How to Create Split-Screen Playlists and Foreground Content in MAWi Link

How to Split a Screen and Add a Ticker Strip in MAWi Link

Introduction

MAWi Link now gives you more flexibility in how content is arranged on a single screen.

You can:

  • Split the screen into two vertical sections

  • Split the screen into two horizontal sections

  • Add a foreground strip anywhere on the screen

  • Display an RSS ticker

  • Display your own custom text

  • Add a clock

  • Add a timer

This allows you to combine different content sources on the same display while keeping important information, announcements, time, or countdown information visible in the foreground.


This guide explains how to create a new MAWi Link playlist, upload your content, configure the screen layout, and publish it to your display.


Screen Split Options

MAWi Link currently provides two split-screen layouts.

Vertical Split

The screen can be divided into two sections placed side by side.

Each section can display its own content independently.

For example:

  • Left side: company dashboard

  • Right side: promotional video

or:

  • Left side: website

  • Right side: image slideshow





Horizontal Split

The screen can also be divided into two horizontal sections.

One content area is displayed above the other.

For example:

  • Top section: production dashboard

  • Bottom section: company announcements

or:

  • Top section: promotional content

  • Bottom section: information or web content




Adding Foreground Information

In addition to splitting the screen, MAWi Link allows you to add foreground information over the main displayed content.

The foreground element can be positioned anywhere on the screen, allowing important information to remain visible without changing the underlying screen layout.

Depending on your requirements, the foreground element can display:

  • RSS ticker

  • Custom text

  • Clock

  • Timer



Step 1 - Create a New MAWi Link Playlist

From the MAWi Main Console, click:

Create New Playlist

Enter a name for your playlist.

For example:

Lobby - Split Screen

or:

Production Dashboard

Make sure the Android option is enabled for the playlist. This identifies the playlist as a MAWi Link playlist.

Click:

Add New Item

to begin adding content.





Step 2 - Upload Your Content

MAWi Link allows you to use several types of content within your playlist, including:

  • Videos

  • Images

  • PDFs

  • PowerPoint presentations

  • Websites and URLs

  • Web-based dashboards

Supported MAWi Link formats include video formats such as MP4, WEBM, MOV and AVI, image formats including JPEG, PNG, WEBP, GIF and TIF, PDF documents, PowerPoint presentations, and browser-based URLs.




Uploading a Video, Image, PDF file, PPT file

Select the Upload File option.

You can either:

  • Click Browse and select the required file

or

  • Drag and drop the file into the upload area

Wait until the file has finished uploading to the MAWi Server.

A preview of the uploaded content will appear.






1. If the file type is PDF, use Advanced Options to configure automatic scrolling through the PDF and define the scrolling speed.
2. If the file type is PPT/PPTX, MAWi automatically converts the presentation into content that can be displayed by MAWi Link.

You can then configure the display duration for the individual slides.



Adding a Website or Dashboard

If you want to display web-based content, select:

Add URL

Enter the full URL of the website or dashboard you want to display.

For example:

https://your-dashboard.example.com

Web-based dashboards, company websites, information portals and other browser-based content can be included directly in a MAWi Link playlist.




Step 3 - Select the Screen Layout

After adding your content, select the required screen layout.

MAWi Link currently provides two split-screen configurations:

Vertical Split

The display is divided into two equal sections placed side by side.

For example:

Left section: Promotional video
Right section: Dashboard

This is helpful when you want two different sources to share the screen at the same time.




Horizontal Split

The display is divided into two equal sections, one above the other.

This is especially useful for portrait-oriented displays.

For example:

Top section: Production dashboard
Bottom section: Company announcements




Step 4 - Add Content to Each Section

Select the first section of the screen and assign the content you want to display.

Then select the second section and assign its content.

The two sections operate independently, allowing you to combine different content types on the same screen.


Step 5 - Configure the Content

Configure the properties of each content item as required.

Depending on the content type, you may be able to define:

  • Display duration

  • URL

  • Uploaded file

  • Playback options

  • PDF scrolling options

  • PowerPoint slide duration

If the playlist contains several items, MAWi will rotate through them according to the configured duration.


Step 6 - Add Foreground Information

You can optionally add a foreground element over the main screen content.

The foreground element does not replace either of the two main sections. It appears above the existing content.

It can be positioned anywhere on the screen.

Available foreground information includes:

  • RSS ticker

  • Custom text

  • Clock

  • Timer




Add an RSS Ticker

Select the RSS option and enter the RSS feed you want to display.

The ticker can be positioned across the screen, for example along the bottom edge.

This allows continuously updated information to remain visible while the main playlist content continues to play.

Example:

Left: Corporate content
Right: KPI dashboard
Bottom foreground: News RSS ticker
Corner foreground: Clock

Ticker configuration console:


Add Custom Text

Select the custom text option and enter the message you want to display.

To add multiple messages, add a semicolon (;) character to separate each message :


Typical uses include:

  • Safety messages

  • Company announcements

  • Welcome messages

  • Promotional information

  • Emergency information

Position the foreground element in the required location.


Add a Clock

Select the Clock option to place a clock above the playlist content.

Position it where it will remain visible without covering important information.

For example, the clock can be positioned in the upper-right corner of the display.



Add a Timer

Select the Timer option when you want to display elapsed or time-based information.

For example, in a manufacturing environment you can display:

Left section: Production dashboard
Right section: Work instructions
Foreground: Shift elapsed timer

This allows production teams to see operational information and shift timing simultaneously.



Step 7 - Save the Playlist Item

Once you have configured:

  • The screen layout

  • The content in both sections

  • Any required foreground elements

click:

Save

If you want to add additional playlist items, select Add Another before saving.

When all playlist items have been created, click:

Finish

to complete the playlist.


Step 8 - Assign the Playlist to a MAWi Link Screen

Return to the MAWi Management Console.

Your new playlist will appear under:

MY PLAYLISTS

Drag and drop the playlist onto the required MAWi Link screen.

Alternatively, select the required screen and assign the playlist from the available playlist list.


Step 9 - Start the Playlist

Once the playlist has been assigned to the screen, click the Play button next to the playlist.

The MAWi Link player will download and cache the required content and begin displaying the configured layout.





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