Xibo

Picture slideshow from folder

Asked by Rick

I've looked through the older threads about this issue, but most read like Greek to me! To further illustrate the challenge here, I'm in a public school, and I have no technical training in php, Java, etc etc. Yet I'm attempting to run Xibo on a single display.

I have Xibo up and running, but the process of adding a slideshow is tedious. The Powerpoint option is not working - it cycles through one time, and then crashes.

My goal is this:
- assign one region as a picture slideshow
- have that region automatically draw random pictures from an assigned server-based folder
- the only thing support staff would need to do is add/delete pictures to/from the folder to update the slideshow!

I'm hopeful there is a simple solution! (and by simple I mean "click here"...)

On behalf of beleaguered teachers everywhere, thank you in advance
Rick

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Alex Harrington (alexharrington) said : 		#1

For a non-technical solution, your best bet is to use PowerPoint and then
export the presentation as a video (using the Save As -> WMV function
within PowerPoint 2007 and later) and then upload that video.

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Rick (richardwert) said : 		#2

Hi - unfortunately, we've been unable to get PowerPoint to work within the school district. Plays once then disappears. We tried numerous workaround, but no joy across several buildings.

But even the ppt option is somewhat involved.

Ideally, there would be this wonderful code (or a button!) that points to a folder on a server and simply displays the pictures within the folder as an ongoing slideshow.
Think of how simple that could be!
- anyone could add or delete pictures with simple file management!
- no need to change the Xibo layout or upload pictures to the library
- no more warnings about files already existing with the same name
- less space take on the Xibo servers!!

Just sayin'. Xibo has been great - if this could be resolved, nirvanha might be achieved...
Thanks
Rick

Revision history for this message
Alex Harrington (alexharrington) said : 		#3

- the whole thing breaks if the server the folder is on goes offline
- nothing is versioned so if someone deletes something it all breaks
- there's no control over who puts something up, and no accountability

Also just sayin'

It really isn't hard to train people to use Xibo properly. If you really
can't, what you want is 100% achieveable via the API so get someone to
write an app to upload the folder contents to the displays.

Alex

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