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Creating Screens

Learn how to create and set up digital signage screens in Castit.

What is a Screen?​

In Castit, a Screen represents a digital signage display. It's the virtual container that:

  • Holds your content (playlists, library items, apps, slides)
  • Connects to physical player devices
  • Controls what appears on actual displays
  • Manages schedules and availability

Creating Your First Screen​

Step 1: Navigate to Screens​

  1. Click Screens in the left sidebar
  2. You'll see the screens list view

If this is your first screen, you'll see:

  • "No screens found" message
  • "You don't have any screens yet. Create a new screen to get started."
  • "Create a new screen" button

Step 2: Open Create Screen Dialog​

Click one of these buttons:

  • "Create a new screen" (center of empty screen list)
  • "Create screen" button (top-right corner)

Step 3: Configure Screen Basic Info​

The "Create screen" dialog appears with two fields:

Screen Name​

  • Required field
  • Enter a descriptive name for your screen
  • Examples:
    • "Reception Display"
    • "Main Lobby Screen"
    • "Break Room TV"
    • "Store Front Window"

Naming Tips:

  • Use location-based names
  • Include purpose or area
  • Keep it clear and searchable
  • Avoid generic names like "Screen 1"

Select Tags​

  • Optional field
  • Search and select existing tags
  • Tags help organize and filter screens
  • You can select multiple tags
  • Create tags to categorize by:
    • Location (e.g., "Lobby", "Floor 2")
    • Department (e.g., "Sales", "HR")
    • Purpose (e.g., "Menu Board", "Announcements")
    • Region (e.g., "EU", "North America")

Step 4: Create the Screen​

  1. Review your screen name and tags
  2. Click "Create screen" button

Your screen is now created and you'll be taken to the screen detail view.

Screen Status​

After creation, your new screen will have:

  • "AVAILABLE" status indicator (green badge)
  • Screen ID assigned automatically
  • Default empty content area
  • Ready to add content and pair players

After Creating a Screen​

Once your screen is created, you have several configuration tabs:

1. Screen Contents​

Add content to display on this screen:

  • Add playlists
  • Add items from library
  • Add apps
  • Add slides
  • Arrange content order
  • Set duration for each item

2. Players​

Connect physical player devices to this screen:

  • View pairing instructions
  • Pair new players
  • Manage connected players
  • Monitor player status

3. Settings & Info​

Configure screen properties:

  • Screen orientation (Portrait/Landscape)
  • Media volume
  • Bottom commands opacity
  • Second screen settings
  • Add/edit tags
  • Add notes

4. Availability​

Control when the screen is active:

  • Always available
  • Date range
  • Custom schedule

5. Schedule​

Create time-based content schedules:

  • View calendar
  • Add scheduled events
  • Manage content timing

Quick Actions After Creation​

Add Content Immediately​

  1. Stay in the Screen contents tab

  2. Use the right sidebar to add content:

    • PLAYLIST tab - Add existing playlists
    • LIBRARY tab - Add media from your library
    • APPS tab - Add connected applications
    • SLIDES tab - Add created slides

  3. Drag content from the right sidebar to the content area

  4. Content appears with thumbnail and duration

Pair a Player Device​

  1. Click the Players tab
  2. Click "Pair player" button
  3. Follow the pairing instructions (see Pairing Players)

Managing Multiple Screens​

Organizing with Tags​

Use tags to organize screens:

  1. Create consistent tag categories
  2. Apply tags during screen creation
  3. Filter screens by tags in the screens list
  4. Bulk manage screens with same tags

Naming Conventions​

Establish naming conventions for your organization:

  • Include location: "NYC-Lobby-Screen-1"
  • Include function: "Menu-Board-Main"
  • Include department: "Sales-Dashboard-1"
  • Use consistent separators (hyphens, spaces)

Best Practices​

Screen Setup​

  1. Name Clearly: Use descriptive names that identify location and purpose
  2. Tag Appropriately: Apply relevant tags for easy filtering
  3. Add Content First: Set up content before pairing players
  4. Test Before Deployment: Preview content before connecting to physical display
  5. Document Setup: Use the Notes field in Settings & Info to record details

Content Organization​

  • Start with essential content
  • Arrange items in logical order
  • Set appropriate durations
  • Preview before publishing
  • Keep content library organized

Player Management​

  • Pair players only after content is ready
  • Name players to match their screen
  • Monitor player status regularly
  • Keep player software updated

Troubleshooting​

Can't Create Screen​

  • Check your account permissions
  • Verify you're logged in
  • Try refreshing the browser
  • Contact support if issue persists

Screen Not Appearing in List​

  • Check filters and search terms
  • Verify status filter includes "All"
  • Look for the screen by tag
  • Sort list differently

Next Steps​

After creating your screen: