Installing a DX Player

Prior to installation and setup, we recommend setting up one PC you will be using for the player with any settings. This can be taken to a point (prior to licensing, setting of network settings, etc) and then cloned to ensure all units are the same setup and less likely to cause a support issue due to a difference.

If you prefer, you can follow the instructions below for each player individually, although care should be taken to ensure the same configuration is applied to each unit in turn to reduce any support issues in future. Similarly, we advise to use the Windows LTSC build (or equivalent) as this enables you to control Windows update releases and any system generated popups.

You may have your own 'Lock Down' requirements on computing devices attached to your network. We always advise to keep players on their own network segment or using a VLAN for security and managing bandwidth surges during file transfers.

Assuming that these will be locked down to your specifics and will include any configurations for additional programs (e.g. Remote support), and can include the Acquire Player installed and updated (but unlicensed). Note also that the player should not be installed on the ‘Editor’ computer.

We also recommend that there is also some applicable image to show as an ‘out of order’ image in a trapped event and during start-up, and this an be setup in the Watchdog software which comes as part of the Acquire player installer.

We recommend choosing a solid colour desktop background or recognizable image (not black or blue). You may also choose to perform other tasks such as changing windows messages, virtual memory, and certainly setting the windows ‘blue screen’ option to restart (System>Advanced System Settings>Start-up and Recovery, System Failure, Set to Automatically restart).

Here is the link for the main installer for the base application to install (available as the “Player Only installer” on this page: ). Install this on the player PC. Upon completion of the installer, the unit will restart and the ‘Watchdog’ application will attempt to run the licensing application. You can exit the Watchdog by typing ESC W A T C H D O G in that order (if you make a mistake, start again from the ESC key).

You will need to then replace the player with the DX player version of our player, which will be configured for your needs and supplied separately with your license.

In the Acquire installed folder you will need to replace the Acquirepremiere.exe program with the version supplied.

At this stage, you can then use your preferred duplication tool/application to clone the system for each of the remaining units (if you have chosen to use the clone method for configuring).

Once at this stage, the player should now be configured with any specific settings related to the player device (e.g. the IP address for each unit, screen output setup, etc.). NOTE that the player should have a fixed IP address to enable the updating and status monitoring to be performed, and we recommend the use of a wired network (to maintain security, and reduce latency in the case of live streams and synchronized playback).

You can now perform any licensing of 3rd party and our software. This can be done online (if registering with the PLUS! network for remote deployments or support), and through license key if not connecting to the Internet (note that this can be done via telephone call, email or on the internet)

NOTE: if you are not using the PLUS! network to license the player, you will need to add a small file to each player so that they know which unit they are on your network. To do so, you will need to perform one deployment (manually or point-2-point) to the player. This will create a uniquely named folder for the project with a long list of letters and numbers (a GUID).

[ACQUIRE INSTALL FOLDER]/ [PROJECT GUID] / Media / Never Send /

Browse within there and within the Media folder, create a new folder called 'Never Send' - this will not be overwritten by subsequent updates to the player. Once you have made the folder, create a new .TXT file in the folder. The file should be called playerid.txt and should contain a unique number on a line. For example, simply the number '1'

Geolocation

In order to use the automatic sunrise/sunset option the kiosk needs to know its location.

These are read from the acquire.ini file as follows (this is for the UK office)

[settings]

lat=52.633545

lng=-1.211752

These can also be standard $$ acquire variables. If this is not setup then auto brightness will be ignored and the default times used. The brightness is applied at the end of each piece of media