Clusters in PADS4 allow multiple Viewers to work together as a single unit, ensuring continuous display functionality even if one Viewer fails. This guide walks you through creating a Cluster, defining a Cluster presentation, and automating Viewer fallback.

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Step 1: Creating a Cluster

  1. Open PADS4 CTRL Center.
  2. Navigate to Viewers > Clusters.
  3. Click New to create a new Cluster.
  4. Enter Cluster Details:
    • Provide a unique name for the Cluster.
    • (Optional) Add a description.
  5. Add Viewers:
    • Click ”+” to select Viewers from the available list.
    • Specify the exact location of each Viewer within the Cluster (horizontal or vertical alignment).
  6. Click Create to finalize the Cluster.

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Step 2: Defining a Cluster Presentation

Now that the Cluster is created, we need to create a presentation that adapts dynamically when a Viewer fails.

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Example: A 2-Viewer Cluster

  • Viewer 1 will display “Viewer 1”.
  • Viewer 2 will display “Viewer 2”.
  • If Viewer 1 fails, Viewer 2 will take over and display “Viewer 1” instead.

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Step 2.1: Creating the Presentation

  1. Open PADS4 Designer.
  2. Create a new presentation.

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Page 1: Setup for Viewer 1

  1. Create a text element and set its text to "Viewer 1".
  2. Go to Page Properties and uncheck visibility (page is hidden by default).
  3. Define a Page Rule:
    • Condition:
      • Value 1: [Viewer Variable] → HorizontalPosition
      • Operation: Equals to
      • Value 2: Constant Value = 1
    • Action: Set visibility to “visible”.

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Page 2: Setup for Viewer 2

  1. Duplicate Page 1 to create Page 2.
  2. Change the text from "Viewer 1" to "Viewer 2".
  3. Modify the Page Rule:
    • Change “Constant Value = 1” to “Constant Value = 2”.

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Step 3: Scheduling the Cluster Presentation

  1. Open PADS4 Scheduler.
  2. Schedule the presentation to Viewer 1 and Viewer 2.
  3. Start both Viewers.
  4. You will see:
    • Viewer 1 shows “Viewer 1”.
    • Viewer 2 shows “Viewer 2”.

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Step 4: Simulating a Viewer Failure

  1. Close Viewer 1.
  2. Observe Viewer 2:
    • Viewer 2 will now display “Viewer 1”.
    • This happens automatically because PADS4 moves content dynamically when a Viewer fails.

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Why Use Clusters?

  • Ensures content continuity even when hardware fails.
  • Automatically reassigns content to available Viewers.
  • Ideal for digital signage, airport displays, menu boards, and more.
  • No cluster size limit – scale as needed.
This setup provides a smart, automated digital signage solution, reducing the risk of content gaps and downtime.