Overview

Web links are a powerful way to display dynamic content from the internet or internal systems on your screens in PLAYipp. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to publish, manage, and troubleshoot web links.

How to publish a web link

To publish a web link, you only need a link to the webpage. Follow these steps:

Click on Signage in the main menu
Click on the screen or group you want to publish to
In this example, we select the screen named Entrance. If you want to publish to a group, select Screen Groups in the main menu instead.
Click on the playlist button in the area you want to publish to
Click on add
Click on upload
Select Web page
Paste the link to the content you want to display and click next.
Now you need to give the item a name. This name will appear in the playlist. You also need to set a playtime and choose which folder the item should be saved in.
At this step, you can schedule the item if you want. If you want the item to be displayed indefinitely, select always show. You can read more about how schedules work here: Scheduling
The link or clip will soon appear on the screen.

Alternative method: You can also use the integration Website Screenshot to display web pages. This allows you to write a script for login, choose which buttons to click, and more.

How web links are updated on the screen

Every time the screen reaches the web link item in the playlist, it will go to the link again. If the webpage you are displaying updates automatically without needing to manually refresh the page, the screen will behave the same way and show the updated content.

Important information about editing

NOTE! You cannot edit a published web link in the playlist. If you want to make a change, you must publish the link again. A solution for this is planned for a future product release.

Browser compatibility – important to understand

How browsers work in PLAYipp

When you publish web links to pages (both external and internal), it is important to understand that it is the screen that navigates to the link. PLAYipp uses the browser that is built into the screen, and we are limited to what that specific screen supports. This means that different screen models may have different browser capabilities and support for web technologies.

PLAYport – better browser support

If you are using our external player, PLAYport, the situation looks different. PLAYport runs different versions of Chrome, depending on which version of PLAYport you have installed. With PLAYport, we have a greater ability to update the browser, which generally provides better support for modern web technologies and standards.

Testing and previewing

Why doesn’t the preview always work?

When you add certain links in PLAYipp, the preview may not work or you may see a blank field. This is a security feature that some websites use and is not a fault in PLAYipp.

Explanation: The preview in PLAYipp is based on an iframe – a technology that allows content from another website to be displayed inside PLAYipp. However, many websites have a security setting that blocks their content from being displayed in iframes. This is a common security measure that websites use to protect their content and users.

Important to know about previewing

A key note: Even if a web link works in the preview, it does not mean it will work on the actual screen. The preview is based on your own browser, which is usually newer and more capable than the browsers running on the screens.

The important thing to remember: Even if the preview does not work, the link may still function perfectly on the screen!

Here’s how to test correctly
To verify that a web link works correctly, you need to check it directly on the screen – either by:

Visiting the screen on-site
Taking a screenshot from the screen

This is the only way to ensure that the content is displayed as intended with the screen's actual browser capabilities.

Recommended process:

Add your link in PLAYipp as usual
If the preview does not show – don’t worry!
Test the link directly on the screen where the content is supposed to be displayed
In most cases, the content will work as it should

Publishing internal web links

When working with internal web links (such as intranets or internal systems), the same principles apply as for external links, but there are some additional considerations.

Key considerations for internal links

When planning to display internal web links, make sure that:

The screen has network access to the internal page
The internal page is compatible with the screen's browser
The page's browser requirements match what the screen can offer
Any authentication or security requirements are met

If the screen has access to the internal page, it will be displayed on the screen.

Troubleshooting – My URL is not showing on the screen

If the website is not displaying, you can try the following steps:

Step 1: Adjust settings
Go to Signage → Location → Area → Playlist

Press the context button
Try to: Disable mobile page
Disable cache
Press the duration and increase the playtime

Step 2: Check browser compatibility
If the URL still does not show on the screen, there may be an issue where the Signage screen's (or player’s) browser is not compatible with the website you are trying to display.

If you are experiencing issues displaying a web link, consider testing the page's compatibility with the specific browser version that your screen or PLAYport is running.

Summary – Key points to remember

The preview does not always accurately show how the content will look on the screen
Always test directly on the screen to verify that the content works
PLAYport generally provides better browser support than built-in screen browsers
Different screen models may have different browser capabilities
A blank preview does not mean the link will not work
For internal links – ensure the screen has network access and the correct permissions

Need more help?

Contact our support if you continue to have issues with a specific link or if you have questions about browser compatibility for your specific screen model.

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Beta - Publish web links

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