Using BrightAuthor to Manage Signage Content

Owned by MADISON LOWE
Last updated: Apr 01, 2024
5 min read

This article will explain the process of using the BrightAuthor software to create, schedule, and publish content for BrightSign devices.

We are currently only using BrightAuthor for some signage devices, so you may not be able to publish content this way if we have not set up a work area for your department. If you currently use SignageLive, you should continue to do so unless directed otherwise.

Setup

Before you can effectively use BrightAuthor, you will need to perform some initial setup. Once that is done, you can create and publish presentations.

Mapping The Webserver

Before you can create or publish content, you need to map the webserver to a drive on your computer, like the R: drive. To do this, open File Explorer and select This PC. Then, in the top left-hand corner of the window choose Computer > Map a network drive.

Next, choose any unused drive letter. For the Folder field, enter \\brightsign\content and then select Finish. Now you will have access to any folders you have been granted permissions for.

Publishing Parameters

You will need to set up the Simple File Networking Parameters before you can publish content to the BrightSign device. Launch BrightAuthor and navigate to the Publish tab. Then, on the ribbon directly beneath it, choose Simple File Network and then Set Parameters.

The URL you will need to enter is:

  • http://brightsign.otc.edu/content/

  • The folder your department uses on the webserver

  • The folder for the BrightSign device (typically the room number it resides in)

  • /Publish

If you are managing multiple BrightSign devices, you will need to set the Simple File Networking parameters each time you want to publish to a different player. Just edit the section of the URL which points to the player’s folder, e.g. GRF210 in the example above, and it will point to the correct folder.

Creating Presentations

When you launch BrightAuthor, select File > New Presentation. The New Project window will appear.

Once you name your project and verify its configuration is correct, select Create.

Select a template for the presentation. This can be edited later if necessary.

Once the presentation is created, you will be shown the Edit screen. You will need to locate the work folder to use the Media Library section, at which point any supported media stored there will be visible. Then you can drag the media into the playlist, rearrange them as needed, and add transitions. To do so, right-click on the slide and choose Edit.

As shown above, you will have the option to set how long a slide will show, optionally set a transition, and set how long the transition should last. To remove a slide from the presentation, select it with left-click and press the Delete key. Once you have finished creating your presentation, you will need to save it by selecting File > Save or pressing CTRL + S. You can also preview the presentation by choosing the Preview button on the right side of the ribbon in the Edit tab.

 

Creating Schedules

Once you have saved your presentation, you will need to create a schedule so that the BrightSign knows when to display content. To do so, choose the Publish tab. By default, it will populate the schedule with your presentation set as a non-stop event.

As shown below, if you have multiple presentations, they will appear in the upper area of the left-hand sidebar.

You can then schedule each of them for different times. To schedule a presentation, double-click a time slot on the schedule. This will open the Schedule Presentation window, as shown below.

Once you have finished creating a schedule, save it by selecting Schedule > Save.

Publishing Content

Now you will need to publish the content. To do so, set the Publish to location to the publish folder for your department and the specific player. An example is shown below.

As mentioned earlier in the Publishing Parameters section, you will need to make sure the publish location listed in "Publish to“ points to the same folder as the Simple File Networking parameters. Note, the parameters are a URL that contain a file path, so it will look slightly different. You just need to make sure they both point to the same folder, e.g. HelpDesk\GRF210\publish.

Once the correct folder is selected, select Publish. This will write the files needed for the player to run. Once it is finished, the BrightSign should pull down the published content within a matter of minutes and automatically begin to play it according to the schedule you published.