Schedule and display content with Chrome Sign Builder

As an admin, you can schedule and display content across your managed ChromeOS device network. Use Chrome Sign Builder to show web content such as restaurant menus, images, and YouTube videos or playlists. You can also show presentations created with Google Slides.

When you set up Chrome Sign Builder, create schedules to display content, specifying the URLs. Later, you might need to change the content at those URLs, but you don’t have to update schedules and settings. See examples below of what you can schedule and display. 

Examples of content you can schedule and display

Display a restaurant menu

Use Chrome Sign Builder to display menus. For example, to show menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, create 3 schedules. Each schedule has its own menu URL to display the menu content.

Play a YouTube video or playlist

You can use Chrome Sign Builder to schedule YouTube videos and playlists. At the scheduled time, the video plays and then replays automatically. You can also hide the video controls and turn off the keyboard and player controls.

Present using Google Slides

You can create a presentation using Google Slides and display it using Chrome Sign Builder. Remember that anyone who can access the presentation can also modify it.

When you publish the presentation, set it to start as soon as it loads and restart again after the last slide.

Tip: When you add the presentation URL in the Add new content window of Chrome Sign Builder, don’t click Open presentation options. Instead, change any settings in the Publish to the web window in Slides and use the published URL. For more information about this workaround, see this Chromium bug.

Step 1: Download Chrome Sign Builder

To deploy the app, follow the steps in Deploy Chrome Sign Builder. 

You can download and install Chrome Sign Builder on one of the same ChromeOS devices where you will deploy it. However, deployment is simpler if you install it on another computer.

When you launch Chrome Sign Builder, a schedule window and a preview window appears. The preview window is blank until you specify a URL for scheduled content.

Step 2: Create a schedule

Create one for specific time slots

You can create a schedule that displays content for a specific period of time. For example, you can display the breakfast menu in a restaurant between 7 AM and 10:30 AM. 

1. Select a time slot on the calendar.
   You can drag your cursor to extend the time slot. 
2. In the URL field, enter the URL for the content you want to display.
3. Click Advanced.
4. (Optional) To duplicate the schedule on other days, click the list next to Repeat and select the frequency you want the content to repeat. 
5. (Optional) For the schedule to continue indefinitely, check the Repeat indefinitely box.
6. Click Save. 
7. (Optional) To add a new content to the schedule, repeat these steps. 

Create one that displays content all day for a set number of days

A conference agenda is an example of a schedule that displays the same content all day for a set number of days. You can use a presentation to display the agenda and you or another user could change the presentation as needed during the conference. Those changes would appear according to a refresh rate you set.

1. Click in the all-day row under the date that you want the display to begin. 
2. In the URL field, enter the URL for the content you want to display.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Click the list next to Repeat and select Daily. 
5. Uncheck the Repeat indefinitely box.
6. Add an end date and time in the Until field. 
7. Click Save. 

Create one that displays content all day for an indefinite number of days

A retail business that wants to show hours of operation is an example of a schedule that displays content every day for 24 hours a day.

1. Click in the all-day row under the date that you want the display to begin. 
2. In the URL field, enter the URL for the content you want to display.
3. Check the Show forever box. 
4. (Optional) To indicate how often you want the media display screen to refresh, click Advanced and check the Automatically reload url box.
   You can change the refresh time to what is appropriate for your digital sign.
5. Click Save. 

Rename or delete a schedule

Rename

1. Next to your schedule's name, click Down arrow   Edit settings. 
2. In the Name field, enter a new name and click Save. 

Delete

1. Select Delete schedule in the menu next to the schedule name.
2. Click Delete. 

Step 3: Export the schedule file

A schedule file contains information such as the URLs for your content, settings, and schedules. You need to export the schedule file so you can upload it in the deployment process. 

1. To the left of the calendar, click Export.
2. Enter a name for the export file and where you want it to be saved. 
3. Click Save. 

When you deploy Chrome Sign Builder, click Upload configuration file and select the exported schedule file. 

Complete other tasks

Avoid a blank screen

Try to schedule content so that the media player screen doesn't go blank. For example, during the time between breakfast and lunch, a restaurant could display a message such as “We’re closed. Please come again.” Or display a repeating YouTube playlist that shows sample entrees or restaurant events.

The easiest way to avoid a blank screen is to set a default URL. This is used to display content on the media player screen when nothing else is scheduled. 

Set a default URL

1. Next to your schedule's name, click Down arrow   Edit settings. 
2. In the Default URL field, enter the URL. 
3. Click Save. 

Schedule YouTube content

Schedule a video

1. Open Chrome Sign Builder and select a time slot.
2. In the URL field, enter the URL of the YouTube video.
3. (Optional) To configure advanced settings, click Open advanced Youtube Configuration and change any of the default settings.
4. Click Done  Save.

Schedule a playlist

1. Open Chrome Sign Builder and select a time slot.
2. In the URL field, enter the URL of the sharing link for the first YouTube video in the playlist.
3. Click Open advanced Youtube Configuration.
4. In the Playlist ID box, enter the playlist ID.
5. (Optional) Change any of the default video configuration settings.
6. Click Done  Save.

Learn more about how to Create & manage playlists.