1. Prepare the device
During the setup, you'll have to set up the PADS4 Server location. It's recommended to finish installing the PADS4 Server before moving on to configuring the device.
Note: You need at least PADS4 Foundation 2024.1 for ChromeOS.
1.1. Prerequisites
Before you start using PADS4 on a ChromeOS device, please check that the following conditions are met:
- You're familiar with ChromeOS and how to manage devices using the Google Admin Console.
- The Google Management Platform is a cloud-based solution. This means the viewers do require internet access.
- The ChromeOS version is 120 or newer.
- The device is connected to a network and has internet access
- You've created one or more Organizational Units for the PADS4 Viewers.
- The device is provisioned in the Google Admin Console.
- You purchased Chrome Enterprise or Kiosk & Signage Upgrade license with Google
- The device has been assigned a Chrome Enterprise or Kiosk & Signage Upgrade license.
2. Add PADS4 as an application
To install PADS4 on ChromeOS, follow these steps to add PADS4 as an App in the Google Admin Console:
| Step | Description |
| 01 | Open the Google Admin Console and login |
| 02 | Go to Devices => Chrome => Apps & Extensions |
| 03 | Go to Kiosks |
| 04 | Select the appropriate Organizational Unit |
| 05 | Click on the plus-sign to add the application |
| 06 | Select 🌍 "Add by URL" |
| 07 |
Specify http://[PADS4server]/PADS4/apps/Viewer/ If your PADS4 server operates under a domain, replace "PADS4" with your domain name. |
| 08 | Click on Save |
| 09 | Under the Organizational Unit, select PADS4 as the Auto-launch app. |
| 10 | PADS4 viewer will now start as the default application for the devices in this Organizational unit. |
3. Configuring ChromeOS device settings for PADS4
3.1 Adjust idle setting
To prevent ChromeOS from dimming or turning off the display, follow these steps to adjust the idle settings:
| Step | Description |
| 01 | Open the Google Admin Console and login |
| 02 | Navigate to Devices => Chrome => Settings. |
| 03 | Select Organizational Unit for the PADS4 Devices |
| 04 | Select Device settings |
| 05 | Goto AC Kiosk power Settings |
| 06 | Enter 0 for Screen dim timeout in minutes |
| 07 | Enter 0 for Screen off timeout in minutes |
| 08 | Save the settings |
3.2 Move Device to organizational unit
Next, we'll adjust the device settings to ensure that the PADS4 Viewer starts automatically upon device startup.
| Step | Description |
| 01 | Open the Google Admin Console and login |
| 02 | Navigate to Devices => Chrome => Devices |
| 03 | Select all devices |
| 04 | From the list of all devices, choose the devices you want to run PADS4. |
| 05 | Select Move |
| 06 | Select the Organizational Unit with PADS4 set as the Auto-launch app |
| 07 |
Reboot the devices |
| 08 |
The devices will reboot and start PADS4 automatically. |
3.3 Rename the PADS4 viewer
Once connected to the PADS4 server, the server will assign a temporary viewer name such as Chrome0001. Utilize PADS4 CTRL Center to rename the viewer.
4. Updating PADS4 Viewer
After the initial installation of the PADS4 Viewer, if you update the PADS4 Server, the PADS4 Viewer will automatically update to the version available on the PADS4 Server.
5. Device capabilities and supported features
| Support | Category | Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Automatic PADS4 Software updates | If you update the PADS4 Server the PADS4 Viewer will automatically update to the version available on the PADS4 Server. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Offline mode of device |
While offline from the network, the device will still continue to play PADS4 presentations and change planned schedules for 7 days. ChromeOS requires a network connection to start PADS4. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Device | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Portrait mode | Supported. Device will adjust the rotation automatically. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | 4k UHD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Transfer protocols | HTTP, HTTPS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Turn off display | Turn off display when no presentation scheduled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Cluster Viewer | This device is able to be used as Cluster Viewer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Volume Level | Option to specify the maximum volume on device level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Video element |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Image element | Support for JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Text element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Line element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Shape element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Scrolling text element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Formatted text element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Table element | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interactive button element | Supported Mouse cursor options not supported Interactive Data filter & sort dialog window not supported |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Web element | Usage of the interactive Address Bar not supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Powerpoint element | Supported Requirement: Microsoft Powerpoint must be installed on the PADS4 Server Clipping, User interactivity and mousepointer not supported |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | PDF element | Supported (Xpert license required) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data connections | Data connections make it possible to show information from external sources inside presentations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Data providers | More than 70 PADS4 data providers for retrieval of (realtime) data from external sources and the possibility to change and join the data to fit your purpose | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Viewer Variables | Usage of Viewer Variables can simplify your presentations and data connections. It also gives the opportunity to centrally manage the content without changing presentations or data providers. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Property bindings | Apply element properties by using external data sources | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rules | Rules will make it possible to interact on certain situations like realtime data and change the behavior of a presentation automatically | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Presentation rules | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Page rules | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Element rules | Supported | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Device Management | Device management which can be performed from a remote location | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Remote device management Web based and Windows |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colors | Texture and pattern colors are not supported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transition effects | Horizontal and vertical blinds not supported Splitters, increased circle and sliced circle not supported |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content file integrity | PADS4 Content Library file integrity is checked during synchronization using MD5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proof of play | Local storage limitation of max. 50.000 records on the HTML5 Viewer during offline period. When the 50.000 is hit, the oldest value will be removed first. |