BrightAuthor Feature FAQ

Can I use a BrightAuthor user variable (for example, set from UDP or the IPad app) in HTML5?

Yes. To do this:

1. In BrightSign Unit Setup, select Enable local web server in Unit Configuration

2. Define your user variables in your project.

3. Add BrightSign .js library to your webpage

Can I open an autoplay.xml file using BrightAuthor?

No. The autoplay.xml file that is generated when you publish a presentation is a playlist file. This file includes only the information required for playback on a BrightSign player. It is not the same as a presentation project file.

How do I use a different font?

To use a different font, browse to a folder on your computer that has a TrueType font (e.g. in a Ticker zone, click Zone Properties, and then click Browse beside font). This font will be copied to the SD card when you publish the presentation. You can use your own custom fonts or download free TrueType fonts from the web.

Can I export a template?

Yes. Although there isn’t a template export option, you can save a presentation project with the desired template layout, and then transfer it to another computer. You can then open the project in BrightAuthor, and then save the template (Layout > Save Template).

Can I use a custom splash screen in BrightAuthor?

BrightAuthor version 4.3.0.3 and later let you replace the BrightSign splash screen image (the logo that displays when a player boots up) with a custom image. This option is available during the Unit Setup process in BrightAuthor: Select the Custom Splash Screen option under Splash Screen and use the Browse button to locate the image file you wish to use.

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Note that:

• You must use a supported image format for the splash screen.

• The splash-screen image is not compressed to fit the display (for example, a 1920x1080 splash screen image will exceed the boundaries of a 1280x720 monitor), so the image should fit the intended image resolution of the display.

• An image with a vertical resolution close to that of the display area will push the device information (model number, firmware version, etc.) off the screen. To preserve this information, use an image that is at least a few hundred pixels smaller than the vertical resolution of the display area.

How many images can I preload using the Image Cache feature in BrightAuthor?

You can preload up to 16MB of images. If an image is compressed (for example, .jpeg, .png), then it will use more memory than its reported file size in Windows/Mac, and BrightAuthor will show this larger file size when you add it to the Image Cache list. Since bitmaps (.bmp) are not compressed, the reported file size of a bitmap image in Windows/Mac is more accurate.

How do I display text, RSS, or Twitter feeds using BrightAuthor?

You can use a Live Text state to overlay text on a video; or display static, animated or scrolling text in a dedicated Ticker zone. Or you can put text on top of an image by placing a Ticker zone on top of a Background Image zone. If you're using the Live Text feature, you can switch between one or more text fields with image backgrounds.

Displaying Twitter feeds requires BrightAuthor versions 3.7 and later. 

How do I display a blank BSN Live Data Feed?

When creating or editing a BSN Live Data Feed, you will not be able to save the feed if it contains a blank Value field. If you want a value to be displayed as empty, enter " " into the Value field:

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Can I use Dynamic Playlists without BSN?

No. A BrightSign Network account is required to host Dynamic Playlists. However, you can get similar functionality with a self-hosted Media RSS (MRSS) feed, which can work with any player that has an Internet connection. See this FAQ for more details.

Can I overlay text or images on video in BrightAuthor?

You can display text over video using a Ticker zone; setting the Transparency to 100% in the Zone Properties of the Ticker zone will remove the text background completely, allowing the video to show through. You can also overlay text using a Live Text state (in an Images zone) on top of a Video Only zone or a Video or Images zone.

Image files that are displayed in an Images or Video or Images zone will automatically display on top of video zones. You can also use PNG images with transparency, and videos will play through the transparent regions of the PNG files. 

Can I update a static text field in BrightAuthor?

Yes, you can edit Live Text fields using BrightAuthor and republish the presentation, or you can use an RSS feed or BSN Live Data feed to remotely update the field:

Manual Update

1. Open a Live Text state and select the Live Text item to change.

2. Select a Fixed text item and enter the new text.

3. Publish the updated project (locally or to the network, depending on the configuration of your unit).

Remote Update

Configure the Live Text state to receive updates:

1. Go to File > Presentation Properties > Data Feeds.

2. Select Add Data Feed:

   • If you're hosting your own RSS feed, select Url and enter the URL of the feed

   • If you're using a BSN Live Data Feed, select Live Data Feed and select the feed from the dropdown list.

3. Open a Live Text state.

4. Select a text box or add one using the Add Item button.

5. Use the Type dropdown list to select Live Text Data, and choose the data feed you created in Step 2.

6. Enter an Item title or Item index number for the Live Text item. The feed item (RSS or Live Data) that matches this value will be displayed in the text box.

7. Once you have finished configuring the Live Text state, publish the presentation to your player. Now, all you need to do to modify the text box is to edit the Value/Description of the feed item associated with that text box.