Barco SOperate User guide

S! Operate S pectacular

User Guide

R9852171

R5976524/03

04/0

3/2005

Product revision

Software version: 3.2

Barco nv Media

Noordlaan 5, B-8520 Kuurne

Phone: +

32 56.36.89.70

Fax: +32 56.36.83.86

E-mail: [email protected]

Visit us at

the web: www.barco.com

Printed in Belgium

be recorded, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of Barco.

Trademarks

Brand and product names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks, registered trademarks or copyrights

of their respective holders. All brand and product names mentioned in this manual serve as comments or

examples and are not to be understood as advertising for the products or their manufactures.

Changes

Barco provides this manual ’as is’ without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not

limited to the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Barco may make im-

provements and/or changes to the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time

without notice.

This publication could contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made

to the information in this publication; these changes are incorporated in new editions of this publication.

Guarantee and Compensation

Barco provides a guarantee relating to perfect manufacturing as part of the legally stipulated terms of guarantee.

On receipt, the purchaser must immediately inspect all delivered goods for damage incurred during transport, as

well as for material and manufacturing faults Barco must be informed immediately in writing of any complaints.

The period of guarantee begins on the date of transfer of risks, in the case of special sys

tems and software

on the date of commissioning, at latest 30 days after the transfer of risks. In the event of justified notice of

compliant, Barco can repair the fault or provide a replacement at its own discretion within an appropriate period.

Ifthismeasureprovestobeimpossibleorunsuccessful,thepurchasercandemandar

eduction in the purchase

price or cancellation of the contract. All other claims, in particular those relating to compensation for direct or

indirect damage, and also damage attributed to the operation of software as well as to other services provided

by Barco, being a component of the system or independent service, will

be deemed invalid provided the damage

is not proven to be attributed to the absence of properties guaranteed in writing or due to the intent or gross

negligence or part of Barco.

If the purchaser or a third party carries out modifications or repairs on goods delivered by Barco, or if the goods

are handled incorrectly, in particular if the systems are commissioned operated incorrectly or if, after the trans-

fer of risks, the goods are subject to influences not agreed upon in the contract, all guarantee claims of the

purchaser will be rendered invalid. Not included in the guarantee coverage are system failures which are at-

tributed to programs or special electronic circuitry provided by the purchaser, e.g. interfaces. Normal wear as

well as normal maintenance are not subject to the guarantee provided by Barco either.

The environmental conditions as well as the servicing and maintenance regulations specified in the this manual

must be complied with by the customer.

Table of contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction..........................................................................................5

