Categories & Triggers

Broadsign Control uses a rules-based approach to allow players to generate their own playlists. We enable rules-based playlists by assigning categories to each campaign that we schedule.

The "Categories" training video is part of the "Content and Scheduling" playlist:

Note: If you are new to Broadsign Control, we suggest you start with the Network Setup playlist.

Categories – Outlines how to create categories.

Categories

As categories serve diverse purposes, assigning a category type facilitates better organization of your categories. Categorizing by type ensures that only the appropriate category types are utilized in their respective contexts, contributing to a more organized and contextually relevant categorization system.

While the typing of categories is optional, it can prove to be beneficial. Properly assigning types to your categories ensures a more streamlined experience. For instance, when assigning a separation category to a bundle, having well-defined category types prevents irrelevant trigger categories from appearing, contributing to a more efficient and user-friendly categorization process.

Note: The category typing feature is designed for user convenience to streamline category selection. Types are exclusively used to filter and hide inappropriate categories during the assignment process. It's important to note that once a category is assigned, altering its type has no functional impact—category types are only used for enhancing the ease of category selection.

Broadsign provides several different category types:

  • All – This is the default type. You can use categories of this type for any purpose.
  • Separation – This category type separates similar content in the loop. You can assign this type via the Separation tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties.

    • In addition to separating similar content like competing brands, you can also specify secondary levels of separation. For example, secondary levels can ensure that two car ads never play back to back, but they can also separate car ads from alcohol ads. For an example, see Use Category Separation.

  • Segmentation – This category type allows you to group content in a loop. You can assign this type via the Segment tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties. For an example, see Use Category Segmentation.
  • Trigger – This category type allows you to assign triggers in the Trigger tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties. For more information, see Frame Synchronization.
  • Availability – This category type allows you to use the Share of Loop feature. See Share of Loop.

If you select Categories and Triggers from the resource tabs on the left, then right-click anywhere in the work area, you will see this menu:

  • Add Category – Opens the Add Category Wizard.
  • Edit Category – Opens the Category Properties dialogue box.
  • Deactivate Categories – Deactivates all categories in the selected folder.
  • Add Category Folder – Opens the Add Folder Wizard dialogue box.
  • Edit Folder – Opens the Category Folder Properties dialogue box.
  • Deactivate All – Deactivates all folders that are nested within the selected folder.

For general information about adding, editing and deactivating resources, see Overview - Resources.

To add a category or trigger:

To add a category, use one of the following methods:

  • Go to the Schedules ribbon, and then select the Category or Trigger icon.

  • From the resource tabs on the left, select Categories & Triggers. Then, right-click anywhere in the work area. From the contextual menu, select Add Category.

By default, the Add Category Wizard contains the following pages:

  • Welcome – Name the category.

  • Category Type – Select the category type.

    • All – This is the default type. You can use categories of this type for any purpose.
    • Separation – This category type separates similar content in the loop. You can assign this type via the Separation tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties.

      • In addition to separating similar content like competing brands, you can also specify secondary levels of separation. For example, secondary levels can ensure that two car ads never play back to back, but they can also separate car ads from alcohol ads. For an example, see Use Category Separation.

    • Segmentation – This category type allows you to group content in a loop. You can assign this type via the Segment tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties. For an example, see Use Category Segmentation.
    • Trigger – This category type allows you to assign triggers in the Trigger tab in the Media Package, Campaign Properties, and Bundle Properties. For more information, see Frame Synchronization.
    • Availability – This category type allows you to use the Share of Loop feature. See Share of Loop.

To edit a category, use one of the following methods:

  • From the list panel, select a category. Then, from the view bar, select Edit.

  • From the list panel, double-click a category.

    • ID – The ID number of this resource, unique to your domain.
    • Name – Edit the name of your resource.
    • Active – Change your resource from active to inactive. See Overview - Resources.
    • Weight – Edit the weight of the category. For more details, see Slot Rotations and Category Segmentation.
    • Category type – Edit the category type.

In the list panel of explorer view, each resource has a column selector menu. With this menu, you can configure the list panel to display information you want.

To access a resource's column selector menu:

  1. From the view bar, select Explorer view.
  2. In the list panel, hover your pointer over the panel header.
  3. Right-click, and the column selector menu will appear.

  4. Select as many column options as you want.

  • Id – Indicates the unique ID number of the resource. See Overview - Resources.
  • Active – Indicates whether the resource is in an "active" or "inactive" state. See Overview - Resources.
  • Folder Id – Indicates the unique ID number of the resource folder.
  • Domain Id – Indicates the unique ID number of the domain. See The General Section.
  • Weight – Indicates the weight of the category. See Edit Category Properties.

After you have created categories for your network, you can then move on to other basic steps: