TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Accessing the Custom Screen Live Editor:
- Building a Custom Screen:
- Advanced Screens Features:
- Assigning a Custom Screen to a Display:
- Helpful Articles:
With your DAKboard Paid Subscriptions, you not only have access to all of our integrations, but you also have access to the Custom Screen Live Editor. This tool allows you to design your Screens and view them at the same time. You can use the settings to mock up the resolution you want to use, the screen editor to place and modify your blocks the way you like, and see the results of these updates live while you are designing the Screen and pushing them to your Display. This article is to help you learn how to use this tool to the fullest.
Accessing the Custom Screen Live Editor:
To access the Custom Screen Live Editor, log into your DAKboard account, click on the Screens tab on the left side of the screen then click on the premade Custom Screen, the + sign, or the Add button to add a new Custom Screen as seen below:
This will open the Editor and allow you to modify your Screen. Alternatively, you can use the Templates or Community section to load a premade screen to one of your open spaces. These are located to the right of your Screen as seen below:
In these sections you can see all the Premade Templates we have created for you, or that the DAKboard Community has submitted. Make sure you have an open space to add a Template or Community Screen or else you will be charged for an Additional Screen. See our article Screen Billing and our Pricing Page for more details on Additional Screen costs.
If you have already used all of your Custom Screen slots, you can Export a Custom Screen to your local computer and then remove it from your slots so you will still maintain it if you want to bring it back. To Export a Custom Screen, click the three dots in the lower right corner of the thumbnail, and select Export. See below:
Here you can select to either save a Shareable copy, that will remove all links to your associated accounts, or you can save a Full Backup that will maintain all your links. Once exported, click the three dots again and select Delete Screen to remove the Custom Screen and free up a slot. If you want to bring back this exported screen, simply free up a Custom Screen slot, click the Add button at the top of the Screens page, and select From Import File as seen below:
Here you can select any of your Exported Screens to reload them to your account. Be aware, that adding any screens beyond your limit will charge you immediately for the Additional Screen. Once you have a Screen added or Opened, you can start customizing your Screen.
Building a Custom Screen:
With DAKboard you can completely customize your Custom Screen by adding whatever blocks you want and positioning them the way you like. We have a plethora of integrations and blocks to choose from. See our support article section called Screen Configuration to see all the Block Types and Integrations available. To get started simply open the Custom Screen you wish to edit, click the Add A Block button in the upper right corner, and select a Block you want to display. See below:
Here you can select from any of the Blocks and integrations we have to choose from. The Add A Block tool will open to the most popular blocks selection, or you can navigate or search for a specific block using the Side Bar or the Search Bar as seen below:
The Side Bar contains all the Integration Categories you can choose from. In each of these categories, there are several Blocks you can select from to add the specific integrations you are looking for. In our support article section called Screen Configuration, each of these categories is represented and has support articles for the blocks contained in them. These articles will give you details on how to set up the block and link them to your external accounts, or use the block on your Custom Screen. Be sure to check these articles out if you need assistance.
Once you have a block selected, you can resize it to fit on your screen how you desire, place other blocks on to the screen, position them where you want them to be, and you can even use the Block Layers tool to Set the position of your blocks over the top of one another. See our article Block Layers and How to Use Them to learn more. As you make changes to your Custom Screen Live Editor, you will be able to see the changes you make right then and there. Sometimes you may need to refresh your browser to pull down the latest data from your linked accounts, but otherwise, you can see the changes happen in real time in the editor. See below:
With this, you can design the screen and see the approximation of what it will look like on your Display. Because the Live Editor makes an approximation of the resolution your Display will have, some details may not look the same on your Display. See our article How to Get Your Screen to Fit Your Browser in the section called Using Font Size to Make Your Screen Fit Your Display to see how to fine-tune your Screen to fit your Display. You can then use the Refresh Displays button to the right of the Add A Block button to push your changes to your Assigned Displays.
Advanced Screens Features:
With the Screens page and the Custom Screen editors, you have a lot of advanced features you can use. Our article Advanced Features of the Custom Screen Editor covers the features of the Editor itself, however, from the Screens page you also have some additional tools you may find helpful. By clicking the three dots on your Screen's Thumbnail, you can see the additional features available to you. See below:
Below is what each of these items does:
- View: This allows you to open your Screen in your Computer's browser to see what it will look like on your Display.
- Refresh Screenshot: This allows you to reset the Thumbnail on the Screens page to reflect your latest changes.
- Duplicate: This will allow you to make a Duplicate of the Screen you created. Make sure you have an open slot for your new Custom Screen or can purchase an additional Custom Screen slot.
- Export: This allows you to export your Screen and save a copy. This is helpful if you want to back up your Screen or open a Custom Screen slot.
- Assign To: This allows you to select one or more of your Displays to assign your Screen to.
- Delete Screen: This allows you to remove your Custom Screens to free up a Custom Screen slot.
Assigning a Custom Screen to a Display:
Once you have created your Custom Screen you will need to assign it to your Display. There are several ways to connect your Screen to your Display depending on whether you have a Registered Display or if you are just wanting to View a Screen in a web browser. Our article How to Assign a Screen to Your Display shows you all the methods to connect your Screen to a Display.
Helpful Articles:
Having trouble? See if these articles help.
How to Assign a Screen to Your Display
Advanced Features of the Custom Screen Editor
Applying Custom Styles to Screens
Applying Scrolling Effect to a Block with Custom CSS
Font Selector and Custom Fonts
Display Rotation for non-DAKboard OS Devices
Content and Screen Refresh Rates
How to Get Your Screen to Fit Your Browser
How to Access and Update the Account Defaults
Linked Blocks and How to Use Them
Block Layers and How to Use Them