HANDBOOK

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH

I2F MEDIABRICK

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
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1 INTRODUCTION – PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK.........................................................3

2 GENERAL REMARKS .........................................................................................................4

3 FIRST ITINERARY: AUTOMATE PLAYBACK & LOOP OF A VIDEO CLIP .........................5

3.1 Elementary preparations............................................................................................5
3.2 Assign media files ........................................................................................................6
3.3 Create a playlist...........................................................................................................7
3.4 Assign start-up definitions ...........................................................................................8
3.5 Test the application.....................................................................................................9
4 SECOND ITINERARY: CREATE AN EVENT - START /STOP LOOPING USING THIS EVENT
AS AN INTERACTION ................................................................................................. 10
4.1 Assigning Ports........................................................................................................... 10
4.2 Create events ........................................................................................................... 11
4.3 Assign the events...................................................................................................... 11
4.4 Testing the modified program with substitute keys.............................................. 13
5 THIRD ITINERARY: AUTOMATE THE START AND STOP PROCEDURE OF THIS SHOW &
INITIATE THE AUTOMATED BOOT OF YOUR COMPUTER ........................................ 15
5.1 Define the Autostart show....................................................................................... 15
5.2 Initiate the automated boot of your computer................................................... 17
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1 INTRODUCTION – PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK

Our purpose is to make the software package “I2F MediaBrick”, the core of I2F Media Products,
accessible for a broad group of users.

I2F MediaBrick is like a multi-storey shopping mall. Some users will find all they need on
the ground floor; others will want to explore the whole building.

We intend to assist especially the less experienced user in making a few basic applications and
getting concrete results. From that point on the user can discover further aspects of the software
by himself.

When you master I2F MediaBrick, you will have no trouble at all working with I2F
MediaDisplay. Indeed, the latter is a passive version of the former, lacking features for
control and interactivity.

I2F MediaController and I2F MediaComm’s can be useful for more complex applications.

Apart from this handbook, different forms of assistance are available, whether your goal is simple
or complex:

1. Two help tools are incorporated in the software package itself:

The “help” button in the top right corner gives access to a structured manual.

When you hover for a few seconds with your mouse over a specific button or sub-
ject in the software, a popup message will explain you its purpose.

2. We provide trainings according to different levels of prior knowledge.

3. When making your programming definitions, you can send us your .i2d files at any time.
We verify them for you and, if necessary, correct them free of charge.

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
4

2 GENERAL REMARKS

1) We assume you have read the “Technical Leaflet” available on our website under
http://www.inter2face.com/english/productsI2F.htm before getting started.

2) For a complete lexicon of terms used in the software, we refer to the manual (help
button in the software, chapter 2, Definitions).

3) The software asks you to Store or Abandon and to choose or at every step you
take, to confirm or discard your most recent definition, at least when you finish working
within a specific chapter.

Constantly confirming or discarding may seem superfluous. Our experience tells us however
that a constant awareness of these decisions is a good protection against errors in stressful
situations. One thoughtless command during the altering/testing phase may cause a
tremendous waste of time.

4) The basic elements of an I2F MediaBrick program are:

DEFINITIONS Events: input triggers used to control the presentation

Actions: output triggers used to control external devices

images, videos, sound files and other media that

Media Resources:
make up the presentation

the heart of the program that defines how the events,

ASSIGNMENTS Assignments:
actions and media work together.
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3 FIRST ITINERARY:
AUTOMATE PLAYBACK & LOOP OF A VIDEO CLIP

3.1 Elementary preparations

As you installed the software I2F MediaBrick, you have chosen a location for it on your computer.
The standard location is C:\Program Files\Inter2Face\MediaBrick.

On your desktop you will find this icon:

Start the I2F MediaBrick application through this icon.

Go to Setup your program in the main menu.

Note: verify the version in the

bottom corner on the right and
check if updates are available
on the Inter2Face website.

You get the option to name and save a new “i2d” definition and add “file comments”, personal
reminder notes related to this I2F MediaBrick application. Place the newly created file with exten-
sion “.i2d” in your Definitions directory (see tip 2 below).

Once saved, the active i2d file is shown in the title section of the graphical user interface.

Tip 1: This title section is an all time indication of the file you are working with!

Tip 2: We suggest you store the media files you are going to use in a dedicated directory, any-
where on your hard disk. Use a clear classification, with subdirectories such as Definitions, Clips,
Backgrounds, Overlays, Sounds.

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
6

3.2 Assign media files

At this point you are going to assign a name to a video file (*) that you want to use and that you
have saved in your directory Clips (See tip on page 5).

(*) The term “video file” is

used here in the common
denotation of “a file with
moving images”. Technically
the term refers to an all too
restricted type of file how-
ever, that we avoid using.

Note 1 Make sure your computer can playback this file! The technical leaflet available on our website,
explains about Codec’s. Avoid conflicting playback programs.

Note 2: Name conflicts are automatically discovered and a warning pop-up appears:

Activate the Define media resources page.

Click on Clips, Add Clip, Browse. Select your file and choose a unique name which will later be
used when assigned in a playlist.
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When you click on Preview/Setup, you open a basic non-linear editor for this media file.

