Layout Designer

Please note:

• If you are using a v3.1.x CMS, please click here
• If you are using a v2.3.x CMS, please click here
• If you are using a v2.0.x CMS, please click here
• If you are using a v1.8.x CMS, please click here

The Layout Designer is the heart of content creation in Xibo. Each time a new Layout is added, or an existing one needs a design change, the Layout Designer is used.

Xibo makes layout design simple through the use of drag and drop,interactive previewing and design flexibility. On adding a new Layout, the Layout Designer will open:

Top Toolbar

A status indicator is shown to the left of the top toolbar to show you the current ‘play’ status of the selected Layout:

- This Layout has not been built yet.

- This Layout is valid and can be scheduled once Published.

- This Layout is invalid and will not be Published for scheduling.

- This Layout contains media that can only be assessed Player side, and can be scheduled once Published.

The last status indicator is a normal Layout status to have if your Layout contains online content, such as a webpage etc. The CMS cannot say that the Player will display the content as it is not sent directly from the CMS (as with file based media, images, videos etc,) and is instead cached (stored) Player side. The Player will need to have a reliable internet connection to successfully display such content.

Hover over the status icon to see further information regarding the status you are seeing!

The total Duration of the selected Layout is displayed here in seconds, which updates each time a Media item is added or an existing Duration is edited, along with the Layout Dimensions applied from the selected Resolution on the Edit Layout form.

The overall Layout duration is always based on the longest running Region on the Layout.

A Layout must contain at least one Region and each Region must contain at least one media item for it to be valid and play when scheduled.

Layout Selector

The Layout selector provides easy navigation between all Layouts the logged in User has permission to edit without having to leave the Layout Designer page. Use the dropdown menu to change the Layout you are currently viewing/editing.

Use the checkbox to only access your own Layouts!

Menu

Located next to the Layout Selector is a menu of options that can be performed for Layouts, depending on the status of the Layout.

Layouts in a Draft status have the following:

• Publish layout

  Once you are happy with your designs, set your Layout to Publish ready to be Scheduled.

  Layouts can be set to be Published straight away with updates automatically pushed to Layouts that are in the schedule. A Publish Date can also be selected to Publish a Layout at a specified date and time.

  

  You can also use the Row Menu for a selected draft Layout to set to Publish immediately or on a set date..

  

  Published Layouts can be viewed in a read-only mode and ‘Checked out’ to create a draft Layout to make any edits needed.

  

• Discard layout

  Any changes made to the Layout can be completely discarded, reverting the Layout to the previous Published version.

​ Clicking on Discard will delete the draft and leave the Published version untouched.

• Unlock Layout (visible when another User is attempting to edit the same Layout)

  If a User attempts to edit a Layout that is already being edited by a User, the Layout will lock. The User will be locked out from editing the Layout for a specified amount of time (as shown in the lock message) or until the Layout is unlocked.

  On selecting the Unlock Layout button, the User will be redirected to the Layout Grid.

  

Layouts in a Published status have the following:

• Checkout

  Enable editing by putting the published Layout into a draft status.

• Schedule Now

  Schedule published Layouts onto one or more Displays directly from the Layout Designer.

• Save Template

  Use your design as a Template for creating additional Layouts.

• Unlock Layout

  As before.

Layout View

As you create your Layout, the Layout View will update so that you can view all the elements as you go to ensure the correct positioning of Regions and the correct ordering of Widgets, so it will play as you intend.

Edit Layout Mode

All new Layouts, by default, have one full screen empty Region, represented as a semi-transparent overlay. Use the Edit Layout Mode to add, position and resize Regions, by clicking on the Edit icon to open the editor.

Clicking on a Region in the opened editor, opens the Region Options form which allows for refinement of Positioning and the application of Exit Transitions for when the Region finishes as well as configuring Actions for the Region.

Use the arrow, in the bottom left corner of this window, to return to the Layout View.

Preview

Play a full Preview of your Layout by clicking on the Play button located at the bottom left of the Layout View window.

View your Preview in full screen by clicking on the icon in the bottom right corner of this window to toggle to full screen then press Play.

Click on a Widget to view the media content and use the arrows to cycle through all Widgets that have been assigned to that Region.

Video files will only play in the full Layout Preview!

Return to the Layout View by clicking on the back arrow at the bottom left of the Preview screen.

When you have multiple Regions, easily Preview all of the Media assigned by toggling to full screen and using the arrow tabs for each Region to cycle through the content.

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Edit Forms

Edit aspects of your Layout,Regions and assigned Widgets using the available options in the **Edit **forms.

The Edit Layout form is available when in Layout View, to add background colour or image, change the resolution etc.

Once assigned, click on Widgets from the Timeline to open the available options in the Edit form for that media item.

Layouts, Regions and Widgets can have Actions attached to effect changes to the Layout, triggered by Touch, click or by webhook. Interactive Actions are created and managed from the Actions tab on Edit forms.

Layout Timeline

The Layout Timeline displays the duration of individual Widgets and gives you an overview of how your configured media will play on the Layout.

Interactive Drawer

Located under the Timeline, the Interactive Drawer is used to add Widgets to be used when configuring Interactive Actions.

Add Widgets or Library items in the same way as adding to Regions by clicking to add or by drag and drop.

Once added, set a Target Region and configure using the available Edit options.

Use the Search field here to look for Widgets already added to the drawer!

Bottom Toolbar

Located on the bottom left of the toolbar use the buttons to add Library media items, apply actions from the Tools menu and assign Widgets to Layouts.

Further actions will show on this toolbar when available such as Undo changes and Delete!