Visual Circuits MZ User manual

Firefly-MZ
Quick Start Guide
Overview
Installing Firefly-MZ Media Player
Configuring for the Network
Installing Media Messenger
Configuring FTP
Creating a Presentation
Uploading the Presentation

Trademarks
The Visual Circuits and Firefly logos are registered trademarks in the United States and other countries. All
other products, services or company names mentioned herein are claimed as trademarks and trade names by
their respective companies.
©Visual Circuits, 1999-2004. All rights reserved.
No portion of this manual may be copied by any means without the prior consent of Visual Circuits.
Visual Circuits Corporation
5155 East River Road, Suite 401
Minneapolis, MN 55421 USA
http://www.visualcircuits.com
Visual Circuits Publication Number: 813-0057A
All specifications, notices and warnings are subject to change without notice.

Quick Start Guide
Firefly MZ ™Media Player and Media Messenger
software provide a powerful, easy to use solution
for creating and displaying compelling digital sig-
nage.
The Firefly MZ is a single-channel output device
that is simple to configure and can reside on a net-
work or stand alone.
This guide provides information for:
1. Installing Firefly MZ Media Player
2. Configuring the MZ for a network
3. Installing Media Messenger
4. Configuring FTP
5. Creating a Presentation
6. Uploading the Presentation
Before You Start, You Will Need
Have the following items ready before installing
the Firefly MZ Media Player.
• BNC Video cables
• IP and FTP Information
IP Addressing Mode (Static or DHCP)
IP Address
Hostname
FTP Proxy IP Address and Port
FTP Username and Password
Content Server
Firefly MZs
LAN
POP Displays
FTP Playlist and Playback
Files to
Firefly MZ
Point of Purchase Display
Dynamic Digital Signage
Video, Graphics, and
Scrolling Text
Video, Text, and Graphics
Component, S-video, Composite, DVI-I
Digital Layout, Content Integration,
Playlist Creation,
Playback Scheduling,

2
1 INSTALLING THE FIREFLY MZ
1. Attach BNC video cables to the Firefly MZ.
2. Attach audio cables.
o For all audio connections use stranded
wire ends.
o If unbalanced audio cable lengths exceed
10 meters, use an Audio Line Amp/
Balancer such as the Radio Design Labs,
Stick On.
3. Attach video and audio cables to the video
and audio inputs on the monitor and the
audio component.
4. Attach the Firefly to the network.
5. Plug in the power supply and attach the
power cable to the Firefly.
The Firefly powers up and performs a short series
of self-diagnostic tests and automatically begins
playing a video tour of the Firefly features.
Before the Firefly MZ is ready to go live on the net-
work, it may be necessary to reconfigure its default
TCP/IP settings. This requires attaching a computer to
the Firefly MZ. See the next page.
USB
Serial Audio Out
Component
S-Video Composite
Network
10/100
Pb Pr Y
DVI-I
Power
12 VDC
Video Out
12356
4
+ - + - + -
Digital Audio
S/PDIF
Unbalanced Audio
(Left Right)

3
2 CONFIGURING FOR ANETWORK
Often, the Firefly MZ TCP/IP defaults must
change to accommodate the network where it will
reside. The best method is to attach a computer to
the media player.
Attaching a Laptop or PC
Ethernet
• Connect the computer directly to the Firefly
using an Ethernet crossover cable.
or
• Connect using standard Ethernet cables and a
hub or switch.
Serial
Use a null modem cable when connecting to the
Firefly via the serial port.
Changing TCP/IP Settings
There are two methods for initially changing the
Firefly MZ TCP/IP settings: WebView and serial
commands.
WebView via Ethernet Port
WebView is a browser-based, administration tool-
kit that resides on the Firefly.
1. Set your PC’s IP address to a number in the
same range as the Firefly, such as 10.0.1.2.
2. Open a browser and enter the default IP
address 10.0.1.1 in the address field.
3. Access WebView using the default Firefly
login and password, shown above.
4. Set the IP address and other TCP/IP param-
eters as required.
5. Click on Update Settings to save.
6. Click on Player Control.
7. Click on Restart Player.
This initializes the new settings.
Contact the Network Administrator for the correct net-
work configuration information.
Before beginning, verify that the computer and/or the
Firefly MZ are powered off. When connections are
completed, power on the devices.
Ethernet via Hub or Switch.
Ethernet via Cross-over Cable.
Null modern cable:
(Female DB-9 to Female DB-9, RS232 cable)
Firefly MZ default TCP/IP settings:
Static IP Address: 10.0.1.1
Login (case sensitive): firefly
Password: 123456
Warning Incorrect network settings in WebView will
result in loss of contact with WebView. To correct, it is
necessary to connect to the Firefly MZ via a serial
cable to access WebView and change the network
settings.
Restarting the Firefly MZ is only necessary when
updating the network settings in a DHCP environ-
ment, i.e. going from Static to DHCP mode, changing
the Host Name, etc.,

