Digital Signage Basics
Digital Signage Terminology
Players
Playlists
Layouts
Products
Events
Assets
Applications
Store
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Players
In the digital signage world, Players is the term we use for hardware — smart displays or external devices driving your content. A specific license is assign to a players – this is how the software communicates with the player.
Player Health Checks
Health Checks represent the connectivity of your Players to the EngagePHD software. If Players are online and communicating with the EngagePHD servers, the health check will be green and show the current date and time.
Player Actions
The ‘Player Action’ button (both from the main Players page and the Player Record) allow you to send commands to your players and perform various actions.
Scheduling Content to Players
Deploying or connecting content to Players is referred to as 'Scheduling' in the EngagePHD software. Playlists, Layouts and Applications each have an option to 'Schedule' content to your Players.
Screen Management and On/Off Calendar
The Screen Management and On/Off Calendar allow you to put your Players (screens) to sleep. The Player remains powered on and continues to perform health checks and will update with any changes that you make from the EngagePHD software.
Playlists
Static Images or Videos in General
Static JPEG or PNG images you create can easily be uploaded to the EngagePHD software and added to playlists. The images can then be scheduled where dayparting is needed.
Scheduling Content within Playlist
Assets (images or videos) within a playlist can be scheduled to only play when you schedule it to player. The steps below will help walk through setting up conditional playback for your assets.
Static Menu Boards
Static JPEG or PNG images you create for your menu boards can easily be uploaded to the EngagePHD software and added to playlists. The menu images can then be scheduled where dayparting is needed.
Playlist Details
The Playlist Details allow you to change the name of the playlist, copy the playlist, as well as add movement features like fade in and out for images, click to advance for touch screens; etc..
Adding Playlists to Layouts
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Connecting (Scheduling) Playlists to Players
Once you have created content and have built a playlist, the next step to getting content to your screens is through the ‘Schedule’ from the main navigation. This connects the content to the Player(s).
Layouts
Layouts are sometimes referred to as templates. The Layout Designer allows you to portion out content in different zones on your screen (Player).
Adding Content from the Toolbar
The Layout Designer allows you to add various content from the Designer Toolbar. As you add content to your layout from the toolbar, zone layers are created and can be managed from the toolbar.
Zone Layers
As content is added to the EngagePHD Layout Designer, a Zone Layer is created. These layers can be managed from the designer toolbar, where layers can be moved, copied, deleted and renamed.
Adding Images to Layouts
JPEG or PNG images can be added to layouts as backgrounds, logos, icons, and more. This video explains how to add images to the EngagePHD Layout Designer.
Adding Layouts to a Playlist
Similar to images or videos, Layouts can be added to Playlists and schedule for extended dates, a specific time range, or recurring daily schedules.
Using Text Zones
Text Zones can be added to your EngagePHD Layout Designer for quick text changes within your design.
Connecting (Scheduling) Layouts to Players
Once you have created content and have built a layout, the next step to getting content to your screens is through the ‘Schedule’ from the Home page. This connects the content to the Player(s).
Products
The Product Library can be used to manually add products, or import product data from a third party integration.
Using the Local Product Library for Digital Menu Boards
The EngagePHD Product Library allows you to create a library of products that can be easily managed by multiple users. This is ideal for quick menu changes directly from the EngagePHD software.
Point of Sale Integration
EngagePHD supports many point of sale integrations. This automatically imports product data into the Product Library.
Using Product Tables in the Layout Designer
The Product Table allows you to add products to your Layout Design from the EngagePHD Product Library. The Product Table also provides the structure of how your product attributes will display: Product names, prices, calories, font styles, spacing; etc.
Product Playlists
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Events
The Events module is used where you have Meeting Room Signage and you want to show what Event is happening in the room and/or the next Event to take place in the room where the display is installed. You are also able to create a summarized list of Events within the Layout Designer.
