The Facebook provider in PADS4 allows you to connect to a Facebook Business Page and retrieve content using the Facebook Graph API (v15.0).

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Requirements

  • A Facebook/Meta Business Page.
  • A valid Facebook account with access to the page.
  • Internet access for authentication and data retrieval.

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Steps to Add/Modify a Facebook Connection in PADS4

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1. Start the Data Provider Wizard

  • Open the Data Provider Wizard by following the instructions in Adding a Data Provider or Editing a Data Provider.
  • Select Facebook as the provider type.

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2. Authenticate Your Facebook Account

  • Click Authenticate to open the Facebook login page.
  • Enter your credentials and click OK.
  • PADS4 will generate a token and automatically close the window.
  • The expiration date of the token will be displayed.
Important Notes on Authentication:
  • Each time you edit the Facebook Data Provider, you must re-authenticate.
  • If the credentials are saved in the browser, the process will be automatic.
  • The token is valid for 60 days and is automatically extended as long as it is used within that time.
  • If the token expires, Facebook will no longer return data, and you must re-authenticate manually.

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3. Select the Facebook Account and Page

  • Choose the account type:
    • My account (retrieves data from your own Facebook account).
    • Page (retrieves data from a Facebook Business Page).
  • If selecting a Page, enter the Page ID (recommended) or select it from the list.
Important:
  • The Page ID number is found under the Page Name in Facebook settings.
  • Album names in Facebook are not unique—PADS4 will select the first matching album name.

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4. Load Page Details and Specify Content Source

  • Click Load to retrieve page-specific details.
  • Choose the type of content to retrieve:
    • Photos (you can specify an album).
    • Other Facebook content (such as posts or events).
  • Limit the number of rows returned for better performance.

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5. Finalize the Connection

  • Click Next to proceed.
  • Complete the wizard as described in Adding a Data Provider.

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Best Practices

  • Use the Page ID instead of the Page Name to ensure the correct page is selected.
  • Keep the authentication active by ensuring the data provider is used at least once every 60 days.
  • Limit the number of rows for faster data retrieval and better performance.

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Important Considerations

  • Token Expiration:
    • Facebook authentication tokens expire after 60 days.
    • If a presentation is not used for more than 60 days, re-authentication is required.
  • Data Server Access:
    • If using a PADS4 Data Server, ensure that Facebook is accessible from the server’s point of view.
    • If not using a Data Server, verify that each PADS4 Designer and Viewer has an active internet connection.
By following these steps, you can successfully connect PADS4 to Facebook and display dynamic social media content in your digital signage presentations.