In this article, we'll build a custom page with the Enterprise App, send data to a screen from another system, and check the data that arrived.
- How It Works
- Create an Enterprise App
- Connect Your System
- Send Data to a Screen
- Check the Data on the Screen
- Next Steps
The Enterprise App lets your own systems send live data to your screens. You build a web page that shows the data, and your system sends the data to a screen whenever it needs to. The screen switches to your page straight away and shows what you sent.
For example, a car dealership's service system can tell a customer their car is ready. It sends the customer's name, car and service advisor to a screen in the waiting room, and the screen shows a personal message:
You can use the Enterprise App to:
- Show a custom page on a screen, filled in with data from any system you connect.
- Send freeform data from your business applications to your screens.
- Build your own single-purpose app for managing your screens and content.
Note: The Enterprise App is available for Enterprise accounts. If you can't open it, contact us at support@optisigns.com.
How It Works
Setting up an integration takes three steps:
- Create an Enterprise App and build the page your screen will show.
- Connect your system. In this guide, we use the demo Control Center in place of your own system.
- Send data to a screen and check that it arrived.
Create an Enterprise App
Go to app.optisigns.com and log in.
Select Files/Assets, then select Apps.
Search for Enterprise, then select Enterprise App.
Choose how to create your page:
- Start from the template: select the template picture under Template - URL Display App. This opens a code editor with sample code you can change
- Use a page you already have: enter a Name and the page's Url, then select Create.
If you started from the template, change the sample code to set how the page looks and how it uses the data it receives. You can use the sample code as it is to try things out.
Select Save & Deploy. Your page is ready to use.
Connect Your System
Your own system, or an app you build for it, sends data to your screens. To see how that works, use the demo Control Center, which does the same job.
In the Enterprise App editor, select Control Center. The demo Control Center opens in a new tab.
Log in with your OptiSigns account. The Control Center uses your OptiSigns permissions, so it only shows the screens you're allowed to manage. Your own integrations work the same way.
The Control Center lists your screens. Search for the screen you want to control, then select its Edit button.
The Edit Device page opens. This is where you choose what data to send to the screen.
Send Data to a Screen
Your screen can be playing anything: an asset, a playlist or a schedule. When you send data, the screen switches to your Enterprise App and shows the data.
In Data, enter the data you want to send. It can be plain text or JSON.
In Type, select Send Data & Assign.
In Asset Id, enter the ID of your Enterprise App.
Select Save. The screen switches to your Enterprise App and shows your data.
To end the takeover and go back to the screen's usual content, select Stop.
Check the Data on the Screen
To see the data a screen received, open the screen in the OptiSigns portal:
Go to Screens, then select Edit on the screen.
Expand Advanced, then select More.
At the bottom of the section, select the Device Extension Data button.
The Device Extension Data window shows the data the screen received. Select Copy to copy it, or Edit to change it.
The screen shows your data in the page you built. In this example, it shows the customer's name, car, service advisor and a photo of the car:
Next Steps
If you have questions or feedback, contact our support team at support@optisigns.com.
That’s all!
OptiSigns is the leader in digital signage software. If you have any additional questions, concerns or any feedback about OptiSigns, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@optisigns.com.