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BrightAuthor improving Simple File Network

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Paul van Dinther
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Simple file network is working just fine for me but I find the process to publish in BightAuthor convoluted and complicated.

My project consists of 9 bpf projects for 9 synchronised screens. 


Initially each HD1020 is configured via the SD card to download content from my web server. Yet, every time I want to publish an update to one of the HD1020's I have to re-specify the unit configuration via the "Set Parameters" on the publish tab. In addition I have to specify every time where to publish to.

I can understand that an option is desired to re-configure the unit configuration remotely but I think both the unit configuration values and the Publish to desitination ought to be stored in the bpf file.

In a synced setup changes are often made to all bpf projects. So if the values were stored in the bpf, I could simply open bpf projects, make a change and hit publish without having to worry about messing up my units configuration which currently simply shows the last used values.

My project is not live yet but on several occasions during testing this has happened to me. Too easy to forget with dramatic consequences.

Is there a better way to manage this without subscribing to the Brightsign network?

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4 comments

  • 0
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    Alex

    This is how it's designed and how it works. Publish and destination settings cannot be stored in the bpf file. You have to specify these settings in BA publish menu.

    There are three ways you can do network updates currently.

    1. You can setup a unit into the BrightSign network
    2. You can setup a unit to connect to a folder on a webserver and get updates published to that folder.
    3. You can setup a BrightSign so BrightAuthor can publish to it directly.


    1. BrightSign Network, Hosted Service - You can setup the unit to connect to our hosted service, to a brightsign network manager account. We can setup a 30-day trial account. Please watch the BrightSign network videos in the tutorial section at www.brightsign.biz

    http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/168685-what-is-the-brightsign-network

    More details about how exactly Brightsign Network Setup works:
    http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/170656-brightsign-network-network-setup

    2. Simple Networking ( Web servers) - Use any web server to update BrightSigns remotely. For step by step directions on using Simple Networking:
    http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/216433-brightauthor-simple-networking-setup-and-usage

    3. Local Networking
    Publish directly to the BrightSign using BrightAuthor. See video below for details.
    https://www.brightsignnetwork.com/download/Videos/LocalNetworking-Setup_Publish.zip

    Local networking assumes that your units are on the same LAN with a computer running BrightAuthor.

  • 1
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    Paul van Dinther

    Yes, and I am using it, and I am telling you that the work flow is a pain. So are the gazillion stupid dialogs that popup up at every turn to tell me what I have just done or the crazy need to click "Update" when you change a video resource in the interactive editor despite there being a ok and cancel button. I have another 12 examples.

    If this is how it is designed to work then your designer needs his head read. (I am frustrated after a long day fighting with your tools and trying to establish which video mode the HD1020 actually supports fully when using Dolby 5.1 Digital.)

  • 0
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    support@brightsign.biz

    Paul,

    The free networking options do not have the advanced grouping and scheduling features that are available in the cloud based service. Simple File Networking requires customer development if you'd like to change or improve the work flow for more complicated implementations. 

  • 1
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    Lyndon

     

    Paul, the video output setting isn't affected by the use of dolby 5.1. For dolby 5.1, you have to be using an mpeg2 file with ac3 audio. The unit will then pass that through over HDMI to whatever you're using as a decoder.

    If you can provide a list of what you see as uneccessary steps and dialogs, I will log a bug for those UI issues to be reviewed. 

     

    On the simple networking side, currently, the only solution would be to setup a rule on your webserver that's tied to the serial # of the units calling in. When units ping the webserver they include their serial # in the header. You can, using the webserver, redirect requests to a specific folder based on the serial # and that would override the URL requested by the unit with one the server decides to provide it. 

    Part of the problem with putting parameters like that into the project file itself is that complicates things if you are using a schedule with multiple presentations or have one project referring to another project. We are continuing to look at ways to make simple networking easier to use. 

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