- What happened to DisplayIt! software?
1) Our developers discovered that all of the 'Zones' used in DisplayIt! could easily be created in PowerPoint directly. In fact, PowerPoint
has much more capability and is familiar to millions across the world. So instead of continuing to try to add zones to DisplayIt!, we created
DisplayIt!Xpress, and implemented 'gadgets' that float over your primary content such as Analog or Digital Clocks, Weather, Calendar, and Scrolling
Text / RSS News Feeds. Plus, the DisplayIt!Xpress, Management Console software is significantly easier to use than the DisplayIt! Administrative software.
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- What are all the 'parts' to a DisplayIt!Xpress digital signage system?
1) Media Player - a small-form-factor Windows PC. 2) The software - DisplayIt!Xpress is licensed on a per-media-player basis. 3) Display -
a commercial display is necessary. Do not use a cheap consumer television and expect it to last in a 24/7 environment! 4) Content -
there are a number of content creation tools you can use. Many of our clients simply use PowerPoint. Others use Photoshop, digital
video authoring systems, and Flash. You can also 'print' documents from Word, Excel, or any other programs as PDF files and use those. Also, screen
shots can be taken with a single key press, and saved via the built-in Paint program in Windows - making virtually any content usable.
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- Is Outlook or Outlook Exchange required for DisplayIt!Xpress?
No. Outlook or Outlook Exchange are not required. DisplayIt!Xpress can be controlled trhough the FREE Management Console
for Windows computers.
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- What is the difference between the Windows and Android versions of DisplayIt!Xpress?
The Windows version of DisplayIt!Xpress allows PowerPoint presentations to be played without converting them to image files. That means
that transitions from slide-to-slide, animations of objects and text on the screen, and touch-enabled PowerPoint are all supported on Windows.
Also, media types that are supported on Windows like Flash, Excel, and PDF are not supported on Android players. Scrolling text on Android
players is limited to 3 Android fonts, while the Windows version is only limited by the installed fonts on the player PC. The Windows scrolling
text bar may use 13 colors and 52 textures, while the Android player is limited to 13 colors. Some updating methods are not supported
by the Android player, such as Shared Folders and cloud update services.
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- Is having an internet connection a prerequisite for DisplayIt!Xpress?
Yes, it is required initially. DisplayIt!Xpress checks with our web servers on a periodic basis for updates, and to verify licensing.
If your license is paid, you can request a 'bypass' so that your player can be taken off the Internet entirely. The bypass flag tells the software that
it no longer needs to verify license registration. This is useful in trade show and other remote applications. Please request the bypass at least 48 hours
before you need to use it.
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- What ports and web sites must be available to DisplayIt!Xpress?
Local or Wide-Area Network content update method
Ports 21 (windows players) and 2221 (android players)
License activation and validation
www.bestwave.info
Automatic updates of software for maintenance customers (both for players and Mgmt. Console desktops)
www.bestwave.info/DisplayItX
Software download and installation
www.bestwave.com
News feeds
Whatever feed you are using has to be available
Examples:
http://hosted.ap.org/lineups/TOPHEADS-rss_2.0.xml?SITE=OHCIN&SECTION=HOME
http://hosted.ap.org/lineups/USHEADS-rss_2.0.xml?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME
Weather
http://aviationweather.gov/docs/metar/stations.txt
http://www.aviationweather.gov/static/adds/metars/stations.txt
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- When I first set up a media player PC, is there anything special I need to do?
Yes. When you first run a PC, Windows will ask you to set some preliminary configuration parameters. Among them is a name and password for
the PC. Not entering a Password will make it easier because nobody will have to enter the password after power failures/restore. You can also
set a flag in Windows settings to not require the password to be entered.
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- Can DisplayIt!Xpress operate on a single PC connected to a display?
Yes, it is possible, but not very cool. Since DisplayIt!Xpress allows content to be selected and
scheduled onto its own computer through the Management Console application. Quitting the player to start up the Management
Console is cumbersome, and not recommended. It is really a two computer system.
