futusign
====
Manage and display digital signage content

- [Installation](#installation)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [Contact](#contact)
- [License](#license)

Installation
====

Install and activate the *futusign* plugin via the WordPress *Plugins* admin
screen.

Additional details, including usage with Wordpress multisite, are available
in the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.futusign.com/faq/).

Usage
====
Using your favorite presentation tool, e.g., PowerPoint, create a slide
show with the same resolution and aspect ratio of the target display screen;
for example 1920px by 1080px for an landscape HD screen. Save it as a series of
images.

From the WordPress administrative screens.

1. Add a new *Image* (or multiple) from the admin menu; uploading the
image file.
2. Update the *Image Duration* as desired.
3. While adding the image, also add it to a new *Playlist*.
4. Add a new *Screen* from the admin menu.
5. While adding the screen, also subscribe it to the created *Playlist*.
6. View the *Screen*; it should be playing the *Image(s)*.

To create a digital sign, connect a television to a computer with a modern web
browser and have it load the *Screen's* URL. The loaded web application will
check every minute to automatically apply changes made on the admin screens.

**Caveats**

After the initial load, the web browser will load the web application with
or without a network connection.

When the plugin in updated, the web application will automatically
update and reload within 5 minutes.

There are several known situations where the web application will display an
error until the situation is corrected (will recover within a minute).

* If the web application is running and the web browser loses its network
connection, it will display a *No Network* icon. The web application will also
repeatedly display the first *Image* in the list (if there is one).
* If the screen is not subscribed to a list, the web application will
display a *No Images* icon.
* If the screen is subscribed to one or more list that are all empty,
the web application will display a *No Images* icon.

**Tips**

* If required, the uploaded image file will be stretched / shrunk (centered and
maintaining aspect ratio) to just cover the target display screen.
* *Images* play alphabetically by title.
* *Images* can be scheduled to be published in the future using the
WordPress schedule feature.
* *Images* can be scheduled to expire in the future using the third-party
plugin *Post Expirator*.
* *Screens* are limited to playing less than 100 *Images*.
* A variety of devices can be used for digital signage
as described in the article [Digital Signage is Just Another Screen](https://medium.com/@johntucker_48673/digital-signage-is-just-another-screen-e138c2ec3ae9#.244a74dta).
While Chrome (or Chromium) is the recommended browser, Edge works fine.  
* Additional features can be added via commercial plugins available at
<https://www.futusign.com>.

Contributing
====
Submit bug or enhancement requests using the GitHub issues feature.

Contact
====
General questions and comments can be directed to
<mailto:john@larkintuckerllc.com>.

License
====
GPLv2 or later <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>