4.4-Commands

Commands allow you to add extended functionality to your presentations. Commands can help you control displays and devices (Display On, GPIO On, etc.) or perform additional actions when interactive events are performed (Pause Video, Set Volume, etc.).

You can add commands to interactive events or to states. If you add a command to the interactive event, the command will be performed when that event occurs. If you want to add a command to a state, you will need to choose between an Entry Command (executed upon entering the state) or an Exit Command (executed upon leaving the state). Some Commands (such as Switch Presentation) can only be added to interactive events.

Adding Commands to an Event

Follow these steps to add a command to an interactive event:

1. Double-click the event icon in the playlist area.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Click Add Command.
4. Use the dropdown list under Commands to choose the category of the command.
5. Use further dropdown lists and fields to set additional Command Parameters.

Adding Commands to a State or Media File

Follow these steps to add a command to a state or media file:

1. Double-click the media file thumbnail in the playlist area.
2. Click the Advanced tab. 
3. In the Entry Commands or Exit Commands section, click Add Command.
4. Use the dropdown list to specify a command. 
5. Use further dropdown lists and fields to set additional parameters for the command. 

Command Types

This section outlines available command categories and types.

Set Audio

Changes the audio settings of a zone. Note that triggering the Set Audio command while an audio/video file is playing will cause playback to freeze (though the player will still respond to Interactive Events like Timeout, UDP Input, etc). You can also use the Set Audio command while displaying an image file, or you can attach the Set Audio command to an interactive event that transitions to or from an audio/video file.

• Zone: Specifies the zone to which the audio settings will apply.
• Audio Output: Enables or disables the Analog Stereo, HDMI, and SPDIF audio outputs.
  • Pass through: Supplies the un-decoded audio signal through the HDMI/SPDIF connector. Use this option if the presentation audio (for example, AC3 Dolby Digital) is being decoded on an external device.
  • Stereo: Supplies the decoded audio signal through the HDMI/SPDIF connector.
• Audio Mixing: Specifies which part of the audio signal to send.
  • Stereo: Sends both left and right audio signals.
  • Left: Sends the left audio signal only.
  • Right: Sends the right audio signal only.

Connector Volume

Changes the audio volume of a specific connector.

• Set: Specifies the volume level. Select the Audio (i.e. analog), HDMI, or SPDIF connector in the dropdown list and enter a volume value between 0 and 100 in the field.
• Increment: Specifies how much the volume level increases with each interaction. Select the Audio (i.e. analog), HDMI, or SPDIF connector in the dropdown list.
• Decrement: Specifies how much the volume level decreases with each interaction. Select the Audio (i.e. analog), HDMI, or SPDIF connector in the dropdown list.
• Mute: Turns the connector audio output off. Use the checkboxes to select among the Audio (i.e. analog), HDMI, and SPDIF connectors.
• Unmute: Turns the connector audio output on. Use the checkboxes to select among the Audio (i.e. analog), HDMI, and SPDIF connectors.

Zone Volume

Sets the volume for a zone. Note that the Connector Volume settings take precedence over the Zone Volume settings when both are active in a presentation.

• Set: Specifies an absolute volume level for a zone. Use the dropdown menu to select the zone to which this command applies and enter a volume value between 0 and 100.
• Increment: Specifies how much the volume level increases with each interaction. Use the dropdown menu to select the zone to which this command applies and enter an increment amount.
• Decrement: Specifies how much the volume level decreases with each interaction. Use the dropdown menu to select the zone to which this command applies and enter a decrement amount.

Send 

Sends information using the following interfaces:

• Send Zone Message: Triggers a Zone Message event with the same command parameter as the Send Zone Message command.
• UDP: Sends a message to a networked device using the UDP protocol. Use the File > Presentation Properties > Interactive tab to specify the destination address and port for UDP messages.
• Send IR Remote: Sends a command via the 3.5mm IR Out port (4K and XD models only).
• Send IR Remote (Pronto): Sends a command using Pronto Hex Code (PHC) via the 3.5mm IR Out port (4K and XD models only).
• Serial string (EOL): Sends the specified string to the specified serial port. This command adds a carrier return at the end of the string.
• Serial string (no EOL): Sends the specified string to the specified serial port. This command does not add a carrier return at the end of the string.
• Serial byte: Sends the specified byte to the specified serial port. The byte must be entered in decimal format (0-255).
• Serial bytes (comma separated): Sends the specified bytes to the specified serial port in comma-separated format.

• Send Plugin Message: Sends the specified string to a custom script plugin attached to the presentation. Use the dropdown menu to select a desired script plugin. Please see the Parsers and Plugins tech note for more information on creating custom scripts that can receive plugin messages.

Link 

Connects presentation zones or synchronizes BrightSign players.

• Synchronize: Specifies the Synchronization trigger.
• Zones: Specifies the Link Zones trigger.

GPIO

Sends a GPIO command.

• On: Turns on the specified GPIO output.
• Off: Turns off the specified GPIO output.
• Set State: Enables you to turn each GPIO line on or off.

Video

Changes the video playback settings:

• Pause video: Pauses video playback.
• Resume video: Resumes video playback.
• Enable monitor power save mode: Turns the monitor's power saving mode on.
• Disable monitor power save mode: Turns the monitor's power saving mode off.

BrightControl

Sends commands to monitors and other digital signage displays:

• Display On: Turns the display on.
• Display Off: Turns the display off.

• Send Ascii String: Sends a CEC command. The provided string will be converted to hexadecimal format before being sent to the display. 

  Important

   BrightControl CEC command strings cannot contain spaces.

• Set Philips Volume: Sets the Philips TV volume.

Other

Sends various commands that are not contained within the above categories.

• Pause: Pauses presentation playback for a specified number of milliseconds.
• Reboot: Reboots the BrightSign player.
• Set Variable: Sets a new value for the specified User Variable.
• Increment Variable: Increases the value of the specified User Variable by 1.
• Decrement Variable: Decreases the value of the specified User Variable by 1.

• Reset Variable: Resets the specified User Variable to its current default value.
• Reset Variables: Resets all User Variables to their current default values and all Media Counters to zero.
• Switch to Presentation: Switches to a different presentation. Before using this command, you must add additional presentation(s) to the Switch Presentations tab in the Presentation Properties window. The following settings of must be identical for both presentations: BrightSign Model, Connector Type, Screen Resolution, Monitor Orientation, and Monitor Overscan.
  • Specify Presentation: Choose the presentation to switch to from the dropdown list.
  • Specify via user variable: Choose the User Variable that will determine which presentation to switch to. The value of the User Variable must be identical to the name given to the target presentation in the Switch Presentations tab.
• Update Data Feed: Updates the content of the specified Data Feed.
• Resize Zone: Repositions and/or resizes the specified zone. Select the zone you wish to modify. Then enter an X and Y coordinate (corresponding to the top-left corner of the zone), as well as W and H (width and height) values for the zone.
• Hide Zone: Hides the specified zone from view.
• Show Zone: Shows the specified zone if it is hidden.