Digital Signage - Adding the ITS Simple Sign to a Digital Sign

A break down of how someone can add and edit a pre-made sign template. This is useful so they can get content onto their digital sign before they have made their own template.

Environment

Digital signage content manager tool - Four Winds Interactive Content Manager Desktop

Issue

How do I add a template set up by ITS-Digital Signage to get my sign running before I have made my own template.

Resolution

Remove The Old Simple Sign Application

1. Log in to Content Manager for Digital Signage
2. In the Network Overview portion of the window, navigate to your sign
3. Right-click on the application ITS Simple Sign
4. Select Delete

Add ITS Simple Sign

Note: This application will not work on the Michigan Medicine network due to storage access limitations

1. Log in to Content Manager for Digital Signage
2. Find your sign by clicking the + sign next to the red building icon that relates to your sign's location
3. Click on the Apps tab in the bottom left hand corner of your CMD window
4. Expand the folder for University of Michigan by clicking on the + sign to the left of the folder 
   • Expand the folder University
   • The app ITS Simple Sign 2 should now be visible under the folder for Full Signs
5. Drag and drop the ITS Simple Sign onto your sign (content player) which is in the Network Overview portion of your window
   • The sign is now active, continue to customize the app for your use

Customize the ITS Simple Sign

1. Right click on the ITS Simple Sign icon that appears under your content player
   • Note: make sure you are clicking on the ITS Simple Sign under your content player, not the Apps tab you previously dragged it from
2. Select Configure
3. Edit the fields you would like to customize
   • Unit: You must enter the unit name the exact same way it appears on your network storage file
     • Example: University Health Services would enter UHS 
   • Orientation: This is automatically set to Landscape.
     • If you are using the simple sign on sign that is configure for Portrait mode, click where it says Landscape
       • A menu will appear, select Portrait
   • Department Controlled Content: Click on Click to enter a value
     • Two options are available
       1.  Drag Drop and Delete (not compatible with System-on-a-chip device)
          • ​​​​​​​Selecting this type of content means that to add and remove content specific to your department, you will drag and drop images into your network storage located at \\dsw-common.m.storage.umich.edu\dsw-common\Customers\UNIT\Content (UNIT is replaced with what you entered in the first field of this menu)
          • When you add (drag and drop) content to your folder it will automatically be uploaded into the rotation of content on your sign(s)
          • When you delete content from the folder it will not longer display on your sign(s)
       2. Scheduled on/off through a Google Sheet (compatible with all signage devices)
          • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Selecting this type of content means that your department will build a Google Sheet that will control the content specific to your content.
          • This helps with scheduling your content in the future. You are able to dictate when your content starts and stops without needed to add/remove the content when that happens. 
          • If you select this style you will need to click on the tab at the top of this menu titled Scheduled
            • ​​​​​​​Enter the ID and the GID for the spreadsheet you are choosing to use in their appropriate text boxes
            • You can use the spreadsheet we have created for this use, available here
   • Zip Code: The zip code drives the weather report for the digital sign. 48109 is the zip code for nearly all U-M buildings.
     • If you need to change the ZIP code, click on where it says 48109[app default]
     • A text box will appear when you can enter your building's ZIP code
   • Primary Signage Audience: click on Click to enter value a drop down menu will appear
     • Select the audience that you target with your sign
       • Your choices include: Student, faculty, staff and any combination of those groups
       • The most common choice is Students, Staff and Faculty
         • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This will bring the widest range of content to your sign
   • Click OK
   • The app has been configured on your sign. Follow the deployment procedure to push all of this information and content to your display.

Additional Information

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.