In this section you can modify beginning and end of the clip amongst other features.
Use the controls to change the initial parameters.

Tip: memorise the clip properties as they can be useful

in a later stage when you define the playback size of
the clip.

Note 1: It is not our intention to burden this program with a full editing suite. We assume you receive
your media files properly prepared for display.
The editing features in I2F MediaBrick are merely meant for small on site corrections or for modifications
specifically related to the software, e.g. resizing for screen cut-out.

Note 2: Allow for decompression and seek time especially when large media files are used on a rather
slow computer. Each click on a control can add up to the delay.

3.3 Create a playlist

Activate the Assign definitions page.

Click on Add Playlist and type in a name for this playlist.

Move your mouse to the Elements field and click right to Add an element. Select as your Clip the
previously defined media file, e.g. “clip 1”.

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Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
8

Click right again in the same Elements field but this time choose Add control. From the Add
control command list choose <Playlist Wait>

Finish with and Store.

You have just created a playlist that

will play out “clip 1” just once.

If you want to make this

Playlist run for a longer pe-
riod of time, select Loop
and define the
required loop time in
hh:mm.

We suggest you choose a

short runtime, e.g. 02:00, for
testing purposes.

3.4 Assign start-up definitions

Before we can see the result of our work, we must define Startup, still in the chapter Assign
Definitions.

When a playlist exists, it will appear in

the drop down menu:

“After Startup Goto:”

Replace the default parameter <idle>
by the available” play list 1”.

Confirm this setting.

Note: Confirming these intermediary steps does not save the changes on the hard disk yet!
At this stage you might find it wise to save the latest changes in your file.i2d on the hard disk.
See chapter 1.1. Every time you save your file.i2d with the same name, you replace the previous defini-
tions by the new ones. Repeat this action on a regular basis!
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3.5 Test the application

Finally we can test this I2F MediaBrick application.

Activate the Test the program link in the main menu (see picture on the left).

After you made sure you have saved all your settings, click on Start Test.

If everything has been done

as described above, you will
playback your clip in full
screen during the defined pe-
riod of time.

Note 1: If you are working with the free demo version of the software, a banner will lie on top of your
content.

Note 2: The option Enable Scheduler allows you to test the schedule defined in Autostart. We get back
to that in the third itinerary.

Note 3: Whilst your clip is running, use Alt+F4 to end test and return to the editor pages.

Trouble shooter: If after clicking “Start Test” nothing

appears to work as you would wish and the Alt+F4
did not make the program halt and return…, the
only thing we can advise you as an immediate
remedy is to end the program with Ctrl+Alt+ Del and
to verify what is causing the problem from within the
Task manager.
If I2F MediaBrick has stopped running, you can end
the process here.

In case you are unable to find the cause yourself,

we invite you to send us the I2d file you have made
by email and to ask our advice. Make sure you state
all relevant details of the computer and the media
file you are using for your application.

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
10

4 SECOND ITINERARY:
CREATE AN EVENT - START /STOP LOOPING USING THIS EVENT AS
AN INTERACTION

4.1 Assigning Ports

By closing the RUN modus (Alt+F4), we get back to the editor pages. If you were not in RUN
modus, initiate I2F MediaBrick as explained in chapter 1.1 and Load the previously saved file.i2d.

Select Setup this MediaBrick.

Next, select Add/ replace in the Remote Connections section.

That opens the window Add MediaProduct. We complete this dialog with a local IP address
127.0.0.1 and give it a name, e.g. “local”.
This will be a stand-alone node by default.

127.0.0.1 named local is the port that can be used later when
assigning Events & Actions definitions in our playlist.
Any name can be given at this stage or later when it is required.

Tip: when you rename an element at a certain

stage of associating, the renaming is done
automatically on all levels where this element
has been used.

Note: We use a local IP address in case you do not have a working network at hand. This prevents the
system to seek needlessly for an IP address on your network. Sending out a command to seek for a non
responding IP node can slow down or even momentarily halt the system.
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4.2 Create events

Open the Define events chapter in the main menu. Click on the TCP/IP Events button.

Here we add two different events: run the clip and stop the clip.

Click on Add event. Give it

a name: “run the clip” and
use the same name in the
Input String.

Repeat this procedure for

the second event, “stop
the clip”.

You will see both events

appear in the large pane
on the left.

Note: At this stage the definition of the input string can be anything.
When the event is really sent from a different computer, this definition will become relevant!

4.3 Assign the events

Now we can assign these two events in different stages of the program.
Open the Assign definitions page and click on the Startup button.

By default we start up in idle modus (After Startup

Goto).

For this application we choose this setting because

we want specified events to start and stop the play-
back (in loop) of our playlist 1.

This means we will switch between idle and loop.

Next we click on the Idle button in the same menu.

In the Idle state of the program we

require the “run the clip” event to take
place.

Add this event by right clicking in the

“Events” pane. A dialog box opens (see
picture below).

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12

Click on TCP/IP events and select the

previously defined event “run the clip”.