1.1 General Introduction............................................................................................ 5

1.2 Required resolution............................................................................................. 5

2. Concept ofS! Operate Spectacular.............................................................7

2.1 Concept.......................................................................................................... 7

2.2 Short Description ............................................................................................... 8

2.3 Starting up the software........................................................................................ 8

2.4 S! Operate Spectacular menu bar ............................................................................ 9

2.5 Folder structure ................................................................................................. 9

2.6 Creating your own folders.....................................................................................10

2.7 Deleting a folder or sub folder................................................................................11

2.8 Moving content, playlist and shows..........................................................................11

2.9 Icons used in the folder pane.................................................................................11

3. Content Handling.................................................................................13

3.1 Available file formats ..........................................................................................14

3.2 Supported Video codecs on S! Play .........................................................................15

3.3 Side remarks for content creation............................................................................15

3.4 Create new Content ...........................................................................................16

3.4.1 Select content selection wizard.........................................................................16

3.4.2 Add content to the location list..........................................................................17

3.4.3 Add URL content to the location list....................................................................18

3.4.4 Showing information about a selection ................................................................20

3.4.5 Removing content from the location list ...............................................................21

3.4.6 Loading the selected content ...........................................................................22

3.5 Delete Content .................................................................................................23

3.6 Edit Content ....................................................................................................23

4. Playlist...............................................................................................25

4.1 Create a Playlist ...............................................................................................25

4.2 Add Content to a Playlist......................................................................................26

4.3 Changing the duration.........................................................................................28

4.4 Edit a specific Playlist .........................................................................................29

4.4.1 Add content to a Playlist.................................................................................29

4.4.2 Removing a Content.....................................................................................29

4.4.3 Changing the position of a content in a Playlist.......................................................30

4.4.4 Changing the name of a Playlist........................................................................32

4.5 Delete a Playlist................................................................................................32

5. Show Authoring Module ........................................................................35

5.1 Features of the Show Authoring module ....................................................................35

5.2 Configuration of a new show .................................................................................35

5.2.1 Creating a new show ....................................................................................35

5.2.2 Configuration .............................................................................................36

5.2.3 Set up of the allowed content types....................................................................37

5.2.4 Allowed Live Feed .......................................................................................38

5.3 The Show GUI .................................................................................................39

5.3.1 The different panes ......................................................................................39

5.3.2 The Menu bar.............................................................................................40

5.4 Working with the GUI..........................................................................................40

5.4.1 Channels and Areas .....................................................................................40

5.4.1.1 Adding channels to a Show .......................................................................41

5.4.1.2 Deleting channels in a Show ......................................................................42

5.4.1.3 Expanding/collapsing channels ...................................................................43

5.4.1.4 Adding an extra area to a channel................................................................43

5.4.1.5 Changing the name of an area....................................................................44

5.4.2 Display layout.............................................................................................45

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Table of contents

5.4.2.1 Moving windows ...................................................................................45

5.4.2.2 Resizing window on the display...................................................................46

5.4.2.3 Z-ordering of windows .............................................................................48

5.4.2.4 Zooming on a window on a display...............................................................48

5.4.3 Content manipulation ....................................................................................49

5.4.3.1 Adding Content to a channel ......................................................................50

5.4.3.2 Resizing Content in time span ....................................................................52

5.4.3.3 Deleting Content from a channel .................................................................52

5.4.4 Scheduling................................................................................................52

5.4.4.1 Time Line setting ...................................................................................52

5.4.4.2 Zoom function.......................................................................................53

5.4.4.3 Preview on a defined time.........................................................................54

5.5 Save Show .....................................................................................................55

5.5.1 Saving the Show with ’Save’............................................................................55

5.5.2 Saving the Show with ’Save as’ ........................................................................55

5.6 Edit an existing Show .........................................................................................55

5.7 Deleting a Show ...............................................................................................56

5.8 Displaying the Properties of a Show.........................................................................56

6. Locations...........................................................................................59

6.1 Single display functions .......................................................................................59

6.1.1 Create a Display..........................................................................................59

6.1.2 Edit a specific Display ...................................................................................61

6.1.3 Delete a specific Display ................................................................................62

6.2 Display Cluster Functions.....................................................................................63

6.2.1 Create a Display Cluster ................................................................................63

6.2.2 Edit a Specific Cluster ...................................................................................65

6.2.3 Delete a Specific Cluster ................................................................................67

6.2.4 Expanding/Collapsing clusters..........................................................................67

6.3 Show properties of a display or cluster......................................................................68

6.4 Get an overview of the scheduled content ..................................................................69

7. Scheduling .........................................................................................71

7.1 Direct Scheduling on a Display...............................................................................71

7.1.1 Scheduling overview.....................................................................................71

7.1.2 Scheduling content.......................................................................................71

7.1.3 From and Until time......................................................................................72

7.2 Scheduling via Rules ..........................................................................................73

7.2.1 Start up of the Rule creation window...................................................................73

7.2.2 Main parts of the Rule creation window ...............................................................74

7.2.3 Configuration of the Rule creation window ............................................................75

7.3 Rule Functions .................................................................................................75

7.3.1 Creating a new Rule .....................................................................................75

7.3.2 Adding presentable information to a rule ..............................................................76

7.3.3 Changing the duration of the content in the rule......................................................77

7.3.4 Saving a Rule.............................................................................................78

7.3.5 Clear a Rule ..............................................................................................79

7.3.6 Delete a Rule.............................................................................................79

7.3.7 Changing the name of a rule............................................................................80

7.3.8 Frequency set up.........................................................................................80

7.4 Apply a Rule on a specific display ...........................................................................81

7.5 Removing a Scheduled Rule from a display................................................................83

8. Reporting...........................................................................................85

8.1 Display report ..................................................................................................85

8.2 Payload report..................................................................................................86

9. Package Mana gement ...........................................................................89

9.1 Package Management Overview ............................................................................89

9.2 Package Management module start up .....................................................................89

9.3 Sending a package to display ................................................................................90

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Table of contents

10.Action Management .............................................................................91

10.1 Features of the Action Management module ...............................................................91

10.2 Start up of the Action Manager...............................................................................91

10.3 Assigning actions to a display................................................................................91

10.4 Organise Actions...............................................................................................92

10.4.1 Start up Organise Actions...............................................................................92

10.4.2 Creating a new action group............................................................................93

10.4.3 Properties of an Action Group ..........................................................................93

10.4.4 Adding actions to an Action group......................................................................94

10.4.5 Removing an action from an Action group ............................................................94

10.4.6 Deleting an Action group ................................................................................95

10.4.7 Associating an icon to an Action group ................................................................95

A. DataFeed...........................................................................................97

A.1 Create a Data Feed ...........................................................................................97

A.2 Overview of the Data Feed creation window................................................................98

A.3 Change the background .................................................................................... 100

A.4 Change the background image of the data feed ......................................................... 102

A.5 Text item, creation and manipulation ...................................................................... 103

A.5.1 Creation of a Text item................................................................................. 103

