Creating and using a Cloud Table

Cloud Tables are useful to manage different types of content to display on your signs. In some cases they can work like a Playlist to set a specific order for your content. They can also be used for a lot of other functions such as managing data for directories, menu boards, special events, and more. This tutorial gives you the basic instructions for how to set up your table. View the Content Experience Builder instructions for how to connect the table to CXB or fully utilize the data via Live Data feeds.

    1. Log in to FWI Cloud and select the Library module.
    2. Choose the folder where you want the Table to live.
    3. On the far right of the black bar at the top, choose New –> Table
      New content dropdown menu with Table highlighted.
    4. A new table will be created.
    5. Rename the table by clicking on the title “New Table” in the top left.

Table Design

By default, the table has three columns. You will need to modify the table based upon your needs.

To manage media files only:

  1. You will need five (5) required columns: Name, StartDate, EndDate, URL, Duration.
  2. Create a new column by clicking “Add Column” from the menu just above the table, or click on the “Plus” icon to the right of the last column.
  3. Rename a column by selecting the three dots beside the column name and select “Column Settings.”
    1. A new popup will appear.
      1. Type the new name under “Column Name.”
      2. Optionally give it a description or make it required.
  4. Change the data type of a column by selecting the three dots beside the column name and select “Change Data Type.”
    1. A new popup will appear.
    2. Select the type of data you want to use for this column.
      1. Title: This will be an administrative name so you can easily determine the content.
        1. Data Type: Text
      2. StartDate (all one word): The date you want the media to begin appearing on your signs.
        1. Data Type: Date & Time
      3. EndDate (all one word): The date you want the media to stop appearing on your signs.
        1. Data Type: Date & Time
      4. URL (case sensitive): The media file.
        1. Data Type: Media
      5. Duration (case sensitive): The duration of each piece of media. If using a video, ensure this matches the exact duration of the uploaded video.
        1. Data Type: Text
      6. Optional additional columns: You may add additional columns as need to allow additional filtering of content.
  5. Once you have the columns named and set to the proper content type, you can add new content.
    1. Each row correlates to one piece of content.
  6. To create a new row, click “Add Row from the menu just above the table, or click on the “Plus” icon below the last row.
  7. NOTE: You will connect this to your sign using the Content Feed content type in Content Experience Builder.

To manage other types of data:

  1. Set up the table with as many columns as necessary.
  2. Create a new column by clicking “Add Column” from the menu just above the table, or click on the “Plus” icon to the right of the last column.
  3. Rename a column by selecting the three dots beside the column name and select “Column Settings.”
    1. A new popup will appear.
      1. Type the new name under “Column Name.”
      2. Optionally give it a description or make it required.
  4. Change the data type of a column by selecting the three dots beside the column name and select “Change Data Type.”
    1. A new popup will appear.
      1. Select the type of data you want to use for this column.
  5. Once you have the columns named and set to the proper content type, you can add new content.
    1. Each row correlates to one piece of content.
  6. To create a new row, click “Add Row from the menu just above the table, or click on the “Plus” icon below the last row.
  7. NOTE: You will connect this to your sign using the Live Data content type in Content Experience Builder.

Publish Content:

  1. If your table is brand new, you’ll want to Publish any changes you made (or set it to Auto-Publish).
    1. To publish, click the orange “Publish” button in the top-right corner.
    2. To set to Auto-Publish, expand the sidebar and toggle on the Auto-Publish Table toggle.
      1. When this is on, the table will automatically publish any changes.

Connect Table to Content Experience Builder

If this is a brand new Table, you will need to attach it to your sign in Content Experience Builder. Please review the instructions for connecting content in CXB to learn more.

 

Additional information

For more info about Tables, review the Poppulo knowledgebase article.