To create a layout, click the ”Add Layout” button at the bottom of the list. A new page will open, displaying many pre-designed layout templates we have created for you and are ready to use.

Feel free to choose any available templates and edit them by changing images and adding whatever text you want. Otherwise, you can create your custom Layout from scratch!

Quick How-to Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHcE7B7HvM4

Adding a Template

Templates are pre-formatted Layouts we have created for you to use directly on your TV screens. These signage templates come with a wide range of static and dynamic content options. Both options are available, whether you want to incorporate static elements like photos or text that remain the same each time they are shown on your Yodeck players or incorporate dynamic content that automatically updates depending on your sign’s weather, time, or location. Templates use media not stored in your account but in the cloud to be available to all users. Of course, you can edit them the way you like.

Importing a Template

By clicking the layout template of your choice, a window will pop up displaying a preview of it. Then, if you like it, you can Import it by clicking the ”Import Template” button or go back to pick a new one by clicking the ”Back to Templates” button. After importing a template, you can name it as you wish and edit the default media to customize it to your needs.

Adding a Custom Layout

To add a custom layout, click on the “CREATE CUSTOM LAYOUT” button found at the beginning of the listing.

Layout Settings

Before adding any media, you will see a configuration panel on the right side of your screen. To see a short description of the options, click on the corresponding tab below:

Adding media from your library

Click the “Insert” on the top bar to choose a media from your Media gallery. At the right-side panel, you will see all available options offered.

Images
Videos
Audio
Documents
Web Pages
Apps
Texts
Clipart
Playlists

Editing media

Choosing a media file shows Some relevant configuration options on the right panel.
For example, if you select an Image, Video, Audio, Document, Web page, App, or Playlist, you will be presented with the following settings.

Fitting Option

“Fit”: show the whole content within the area assigned (may add some space or black bars at the edges, but will not distort images or videos).
“Crop”: zoom-in to cover the assigned area (may crop some edges, but it will not distort images or videos).
“Stretch”: show the whole content, stretching it to match the area assigned (no cropping, empty spaces, or black bars, but it might distort images and videos).

Transparency

Optionally, enable the toggle “Allow Transparency” to allow transparency of the region. This is useful for content with transparency and the “Fit” option above.

Positioning/Resizing media in the layout editor

Selecting imported media in the layout editor opens configuration options on the right side of your screen.

You can use the Width, Height, Top, and Left values to quickly position and align it to where you want. You can either type directly the value you wish to or, by placing your mouse cursor in the box, use the mouse wheel to increase/decrease the value.

Another way of positioning/resizing your media item is by selecting it with your mouse and dragging it in any position you want. Clicking on a media item will highlight it. Use the white squares to drag/resize the media at will.

Lock Aspect Ratio

If you want the media you are moving/resizing to keep the same ratio across the Layout region, enable the “Lock Aspect Ratio” toggle.

Content Layering

On the right panel, when you have not selected a media, under the “Content Layering” section, all the items (playlists, apps, media files) added to the layout are listed in the order you added them, with the top layer representing the last item added. This layering order is easily modified by dragging and dropping items in the desired hierarchy. In the layering setup, you can quickly disable some items by clicking the “eye” button next to the media of your choice. The hidden media will not be displayed on the player as well. You can revert the media to your Layout editor by clicking the “eye” button.

Useful Tools

On the top bar, you will notice some useful buttons that you can use to help you create your Layout faster.

Undo a change you made while working in your Layout editor if you’d like to, for up to 30 edits.
- Shortcut: CTRL+Z
Redo an Undo for up to 30 edits.
- Shortcut: CTRL+Y
Send Backward
- Move the media backward if you have many content layers on your Layout editor.
Bring Forward
- Move the media forward if you have many content layers on your Layout editor.
Copy any media to your Layout editor area. You can copy media from different Layout editors across your account.
- Shortcut: CTRL+C
Paste any media to your Layout editor area. You can paste media from different Layout editors across your account.
- Shortcut: CTRL+V
Edit the settings of the selected media by opening a new editing form of the selected media.
Delete
- Delete the selected media from the Layout editor. Shortcut: Del button
Full Screen
- The Layout you created will fill your entire TV screen by clicking the Full-Screen button. In that way, you can modify the final output on your TV screen and make the right adjustments by moving any media in any direction or position of your choice. It’s like the usual Layout editor but in Full-screen mode. Press the Esc button on your keyboard to exit Full-Screen.

How do I preview a layout before pushing it to the player?

This feature is currently in the beta stage and will soon have the full functionalities of a Yodeck Player. In other words, you can see exactly what is being shown on your TV screen like you would view that content if you had a Yodeck Player connected to your screen. With a simple click, you can see how your layout will display on the TV screen without needing a Yodeck player or hardware. You only have to fill the layout with the media of your choice and then click the Preview button at the top right corner. A new window will appear and start displaying the layout.

Allow pop-ups

Upon clicking the Preview button, your browser might block the pop-up. Please click the options button in your browser and click the “Allow pop-ups for app.yodeck.com“.

Managing Layouts

In the “Layouts” section, you can see a list of the layouts currently created in your Yodeck account. Layout information is organized in the following columns:

The Name of the layout
The Timestamp (date and time) that the layout was modified for the last time
The Workspace (for accounts in the Enterprise plan) that the layout belongs
The Actions column

If you click on the three dots icon in the Actions column, you will be presented with a list of actions you can apply to your layouts.

Click on each tab below to see a short description.

Additional Control Settings

You can use the Search box at the top-left corner to sort out your layout listing quickly. You can search using any columns by name, date, workspace, etc.

You can select one or more layouts by clicking the square box left to their thumbnail. You can then click the Actions button at the bottom to Move or Delete all the selected layouts simultaneously.

Video Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waj7N9MTYHE

How to create a Custom Ratio

Do you have a non-standard TV resolution? Do the default Layout Aspect Ratios not work for you?

We have created a new feature called Custom Ratio. You can set your own ratio for a Layout and choose the exact resolution of your TV, LED TV, Monitor, or whatever display hardware you have.

A new window will appear just by clicking the ”Add Custom ratio” in the Layout editor. Type the resolution of your TV screen in the Width and Height fields and click the Save button.

Adding a Custom Ratio from your account’s settings

You can also create your custom ratios before creating a layout to have them available and ready to be added to your setup. This can be done from your account’s settings by clicking this link.

Click the “Add Custom Ratio” to add as many as you like. They will be shown in the listing of the Ratio setting for every layout.

What is the Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the fraction that indicates the shape of your monitor. Every monitor has a resolution in pixels (e.g., 1920×1080( 1080p ), 3840×2160( 4K )), so dividing the two numbers gives you the aspect ratio (in this case, it’s 16:9, equal to about 1.777777).

There are different monitors out there, with a variety of aspect ratios.

The standard aspect ratio for most screens and TVs is 16:9. That includes “HD Ready,” “Full HD,” and “4K” (or “UltraHD”) TVs and monitors.

So, when you create a new layout in Yodeck, you are presented with a 16:9 editor to create your layout.

A calculation tool that you can use to find your screen’s Aspect ratio can be found here.

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