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Screen Scheduling

Create time-based content schedules to automatically change what displays on your screen throughout the day.

What is Screen Scheduling?​

Screen Scheduling allows you to:

  • Display different content at different times
  • Automate content changes throughout the day
  • Create recurring weekly schedules
  • Show time-appropriate content
  • Manage complex content rotations

Difference Between Availability and Schedule​

It's important to understand the distinction:

Availability (Previous Tab)​

  • Controls when the screen is ON or OFF
  • Determines operating hours
  • Power management
  • Screen active/inactive state

Schedule (This Tab)​

  • Controls what content displays when the screen is ON
  • Changes content at specific times
  • Time-based content rotation
  • Assumes screen is already available/on

Both work together: Availability turns the screen on/off, Schedule changes what shows while it's on.

Accessing the Schedule​

  1. Navigate to Screens in the left sidebar
  2. Open your screen
  3. Click the Schedule tab

Schedule Interface Overview​

The Schedule tab displays a calendar-based scheduling interface with:

View Options​

Located at the top:

  • Navigation arrows (< >) - Move between weeks/months
  • TODAY button - Jump to current date
  • Date range display - Shows current view (e.g., "1 - 7 Dec 2025")

View Modes​

Switch between different calendar views:

  • MONTH - Monthly calendar overview
  • WEEK - Weekly schedule grid (shown in screenshot)
  • DAY - Single day detailed view
  • LIST - List of all scheduled events

Calendar Grid​

Weekly View displays:

  • Days across top - MON 1/12, TUE 2/12, WED 3/12, etc.
  • Time slots down left - Hourly from 12am to 11pm
  • All-day row at top for full-day events
  • Current day highlighted - Yellow background
  • Time slots in 1-hour increments

Screen Events List​

Right sidebar shows:

  • "SCREEN EVENTS LIST" button
  • Description: "This lists all of the events in this schedule. The order shows priority for display during overlaps."
  • Current status: "This screen has no events yet."

Creating a Schedule​

Understanding the Empty State​

When first accessing the Schedule tab:

  • Calendar shows current week
  • No events scheduled
  • Message: "This screen has no events yet."
  • Clean calendar grid ready for events

Adding a Scheduled Event​

To create a new scheduled event:

  1. Click on a time slot in the calendar

    • Click specific day and time
    • Or drag across multiple time slots

  2. Event creation dialog appears

    • Set event details
    • Choose content to display
    • Configure recurrence (if applicable)

  3. Configure the event:

    • Event name/title
    • Start time
    • End time
    • Content to display
    • Recurrence pattern

  4. Save the event

    • Event appears on calendar
    • Added to Screen Events List
    • Takes effect at scheduled time

Types of Scheduled Content​

You can schedule any content from your screen:

Playlists​

  • Switch between different playlists
  • Morning playlist vs. afternoon playlist
  • Weekday vs. weekend playlists

Individual Content Items​

  • Specific images
  • Particular videos
  • Selected slides

Apps​

  • Show Instagram feed during certain hours
  • Display PowerBI dashboard during business hours
  • Social media content for specific times

Mixed Content​

  • Combine different content types
  • Create complex schedules
  • Layer multiple content sources

Schedule Examples​

Restaurant Menu Board​

Breakfast Hours (6am - 11am):
- Breakfast menu playlist

Lunch Hours (11am - 3pm):
- Lunch menu playlist

Afternoon (3pm - 5pm):
- Snacks and beverages playlist

Dinner Hours (5pm - 10pm):
- Dinner menu playlist

Late Night (10pm - 6am):
- Closed message or special hours message

Office Display​

Morning (8am - 12pm):
- Company news and announcements
- Weather and traffic
- Meeting room schedules

Afternoon (12pm - 5pm):
- Department updates
- Project milestones
- Upcoming events

Evening (5pm - 8pm):
- Safety reminders
- Tomorrow's schedule preview
- Motivational content

Retail Store​

Weekdays:
9am - 12pm: Morning promotions
12pm - 3pm: Lunchtime deals
3pm - 6pm: Afternoon specials
6pm - 9pm: Evening clearance

Weekends:
All day: Weekend sale content

Recurring Events​

Schedule events that repeat:

Daily Recurrence​

  • Same time every day
  • Weekday-only options
  • Weekend-only options

Weekly Recurrence​

  • Specific days each week
  • Different content per weekday
  • Recurring weekly patterns

Monthly Recurrence​

  • Same date each month
  • Specific weeks of month
  • Monthly promotional cycles

Event Priority​

When multiple events overlap, the system uses priority to determine which content displays.

