Getting Started with digitalsignage.NET

Requirements

• Internet web browser , ie Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari that supports Adobe Flash.
• A Connection to the internet
• A secondary screen with connected media device 
• A supported media playback device , Windows PC, SMIL or Android device**

** Scheduled content can also be viewed on your desktop without the need of a secondary screen, playback device or Subscription. Please visit our Downloads area via the Networks tab. Download and install our Preview app

Getting started with digitalsignage.NET is easy and requires only a few simple steps.

Step 1- Login

If you have created a digitalsignage.NET account already, open your internet web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer) and go to the following URL https://home.digitalsignage.net . If you don`t yet have an account you can click the " Create Account" link from the page to do this.

Once you’re logged in, follow the steps below to populate your screens with your media content.

a)    Purchase a subscription. Please note: If you are taking a free trial or have already purchased a subscription you can skip to Step 2

Click on the left hand side Admin button and select the Subscriptions tab. Then click on the   button. You should see the screen below.

b. ) From the drop down menu at in the top right corner, select your country and at the bottom of the page your subscription term. The subscription terms available are Monthly, 1 year, 2 year and 3 Year

                 c)  Once you have selected your subscription click Next and you will be taken to the confirmation screen

               d) You will now be directed to PayPal to complete the payment

                  e) Once you have completed the transaction your subscription will appear in the Admin/Subscriptions section

Step 2 . Adding Media files to your account

a) Click on the  button and select the Playlists tab.

b) Click on the in the lower right part of the page, called Media Store, located below the Current Playlist area.

c) From the drop down menu you have three options to select your media

Media formats, including Jpeg, Video*, SWF, HTML,

Live Video-  this will add a Live Video asset to your media store. Live video can be configured to pull in live feeds from TV, CCTV etc, (supported USB capture card with s-video or composite required) IPTV via an Exterity system can also be used. Please note:  Windows PC only. TV Configuration required on the player

WWW, webpage URL. ie http://www.digitalsignage.net

d) Browse to the directory on your computer or network where your media files are stored. Select the required file (or files, by holding down the shift key) and click Open). Your media files will now upload to your account. These will be displayed in the Media store once completed.

TOP TIP

Your media can be categorised if required to allow you to find your media much easier. For example. I may upload a video that is Sport related.

By clicking on the gear icon  you can categorise the media to the relevant tag, in this case "Sport"

When searching for this media at a later date you can select  "Video" and "Sport" and your media will be displayed. These feature is useful if you have lots of different departments (sales, marketing, canteen etc) using the system.

 Step 3 . Creating a playlist

Once you have uploaded your media you can then start to create a playlist of content that will appear on your screens.

a) Click on the  then on the Playlist tab . Give your playlist a name.

This Playlist is called Demo playlist. 

                                                                         Make sure that you click Save once you are done.

Looking at the Media store you should be able to see the Media files that you have uploaded. It should look similar to the image below.

b) To add your media files to your Playlist select the file you wish to add from the media store and drag the file up dropping it into your playlist.

Please note: Multiple files (see image below) can also be selected, by holding down the "shift" key while selecting.

Single file selected and added-Example

Multiple files selected and added-Example

Tip: When you want to delete a playlist, you’ll first have to delete the media assets associated with it.

c) Don't forget to hit the button once completed

Step 4. Create a Channel

 a) Click on the  button and select the Channels tab.Click on the yellow ‘Plus’ button to add a Channel and give it a name. 

b) Once complete, click 

Step 5. Add a Media player (paid subscriptions only)

In order for you to see content playing on your screens you will need to attach a Media player. Supported Media players include, Windows PC`s, SMIL devices (from manufacturer Iadea ) and some approved Android hardware.

We are going to cover the Windows PC (or Premium player as it is called) below and tell you how to add this to your account.

a) Click on the  button and select the Players tab. You should see the Network player entry section as below.

b) Give your player a name

c) Type in the Hexcode . This the code that you should have seen on your screen after installed the digitalsignage.NET DsNEtHTML5 Player player software from the Downloads section

d) Set a connection interval. This time is the connection interval between the media player and the server. The default setting is 5 seconds

e) Select your Time Zone- this relates to the part of the world you are in and your current time. Set this to your timezone.

f) Select the Channel that you wish your player to be associated with

g)Select a Layout. Leaving this un-ticked will make your content play full screen. You can select saved layouts via the drop down menu (if you have created one) and then tick the box to play your content in this layout. 

h) Make the player live (active) or inactive by ticking or un-ticking the box

i) Add your subscription by clicking on  the button.  This will open up the subscriptions box.

j) Select your subscription and click the Attach button

k) Select the player Uptime. This is the time and days of the week that your media player will operate. Ie. You may have a retail store that is open from 9am until 5pm everyday except Sunday. Click the appropriate time and days of the week.

l) Save. Make sure you hit the  button once you entered the required details

m) Once complete, don’t forget to click the  button.

Step 6.  Associate a Player with a Channel

In order for you player to be able to play the content that you have elected in your playlist. The player needs to be associated with a Channel. In step 4 we created a  Channel and gave it a name that was appropriate i.e. Demo channel. We will now associate the player with this channel

a) Click on the  button.

b) Click on the Association tab        

You should now be able to see your player in the lower panel . My player is called Viao Player 

Click on your player thumbnail and drag and drop it in to the blank space above (See below)

Your player is now associated with your Channel

c) Once completed click on the  button and then hit the  button to ensure that you changes are publish to the network.

Your content is now displayed on your screen