A.5.2 Alignment of the text................................................................................... 105

A.5.3 Movement of the text .................................................................................. 106

A.5.4 Font set up.............................................................................................. 107

A.5.5 Color set up............................................................................................. 108

A.5.6 Set tag....................................................................................................110

A.5.7 Edit a Text item..........................................................................................111

A.5.8 Changing the position of the Text item................................................................111

A.5.9 Re-sizing a Text item area .............................................................................112

A.6 Image item, creation and manipulation.....................................................................112

A.6.1 Creation of a Image item ...............................................................................113

A.6.2 Change the color........................................................................................113

A.6.3 Change the image ......................................................................................115

A.6.4 Change position of the Image item area..............................................................116

A.6.5 Re-sizing of the Image item area......................................................................116

A.7 Ordering of Text and Image items...........................................................................116

A.8 Re-sizing a Data feed ........................................................................................116

A.9 Using grids ....................................................................................................117

Glossary...............................................................................................119

Index ...................................................................................................121

Listof images ........................................................................................123

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Table of contents

4 R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

1. Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Introduction

About this manu al

This User Guide provides detailed information about the S! Operate Spectacular features. This guide is

designed to be a reference tool in your everyday work with S! Operate Spectacular.

Software buttons will be printed in bold.

Menu items and menu names will be printed in italic.

1.2 Required resolution

Minimum required PC resolution

Minimum required resolution : 1024 x 768

Recommended resolution : 1280 x 1024

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1. Introduction

6 R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

2. CONCEPT OF S! OPERATE

SPECTACULAR

2.1 Concept

Schematic Overview

Repository

Local Content

Content Collection

3

Playlist Creation

Defining Rules

Applying to display(s)

Show Creation

Only with optional 'Data feed'

module

TEXT SCROLL

Data feed

Direct scheduling of content, data feed

playlist or show on the display

Image 2-1

R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005 7

2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

2.2 Short Description

Collecting Content

Locally stored content or locally created content can be uploaded to the central repository. Where it is

available for further use in playlists, shows or rules. See page 14for an overview of the possible formats.

Playlist creation

Content stored in the central repository can be combined in a playlist. This playlist can be stored in the

repository and further used as single content.

Show creation

With the contents and playlists in the repository a complete show can be created which can be used in a

schedule or rule to be displayed on a display.

Data feed creation (only with optional module)

Character information can be displayed in a text box. This information can be moved in any direction. A

background image can be added.

Defining “rules”

A rule defines when contents, playlists and/or shows can be displayed on a display or cluster of displays

when this specific rule is applied to that display or cluster of displays.

Applying “rules”

Created rules can be applied to a specific display. The content of that rule will be shown on that display

starting from the entered start time.

Direct sched uling

Any content, playlist or show can be directly dropped on a display and overruled an applied rule when one

was defined.

2.3 Starting up the software

How to start up

1. Go to Start → Programs and select S! Operate Spectacular.

The software will be loaded and the general start up screen will be displayed. (image 2-2)

Or,

double click on the desktop icon.

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R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

Image 2-2

Start up

2.4 S! Operate Spectacular menu bar

Overview

The menu bar contains 3 icons:

Image 2-3

Menu bar S! Operate Spectacular

1

Content button, content pane active

2

Rule button, rule (schedule) pane active

3 Location button, location pane active

Table 2-1

2.5 Folder structure

Overview

The start up page contains on the left side a folder structure called My workspace.

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2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

Image 2-4

Folder structure

When video feeds are available, a sub folder Video Feeds is already created with the available feeds in it.

The operator has the possibility to create his own folders and sub folders in which he can store his own

information such as content, playlists, shows or rules.

2.6 Creating your own folders

Howtocreateanewfolder

1. Right click in the left pane (folder pane)

A create pop up menu appears. (image 2-5)

2. Select Create Folder.

The folder input fields appear. (image 2-6)

3. Click in the Name input field and enter a name for your folder.

If you want to enter a description, click in the Description input field and e

nter a description for your new

folder.

4. Click on OK.

The new folder will be created and added to the folder pane.

Image 2-5

Create new folder

Image 2-6

Folder creation, input fields

How to create a sub folder

1. Right click on a folder in the left pane (folder pane)

A pop up menu New appears. (image 2-7)

2. Move your mouse to the right and select Create Folder.

The folder input fields appear. (image 2-8)

3. Click in the Name input field and enter a name for your folder.

If you want to enter a description, click in the Description input field and enter a description for your new

folder.

4. Click on OK.

10

R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

The new sub folder will be created and added to the parent folder in the folder pane.

Image 2-7

Image 2-8

Folder creation, input fields

2.7 Deleting a folder or sub folder

How to delete

1. Right click on the folder you want to delete.

A pop window appears. (image 2-9)

2. Select Delete.

A message window opens with the following message : “This will delete all contents and sub folders as

well. (image 2-10)

3. If you want to continue, click on Yes, otherwise on No.

Image 2-9

Delete folder

Image 2-10

Folder delete message

2.8 Moving content, playlist and shows

How to move

1. Click on a content, show, playlist.

2. Hold down your mouse button and drag the selected item to the desired location in the folder structure.

2.9 Icons used in the folder pane

Overview

The following icons are used in the folder structure for the different items :

My workspace

folder, sub folder

R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005 11

2. Concept of S! Operate Spectacular

content, data feed

playlist

layout

display

cluster display

display (lost connection)

action

action group

Table 2-2

12 R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

3. Content Handling

3. CONTENT HANDLING

Content

Content is a combination of displayable data (e.g. JPEG, MPEG, etc.) and the information

required by S! Operate Spectacular to handle the displayable data.

Overview

• Available file formats

• Supported Video codecs on S! Play

• Side remarks for content creation

• Create new Content

• Delete Content

• Edit Content

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3. Content Handling

3.1 Available file formats

Overview

The following file formats can be used to create layouts:

Storable formats

-SWF

- JPEG/JPG

-BMP

-PNG

-PCX

-PCT

-PICT

-PIC

-TGA

- TIF/TIFF

-WMF

-AVI

-MPEG

-MPG

-MPE

-WMV

-HTML

-HTM

-PPT

-PPS

Non-storable formats

-SWF(flash)

-WMV

-MPG

-MPEG

-MPE

- All possible web pages which can be entered in a browser (e.g. asp, jsp, etc.)

Storable formats

Content created on the normal way, Add new content –> Add

Non-storable formats

Content created via a URL, Add new content –> Add URL

Remark on HTML pages

Reliability of HTML files cannot be 100% guaranteed due to the diverse nature of the web pages.

14

R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

3. Content Handling

Avoid HTML pages:

• with popups (typically blocked)

• that execute scripts (script errors can occur, resulting in a dialog box on the display)

• that load content formats (e.g. Quicktime, Realplayer, Vivo, etc.) that are not installed on the playback

side. See installed formats and codecs version.

• that are frequently rotating (e.g. playlists)

Before using one of these pages, previewing is necessary to check if everything works fine.

3.2 Supported Video codecs on S! Play

Overview

• Cinepak codec version 1.10.0.6

• Intel indeo video version 5.10

• Intel indeo video R32 version 3.24.15.03

• Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 VCM

• MS MPEG-4 v1.2.3 version 4.00.0.3688

• Elecard mpeg-2 decoder version 1.35

•DiVX5.02

3.3 Side remarks for content creation

Overview

• A streaming video will only initialize when ready and not on scheduled time, this depends hi

ghly on

available bandwidth. It is recommended only to use streaming video on LAN.

• Scheduling streaming videos in playlist can cause system to block because files cannot initialize

quickly (This depends highly on the available bandwidth, advised 10 mbps , LAN usage only).

• Avoid scheduling multimedia files that render on 100% CPU usage such as Flash files with AVI en-

coded, AVI mpeg-1/2/4 that are scaled too much or scaled a lot different from their original aspect

ratio.

• Avoid scheduling multimedia files that use too much memory, Flash files with heavy 3D processing

can use too much system memory.

• The playback software will automatically scale. The more contents are sca

led, the more CPU could

be used (this depends highly on which content format)

• For datafeed contents, text does not scale in OpenGL mode. In LCD mode, text is scaled according

resolution.

• It is possible with some dynamic HTML content that popups are not blocked. Normally this is prevented

through the software but there are still cases where it can fail. Try to avoid to schedule this content.

• Datafeed content (except on Compact PC for Solaris hardware platform) relies on OpenGL, especially

for the scrolling feature. Therefore, it is important that when using the scrolling on an S! Play, the

playback hardware supports fully OpenGL. Preferably, the chipset is Nvidia / ATI. There are known

reliability problems on SIS chipset due to it’s opengl driver.

• For HTML in general it is advised to preview the pages on the S! Operate. Check whether there are

no script errors

• Content creation detects file length (duration) for video files (except for flash) . All other file formats (+

flash) have a default duration of 10 sec.

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3. Content Handling

3.4 Create new Content

Overview

• Select content selection wizard

• Add content to the location list

• Add URL content to the location list

• Showing information about a selection

• Removing content from the location list

• Loading the selected content

3.4.1 Select content selection wizard

How to select via the right mouse button

1. Select first a folder in which you want to create content.

2. Right click on the folder.

A pop up menu New appears. (image 3-1)

3. Move your mouse to the right and select Create Content.

The Content Creation window opens. (image 3-2)

Image 3-1

Create new content

16 R5976524 S! OPERATE SPECTACULAR 04/03/2005

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