Media List, Video List, Image List, Audio List

Owned by BrightSign TechDocs
Last updated: Jul 10, 2024
5 min read

The Media List, Video List, Image List, and Audio List states are convenient tools for defining interactive events with many files. They allow you to compile your files into one group that appears as a single thumbnail in your playlist area. By default, each time the playlist transitions to a list state, the next file in the list will play and exit the list after a timeout (images) or when the file finishes playing (video and audio). Alternatively, you can set the list to shuffle files or cycle through every file in the list before exiting and transitioning to the next state.

Tip

Use the Transitions tab to add commands for entering or exiting each media item in the state. To add commands for entering or exiting the state itself, use the Advanced tab

Tip

You can edit properties of these states under File > Presentation Properties > Media List. 

First, make sure your playlist is set to Interactive. Then, drag a Media List, Video List, Image List, or Audio List icon onto the playlist area. You can then set the following parameters for your list:

  • Media list name: Create a unique name for the list.

  • Set as initial state: Check this box to make the list your Home Screen.

  • Advance to next item on Media End event: (Media Lists, Video Lists, Audio Lists) Check this box to have the list cycle to the next file after an audio/video file ends. If you leave this box unchecked, the list will play one audio/video file each time it is transitioned to, remaining on that file until the playlist transitions away from the list.

  • Advance to next item on Image Timeout: (Media Lists, Image Lists) Check this box to have the list cycle to the next file after an image times out. If you leave this box unchecked, the list will display one image each time it is transitioned to and then transition away when the Image Timeout interval is reached.

Note

An Audio List in an Enhanced Audio zone cycles through all files in the list by default, so the Advance to next item on media end event option is not available for Enhanced Audio zones. In an Enhanced Audio zone, a Media End event attached to an Audio List will only trigger once all files in the list have been played.

  • Image Timeout (seconds): (Media Lists, Image Lists) Specify the length of time each image remains on screen. You can also use decimal values to specify the image timeout in milliseconds (for example, 1.500 = 1500msec).

  • Support 4K images (use video plane to display images): (Image Lists) Check this box to enable 4K image playback in the Image List. This will consume the 4K video decoder on the player, so you won't be able to display both a 4K video and a 4K image at the same time.

  • Play from beginning on entry to state: Check this box to have the list start from the beginning each time it is transitioned to. This box is only enabled if you have checked the above Advance to next item on Media End event box (unless you are using an Enhanced Audio zone) or Advance to next item on Image Timeout box. If you leave the Play from beginning on entry to state box unchecked, subsequent transitions to the list will play the next file in the list.

  • Start Index: Specify which item in the list should count as the beginning of the list. When the list plays from the beginning (see the Play from beginning on entry to state option above), it will play from the item index specified here. When non-shuffled playback reaches the end of the list, it will loop back to the top of the list (i.e. start index 1), rather than the specified Start Index.

  • Shuffle playback: Check this box to randomize the order of media items in the list each time it is transitioned to. In BrightAuthor 2.4.x and later, the ability to advance to the next file in the list has been added. If you are manually advancing through a media list using interactive input, then the playlist shuffles the Media List when it reaches the end of the list.

  • Event to transition to next item: Select an interactive event that allows the user to transition to the next file in the list. After selecting the event type, you must specify a trigger.

  • Event to transition to previous item: Select an interactive event that allows the user to transition to the previous file in the list. After selecting the event type, you must specify a trigger.

  • Transition: (Media Lists, Image Lists) Specify the transition effect that will occur when the image timeout triggers.

  • Transition duration:(Media Lists, Image Lists) Specify how long the image-transition effect will take to complete. This duration should be less than the amount of time the image is displayed on screen.

  • Send Zone Message (using file name as parameter) prior to showing each item: Check this box to send a Zone Message command every time there is a file transition in the list. The Zone Message string will consist of the filename (without the file extension) of the media item that is being transitioned to.

  • Populate from media library: Select this option to populate the list using content stored on your computer.

    • Media Library: Click Browse to select the folder that contains all the files you want to include in the list.

    • Media Files: Add individual files to the list by clicking the  Add File button and using the dropdown list. Only files contained in the folder you selected above will be available in the dropdown list. Alternatively, you can click Add All Content From Media Library to add all compatible media files from the directory specified in the Media Library field. Once you've added the desired files to the list, you can customize playback order using the up and down arrows. You can also remove individual files using the X buttons, or remove all files using the Delete All button.

  • Populate from data feed: Select this option to populate the list using media files specified in an RSS feed (this feature does not support MRSS feeds). You will first need to add the RSS feed to your presentation by navigating to File > Presentation Properties > Data Feeds. When adding the Data Feed, you must set the Data feed content usage to Content for Image List, Audio List, Video List, or PlayFile. Upon playing the presentation, the player will retrieve the media from the download URLs specified in the Value field of each item in the Data Feed (i.e. the RSS <description> field).