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- My displays are in Portrait mode, is there anything special I need to do?
Yes. Set your display to Portrait mode Orientation using the Display - Screen Resolution Control Panel. Do this
BEFORE you run the DisplayIt!Xpress software.
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- Can more than one screen be connected to a single media player?
Yes, more than one screen can be connected to a single media player. This can be done via an 'HDMI splitter' that takes
the video and audio signal and splits it into multiple signals, or by daisy-chaining together multiple displays that
have this functionality. No matter how you accomplish this, there is only ONE software license required. Please note
that all of the screens connected to a single media player will be showing the same content.
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- How are the displays connected to the media player PC?
That depends on the connections (ports) that the media player and display have. In most cases, a single HDMI cable is used because
that allows both high definition video and audio with a single cable connection.
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- Can DisplayIt!Xpress work with touch screens?
Yes, DisplayIt!Xpress can deploy content that is touch-ready. For example, PowerPoint presentations can have defined
buttons that users can touch. When the media player is connected to a monitor with a touch screen, the user can interact with
the content on the screen. PowerPoint is especially easy to make touch capable when it is used with DisplayIt!Xpress. This capability is
fully explained in Best Wave's 'PowerPoint for Digital Signage' classes and downloads on the Support tab of this web site. Also, DisplayIt!Xpress
can control the schedule for the player, changing which interactive presentation
is being shown when. For example, a user could touch a menu item on the breakfast menu to learn its nutritional attributes in the
morning, and interact with a completely different menu during the lunch hour.
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- How can I see what is playing on a DisplayIt!Xpress screen?>
From the Add/Edit Displays panel in the Management Console simply select that display name in the list of displays. The Management
Console will retrieve the latest screen shot from the display. or for some updating methods. There are a number of applications and utilities such as
Remote Desktop, SplashTop, TeamViewer, and Go-To-My-PC, that allow you to
connect and view or control a display in real time. Note (the screen shot feature does not work with the ViewSonic SC-A25 Android player)
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- I want to place media players in remote locations. How do I do that?
DisplayIt!Xpress communicates with media player PCs via your network. If FTP protocol is supported throughout your network,
then all of your remote players can be controlled. Our applications use the standard port, 21, for Windows PCs and 2221 for Android player communication.
Since port 2221 is not normally open on Windows networks, you will need to add an inbound and outbound rule to the Firewall on your Management Console computer.
Instructions for doing this are in the downloads area of the Best Wave Support page. You can
also use a Cloud Syncronization Service like Google Drive synchronize a special folder on the Management
Console PC with one or more players in the field. In fact, this method allows hundreds of displays to be "connected" with no
cost for network communications. A single update can change the content on all synchronized displays at the same time.
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- If I am updating via shared folders, can I add, delete, or update files while DisplayIt!Xpress is running?
The answer is a qualified Yes. If you are using the Management Console, it will make sure there is no problem with any update.
If you are updating via a cloud service, or directly into the Content folder on a display, you can generally replace files while they
are in use, the only exception to this are PowerPoint presentations that are currently playing. PowerPoint Viewer will not allow
a presentation that is playing to be replaced. You will get a message from the operating system that the file could not be deleted or replaced because
it is being used by another application. In that case, you can place a PowerPoint presentation into the folder that has a different name, then wait
until that one is playing, and delete the older one. All other files can be replaced even while they are being played.
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- Can I save my DisplayIt!Xpress playlists for later use?
Yes. There are three buttons for this purpose, 'Save Playlist', 'Open Playlist' and 'Delete Playlist', in the DisplayIt!Xpress Management Console.
Saving a playlist allows you to re-use the same content and Gadget settings later on, or to duplicate a playlist across a number of
other displays.
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- Other digital sign applications are 'Cloud Based.' Why isn't DisplayIt!Xpress?