Screen Events List Order​

The Screen Events List shows:

"The order shows priority for display during overlaps."

Managing Priority​

  • Events listed in priority order
  • Higher priority events override lower priority
  • Drag to reorder priorities (if supported)
  • Consider priorities when scheduling

Priority Planning​

High Priority:

  • Emergency messages
  • Critical announcements
  • Time-sensitive promotions

Medium Priority:

  • Regular content schedules
  • Standard playlists
  • Routine information

Low Priority:

  • Default content
  • Filler content
  • Background information

Managing Scheduled Events​

Viewing Events​

Calendar View:

  • See events visually on calendar
  • Color-coded by type/category
  • Quick time slot overview
  • Identify scheduling gaps

List View:

  • Complete list of all events
  • Sorted by priority
  • Detailed event information
  • Easy to manage many events

Editing Events​

To modify a scheduled event:

  1. Click on the event in calendar
  2. Event details open
  3. Make changes
  4. Save updates
  5. Schedule updates automatically

Deleting Events​

To remove a scheduled event:

  1. Select the event
  2. Choose delete option
  3. Confirm deletion
  4. Event removed from schedule

Empty Schedule​

When no events are scheduled:

  • Screen displays default content
  • Content from "Screen contents" tab shows
  • No automatic changes
  • Continuous loop of assigned content

Testing Your Schedule​

Before deploying:

  1. Preview events - Check content appears correctly
  2. Verify timing - Confirm start/end times are correct
  3. Test transitions - Ensure smooth content changes
  4. Check overlaps - Resolve any conflicts
  5. Monitor first day - Watch schedule execute live

Best Practices​

Schedule Planning​

  1. Map your day - Document when content should change
  2. Consider your audience - When are people present?
  3. Plan transitions - Allow time for content changes
  4. Avoid gaps - Ensure continuous content coverage
  5. Use defaults - Have fallback content for unscheduled times

Content Organization​

  • Group similar content - Morning content, afternoon content
  • Create dedicated playlists - Easier to schedule
  • Test content first - Verify before scheduling
  • Keep it simple - Start with basic schedules
  • Build complexity - Add more events as needed

Maintenance​

  • Review regularly - Check schedules stay relevant
  • Update seasonal content - Change with seasons/holidays
  • Monitor execution - Verify schedules work correctly
  • Document changes - Keep records of schedule modifications
  • Remove old events - Clean up expired schedules

Schedule and Player Syncing​

Automatic Updates​

  • Players sync schedule automatically
  • Changes take effect at next sync
  • No manual player updates required
  • Real-time schedule execution

Sync Timing​

  • Players check for updates regularly
  • New schedules apply immediately
  • Content changes at scheduled time
  • Network required for syncing

Calendar Navigation Tips​

Moving Through Time​

  • Arrow buttons (< >) - Previous/next period
  • TODAY button - Return to current date
  • View mode - Switch between month/week/day/list
  • Date picker - Jump to specific date

Finding Events​

  • Scroll through calendar - Browse visually
  • Use list view - See all events
  • Search (if available) - Find specific events
  • Filter by type - Show certain content only

Troubleshooting​

Schedule Not Executing​

  • Check Availability allows screen to be on
  • Verify player is connected and online
  • Confirm schedule was saved
  • Check system time/timezone settings
  • Ensure content still exists

Wrong Content Displaying​

  • Check event priorities
  • Verify event times are correct
  • Look for overlapping events
  • Confirm content is assigned correctly
  • Review start/end times

Events Not Appearing on Calendar​

  • Verify events were saved
  • Check date range of view
  • Switch to list view to see all events
  • Look in correct week/month
  • Refresh the page

Content Not Changing at Scheduled Time​

  • Allow a few minutes for sync
  • Check player internet connection
  • Verify timezone settings match
  • Ensure player software is current
  • Check for schedule conflicts

Advanced Scheduling​

Complex Patterns​

Create sophisticated schedules:

  • Multiple events per day
  • Different weekday patterns
  • Seasonal variations
  • Exception handling
  • Holiday schedules

Integration with Availability​

Coordinate scheduling with availability:

  1. Set availability hours
  2. Schedule content within those hours
  3. Plan for downtime
  4. Manage maintenance windows

Next Steps​

After setting up your schedule: