Digital Signage, Using Recurrences in Content Manager

Recurrences are used to construct the play schedule for templates, regions, and specific content items.

Overview

Recurrences are used to construct the play schedule for templates, regions, and specific content items. On many signs, recurrences do not need to be adjusted since the default recurrence settings for templates and content items create a straightforward play schedule.
Each template and content item in the Template library and Content library contain a default recurrence defined when they are initially scheduled for play, playing immediately and continuously (all day, every day of the week/month, with no end date). Items play in rotation via their order in the Network Overview, for their set duration, until all scheduled content is played.
Once a template, region, or content item is scheduled, users may add, delete, and modify recurrences for that specific instance of the template or content item. Each instance of a template or content item (in the Network Overview) can contain one recurrence, multiple recurrences, or no recurrence.
Recurrence schedules are always based on the clocks on the individual player machines.

Recurrences Window

Recurrences Timeline
Recurrences are designated by purple (templates), green (apps), gold (regions and content items), and blue (categories) bars on the Timeline View.
To open the Recurrence window, in Content Manager, right-click a template / region / content item, and select New Recurrence.
Recurrence Settings
  • Date of first occurrence - Refers to the initial play of the template, region, or content item.
  • Time and duration of each occurrence - When a new recurrence is created, its first occurrence defaults to play all day today. To set specific start / end times, uncheck the All Day box. Users may also specify the number of Days to span, meaning how many times in days the play should occur.
  • Range - Controls the number of times the first occurrence is repeated. The default range is “forever.”
  • One time only, no pattern - Displays only once on the schedule.
  • No end date - Repeats forever on the schedule according to its pattern.
  • End after - Repeats number of times specified in the spin box.
  • End by - Repeats through the specified date according to its pattern.
  • Pattern - Controls whether the first occurrence repeats every day, only on specified weekdays, or only at specific times during the month. The default pattern is “Daily.”
    • To select specific days of the week, click the Weekly radio dial, then check the desired day(s) of the week.
    • To select a specific time of the month, click the Monthly radio dial.
  • Day <DayNumber> of every month - Specific day of the month on which the first occurrence repeats. When 31 is selected, it plays on the last day of the month, regardless of the number of days in the month.
  • The [Last | First | Second | Third | Fourth] <DayName> of every month - Specifies a relative day of the month on which the first occurrence repeats.
The Recurrence window provides Copy and Paste buttons.
Recurrence Copy and Paste

Additional Information

  • A typical use of recurrences is a single piece of content that serves a specific, time-sensitive purpose. While most content might cycle continuously, there may be an announcement that only needs to display on the sign once a day, or a class that is only held / announced once per week. In this case, all content items in a region would have the default / continuous recurrence settings while the special item is set to recur only in a limited time frame. That item is then skipped in the rotation during all play cycles not specified in that item’s recurrence.
  • Many digital signs only use one template or layout. For signs that use more than one template (for example, a sign that runs a different template in the morning than the afternoon, or a sign that plays a different template on weekdays), use Recurrence settings to govern when the different templates play.
  • When an instance contains multiple recurrences, the schedule is defined by the union of all recurrences. That is, the instance is active at a particular date and time if the date and time is covered by any of its recurrences.
  • When the template or content item contains no recurrences, it does not play based on a time schedule. In order to play, it must be explicitly invoked by interactivity, play triggers, or interruptions. A region that contains no recurrences is deemed to be perpetually active. For a region to have no recurrences, remove all existing (including the default) recurrence.
  • To delete a recurrence, in Content Manager, under Network Overview, right-click the item, and select Existing Recurrences. The Recurrence window displays. Click Delete.


Keywords:
digital signage, signage, fwi, fourwinds, fourwinds, content manager, recurrences, content types, content, playing content, adding content, content properties four winds, poppulo 
Doc ID:
76013
Owned by:
Brian D. in University of Illinois Student Affairs
Created:
2017-08-24
Updated:
2024-10-03
Sites:
University of Illinois Student Affairs