Smart Avi SignagePro User Manual

Signage PRO Manual

Table of Contents

IContents

Introduction

Disclaimer notice

Limited warranty statement

1. Contents of box

2. Installing Signage Manager

3. Setting up the SignagePro Client

................................................................................................................................... 103.1 Settings and Configurations of Client

................................................................................................................................... 12Table 3.2 Quick Keys and Functions of SignagePro Client

4. Adding your company logo

................................................................................................................................... 164.1 Sample .slogo file without clock

................................................................................................................................... 174.2 Field values for .slogo files

................................................................................................................................... 184.3 Add Time and Date to .slogo

5. Wireless Configuration

................................................................................................................................... 225.1 Connecting to a Hidden Network

6. Schedules, Tasks, Templates, RSS

................................................................................................................................... 276.1 User Manager

................................................................................................................................... 306.2 Task Manager

.......................................................................................................................................................... 316.2.A Create a new Task

................................................................................................................................... 346.3 Schedules - Creation, Export, Import

.......................................................................................................................................................... 366.3.A Modifying Tasks within the Schedule

.......................................................................................................................................................... 386.3.B Run Schedule after a power failure

.......................................................................................................................................................... 426.3.C Export Schedule and upload it to an offline box via USB

.......................................................................................................................................................... 476.3.D Import a Schedule

................................................................................................................................... 496.4 SuperSchedules

................................................................................................................................... 506.5 Template Creator

.......................................................................................................................................................... 506.5.A Create Template and Assign Task

.......................................................................................................................................................... 586.5.B Layout example

................................................................................................................................... 596.6 Creeping Line Editor

.......................................................................................................................................................... 596.6.A Opening Editor

.......................................................................................................................................................... 596.6.B Add Content

.......................................................................................................................................................... 626.6.C Window and Transparency

.......................................................................................................................................................... 636.6.D Set the position of creeping text

.......................................................................................................................................................... 646.6.E Line in a Task

.......................................................................................................................................................... 66Save Changes

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7. Screen Configuration

................................................................................................................................... 727.1 Rotating a Screen

................................................................................................................................... 897.2 Installing and Removing Fonts

8. Updating the SignagePro Clients Via Schedule

9. Update clients firmware via USB

Specifications

Sample Network Configuration #1

Sample Network Configuration #2

Index

100

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the SignagePro Digital Signage Solution. Please read the instructions carefully before using.

SignagePro is a digital signage solution that creates new marketing and information sharing portals to reach target audiences with real time information. SignagePro attracts audiences by displaying your message using vivid, high-quality video and animation replacing traditional signs and posters.

SignagePro uses your IP network to remotely manage, control, and broadcast your information to target audiences in specific locations across the globe. Because it uses a closed network, your information is safe and secure.

SignagePro is capable of playing back all industry standards, such as Flash f iles, Video .MPG, HTML, QuickTime, Power Point, .JPG’s, Java Ap plets, and more.

SignagePro is the ultimate solution that provides both hardware and software for the display and management of your digital content. It is highly cost effective and easy to use. It is the perfect solution for both small-scale and large-scale projects.

Introduction 1

SmartAVI SignagePro Manual2

Disclaimer notice

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Applica makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose.

Applica will not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance or use of this material.

No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated into another language without prior written consent from Applica, Inc.

Limited warranty statement

A. Extent of Limited Warranty

1. Applica, Inc. warrants to the end-user customers that the Applica product specified above will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the duration of 1 year, which duration begins on the date of purchase by the customer. Customer is responsible for maintaining proof of date of purchase.

2. Applica’s limited warranty covers only those defects which arise as a result of normal use of the product, and do not apply to any:

a. Imp roper or inadequate maintenance or modif ications. b. Operations outside product sp ecif ications. c. Mechanical abuse and exp osure to severe conditions.

3. If Applica receives, during applicable warranty period, a notice of defect, Applica, Inc. will, at its discretion, replace or repair the defective product. If Applica is unable to replace or repair the defective product covered by the Applica warranty within a reasonable period of time, Applica shall refund the cost of the product.

Limited warranty statement 3

4. Applica shall have no obligation to repair, replace or refund unit until customer returns defective product to Applica.

5. Any replacement product could be new or like new, provided that it has functionality at least equal to that of the product being replaced.

6. Applica limited warranty is valid in any country where the covered product is distributed by Applica.

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1 - SignagePro Client

1 - SignagePro Software CD

1 - Power Cord

1 - Unique USB Key

1. Contents of box

figure 1.0.1

2. Installing Signage Manager

This quick setup guide will instruct you on how to install and setup the SignagePro software onto your Server (Host PC) and how to setup the SignagePro client (Player).

To ensure proper installation of the server software;

• Please make sure you are running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 or Windows Server 2003 SP2.

• Make sure that you are logged in as the system administrator.

• Turn off the Windows firewall. (see figure 1.0.2 for Windows XP)

You can alternately select SignagePro services under the exceptions tab. This option is available after you finish with SignagePro Manager software installation. (figure 1.0.1)

2. Installing Signage Manager 5

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figure 1.0.2

Note: If you will be using SignagePro across more than one network, refer to port 13325 when configuring your router port forwarding.

SignageServer requires a unique USB key to be installed. You will find your key on back of the SignageServer CD sleeve. In addition, you must complete the online registration for your copy of SignageServer. If you do not register in the thirty-day window, your SignageServer software will become disabled. A registration window will open automatically. If you wish to register at a later date, simply select Help/Registration.

Note:

You must insert the USB protection key provided into any available USB slot on the . Once inserted, windows will ask f or the drivers you may cancel that request; drivers will be installed during SignageServer installation.

1. Double click on the SignageServer executable. Read the License Agreement then click ‘I Agree’

2. Enter in your name and organization and enter the unique serial number provided to you. Important: When entering the serial number, please make sure it is typed with ALL CAPS, or registration will not give you a 30 day grace period. (figure 2.0.1)

2. Installing Signage Manager 7

figure 2.0.1

3. The next window will be to choose components, make sure “SignageServer” is checked. (figure 2.0.2)

4. Choose the installation location you would like to install the SignageServer. Click ‘Next’.

5. Before the installation completes, you will be asked to create a password for the Administrator account. Leave it blank for the first time. You must sign in as the Administrator for the first time you load the SignagePro Manager. For more information on the User Manager, go to Section 6.1 of the manual.

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figure 2.0.2

figure 3.0.1

3. Setting up the SignagePro Client

1. Connect the power supply cable to the SignagePro client and plug the cable into a grounded power outlet.

2. Connect the mouse and keyboard cables to the corresponding ports.

3. Attach the VGA cable from the monitor or display to the VGA port on back of the client. If

you don't have VGA Cable attached, you won't see the SignagePro player in the Client list of SignagePro Manager!

4. Connect the SignagePro client to a router using Cat5 cable. (If you will be using a wireless router, please refer to your router’s manual for additional information).

5. Press the power button to start the SignagePro client.

6. Turn on the display connected to the client.

3. Setting up the SignagePro Client 9

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figure 3.1.4

3.1 Settings and Configurations of Client

Once you’ve logged in, use the keys described in table 3.3 to navigate the various menus and functions.

Some of these menus include:

A) SignagePro Configuration( Alt + Ctrl + 2): These tabs include:

- Server: IP address of the SignagePro server (Host PC with SignageManager installed on it)

- Username and Password

- Player Name: A unique name given to identify this client on the SignageServer network.

- Resolution: Here you can choose the resolution settings of the screen.

- Initializing: This option will set your SignagePro client to factory default settings. All settings and media will be erased.

3. Setting up the SignagePro Client 11

figure 3.1.5

B) Network Configuration menu (ALT + CTRL + 3): Manually enter your IP address or use DHCP Server (figure 3.1.5)

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ALT + CTRL + 1

Displays navigation menu.

ALT + CTRL + 2

Setup Signage options; such as login username and password, IP address, player name and schedule. (figure 3.4)

ALT + CTRL + 3

Setup network configuration. Use this option for static IP or for use over WAN. If your network uses DHCP you will not use this option. (figure

3.5)

ALT + CTRL + 4

Displays the SignagePro Information Window. Information includes; time & date, download status of your media, current version of SignagePro and connection status.

ALT + CTRL + 5

Allows user to use the Linux terminal.

ALT + CTRL + 6

Disconnects USB flash disks

ALT + CTRL + 7

Turns media on/off

ALT + CTRL + 9

Shut down and turn off the SignagePro client.

