Use dynamic text with flight data for GATE screen design
  • 15 Sep 2023
  • 3 Minutes to read
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Use dynamic text with flight data for GATE screen design

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Article summary

From the tutorial on Ticketing display content, you are already familiar with the concept of dynamic text, which can be used to display asset and custom field values. In the case of our Ticketing display, we have used a custom field stored in our display's configuration.

This tutorial will show how dynamic text can display other data, in our case, flight data. We will design content for a Gate area screen that will show flight data from the gate associated with our display. Preconfigured flight data sources will drive the information. 

Our Gate screen will show the following information:

  • Destination,
  • Scheduled departure time,
  • Flight code,
  • and flight status.


Topics covered:
Templates tab - Designer:
  • Dynamic text driven by flight data, 
  • Shapes

Sample screen:


TUTORIAL STEPS:

Prerequisite: Assign a value to the Gate asset field on your display. Revisit tutorial Connect and configure DISPLAYS to see how to do it.


A) Design new content in the Templates tab - see how to do this in the tutorial Create basic STATIC content.

B) Select the Data source for your Gate display content template. The data source determines a specific data set that will provide dynamic data to your content based on the assigned Gate asset field.

  1. Click on the Canvas icon on the top menu in the upper right corner.
  2. Under Data Source in the right-hand menu, select the value gate from the drop-down.
C) Add Dynamic Text to your template.

  1. Click on the Text icon in the top menu and choose Dynamic Text.
  2. Place the element on the canvas.
  3. On the right-hand menu, click on the blue Data Source editor button to edit the Dynamic Text.
D) In Dynamic text editor, select the data you want to render in your dynamic text.

  1. Drag and drop the Dynamic Text part (e.g. Destination) from the custom field list on the right-hand side.
  2. Click on the OK button to confirm the settings.
E) Configure your dynamic text in the right-hand sidebar.
  1. The chosen flight information will be shown on your template with a dummy value for illustration purposes and easier text configuration.
  2. On the right-hand menu, you can configure the settings of your dynamic text.

F) Add additional Dynamic Text to your content with other required flight information - repeat steps C) - E)

G) Now, it's time to add some style to your design. Add a Rectangle to highlight your flight information and use the right-hand sidebar to set colors and fonts of all the elements to the desired look.

  1. Select the Shapes icon in the top menu and choose the Rectangle.
  2. Place the element on the canvas.
  3. Using the right-hand menu, configure the rectangle element.
Note: Set the Rectangle backward with the Backward icon in the upper menu to not overlap your text

H) Further design ideas to enhance your Gate content:

  • Add an airline or airport logo or other media from the Media library, 
  • Add the dynamic text information, including gate number, 
  • Change background color,
  • Add Date & Time.


I) Preview the created content template with dynamic data by assigning display configuration

  1. Click on the Preview icon on the top menu.
  2. Click on Select Display Configuration to choose the display where the content will be assigned and see how the dynamic text will be shown. Ensure that the chosen display has the Gate asset value configured of the flight you want to show.
  3. Click on the OK button to close the window.



Note: Flight must be assigned to the selected gate to preview the flight relevant information - see tutorial Change FLIGHT DATA to assign flights to your gate. 

Additionally, you need to choose a flight with departure time not more than 90 minutes from now on, else it will not be visible. This is due to flight window configuration for gate displays. 

The selected display needs to have the same Gate value configured in the Asset values part on Displays tab, see Connect and configure DISPLAYS.

J) Click on the Save & Publish button in the lower right-hand corner when your content is final. Now it is ready to be assigned and shown on your display. 



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