While Korbyt allows for content programming to be heavily automated, there may be times in your signage system that you wish to override that normal content, suppressing it, so that only special messaging plays.

Perhaps there is a VIP visitor or a special event at 1 location and you wish to stop the normal business-as-usual content so that specific messages for the event are the only ones seen.

This article reviews the steps to set up a Screen Takeover in Korbyt so that the limited content can play without removing content that is normally automated to the screen, so that after the special messaging is no longer needed, the system returns to its normal programming.

The steps you need to take will depend on how many items you wish to show during the takeover

If your take over only shows 1 item you can skip to step 3

Step 1 - Create the Playlist of Takeover Media

• This is the collection of items (images, videos, layouts) you wish to be played in the Takeover

  • If your Takeover will consist of only 1 item, you can move to Step 3

• Create your Playlist and select content as normal

  • It can be a Clever or Standard Playlist

  • It can have as many items as you wish

  • For more details on creating a Playlist see Creating and Managing Playlists

• Do not select any players to receive this playlist

  • It will be embedded into a Layout in Step 2

• You do not need to set any schedule information in this Playlist, as that will be handled in Step 3

• Save your Playlist and take note of its name

Step 2 - Create a Layout and use the Playlist Element

• Create a new Layout in Korbyt

  • A notable name will be helpful

  • For more detailed instructions on creating a Layout see Using The Builder Tool For Layouts Or Messages

• In your Layout, you only need to add the Playlist Element

  • When adding the Playlist Element, select the Playlist of Takeover Media created in Step 1

    • How To Use a Playlist Element

• Make the Playlist Element full-screen by using the Maximize option in the Element’s Properties Menu

  • Properties Menu For Elements In The Builder Tool

• Publish your new Layout

Step 3 - Create a Playlist that Will Interrupt and Block Other Content

In this step, you will be creating a Playlist with your 1 item and scheduling it specifically to interrupt at a specific time. The time setting on this 1 item will stop other content from rotating in

• Create a new Playlist

  • The playlist can be Clever or Simple

  • Creating and Managing Playlists for more information

• Add the Takeover Layout you created in Step 2

  • OR the single media item that you want to hold the screen

  • This playlist needs to be limited to 1 single item

• Set the Duration for the single item to Zero seconds

  

  • This will cause a warning letting you know that this item will play forever once it starts

  • This setting is required to block the other normal content from coming back on the screen during the takeover period

• Set the Scheduling for the Takeover

  • Click the pencil icon for the default Daily Schedule

    

  • Set the schedule for your Takeover Time

    • This can be a simple Date and Time range such as this

      

      • This takeover is scheduled for June 19th from 10 am to noon

    • Or an Advanced Schedule

      

      • This Takeover is scheduled for everyone Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm for the month of July

  • Reminder – Times are evaluated by the Player receiving the instruction against their local timezone. This requires the players to know the correct time to act correctly.

• Set the Playlist to interrupt

  • This setting tells the playlist that when it’s scheduled to start it should interrupt other playlists that might be playing rather than waiting for its turn in the rotation.

  • In Clever Playlists, the Interrupt setting is at the bottom of the schedule screen
    

    

  • In Standard Playlists, the Interrupt setting is in the Playlist settings

    • Click Playlist Settings in the upper right

      

    • Click the checkbox for Interrupt Play towards the bottom

      

• Select the Players that should receive the Interrupt Playlist

  • As normal, select players or player groups in the lower left of the playlist

• Save the Playlist

Now, when the Interrupting Playlist’s schedule begins, it will interrupt the content that was already scheduled and hold the screen until its scheduled time ends.

Some Limits and Notes on Interrupts and Takeovers

• The Interrupt Playlist should be created adequately in advance

  • The player needs to receive the Interrupt Playlist before the scheduled start time to interrupt

• Interrupting Playlists can themselves be Interrupted

  • If another playlist has a scheduled start time on that player with the Interrupt turned on, it will interrupt this playlist

• If your player is using a PRT version lower than 3.9, there may be limits on the Interupting Playlist “breaking in” mid-video or mid clever rule

  • These limits are not present in PRT 3.9 or higher