Table 3.2 Quick Keys and Functions of SignagePro Client

Keys Functions that you can use by applying directly to Signage Pro Player or

in “Remote Administration” mode from the server side.

figure 4.0.1

picture = sample_logo.gif

origin = bottom left

offset_x = 10 offset_y = 10

table 4.1

Files on the USB flash drive

4. Adding your company logo

One of the major functions of digital signage is to get your message out and to increase your brand recognition. One of the most important aspects of your brand is your logo. Combining your logo with informative content is one of the best ways to do this. Each logo on the SignagePro server consists of two files; an image file and a text file. The text file describes the placement of the logo and adds a time and date. To enable your logo please do the following:

1. If you haven’t done so already, create an image file of your company logo. SignagePro support the following image formats; .png, .jpg and .gif. (figure 4.0.1)

4. Adding your company logo 13

2. Create a text file using notepad (or comparable text editor) and insert the fields from tables

4.2 and 4.3. See table 4.1 for format examples.

3. Save the file using the file name you used for your logo and .slogo as the extension. Example= sample_logo.slogo

4. Copy the image file and the .slogo file onto your USB flash drive.

5. Insert the USB flash drive containing your logo image file and the .slogo file into the SignagePro client, which is Player.

6. Run the configuration tool by pressing ALT+CTRL+2 and click on "Resources".

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figure 4.0.2

7. Click on "Install from USB", Select the ‘Logo” tab. (figure 4.0.2)

4. Adding your company logo 15

figure 4.0.3

8. Select the sample_logo in dialog box and click ‘Ok’ (figure 4.0.3)

9. You can install more logos from USB thumb drive by pressing "Install from USB" button.

To remove a logo you can use the ‘Uninstall’ button. (figure 4.0.2)

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Sample .slogo file without clock

Sample .slogo file with clock

picture = logoname.png

origin = bottom left

offset_x = 10 offset_y = 10

picture = logoname.png

origin = bottom left

offset_x = 10 offset_y = 10

text = %H:%M:%S

text_x = 0

text_y = 37

text_face = Arial

text_size = 16

text_color = #000000

text_slant = normal

text_weight = normal

4.1 Sample .slogo file without clock

Table 4.1

origin

bottom left

bottom right

top left

top right

This value defines the corner of the screen from which offset value is

taken.

offset_y

This is length of "Y" coordinate between origin point and

logo's closest point to origin.

text

This is text that will be displayed on logo. Ordinary characters displayed

without conversion. Conversion specifications are introduced by a

character '%' see next table.

text_x ‘X’

coordinate of text inside of logo

text_y ‘Y’

coordinate of text inside of logo

text_face

Font name

text_size

Font size

text_color

Font color in HTML format (example: #000000)

text_slant

Text slant (normal, italic)

text_weight

Text weight (bold, normal)

4.2 Field values for .slogo files

The following table describes the different fields in the .slogo file and their meaning.

Picture should specify PNG file that will be used as background for logo. If PNG have alpha channel these areas will be transparent.

4. Adding your company logo 17

Table 4.2

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The abbreviated weekday name according to the current locale.

The full weekday name according to the current locale.

The abbreviated month name according to the current locale.

The full month name according to the current locale.

The preferred date and time representation for the current locale.

The century number (year/100) as a 2-digit integer. (SU)

The day of the month as a decimal number (range 01 to 31).

Equivalent to %m/%d/%y

Like %d, the day of the month as a decimal number, but a leading zero is replaced by a space.

Equivalent to %Y-%m-%d (the ISO 8601 date format). (C99)

The ISO 8601 year with century as a decimal number. The 4-digit year corresponding to the ISO week number (see %V). This has the same format and value as %y, except that if the ISO week number belongs to the previous or next year, that year is used instead. (TZ)

Like %G, but without century, i.e., with a 2-digit year (00-99). (TZ)

Equivalent to %b. (SU)

The hour as a decimal number using a 24-hour clock (range 00 to 23).

The hour as a decimal number using a 12-hour clock (range 01 to 12).

The day of the year as a decimal number (range 001 to 366).

The hour (24-hour clock) as a decimal number (range 0 to 23); single digits are preceded by a blank. (See also %H.) (TZ)

The hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number (range 1 to 12); single digits are preceded by a blank. (See also %I.) (TZ)

The month as a decimal number (range 01 to 12).

The minute as a decimal number (range 00 to 59).

A new line character. (SU)

Modifier: use alternative format, see below. (SU)

Either AM or PM according to the given time value, or the

4.3 Add Time and Date to .slogo

You have the option of adding time and date to your logo by adding one of the following fields to your .slogo file. (table 4.3) See example (table 4.1)

4. Adding your company logo 19

corresponding strings for the current locale. Noon is treated as pm and midnight as am.

Like %p but in lowercase: am or pm or a corresponding string for the current locale. (GNU)

The time in a.m. or p.m. notation. In the POSIX locale this is equivalent to %I:%M:%S %p. (SU)

The time in 24-hour notation (%H:%M). (SU) For a version including the seconds, see %T below.