Quick Start Guide
4
External Control Commands
External control commands require that the com-
puter has an ASCII generating control program,
such as Hyper Terminal. The parameters are:
• Serial port 1
• 9600 Bps
• Echo typed letters locally
Use the following Visual Circuits commands to
configure the Firefly MZ.
FireflySetDefault
Syntax
fireflysetdefault
This command resets Firefly Networking
parameters to: static IP 10.0.1.1, WebView ON.
FireflySetIpAddress
Syntax
fireflysetipaddr IP Address
FireflySetNetmask
Syntax
fireflysetnetmask netmask
FireflySetGateway
Syntax
fireflysetgateway gateway
FireflySetNetworkType
Syntax
fireflysetnetworktype 1 (DHCP) or 2
(Static)
3 INSTALLING MEDIA MESSENGER
Install Visual Circuit’s Media Messenger software
from the Media Messenger CD by following the
online screens and prompts.
During the first start up of Media Messenger, the appli-
cation requests Company Name and Registration
Key, enter the name and key precisely as Visual Cir-
cuits provided it.
4 CONFIGURING FTP
Setup on-board Firefly MZ FTP Server
• Configure Firefly MZ properties.
• Configure Firefly MZ FTP server.
Configure Firefly MZ Properties
1. Open the Main window of Media Messen-
ger.
2. Right-click in the Firefly MZ object in the
Network Pane and display Player drop
down menu.
3. Click on Properties to display Player Con-
figuration.
4. Fill in the Player Configuration fields.
Set to one for Firefly MZ.
Unique ID set in player before
installation, Media Messenger
uses it to identify the player.
If player belongs to a group,
select the group name from-
list.
Unique name to identify player
(Host Name)
Physical location of the player.

Firefly MZ Quick Start Guide
5
Configuring the Firefly MZ FTP Server
1. Click on Settings in the Main Menu list and
select FTP Server Setup.
2. Fill in the FTP Site Information Fields.
a. IP Address/Hostname.
Network Administrator provides the IP
Address and Hostname of the FTP
server.
a. Directory
Name of the directory where the files go.
a. FTP UserName
a. FTP Password
3. FTP Proxy
Check this box if using a FTP Proxy server,
then add its IP address and port.
Network Administrator provides FTP configuration information.
This may be the Firefly MZ or
an FTP server used for stor-
ing presentation content.
When loading directly to Fire-
fly MZ, leave the Directory
field blank and place files in
FTP root directory.
Security settings provided by
Network Administrator.
5 CREATING ALAYOUT AND PLAYLIST
Creating a Playlist requires:
1. Setting Display Parameters.
2. Creating the MZ (multi-zone) layout.
3. Creating a playlist and attaching layout to it.
4. Adding content to playlist.
5. Creating a schedule for the Playlist
(optional).
Refer to the Media Messenger online Help for
details.
6. Linking the playlist or schedule (if used) to
the Firefly MZ.
Creating the Layout
The layout is a template used to position and size
the playlist content. A playlist has only one layout.
Setting Display Parameters
Set the Layout Editor workspace to the appropriate
video standard and resolution for the display
device.
1. Open Media Messenger.
2. Click on the Layout button.
3. Select the New Layout, give the layout a
name, and click OK
4. Return to the Layout button, select Screen
Resolution and choose the appropriate set-
ting.
5. Next select Video Resolution and choose the
appropriate video standard.
6. Save.
Edit Schedule
Edit Playlist
Edit Layout

