Input Sets the action that occurs when a BrightSign player receives specific input from a keyboard.
Event Zone Message Description When combined with Sync Events, synchronizes multiple zones across separate displays. When the Zone Message Event window opens, specify the zone message trigger. Use this event with multi-zone video walls. For synchronizing multi-zones in one display, use a Link Zones event. Note: The same event/trigger must be defined for each transition you want synchronized. Link Zones Synchronizes content in another zone.
Event Video Time Code Description Performs commands at specific times during video playback. To define the commands and times, drag the Video Time Code icon onto the current state (video file). When the Video Time Code Events window opens, click Add Time Code, enter the Timeout interval, select the Command and Parameters from the corresponding lists, and then click OK. For more details, see Adding Commands.
Event Description times between which the interval occurs. You can also select days during which this event is active. Note: If you choose to make the timeout event Periodic throughout the day, the first event will occur at the beginning of the active period. User Defined Events This feature allows you to save interactive events you use often so that you can use them more readily in the future.
• Create a User Defined Event: Click Add User Event. When prompted, type a unique name for your User Defined Event. Click Add Event and use the dropdown list to select an interactive event. Repeat for each event you want included in the User Defined Event. Click OK when you are finished. • Edit a User Defined Event: Click the appropriate name from the list in the Manage User Events window. Make the desired changes in the User Event window.
CHAPTER 6 – THE TD1012 The TD1012 is a freestanding, all-inclusive digital signage solution that you can easily place on tables, counters, or wherever signage is most needed. The TD1012’s high resolution screen and BrightSign player are built into a durable steel casing and can be powered for approximately 12 hours by the rechargeable battery. Creating presentations for your TD1012 is fundamentally similar to creating presentations for any other BrightSign player. See Creating Presentations for details.
Publishing and customizing TD1012 presentations is no different from other BrightSign units. See Publishing Presentations and Customizing Presentations for details.
CHAPTER 7 – BP900 AND BP200 BUTTON PANELS The BP900 and BP200 button panels are LED-based touch devices that allow you to add interactivity to your BrightAuthor presentations. These button panels are compatible with any BrightSign device that has a USB port: HD810, HD1010, HD1010w, HD1020, XD230, and XD1230. There are a total of six event icons: BP900A, BP900B, BP900C, BP200A, BP200B, and BP200C. The letters A, B, and C correspond to USB ports.
• Press (First Touch): Determine whether you want the transition to occur after one push of the button. • Press Continuous: Determine whether you want the user to continually press the button. Specify a repeat interval in the text field (in milliseconds). • Transition to new state: Click to specify which media file in your playlist will be the next state when the specified button is pushed.
• Advanced: Click the Advanced arrow to reveal the display options and commands section. Here you can set how you view the interactive events between states in the playlist area. Show line draws a line between the media files. Show label creates a label either to the Right or Bottom of the media file that indicates transitions from states. See Adding Commands for details on commands. d. Click OK. Repeat steps a. through c. to define the remaining button pad events.
CHAPTER 8 – PUBLISHING PRESENTATIONS After you create and save a presentation, you’re ready to publish it to your BrightSign player or players. There are four ways to publish a presentation: • • • • Local Storage BrightSign Network Local Networking Simple File Networking The method you use to publish should depend on several factors, such as whether your player is networked, what kind of network you have access to, and how many players you have.
b. Click Local Storage (below the Publish tab). c. Click Browse under Presentations to navigate to and select the folder where your presentations are stored. 3. Create schedules for each presentation you wish to publish: a. Select a presentation from the list in the Presentations section. b. Drag the presentation to a time slot during which you want it to play. c. Click and drag the selection handles to adjust playing time within one day.
g. Repeat steps b through e for each presentation you want to schedule. 4. (Optional) Specify debugging, logging, and firmware preferences: a. Under Debugging, use the checkboxes to enable/disable serial debugging and system log debugging. b. Click Specify Logging and use the checkboxes in the Logging window to have the player generate logs while it operates.
c. Click Specify Firmware Update and indicate whether you want to update the firmware and to which version. The Firmware Update window is divided by BrightSign generation. In the section that corresponds to your BrightSign unit, select a firmware version or Do not update and then click OK. 5. (Optional) Check the Publish zip file for USB update box if you want to use a USB flash drive to update the SD card in the BrightSign player.
