When it is desirable to have a block that displays the exact same content on more than one Custom Screen and be able to edit that block in only one place, DAKboard has a "Linked Blocks" feature available for this purpose!



Steps


In general, the steps for using Linked Blocks are as follows:


  • Create and configure a (standard) block on a Custom Screen

  • At the bottom of its "Formatting" tab:
    • Turn on the checkmark for "Linked Block"

  • Optionally:
    • Setting a "Block Title" (on supported block types) may help organize Linked Blocks

  • On a different Custom Screen:
    • Choose "Add a Block"
    • Switch to the "Linked Blocks" category
    • Select one of the Linked Blocks from the listing to add it to the Screen


Example


As an example, a school may use multiple DAKboards placed at various locations throughout the building.  On many of them, they may wish to display the same school calendar, but each display device may be configured to show a different Custom Screen.  To avoid having to go to each Custom Screen configuration and apply any changes to the calendar block, they can use this Linked Blocks feature to edit the calendar block once and have it propagate to all Screens that need to show it.



On the left side of this Custom Screen named "Cafeteria", we have created an Agenda style calendar that is linked to the school calendars event data:



With that block created, at the bottom of its "Formatting" tab, we turn on the checkbox for the "Linked Block".  We also add a "Block Title" of "School Calendar" that will show up in the listing of Linked Blocks, later:



Once this is completed, and "Save" is clicked, it will make this block available to other Custom Screens.  Editing another Custom Screen that we will call "Staff Break Room", we will choose "Add a Block", and switch to the "Linked Blocks" Screen.  Here we will see the newly linked "School Calendar" block:

 


The Linked Block entries will show its Block Title, the Type of the block, and the number of Screens it is currently used on. We click on the "School Calendar" block entry to add it to the "Staff Break Room" Screen.  We can then adjust its size and position as desired, but the content will remain identical among all the Screens that use it.


Whenever editing a Linked Block on any of the Custom Screens that are used, those changes will carry over to all the other Screens, as well.  A Linked Block will always display an informative message at the top of it to denote that this will take place:



Additionally, looking through the Block Layers listing on the right side of the Live Layout Editor, a chain-link indicator will display next to blocks that are in a Linked state:




Additional Notes


Some other points to keep in mind while using the Linked Blocks feature:

  • Linked Blocks may be used as "Template" blocks.  To do this:
    • Create a Linked Block
    • Optionally, toggle the "eye" on the Linked Block to hide it, if it will only be a template, and not displayed on the Screen.
    • Now, add the "Template" Linked Block to a Custom Screen.
    • Un-check its "Linked Block" checkbox and save it.  This will convert it into a standard block.
    • Now, edit the block as normal with changes that are different from the "Template" version.

  • Please note that un-checking the "Linked Block" checkbox and saving that edit will permanently remove that linkage.  It can no longer be linked back into the same set of Linked Blocks; the un-linked block would need to be deleted altogether, and the desired Linked Block re-added to accomplish that.

  • However, it may be turned into a new Linked Block, again, if desired. It will be the start of its own set of Linked Blocks.

  • Deleting a Linked Block removes the Block as normal.  When the last of a given set of Linked Blocks is deleted, that Linked Block will no longer be available to add to Screens.