0

Slideshow and link to website

Robert Kehoskie

February 04, 2020 21:59

None

Follow

Hello,

We have 16-HD223 Brightsign units scattered around our warehouse. For the last couple of years, we have been using the units to only display a simple slideshow. We would create a PPT, save as WMV and update Brightsigns via Bright Author. 

I am trying to add a link to an external website that we use for reporting to display a KPI. We use a platform called Domo that allows us to create a public link for a report that we would like to share. 

In BrightAuthor, I added a HTML5 element next to the slideshow. In the presentation properties, I added the URL, saved, and published. The regular slideshow worked and then external KPI reports displayed BUT it never went back to the original slideshow. I realized that I needed to add a display time for the HTML Element so I added 40 seconds. This time, the last slide in my original slideshow stays on the screen an extra 40 seconds and then the slideshow resets (no external KPI report is displayed). 

Any ideas on what I am doing wrong or suggestions on how to get this to work? 

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

10 comments

• 0
  
  Monica Knutson February 04, 2020 22:09

  Hmm... are you doing this as an interactive or non-interactive zone?  

  I would suggest the following in an interactive zone:

  • HOME Initial State is your WMV
  • Add a Media end event (the slate icon) from your WMV to the HTML5 State
  • Add a TIMEOUT event (the stopwatch icon) of 40 seconds from the HTML5 state that goes back to the WMV

  Cheers,
  Monica

• 0
  
  Robert Kehoskie February 05, 2020 14:34

  Thanks Monica. These are not interactive. These devices are probably overkill for what we use them for. The images in the slideshow change maybe once a week but the KPIs get updated daily. This is why I am hoping to link directly to the reports.

• 0
  
  Monica Knutson February 05, 2020 15:33

  Hi Robert,

  What I mean by interactive is the actual playlist.  When you have an interactive playlist you can use events such as timeouts and media end, zone messages, etc.  So try changing the playlist to an interactive one and use the events I mentioned above.  Give that a go and let me know if it works for you.

  Cheers,
  Monica

• 0
  
  Brandon February 05, 2020 17:57

  The HTML5 state will "start" when transitioned to, but its content will not be displayed until the page load is completed - for complex pages like dashboards this can take a number of seconds, so you should account for load time in the Timeout or Time on screen value.

  For example, if the page takes 30 seconds to load but you only have it displayed for 20 seconds, you'll never see its content displayed.

  _________________________________________________________________________

  Friendly reminder, the community forum is intended for user-to-user discussion.  It is not regularly monitored. For troubleshooting problems and to ensure a timely answer from a BrightSign representative, please submit a support ticket.

• 0
  
  Robert Kehoskie February 05, 2020 20:24

  Monica - Thank you, its working almost perfectly.

  Brandon - Perfect timing on your content. I do have a white screen that appears for approx 8 seconds before the report actually shows up. Any workarounds on this? In BrightAuthor, I have gone to Edit --> Preferences --> Storage and played around with the HTML Local Storage setting but no change in behavior. 

• 0
  
  Monica Knutson February 06, 2020 01:41

  Glad to hear it Robert!

  For the load time, whatever you can do to streamline the file size on the KPI HTML dashboard will help.  Reduce graphic resolution, use JPG compression (70-80% quality is ok), etc.

  Cheers,
  Monica

• 0
  
  Brandon February 06, 2020 02:09

  Robert - The simple workaround is to reduce the display time of the previous item  and increase the display time of the HTML5 state to compensate for the load delay.

  The more-complex workaround is to try using Interactive playlists to load the HTML site in a separate zone that starts off hidden or off-screen, then make it visible when you need it.

  _________________________________________________________________________

  Friendly reminder, the community forum is intended for user-to-user discussion.  It is not regularly monitored. For troubleshooting problems and to ensure a timely answer from a BrightSign representative, please submit a support ticket.

• 0
  
  Robert Kehoskie February 10, 2020 21:21

  Monica - Thanks for the input but we don't have any control over images since its done via a third party. 

  Brandon - I shortened the timeout for the slideshow and increased the HTML5 timeout but still running into white screen. I decided to put my images in the presentation one at a time vs converting a PPT to a WMV file. This way I can adjust the individual timeout for each image. However, my test Brightsign unit suddenly just wants to reboot constantly. Tried factory resetting, wiping and setting up SD card, wiping files on the web server and its still doing the same thing. This is my sign to take a break for the rest of the day. Will try again tomorrow and let you know.

   

   

• 0
  
  Marc Alvarez March 18, 2024 06:38

  It seems like you're encountering an issue with transitioning back to the original slideshow after displaying the external KPI report. Here are break down the problem and provide a solution:

  1. Understanding the Issue: The HTML5 element displaying the external KPI report works fine, but the slideshow doesn't resume afterward.

  2. Probable Cause: The issue might be related to how the BrightAuthor software handles transitions between elements.

  3. Potential Solution:

     a. Utilize BrightAuthor's Events: BrightAuthor allows you to define events and actions. You can use this feature to trigger the transition back to the slideshow after a certain duration or event.

     b. Javascript Solution: You might need to incorporate JavaScript to control the transition between the KPI report and the slideshow. This could involve setting timers to control the display duration of the KPI report and then transitioning back to the slideshow.

     c. Testing and Troubleshooting: Test the HTML5 element separately to ensure that it doesn't interfere with the slideshow transition. Check if the slideshow resumes properly when the HTML5 element is removed or replaced with a different element.

  4. Step-by-Step Implementation:

     a. In BrightAuthor, review the events and actions settings to see if there's an option to trigger the return to the slideshow.

     b. If not, consider adding JavaScript code within the HTML5 element to control the timing and transition. Ensure that the JavaScript code doesn't conflict with BrightAuthor's built-in functionality.

     c. Test the solution thoroughly on one Brightsign unit before applying it to all units. This will help identify any potential issues or conflicts.

  5. Consult BrightAuthor Documentation or Support: If you're unable to resolve the issue on your own, consider reaching out to BrightAuthor's support team or consulting their documentation for further assistance. They may provide specific guidance on integrating external content seamlessly with your slideshows.

  By following these steps and potentially incorporating JavaScript for more precise control, you should be able to seamlessly integrate the external KPI report with your slideshow on Brightsign units.

• 0
  
  Hilton Hilt July 14, 2025 10:16

  Have seen similar issues when trying to balance slideshows with embedded live data feeds. Often, the HTML5 element doesn't behave like other media zones and needs more scripting control or dedicated scheduling to alternate properly. Some setups use external dashboard tools with lighter rendering overhead. Something like Status Check has been used by others to show near-live updates without breaking the slideshow cycle—maybe worth checking if the display method supports seamless transitions.