• Set New Password: Changes the content update password for the player. Enter the new password in the field. • Clear Password: Removes the content update password. This allows USB updates to be published to the SD card without restriction. 7. Publish the presentation to your storage device: a. Insert a storage device into your computer (SD card or USB flash drive). b. Under Publish to, click Browse to navigate to and select the drive where your storage device is located. c. Click Publish.
and password. Once your BrightSign players are set up with BrightSign Network (see Adding BrightSign units to your BrightSign Network), you can upload your presentations to the BrightSign Network server, publish schedules, and manage content. Your players will update their content automatically whenever they connect to the server. Publishing with BrightSign Network sends presentations and schedules to groups instead of players.
any number of players, and you can move BrightSign players from one group to another at any point. See Managing your Network for details. To publish with BrightSign Network, complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Sign into BrightSign Network by clicking Tools > Sign in to BrightSign Network. Open the presentation you wish to publish by selecting File > Open presentation. Click Upload to network (in the upper-right portion of the screen) to upload the presentation to the server.
• Recurring pattern: Specify the frequency for the recurrence. If you click Daily, you can specify Every day, Every weekday, or Every weekend. If you click Weekly, you can view a checklist of every day of the week. Specify the individual days of the week when you want the presentation to play. • Range of recurrence: Use the calendar beside Start to specify the first day you want the presentation to play.
c. Under Presentations, click Browse to navigate to and select the folder where your presentations are stored. 3. Create schedules for each presentation you want to publish: a. From the list under Presentations, select a presentation. b. Drag the presentation to a time slot during which you want it to play.
c. Click and drag the selection handles to adjust playing time within one day. Note: Alternatively, you can schedule a presentation by double-clicking a blank area on the schedule to open the Schedule Presentation window. d.
calendar. In the Schedule Presentation window, set the following parameters: • Presentation: Specify which presentation you want to schedule. • • Active all day, every day: Check this box if you want the presentation to play 24 hours a day. Event time: Specify the time during the day when you want the presentation to play by using the dropdown lists beside Start and End. • • Recurring Event: Check this box if you want the presentation to recur during specified times.
• (Optional) Limit content downloads: Check this box and use the dropdown lists beside Start of range and End of range to specify the times during the day when content can be downloaded. c. (Optional) Under Logging, check any of the following boxes to enable the corresponding logs: • Enable playback logging: Creates a log that records start and end times, zone names, media types, and file names.
e. Click OK. f. Under Publish to, click Browse to navigate to and select the location where you want to store the files. • If you have a mapped drive or shortcut that points to your web folder, publish to that location. • If you use FTP to transfer files to your web folder, publish to a folder on your computer and then use FTP software to copy the files to your web folder. g. Click Publish. When the Publish Complete window opens, click OK.
• • • Presentation: Specify which presentation you want to schedule. Active all day, every day: Check this box if you want the presentation to play 24 hours a day. Event time: Specify the time during the day when you want the presentation to play by using the dropdown lists beside Start and End.
• • Recurring Event: Check this box if you want the presentation to recur during specified times. Recurring pattern: Specify the frequency for the recurrence. If you click Daily, you can specify Every day, Every weekday, or Every weekend. If you click Weekly, you can view a checklist of every day of the week. Specify the individual days of the week when you want the presentation to play. • Range of recurrence: Use the calendar beside Start to specify the first day you want the presentation to play.
Note: When publishing to a new player, the BrightSign Unit Setup window will open after you click Publish. See Adding BrightSign Players to your Local Network for details.
CHAPTER 9 – CUSTOMIZING PRESENTATIONS This chapter will describe the different ways you can customize your presentations. Setting Zone Properties Whether you’re creating a single-zone or a multi-zone presentation, you can customize the settings for each zone. 1. 2. 3. 4. Open a presentation project by clicking File > Open Presentation. Click on the Edit tab and then the Playlist subgroup. Below Zone in the upper-left portion of the screen, click the zone whose properties you want to change.
o Scale to fit: Scales the image to fit the zone. The image is displayed as large as possible with the correct aspect ratio. o Scale to fill and crop: Scales the image to completely fill the zone while maintaining the aspect ratio. o Scale to fill: Scales the image to fill the zone without maintaining the aspect ratio. • • Initial volume (Audio): Set the initial volume for audio files (0-100). Initial volume (Video): Set the initial volume for video files (0-100).
HD120, HD220, HD1020, XD230 • View mode: Use the dropdown list to specify a setting for videos. o Scale to fit: Scales the video to fill the screen without maintaining the aspect ratio. The video may appear stretched. o Letterboxed and centered: Centers the video and adds black borders on the top and bottom. The aspect ratio is maintained. o Fill screen and centered: Centers the video and fills the screen. The aspect ratio is maintained.
o Fill screen and centered: Centers the video and fills the screen. The aspect ratio is maintained. • Audio Output: Enables or disables the Analog, HDMI, and SPDIF audio outputs for the zone. o Pass through: Supplies the un-decoded audio signal through the HDMI/SPDIF connector. Use this option if the zone audio (for example, AC3 Dolby Digital) is being decoded on an external device. o PCM audio: Supplies the decoded audio signal through the HDMI/SPDIF connector.
• • Transparency: Set the transparency of the Background text color in Ticker or Clock zones. Font: Click Browse and set a font for text in Ticker or Clock zones. You can use any TrueType font. Click Reset to System Font to reset the font.
• Background bitmap: Click Browse to navigate to and select a file for a background image. Click Yes or No to determine whether you want to stretch the image to fill the zone. You can add a background bitmap to Ticker or Clock zones. • Safe text region: Define the location (X,Y fields) and size (Width, Height fields) of the text region within the zone. Editing Other Zones The settings in the Edit Zone window correspond to the type of zone you have selected.
can enter the Position information in the left side of the screen. X corresponds to the position on a horizontal axis, and Y corresponds to the position on a vertical axis. • Add a zone by clicking Add zone, typing a Zone name, selecting the Zone type, and then clicking OK.
• Make two or more zones the same size by pressing Ctrl+Click to select the zones you want to resize.
the menu bar, click Format > Make same size and select a resize option. • Align two or more zones by pressing Ctrl+Click to select the zones you want to align. On the menu bar, click Format > Align and then select an alignment option. • Center two or more zones by pressing Ctrl+Click to select the zones you want to center. On the menu bar, click Format > Center in form and then select Horizontally or Vertically. Tip: You can layer zones on top of each other.
Main Set any of the following: • Connector type: Use the dropdown list to indicate the type of connector you are using for your display (HDMI, VGA, or Component). • • Screen resolution: Use the dropdown list to set a resolution supported by your display. RSS update frequency: Use the dropdown list to set how often you want the BrightSign to check for RSS feed updates. • • Background screen color: Click Choose to select a background color that appears behind your zones.
Interactive Set any of the following: • Serial: For each serial port: Port (number), Baud rate, Data bits, Parity, and Stop bits. Toggle between Binary and ASCII mode (Protocol), and set EOL characters (CR, LF, LF + CR) for Send and Receive EOL. Check the Invert Signals checkbox to invert the send pin and receive pin of the serial port. Note: the standard part is port 0 and the 5V TTL port is port 1.
• • Set the Minimum Volume and Maximum Volume for the Audio output (0 – 100). Set the Minimum Volume and Maximum Volume for the HDMI audio output (0 – 100). Media List Set any of the following: • Return to start after inactivity: Check the Yes box to set Media Lists to return to the start of the list after a designated period of inactivity. • Inactivity timeout (seconds): If you checked Yes above, type a number in the text field to specify the period of inactivity before Media Lists restart.
Variables Use this tab to create User Variables and enable Media Counters. • Media Counter: A value that records how many times a file in the presentation has played. They can be viewed in Live Text or extracted from the BrightSign via USB. Media Counters are not recorded unless you check the Automatically create media counter variables checkbox in the Variables tab. When enabled, Media Counters are recorded for every file in the presentation.
To create a User Variable, click the Add Variable button in the Variables tab. • • Name: Enter a unique name for the User Variable. Default Value: This is the value of the User Variable if it is not modified. Whenever a User Variable is reset (via the Reset Variable command), it will return to this default value. • • Networked: Check this box if you would like the User Variable to be updatable via a Data Feed. Data Feed: Select the data feed that contains your User Variable information.
Data Feeds Create and edit data feeds, which you can use when creating Live Text elements, RSS content, and networked User Variables. Click Add Live Data Feed to bring up the feed-creation window: • Feed Name: Give the data feed a name. You will be able to locate the data feed by this name when you are creating a Live Text element, specifying an RSS feed, or creating Networked User Variables. • • Url: Paste the web address of the RSS feed into this field.
• Validate: Click this button to ping the web address you entered in the Url, Live Data Feed, or Dynamic Playlist field. Use this feature to check whether you entered the address of your RSS feed correctly. • Update Interval: Use the dropdown list to specify how often you want the content of an RSS feed to be refreshed using the provided URL. • Plugin Script: This is an advanced feature: You may optionally choose to have the RSS feed parsed by a piece of customized BrightScript code.
The following piece of example code can be used to parse RSS text: Editing Preferences Whenever you create a new project, the presentation settings are based on the default settings. If you often use the same set of properties, you can save time by changing the default property settings to what you use most often. Keep in mind that changing the default settings does not adjust the current project. Changes will only apply to new presentations. To edit default settings, complete the following steps: 1.
• Slide delay interval: Set how long each image displays (in seconds). 4. Click the Interactive tab and set a default timeout period for media files (in seconds). 5. Click the Clock tab and use the dropdown list to set a language and utilize its predefined date and time format. To customize the format, click Customize, enter your desired date and time format, and then click OK. 6.