Firefly MZ Quick Start Guide
6
Creating a MZ (multi-zone) Layout
Go to the Layout Editor workspace:
Position Zones in Layout Workspace
1. Create the Video Zone first.
2. Add Scrolling Text Zone if required.
3. Add Graphics Zones
4. Save the layout.
Creating the Playlist
1. Return to the Media Messenger main work-
space.
2. Open the Playlist Editor.
3. Verify that the correct Playlist is shown in the
Playlist Menu field.
Auto-stretch Sizing
Snap Positioning
Delete
Save Workspace
Zone Parameters
Video Zone
Graphic Zone
Scrolling Text
Save Zone Settings
Video Zone
The Layout must have a video zone with a
video file to function.
There is only one video zone in a layout.
Scrolling Text Zone
There is only one scrolling text zone per layout.
Scrolling text zones can overlay the video or
graphics zones.
Graphics Zones
The layout can have any number of graphic zones.
A large number of graphic zones will slow
performance.
Plasma Screen Burn-in
When creating layouts for display on plasma screens,
remember the potential for burn-in by stationary
images and text. Refer to the display manufacturer’s
documentation for recommended display times.
Recommendation: Create display designs in which
the positions of graphic zones or the graphic zone con-
tent changes freguently enough to avoid plasma
screen burn-in.
Navigation Pane Scheduling Pane
Schedule Menu
Playlist Menu
Playlist Pane

Firefly MZ Quick Start Guide
7
4. Verify that the Navigation Pane lists the lay-
out content zones.
5. Right-click on the Default Video Zone and
insert a video file.
6. If required, add content to the default Scroll-
ing Text and Graphics Zones.
7. Insert additional video files in to the video
zone to create the rest of the playlist.
8. Insert he graphic or scrolling text objects
belonging to each video.
9. Save the playlist by clicking on the Close but-
ton in the Playlist Editor workspace.
Refer to the Media Messenger Help for more infor-
mation about Playlists, Schedules, and Updating
the Firefly Media Player.
To locate files to insert into the content zone, use the file
browser or, if the file is already resident on the Firefly MZ
Media Player, enter the filename with its extension when it is
requested by application. The full path is not required pro-
vided that all the files for the playlist are transferred to the
same directory on the player
File Formats
Video: Mpeg-1, Mpeg-2, Unencrypted DVD
Graphics: BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, TGA, TIF
Each new video zone is a parent to
a family of child content zones that
are clones of the default zones.
Child content zones display at the
same time as the parent video.
A default content zone displays
whenever one of its clones is left
empty.
If both the default and one of its
clones are left empty, the presenta-
tion background displays.

Quick Start Guide
8
Link the Playlist to the Firefly
With the Playlist completed, publish it to the Fire-
fly MZ. This involves linking the playlist or a
schedule to the player.
• Link the playlist to the player, if only this play-
list is to playback.
• If multiple playlists are to playback on the
Firefly MZ, create a schedule. Use Media Mes-
senger to generate a schedule that determines
when and for how long each playlist runs on
the player. Refer to Media Messenger Help for
details about setting up schedules.
This procedure links the playlist to the player.
Linking a schedule to the player is similar but ini-
tiates through the Schedules Pane.
1. Return to main Media Messenger work-
space..
2. Verify that the correct playlist is displayed in
the Playlists Pane.
3. Select the player by clicking on its icon in the
Network Pane.
4. Click on the Link button. This instructs the
player or group of players to playback that
particular playlist.
The Playlists Pane displays a list of the
videos used in the playlist.
6 PUBLISH VIA FTP
1. Open WebView, click on System Settings,
and select Network. Confirm that the net-
work and security settings are correct.
2. Return to the Media Messenger main work-
space.
3. Select the target player or player group in
the Network Pane.
4. Click on Publish in the Media Messenger,
Main Menu List and then select Publish to
FTP.
5. Confirm that the Media Messenger FTP
configuration is correct for the player: click
on the FTP Setup button and review setup
data.
6. Select the Upload Option:
a. a specific player,
b. a group of players,
c. all players,
7. Click Begin Update button.
When the upload completes, close the
Update Control window.
The Firefly MZ loads immediately and begins
playing back the playlist. If using a schedule, the
playback begins at the appropriate time.
2
3
46
5
6A 7
6A If uploading to one specific Firefly, select the
Direct Upload to Firefly option, otherwise leave
unchecked.

