SongShow Plus Display Settings - Identifying Displays -- Windows vs SongShow Plus

Applicable SongShow Plus Versions: 
This article applies to SongShow Plus versions 9.1 and later

 * Ensure that you are using the most current build of SongShow Plus from the Download page for the best experience. *   

One very useful feature in SongShow Plus is the ability to utilize multiple display outputs (Output Window) for your content. This ability was enhanced further in SongShow Plus 9.1 with the addition of two new Output Windows, Lower Third and Other, bringing the total available outputs to six.  All of these Output Windows are available in the Ultra edition which includes Multi Display support.  If users have legacy individual display support licenses those should also still apply.

NOTE: If you are not able to get all display connected and configured in Windows, DO NOT proceed to SSP setup - Consult your IT department or Hardware support resources for assistance. Refer to article SSP124 to get Windows setup correctly.

NOTE: If you are not familiar with the types of Output Windows available, refer to article SSP109.

Identifying Displays - Important Clarification 
SongShow Plus display settings rely on the user knowing which physical target display is which and in order to do this it is important that Windows has detected them correctly as well. While there are tools in both the Windows display settings and the SongShow Plus display setting to help determine this it is very important to understand that these are completed separate tools that perform a similar function - identifying connected displays.  When used, the numbering of the detected displays is NOT the same in both tools, nor is there any direct correlation between them. Each application tool is telling the end user what it "sees" as available to them and gives the user feedback (numbering) on the target display(s).  If the numbers between these turn out to be the same, it is merely a coincidence. 

Identifying Displays - Windows Display Settings

To identify the connected displays in Windows:

1. Start Windows and sign in.
2. From the desktop, right-click anywhere on the desktop and select "Display settings" from the menu. 
3. Take note of the diagram at the top illustrating the available displays for Windows. For use with SSP, ALL connected displays should be individually numbered (Extended). If they are not, STOP and refer to article SSP Best Practices - Windows Display Settings for SongShow Plus
4. Near the bottom right corner of the Windows display diagram, locate the "Identify" button.
5. Click the button to enable the identification numbers.  All connected screens/displays will have a square with a black background with a number in the center. This indicator will only display for a few seconds so you may have to do it more than once.
6. The specific number that coincides with each display location is NOT important to SSP.  The use of this tool is to simply ensure that all physical displays are connected to and recognized by Windows for use when configuring your SongShow Plus Display Settings.

Identifying Displays - SongShow Plus Display Settings

To identify the connected displays in SongShow Plus:

1. Open SongShow Plus.
2. From the main toolbar click on Settings > Display...
3. Take note of the diagram at the top illustrating the available displays for SongShow Plus. There are 4 items shown here that represent "hidden" displays for internal use.  If necessary, you will be directed if and how to use them - most users can simply ignore these.
4. In the bottom left corner of the settings panel, locate the "Identify Displays" button.
5. Click the button to enable the identification numbers.  All connected screens/displays should have a solid color background with a number in the center.
6. Make note of which number coincides with each display location.
7. Click the "Identify Displays" button again to disable the identification numbers. 
8. Use this information when configuring your SongShow Plus Display Settings.

Useful Tips for using identified display info

• In the Display Settings diagram, all available physical displays are shown with a Blue background.
• In the Display Settings diagram, all selected/assigned physical displays are shown with a Green background.
• In the Display Settings diagram, some display representations may be shown with portions that have both Blue and Green backgrounds. This indicates that a specified placement area has been designated to allow content from two different Output Windows to be assigned to the same physical target device. 
• It is possible for the identifying numbers to change when there are changes or disruptions in either Windows or the physical display connections.  This may or may not be intended.  It is important to keep the Windows environment consistent.  Refer to article SSP Best Practices - Windows System Start Up and Shutdown for SongShow Plus for more details.

Training Videos - A video walk-through of this process may be available.  Depending on your current subscription level, you can go to the GoFishMedia website training page and log in with the same Customer ID and password that you use to log in to the SongShow Plus site or activate SongShow Plus. Review this article for more details.

If you have any questions regarding the use of or issues with any of the SongShow Plus display settings, please contact the Support Team.

(SSP172)