What is OnSite?
OnSite is a web portal that provides users, local to a site, with the ability to create, modify and schedule messages containing content on their local screens. The messages are based on templates which are made available by the Network Operator. A Network Operator configures Sites, Site Groups, Zones, Media and Templates on behalf the OnSite users. OnSite's messaging capability is supported by graphic templates. Using these templates, local staff can create and schedule compelling text and graphic messages to announce opening hours, employees of the month, specials, etc.
Who should be reading this document?
The OnSite User Guide was written specifically for users that will be creating and scheduling messages for their local screen. This guide includes step-by-step instructions for creating and scheduling messages. If you are an OnSite admin, please refer to the OnSite Admin Documentation.
How do I use OnSite?
Depending on how you've been instructed to use OnSite there are two basic workflows:
Message Workflow
- Select a Site or Site group from the Site select, if you have access to more than one Site or Site Group.
- Navigate to the Messages tab
- Optionally select a folder or create a new folder.
- Create a new message, selecting from the available templates
- Edit the elements (text, media, etc) of the message. Give the message a name and save the message.
- Navigate to the Schedule tab.
- Drag the Message into the schedule.
- Publish the Schedule containing the Message.
Media Workflow
- Select a Site or Site group from the Site select, if you have access to more than one Site or Site Group.
- Navigate to the Media tab.
- Optionally select a folder or create a new folder.
- Upload the media by clicking on the Upload button and selecting the local media to upload.
- Navigate to the Schedule tab.
- Drag the Media into the schedule
- Publish the Schedule containing the Media.
Important Terminology
The following is a list of Terminology used in OnSite. Familiarity with the terminology will better help to understand the OnSite documentation.
Message: A message is customized, template based, multi-media presentation. OnSite users can create messages from Templates that are provisioned by the Network Operator. Once a message is created, it can then be scheduled for playback. Click on the Messages tab and the New Message button to start creating a new message.
Template: A template can consist of images, videos, text, shapes, and many other different types of elements. Every template is different and the template will determine which elements can be edited. A message is an edited copy of a template that can be scheduled for playback.
Schedule: The schedule is similar to a playlist, which is simple a list of messages, or media, that should be played on a screen. In addition to adding messages or media to the schedule each item can have constraints, which are instructions for when (or even where) the item should be played. For example, a constraint could be added to a message instructing it to only play on a specific day or the week, or a specific date.
Once a schedule has been created, Publishing the schedule will apply it to the currently selected Site or Site Group.
Site or Site Group: A Site is used to describe a screen connected to a media player, to which Messages and Media can be Published. A Site Group is a group, made up of one or more Sites. Any messages scheduled for the Site Group will, by default, playback at all the sites in the Site Group. Use the Site Selector to switch between Site Groups. The Network Operator will define the Site and Site Groups and which Site Group are available to an OnSite user.
For example a Site Group could be called Lobby Screens, Cash Register Screens, or Menu Screens.
Zone: A zone is a name for a region of a screen and defines the size of the messages that will fit into the zone. In many cases a zone fills the entire screen. In cases when only one zone is used for your screen, only one zone will be displayed. Messages will belong to a zone, since the template used to create the message will belong to the same zone name.
Publish: Publish or Publishing, refers to the act for making a change "live" on the Screens, also known as Sites. When a Schedule is published the media player connected to the screen will download the schedule, messages, and media required. The download status of a Site can be seen from the Dashboard.
What can I access?
The templates, screens and media have been permissioned to your user account by your Network Operator.