9
PUBLISH TO CD/DVD
Another method of transporting playlists, sched-
ules, and media files is to create a media update
disc.This process creates the content image of an
autorun disc (CD/DVD).
1. Go to the Media Messenger main workspace
and select the player or group that is to
receive the update.
2. Select the Publish to CD/DVD icon.
3. Verify that the correct destination for the files
is shown in the destination field: change if
necessary.
4. Check the Copy All Needed ... box.
5. Verify that the total space required does not
exceed the capacity of the CD or DVD disc.
6. Click on Create CD/DVD Files.
7. Click on Close.
8. Use CD/DVD creation application to burn
files on a disc.
Media Messenger does not burn a CD or
DVD. It prepares the necessary files so
that when they are burned on to a disc,
an autorun application is created.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

10
FIREFLY MZ TIPS
1. A layout has only one Video and one Scroll-
ing Text zone.
2. A layout can have unlimited graphics zones
although large numbers do impact perfor-
mance.
3. The Video Zone can have multiple video files
inserted into it, n which case, they play in the
order they appear in the playlist.
4. Each video file has a set of content zones
cloned from the original default zones.
5. Zone shapes are modified in three ways.
Manually, by dragging a side or corner.
To maintain the aspect ratio of zone, hold
down the Shift key while dragging.
Automatically, by using the Auto-stretch but-
tons.
Precisely, by using the Width and Height
fields. Save the size settings by clicking the
Assign button.
6. Zone positions are modified in three ways.
Manually, by dragging the zone to its position.
Automatically, by using the Snap buttons.
Precisely, by using the Left and Top fields.
Save the position settings by clicking the
Assign button.
7. Graphic or Scrolling Text zones can overlay
the Video.
8. To view the layout associated with a particu-
lar video instance, click on that video object in
the Network Pane.
9. Graphics Quality
Most often, the automatic sizing and color-
depth conversion performed by the Firefly MZ
meets the needs of the presentation. Occa-
sionally however, it may be necessary to
adjust a graphic so that it displays precisely
as required. For the highest quality rendition
of a graphic it is important to consider two
things: color-depth and precise sizing.
10. Color-depth
The Firefly MZ is a 16-bit color device that
maps the native color of the graphic to the
player’s 16-bit display buffer.For best results
convert graphics to a standard (1-, 2-, 4-, 8-,
or 24-bit) JPEG or PNG format before insert-
ing it into a content zone.
11. Sizing Graphics
For highest quality results, make certain that
the dimensions are the same for the content
zone and source graphic. Sizing a graphic by
dragging a content zone handle or changing
the content zone dimensions does not always
produce the best visual results. There are two
sizing methods that provide the most precise
images:
Create the layout design in Media Messenger
using the content zone objects and then size
the graphics to fit in the zones.
Create a layout design in another program
such as Adobe Photoshop, with the graphics
and other elements sized exactly as they
should appear when displayed. Then, using
the sizing information from that design, cre-
ate a corresponding multi-zone layout using
the Layout Editor in Media Messenger.

Visual Circuits Corporation
5155 East River Road
Suite 401
Minneapolis, MN 55421
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.visualcircuits.com
813-0057A