Scheduling presentations in PADS4 Scheduler is based on three essential elements:

  1. Content
  2. Location
  3. Time

Understanding how these elements interact is key to effective content planning and distribution across your digital signage network.

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1. Content

In PADS4, content refers to the media and design elements that make up a presentation. This can include:

  • Videos
  • Images
  • Text
  • Interactive elements
  • Any combination of the above

Content is created using PADS4 Designer and saved as a .padsx file. This file may be stored:

  • Locally on disk
  • On a network drive
  • In PADS4 Content Organizer
  • Or sent directly to the PADS4 Server

Important:
There is a clear distinction between the original .padsx file and the scheduled presentation copy:

  • When you schedule a .padsx file, PADS4 Scheduler creates a copy and uploads it to the PADS4 Server.
  • From that moment, the server copy becomes independent. Changes to the original design file will not affect the scheduled copy.

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2. Location

Once your content is created, it must be assigned to a display location.

In PADS4, physical display devices are abstracted as Destinations. These can be:

  • Individual Viewers (displays)
  • Viewer Groups
  • Multiple independent Destinations

Destinations are configured and managed in PADS4 System Management. The Scheduler provides an up-to-date list of accessible Destinations based on your user permissions.

You can schedule content to:

  • A single Destination
  • An entire group of Destinations
  • A custom selection of unrelated Destinations

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3. Time

The final component of scheduling is determining when your content should be shown.

PADS4 Scheduler provides flexible time management options:

  • Schedule a presentation for a specific time period
  • Create recurrence rules for repetitive display cycles (e.g., daily, weekly)
  • Combine multiple time patterns for more complex scheduling scenarios

Whether you need to display content once, daily at specific hours, or on a recurring monthly basis, PADS4 Scheduler offers the tools to meet those needs.

With these three core concepts—Content, Location, and Time—you can build highly customized and efficient schedules to power your digital signage strategy.