Repeat Signage V5 help

Extending the Windows desktop onto multiple monitors

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Repeat Signage digital signage software


You need to have two monitors (or more) monitors attached to your system to be able to do this. 

 

Notebook computers - connecting an external monitor to be your second screen

 

Most notebook computers have an external monitor port.  You can plug a monitor (or another display device) into this.  This will usually display the contents of your notebook monitor onto the external screen.  You then have the option of just using the notebook monitor, using just the external monitor, or displaying on both. 


If you have a desktop computer, you can borrow it's monitor for testing as long as it has the same monitor port type as your notebook.  There are three types, a VGA port, a larger DVI port and the HDMI port (that you see on TVs).  All you need to do is to follow back the cable that comes out of the monitor (not the power cable or a USB cable if one is attached) to the back of the computer.  Un-screw the cable and then put it into the external monitor port on your notebook. 

 

Desktop computers - connecting additional monitors

 

Many new desktops come with two ports on the graphics card, either VGA, DVI or HDMI.  You can plug monitors into each of these.  If you only have a single monitor port, then you can either replace the existing graphics card with a dual port one, or in some cases you could install a second graphics card.  Most local computer shops will be able to do this for you if you do not have an IT Department.

 

Extending the Windows desktop onto multiple screens

Once you have two monitors attached to your system, you can then tell Windows to extend the desktop onto both monitors.  The animated gif below shows how to change the display settings on an older version of Windows from the Display Settings screen:

 

Windows Vista - Extending your destop onto multiple monitors

 

Windows 10

 

On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R, then on the Run dialog type control and press return.

 

- In the 'Appearance and Personalization' section click on 'Adjust screen resolution'

- In the 'Multiple displays' drop down box, choose the 'Extend these displays' option and then click on the 'Apply' button

 

 

Physical monitor positioning


Usually, when you add a second monitor, then you put this on the right side of the first monitor.  However, for digital signage, you may want to mount the second monitor above, below, to the left or even diagonal to the first monitor.  On the Display Settings screen (see the animated gif above for the Vista one), you can drag and drop the monitors displayed to match the physical monitor arrangement. 

 

 

USB graphics cards/ video adaptors

USB devices to allow you to use addition monitors are not supported in Repeat Signage as the video performance is too slow. Devices such as StarTech's USB video adaptors allow you to connect extra monitors to your system and spread your desktop onto them. This is ideal for Internet browsing, word processing, etc, but not suitable for Repeat Signage.

 

 

Multiple monitors mounted vertically in portrait orientation

 

See Portrait and landscape on how to alter Windows so that a screen is mounted vertically.  You can then extend to multiple monitors in the same way as above



YouTube videos

Repeat Signage Media Wall - Using multiple digital signage screens