Use a Custom Autorun in BSN

Owned by BrightSign TechDocs
Last updated: Jun 19, 2024
2 min read

BrightSign Network (BSN) servers are programmed to reduce conflicts between the autorun version of a presentation (determined by the version of BrightAuthor used to create the presentation) and the firmware version that will display the presentation on the players. This can make it difficult to distribute custom autoruns to your networked players, so you must take steps to prevent your custom autorun from being overwritten by the current autorun version.

Consider the following guidelines when using custom autoruns with BSN.

BrightAuthor Standard and Custom Autoruns

Each autorun.brs script lists autorunVersion$ and customAutorunVersion$ values. BrightAuthor uses the settings in the File > Presentation Properties > Autorun window to determine which of these values will be used as the autorun version number when the presentation is uploaded to BSN:

  • If you select Standard Autorun, BrightAuthor will assign the autorun version of the current presentation to the autorunVersion$ value.

  • If you choose Select Custom Autorun, BrightAuthor will assign the autorun version of the custom autorun file you select to the customAutorunVersion$ value.

Autorun Versions on BSN

BSN sets the autorun version of a player according to its group. You can see the current autorun version of a group by navigating to the Groups tab and selecting Properties for any player within that group. The standard autorun version for the player (and, by extension, the group) will be listed in the Autorun Ver. (standard) field.

BSN determines the autorun version of the group by comparing the autorun version numbers of all presentations scheduled for that group. It selects the highest number among the autorun versions and applies that version number to all players and presentations in the group.

This process applies to all presentations scheduled for a group, not just the presentation that is currently running on the players.

Custom Autorun Versions on BSN

To use a custom autorun presentation in a group that contains standard autorun presentations as well, ensure that the version number of your custom autorun has a higher value than any other standard autorun presentations scheduled for the group.

For example, if the current autorun version of the group is 6.5.20, then you would need to set the “customAutorunVersion$” value in your custom autorun script to a number greater than or equal to 6.5.20.

You can check the highest standard autorun version of a group by clicking the Properties of any player in that group and viewing the Autorun ver.(standard) field.

Forcing an Autorun Upgrade on BSN

BrightAuthor allows you to force a BSN group to update to a version of autorun beyond what is currently being used in any presentation. You cannot force players to downgrade their autorun versions by forcing a version number below the highest current autorun version.

To update the autorun version of a group in BrightAuthor:

  1. Go to Tools > Advanced > Update Autorun

  2. Select the group you wish to update

  3. Select Update Now. The autorun version will be updated to the current version being used by BrightAuthor.