JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, structured data format widely used for data exchange between web services and applications. PADS4 allows integration with JSON feeds (from the internet) or JSON files (local storage) as data providers.

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Steps to Add or Modify a JSON Connection in PADS4

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1. Start the Data Provider Wizard

  • Open the Data Provider Wizard using the steps in Adding a Data Provider or Editing a Data Provider.
  • Choose JSON Feed (for an online source) or JSON File (for a local source).

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2. Specify the JSON Source

  • For JSON Feeds (Online)
    • Enter the URL (URI) of the JSON feed.
    • Ensure the URL is publicly accessible or has the proper authentication settings.
  • For JSON Files (Local)
    • Specify the file path.
    • The file can be located in the PADS4 Content Library or an external location.
    • If stored outside the PADS4 Content Library, it won’t sync automatically to the viewer.
Click Next to proceed.

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3. Select the Data Source

  • JSON structures can contain multiple tables and nested data.
  • Click Select to open a tree view of the JSON structure.
  • Browse through different levels to find the right data.
  • Once found, click OK to confirm.

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Advanced Selection (For Technical Users)

  • Modify the JSON Path Expression manually.
  • Use JSONPath syntax for advanced filtering and selection.
  • Refer to JSONPath documentation for more details.

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4. Configure Data Handling Settings

  • Include Parent Level Column Name → Adds parent-level identifiers for hierarchical relationships.
  • Create Additional Columns Without HTML5 Tags → Removes HTML formatting and extracts plain text.
  • Flatten Hierarchical Data → Converts nested JSON structures into a flat data table.
Click Next to continue.

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5. Configure Request Method

  • GET (default) → Retrieves data without modifying it.
  • POST → Used for sending additional parameters (fill in the request body if required).
  • Specify Encoding → Choose a text encoding format if needed.

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6. Configure Security and Authentication

  • Authorization (if required)
    • Enable Authorization Required.
    • Enter UserID, Password, and Domain.
  • Proxy Server (if applicable)
    • Configure proxy settings if access to the internet requires authentication.
  • User-Agent Identification
    • Some servers require a specific User-Agent string (e.g., for API access).
Click Next to proceed.

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7. Finalizing the JSON Provider Setup

  • Click Finish to complete the setup.

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Important Considerations

  • PADS4 Data Server
    • If using a Data Server, ensure the JSON source is accessible from the server.
    • If not using a Data Server, the Designer and Viewers must have direct access to the JSON feed or file.
  • Joining Multiple Data Tables
    • If you need to combine data from multiple JSON sources, use the Join Data Provider.
By following these steps, PADS4 can seamlessly integrate JSON data sources into real-time digital signage presentations.