Note: If you are publishing with Local Networking but are not seeing your BrightSign players on the network, disabling Bonjour can help. 8. Click the UI tab and set the following: • Publishing: Check the boxes to indicate whether you want to Show file overwrite dialog and/or Copy and replace duplicate files when publishing locally. • • Save properties: Check the box to choose to Show save properties dialog. Transitions: Set the display mode for transitions in your interactive playlist.
CHAPTER 10 – MANAGING YOUR NETWORK You can use BrightAuthor to manage your BrightSign Network and local networks. Permissions Administrators of BrightSign Network accounts can create separate accounts with access to their BrightSign Networks. These accounts (called User Accounts) can be assigned to roles with various sets of permissions in both the BrightSign Network WebUI and in BrightAuthor.
4. Right-click a unit to Remove the unit, Show all units, Specify a username and password, or view Info.
Info opens the Unit Properties window. Here, you can view the unit ID, IP address, BrightSign model, firmware version, and autorun version. BrightSign Network – You can view the activity status of all units in your BrightSign Network, the groups to which units are assigned, the scheduled presentations for each group, the last connection time for each unit, and the frequency with which each unit connects to the network. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Viewing Presentations The Presentations tab allows you to see all presentations uploaded to the network, as well as which groups the presentations belong to, which presentations are active, and when they were last modified. 1. Sign in to BrightSign Network by clicking Tools > Sign in to BrightSign Network. 2. Click the Manage tab.
3. Click Presentations (below the Manage tab). 4. Click the arrow beside a presentation to view which groups are currently using the presentation. 5. (Optional) Sort the list of presentations by clicking the column you want to use as the sort criteria. For example, to sort by name, click the Name column. Click again to switch between ascending and descending order. Viewing your Library Viewing your library lets you see all the content you’ve uploaded to your BrightSign Network. 1.
• View info: Right-click a dynamic playlist and then click Info to see when the dynamic playlist was last modified and a list of all presentations that contain the dynamic playlist.
criteria. For example, to sort by name, click the name column. Click again to switch between ascending and descending order. Using Advanced Tools Advanced tools let you remotely control units on your BrightSign Network or set up a USB flash drive to retrieve device data and perform device actions. After you set up a USB flash drive, inserting it in a BrightSign player will extract the specified data or perform the specified actions (e.g. reboot the player).
Complete the following steps to control players linked to your BrightSign Network account: 1. Sign in to BrightSign Network by clicking Tools > Sign in to BrightSign Network. 2. Click Tools > Advanced. 3. Click the Update Autorun tab. A list of all your groups is displayed here. Check the checkboxes and then click Update now to update the Autorun version for those groups. 4. Click the Unit Control tab. 5. In the Serial Number field, type the serial number of the unit you want to control. 6.
CHAPTER 11 – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS For additional Frequently Asked Questions, go to http://support.brightsign.biz/forums. Can I use BrightAuthor with the HD600 or HD2000? No. Currently, BrightAuthor only supports the following BrightSign players: HD110, HD120, HD210, HD210w, HD220, HD410, HD810, HD1010, HD1010w, HD1020, and TD1012. Can I open the autoplay.xml file using BrightAuthor? No. The autoplay.xml file that is generated when you publish a presentation is a playlist file.
Why does BrightAuthor take a long time to process my folder? If the folder you selected has a large number of images and videos, the Media Library may take a few minutes to update. Please be patient. Why can’t BrightAuthor locate my files when I try to publish my presentation? If you copy a presentation project from one computer to another, or move or rename files used in a BrightAuthor project, BrightAuthor cannot locate the files, and you will receive an error message when you try to publish.
APPENDIX A – REMOTE CONTROL PROTOCOLS Complete the following steps to set up your BrightSign player to communicate with a remote control: Create an interactive presentation (see Making a presentation interactive). 1. Define an interactive event with the Remote Input event. 2. In the Remote Input Event window, specify the remote input with any of the following remote control codes: WEST EAST NORTH SOUTH SEL EXIT PWR MENU SEARCH PLAY FF RW PAUSE ADD SHUFFLE REPEAT VOLUP VOLDWN BRIGHT 3.
CHANGE LOG Version 3.5 April 11, 2013 • Revised Chapter 2 > Setting up a Player for Standalone Use Chapter 8 > Publishing with Local Storage to include information about publishing with USB drives and using password protection for these content updates. • Added additional information about using Portrait Orientation to Chapter 3 > Creating a Full-Screen Presentation. • • Revised the explanation in Chapter 4 > Event Handlers to include new Stop Playback functionality.