As a source, the “local” port or the name you

chose in chapter 4.1 will be available for selec-
tion.

After adding the “run the clip” event and keeping it highlighted, place the mouse in the action
field and right click to add a Control parameter.

From the long Control Command list you need to

select <Goto>. With this option highlighted, all the
available playlists are shown in the Playlists pane
on the right. Select “playlist 1” from the list
followed by the usual OK & Store clicks.

In order to activate the “stop the clip” event, stay in the Assign definitions page and click on
Playlists.

Select play list 1 and click on Edit playlist. Now the panes below become available. Move the
mouse into the Events pane and click right.
Select <Add Event> from the drop down options menu.

Add the “stop the clip” event in the

same way as you did for “run the clip”.

Note: Since the program at this stage is playing the video clip in loop, any event, whether it is “stop the
clip” or another interaction, has a direct effect on the current play list, causing it to stop or pause!
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Next we need to assign an Action to the event. Make sure the event “stop the clip” is highlighted.
Then place the cursor in the Actions pane and click right. Select <Add Control> from the drop
down list.

Assign the <PlayList End> Control Command.

This command terminates the playlist and makes
the program go to Idle by default.

Confirm with Store and

You have now completed the Playlist definition. To save it on the hard disk, save your definition
file in the chapter Setup your program in the main menu.

4.4 Testing the modified program with substitute keys

As you don’t always have peripheral apparatus available to test “events” and “actions”
definitions and thus the reliability of your definition file, it can come in handy to “fake” incoming
events. As substitutes for events, we use keyboard keys.

Open the Test the program chapter in the main menu. Place the mouse in the large white field
and click right to add 2 substitute keys.
Choose <Add event> from the list and follow the instructions: swiftly press and release the letter R
for “run the clip”.

An “Add Event” dialog appears. Select TCP/IP

and assign the event “run the clip” to the letter
R.
Your source is still “local”.
Follow the same procedure for the second
key: choose S for “stop the clip”.

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
14

Now we invite you to test and/or save the application in whatever order you prefer (see chapter
3.5).

Tip: when you start testing this application you will notice that the screen turns black. This is logic,
because the program starts in Idle modus and awaits your event interaction to “run the clip”. Hit
the R key to start the playlist and the S key to stop playing it. You can repeat these actions as
often as you like.
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5 THIRD ITINERARY:
AUTOMATE THE START AND STOP PROCEDURE OF THIS SHOW &
INITIATE THE AUTOMATED BOOT OF YOUR COMPUTER

5.1 Define the Autostart show

We open the Autostart page to complete this last stage.

Click on Browse Autostart Program. A file selection dialog opens up.

This allows you to find and assign the filename of the show.i2d of your choice.

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
16

Other parameters like start and stop time for each day of
the week can complete your specific activation agenda.
The menu under “On Power On” offers you the possibility
to postpone the start of the show after power is switched
on. E.g. you can ask the computer to boot at 08:00 AM
and the show not to start sooner than 09:00 AM.
Similarly, the “End of Day” parameter allows you to de-
fine what should happen when the given end time of a
day has arrived. Three options are available; see picture
on the right.

Note: A ShutDown is carried out software-wise whereas a PowerDown is achieved hardware-wise, by

cutting off power.

Finally by clicking on we confirm this setting.

Trouble shooter: If a selected show.i2d appears to cause an error and you find yourself in a
deadlock, we suggest temporarily saving this particular show.i2d in another
directory or under another name.

At the next attempt to start-up the show, the pop-up mes-

sage as seen on the left will appear.

Confirming this message will bring you back to the I2F MediaBrick editor pages. This gives you
the opportunity to remove the Autostart parameter which caused the problem and to place
the show.i2d file back in its original folder for correction and testing.
If the problem remains, we invite you to send us your i2d file by email and to inform us about
your aim.
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5.2 Initiate the automated boot of your computer

This section is beyond the scope of our own software package but entirely relies on the BIOS
options of the hardware that you have installed I2F MediaBrick on.

Make sure the BIOS has the following abilities:

1) Daily automated boot time: can be used to start the computer each day. This will
initiate the start up show.i2d defined in your Autostart page. Verify the help pages on BIOS
settings supplied by your hardware manufacturer.

2) Wake on LAN: WOL is an instruction that travels through the TCP/IP network and can be
initiated, amongst others by an “I2F MediaBrick computer”. This can be done by
assigning an Action Control parameter in a playlist or event list/actionlist!

Inter2Face bvba Persilstraat 51E/401 B-3020 Herent Belgium http://i2f.mediaproducts.info

Tel. +32(0)16.205543 mediapro@inter2face.eu
18

We hope you found this handbook useful.

Your feedback is most welcome.

If you don’t find the answers to your questions in this handbook or in the technical leaflet, feel free
to contact us.

Last update of this document: May 2011

Contact persons:
Mark Schueremans – product manager
Linda Pollers - communication

Inter2Face BVBA – Persilstraat 51E/401 - 3020 Herent - Belgium

http://www.inter2face.eu http://i2f.mediaproducts.info
Tel. +32 (0)16.205543 E-mail: mediapro@inter2face.eu