It can be! DisplayIt!Xpress works with our Management Console or Cloud-Based services like Google Drive,
ownCloud, DropBox, and others for updating. The DisplayItX\CLOUDSYNC folder on your management PC(s) can be set to synchronize with
a cloud service. Then, update content in the Management Console and all of the displays using that connection will update! DisplayIt!Xpress
is programmed to ignore the files that these services use to keep track of update status.
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- Is DisplayIt!Xpress compatible with Windows 10 Home, Pro, and IOT?
DisplayIt!Xpress is compatibile, but might have issues if it is installed in the typical installation folder. Windows
can, depending upon security settings, block the writing of files within the Program Files folder. That is why DisplayIt!Xpress
and the Management Console get installed in the root of the C: drive.
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- Is DisplayIt!Xpress compatible with Windows server operating systems?
DisplayIt!Xpress is compatibile, but you may need to turn of Data Execution Prevention (DEP) within Windows for the application you are running.
https://4sysops.com/archives/how-to-turn-off-data-execution-prevention-dep/
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- How can I update display content automatically from an Excel Spreadsheet?
You can include an Excel spreadsheet or chart in your playlist. You can specify the amount of time that the sheet is displayed
on the screen, and therefore how often it will be refreshed by setting the duration property for that item in the playlist.
After adding a spreadsheet, click the 'Create Shortcut' button in the Properties for that item. This will give you a shortcut
to the live copy of the Spreadsheet that DisplayIt!Xpress will be actually sending to the display. When you update that copy, it will
automatically update the actual displays that are using it! Just make sure you have the Management Console running and on the
Update and Monitor tab. You can also have an automated system replace the file from time to time, as long as the Management
Console is running, it will get the newer version to the displays automatically.
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- My company's firewall is preventing downloading the installer from your web site. What can I do?
You can use an FTP client software program to download from our Guest FTP service. The userId and password are
BestWaveGuest and bwguest. You can also try this link in Explorer:ftp://BestWaveGuest.bestwave.com:bwguest@bestwave.com
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- Where does the content for DisplayIt!Xpress reside?
Your original content files, like PowerPoint presentations are stored where you keep them now. Nothing changes.
Once you add a file to a playlist, DisplayIt!Xpress will make a copy of it and place it in a folder on your computer, typically
the DisplayItX_CONTENT folder on your local C: drive. Or, if you are sharing update responsibilities with others, you can specify another
location like a folder on a network drive. To do this, go to the settings screen of the Management Console. There is a setting specifically
to modify where content files are being stored. Have the other user(s) select the same location for content storage and you will all
stay in sync with your updates and changes.
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- One of my display computers crashed and I need to replace it. What should I do?
Contact us here at Best Wave, and we will reset the players connected to your activation email. Once we do that, DisplayIt!Xpress will check in with our server.
The server will allow as many displays as you have licensed to check in. That way you can take out an unused display PC and add in a new one without
touching any of the hardware. You may contact us via email support@bestwave.com or telephone 1+ (480) 368-8900.
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- How can I update the software on the media player PCs?
As long as you have a maintenance agreement with Best Wave, updates will happen automatically without you having to touch any of the
display PCs. We post updates in the middle of the night, and all of the PCs running DisplayIt!Xpress check for updates periodically.
When a new version is available, they download the new version, then quit, and open the newer copy. It all happens in a matter of seconds,
with minimal interruption to your digital sign(s).
- Do you have a recommendation on PC, Processor, RAM or Video Card/RAM for Resolution quality and performance?
The answer really depends on the content you intend to use. At the low end we see Atom processors with decent video chips. At the upper end
we see dual core systems with lots of cache and memory. Basically, if you are going to be playing video at 1080p resolution, you need a card/processor
that supports that. On the other hand, if all you do is show PowerPoint or slide shows and web sites that would be overkill.
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- How can I display dynamic content from a database or other source?
Many DisplayIt!Xpress clients want to display values that are constantly changing on their displays. For example, production data, or days without
accidents at a factory. This data can often be found within a spreadsheet. The Management Console allows you to add spreadsheets as content for
one or more displays. Then you can create a shortcut to the live copy of the file that DisplayIt!Xpress will actually be using for updating.