EngagePHD supports 3rd party integration from SalesPro and Ungerboeck and ICS based URL calendars. For more information about 3rd party support, please contact your EngagePHD representative.
Adding Events
When creating an event in the EngagePHD software, each event attribute is a dynamic field that can be used when building a Layout. To create a new event, click on the ‘Create New’ button.
Creating Event Tables in Layouts
When using the Events section of the EngagePHD software, layouts can be used to display your event text. This is done by using Event Tables from the Layout Designer Toolbar.
Adding Events using a Spreadsheet
When you’re creating Events for Meeting Room Signage, you can import multiple Events from a spreadsheet.
Adding Rooms to Players
When create Meeting Room events from the Events section of the EngagePHD software, you will need to create ‘Rooms’ which will be assigned to events and Players. These steps walk through adding Rooms to your Players.
Setting Up Rooms
When importing events from 3rd party integration to the EngagePHD software, Rooms will already be created or imported to the software. However, when adding Events one at a time or through an excel spreadsheet, Rooms will need to be created manually.
Scheduling Event Layouts to Players
Deploying or connecting content to Players is referred to as ‘Scheduling’ in the EngagePHD software. Playlists, Layouts and Applications each have an option to ‘Schedule’ content to your Players.
Assets
Assets are the content files that you upload to the software, such as images, videos, font files; etc.. All Assets live in the Assets Library, which is basically the storage space for all your media files. Once uploaded, Assets can be used within Playlists or Layouts.
Asset Library & Store Overview
The ‘Asset Library’ is storage space where all of your media assets and custom fonts are uploaded and stored.
Supported Media and Formats
When uploading content to EngagePHD, please note that uploading content files greater than 1920×1080 or 1080×1920 may affect quality or performance on your ‘Player(s). We recommend image and video files have a maximum resolution of 1920×1080 or 1080×1920 for best playback on media players.
Encoding Video Files to MP4 with HandBrake
Before uploading your videos to the software, we recommend using HandBrake Video Encoder below to re-encode your videos to the optimal format for playback on your Players . Here is the direct download link HandBrake Downloads
Adding Assets from the Store
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Using Folders and Tags
Asset folders can be created to organize your asset images and video files.
Adding Widgets from the Store
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Proof of Play & Impression Reports
Reports can be run for Players, Proof of Play, Licenses and Touchscreens. The report can provide results in your browser or downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet. The following will walk through running Proof of Play reports.
How to Delete Assets
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Applications
Applications is the term that we used for interactive digital signage, such as touchscreens and interrupts.
Touchscreens
When using the Applications module to create touchscreen, it’s important to remember that touchscreen content will be built around your design work that is created outside of the software (i.e. Photoshop, PowerPoint). Mapping your content, from your backgrounds, buttons, pages, widgets; etc. should be planned out in advance so you have the framework in place before you start building your touchscreen in the software.
Touchless (Bring Your Own Device)
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Transitioning Applications
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Store
The EngagePHD Store provides images, videos, layout templates and widgets that can be used to help you create your digital signage. If you don’t have the tools to create layout backgrounds, the Store offers many jpeg and png image designs that fit landscape and portrait screens.
Adding Assets
The EngagePHD store contains free and paid images and videos. You can also search for and purchase content from Shutterstock directly from the Store. Use the dropdown menu to sort by free and paid content. Uncheck Layout Templates and Widgets and click search to show only image and video content.
Adding Widgets
The EngagePHD Store contains various widgets that can be used as part of your Layout or Application designs. Many of the widgets in the Store are free, but there are a few widgets that have been created by a third party and require a one time fee or subscription.
Adding Layout Templates
Layout Templates are pre-built Layouts that include various elements depending on its use. You’ll find many themed templates for QSR, menu boards, reader boards, cannabis, corporate communication, application pages, and much more. Use the dropdown menu to sort by free and paid content. Uncheck Assets and Widgets and click search to show only Layout Templates.