The number of seconds since the Epoch, i.e., since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. (TZ)

The second as a decimal number (range 00 to 60). (The range is up to 60 to allow for occasional leap seconds.)

A tab character. (SU)

The time in 24-hour notation (%H:%M:%S). (SU)

The day of the week as a decimal, range 1 to 7, Monday being 1.See also %w. (SU)

The week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 00 to 53, starting with the first Sunday as the first day of week 01. See also %V and %W.

The ISO 8601:1988 week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 01 to 53, where week 1 is the first week that has at least 4 days in the current year, and with Monday as the first day of the week. See also %U and % W. (SU)

The day of the week as a decimal, range 0 to 6, Sunday being 0.See also %u.

The week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 00 to 53, starting with the first Monday as the first day of week 01.

The preferred date representation for the current locale without the time.

The preferred time representation for the current locale without the date.

The year as a decimal number without a century (range 00 to 99).

The year as a decimal number including the century.

The time-zone as hour offset from GMT. Required to emit RFC 822conformant dates (using "%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z"). (GNU)

The time zone or name or abbreviation.

The date and time in date (1) format. (TZ)

A literal % character

Table 4.3

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figure 5.0.1

5. Wireless Configuration

Important: Before configuring Wireless network connection under the SignagePro client you will need to setup your Wireless Router to have appropriate wireless settings.

We recommend to use WPA2-PSK with an AES configuration.

1. Turn Off the SignagePro client.

2. Insert the USB wireless adapter into any available USB slot on your SignagePro client.

3. Boot your SignagePro client with the USB wireless adapter connected.

4. Once the unit is in the main screen (blue taskbar), go to CTRL+Alt+3. Hit the “refresh” button and your wireless network should automatically show up in the list of networks. Go to Properties of your Network. (figure 5.0.1)

5. Wireless Configuration 21

figure 5.0.2

5. Select Encryption Type (WPA 1/2 stands for WPA or WPA2) and enter the appropriate encryption key. (figure 5.0.2)

6. Hit “connect”. You should now be connected to your wireless network.

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figure 5.1.2

5.1 Connecting to a Hidden Network

1. Turn Off the SignagePro client.

2. Insert the USB wireless adapter into any available USB slot on your SignagePro client.

3. Boot your SignagePro client with the USB wireless adapter connected.

4. Once the unit is in the main screen (blue taskbar), go to CTRL+Alt+3. Hit the “refresh” button to update wireless List. You would not see your hidden wireless network SSID in the list.

5. Point your mouse cursor on the "Network" Tab and click on it. In the field that would appear you need to type-in the SSID name of the hidden network. (figure 5.1.2)

5. Wireless Configuration 23

figure 5.1.3

figure 5.1.4

6. Type the name of the network and click on Connect. (figure 5.1.3)

7. Now you will see the new network in your list with "Hidden Network" name. Go to the Properties of that network. (figure 5.1.4)

SmartAVI SignagePro Manual24

figure 5.1.5

8. Select Encryption Type (WPA 1/2 stands for WPA or WPA2) and enter the appropriate encryption key. (figure 5.1.5)

9. Hit “connect”. You should now be connected to your wireless network.

figure 6.0.1

figure 6.0.2

6. Schedules, Tasks, Templates, RSS

1. Double click on the SignageServer Station Manager icon either on your desktop or start menu.

6. Schedules, Tasks, Templates, RSS 25

2. You will first be prompted with a ‘Server Logon settings’ dialog box. The default IP address is 127.0.0.1. In the user name and password fields use the new Administrator user and password you created in the installation process and hit ‘OK’. (figure 6.0.1)

SmartAVI SignagePro Manual26

3. Once the SignageServer Station Manager is loaded. You will see the following: Connected SignagePro clients. Loopback IP. (127.0.0.1) Your user name and password. Click Save Password to stay logged in. (figure 6.0.2)

+ 78 hidden pages

Smart Avi SignagePro User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

Disclaimer notice

Limited warranty statement

1. Contents of box

2. Installing Signage Manager

3. Setting up the SignagePro Client

3.1 Settings and Configurations of Client

Table 3.2 Quick Keys and Functions of SignagePro Client

4. Adding your company logo

4.1 Sample .slogo file without clock

4.2 Field values for .slogo files

4.3 Add Time and Date to .slogo

5. Wireless Configuration

5.1 Connecting to a Hidden Network

6. Schedules, Tasks, Templates, RSS