As long as the Management Console is running and is on the
Monitor and Update tab, the display(s) will receive the updated content automatically.
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- All of the sudden I am getting an activation screen when I start DisplayIt!Xpress. Why?
The most likely cause is that your trial activation has expired. To get you up and running quickly, fill in the Activation Request screen when
that happens and a temporary activation will be sent to you within seconds. The other possibility is that a connection to the Internet is not
available from your display PC. In that case, be sure and check your wiring from the PC to the network port. The third possibility is that you
have entered your email address in mixed case. User emails for registration must be in all lower case.
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- I want to use my existing PowerPoint files that contain fancy transitions, special timings, etc. Is this possible?
Yes. Make sure your PowerPoint is set to go from slide to slide automatically. Set the number of seconds between slides in the Animations tab.
You must go into slide setup and check the 'Play at a kiosk' checkbox. Otherwise your PowerPoint will not fill the screen.
If you forget to do that, your presentation could also play once, then go to black. Also, when you start making a PowerPoint, be sure to select
the 16:9 or 9:16 size in the layout menu. That way your presentations will not have black bars at the left and right sides. The best size for PowerPoint presentations
is 26.666 by 15 inches for landscape and 15 by 26.666 inches for portrait. Some transitions are not supported by PowerPoint player. There is a list of
supported transitions in the User Guide.
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- I want to embed video in my PowerPoint. Is this possible?
Yes. Use WMV video format and make sure it is sized appropriately. Use a video converter to set the display size of your video to approximately
the size it will be shown in the PowerPoint. Stretching or contracting will cause pixelation. Also, the video must be included in the playlist where the
PowerPoint will be shown. Click on the 'film' icon in the Duration property so that it is not shown (you will see a red circle with a slash over the
'film' icon). That way the video will only be shown inside of your PowerPoint, not separately.
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- Can I switch my existing media player PC(s) that are currently running DisplayIt! to DisplayIt!Xpress?
Yes. Stop the DisplayIt! software on the media player PC by holding down the Ctrl key. Then download the DisplayIt!Xpress Installer and run
it. It will have detailed instructions for installation... but two are critical. 1) Make sure you remove PowerPoint Viewer 97, Access 2000, and
MicroSoft File Format Converter from the Programs and Features control panel. 2) Make sure you get rid of the WatchDIPlayer shortcut in the
Startup>All programs>Startup folder. Then go through the rest of the DisplayIt!Xpress installation like it is a new system. You can skip the
Filezilla installation, the Flash Player installation, the QuickTime installation and the K-Lite Codec installation because they were probably
installed with DisplayIt. If you are not sure, go ahead and reinstall them. Once that is done, go to your workstation and download the
DisplayIt!Xpress Management Console. Use that for updates from now on - do not use DisplayIt! - or you will cause problems on the player.
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- Can I switch my NMP-302w or NMP-580 media player to DisplayIt!Xpress?
Yes. You do not have to be stuck with the limitations of Signage Manager Express! Download the DisplayIt!Xpress user guide from this site. There is a chapter
with step-by-step instructions for downloading and installing our Android version on the NMP-302w or NMP-580.
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- Can I use my same playlists and content on the Android version of DisplayIt!Xpress?
That depends. If your playlist consists of image files (jpg, png) and video files in mp4 format, you can. But, if there is content that is not Android
compatible, you will need to remove it. For example, Flash, PDF, and Excel content do not play on Android. Also, if your playlist contains a PowerPoint, you
should delete it from the playlist and add it back in while you have the Android player selected. The Management Console will convert the PowerPoint
to a series of images in png format. You can set the duration of each slide, change the order, or delete slides you do not want after the import is complete.
Scrolling text requires a couple of changes too. The date and time are bracketed with '<' and '>' for Android players. Also, you should make sure to use
an Android compatible font for your text, 'Droid', 'Droid Sans' or 'Droid Serif'. The color for your scrolling text must be one of the 13 compatible colors,
not the textures that are only compatible with Windows players.
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