This is an old revision of the document!
PIXILAB BLOCKS
PIXILAB Blocks® is software for producing and managing rich experiences for visitor centers, museums, exhibitions and corporate presentations. It features a unique mix of content and display management, control system capabilities, interactive presentation and mobile guide functions.
Blocks runs on MacOS, Windows and Linux computers, connecting to virtually any number of displays, players and other subsystems. You produce, configure and manage everything over the local network using your web browser.
This web page contains detailed technical documentation of many aspects and applications of Blocks. Before continuing below, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of Blocks as described in the Blocks Manual.
Blocks resources
Blocks manual
The most valuble resource when getting to know the concepts and the components in Blocks.
Video collection
Our collections of video tutorials that help with everything from familiarizing yourself with Blocks to advanced tutorials for custom development.
Application Notes
Application notes provide inspiration and make it easy to try out ideas, hone your Blocks skills and learn best practices. Many of them come with a complete set of files, including everything you need to run it on your own Blocks server/laptop.
User forum
Another great resource for support is the Pixilab Blocks user forum. For any support queries that may be of general interest, this is the recommended option.The forum is monitored by Pixilab as well as Pixilab partners and users.
Downloads, Installation and Updates
Below you can find instructions for how to create and install and deply a blocks server on different plattforms, create and deploy a Pixilab Player our free software to create a locked down device that can playout the Blocks content. Finally there are the guides to other devices that has been successfully used together with Blocks to play out the content.
Blocks Server
In order to use Blocks on your own computer, you must have a valid Blocks license to that computer. Blocks will not start unless this hardware or cloud-based license is found.
This article provides download links and instructions for installing and maintain a Blocks server
Pixilab player
Other display hardware setup guides
How-to guides helping you installing and configuring displays with your Blocks system. Blocks can be used with a wide variety of display devices and technologies.
Devices may change from time to time outside our control as new devices are introduced and old models are taken off the market. The guides presented here are "best practices", and are not to be considered as endorsements or purchase recommendations. You're should perform your own tests to ensure performance, reliability and compatibility before chosing a device or software.
Content
Most of the content in blocks is created by combining different block types inside the Blocks editor. Styling is added to the system using the different method descibed in the styling article below. It is also possible to extend the content capabilities of blocks using other methods such as creating custom web content.
Styling
Content in Blocks is styled with the same methods as any other web content, using CSS.
Custom Content
.
Control System Functions and Tasks
For basic control needs, binding buttons and other controls directly to properties provides a level of programmability that's intuitive and easy to use. More complex actions can be programmed using the step-based programming capabilities provided by Tasks.
Device Drivers and User scripts
Device Drivers
Blocks comes with a plug-in architecture for controlling most devices equipped with a network, serial data or IR remote control port.
Custom scripting
For complex applications, calling for fully custom designed solutions with advanced "code level" programming requirements, Block goes even further, offering advanced scripting capabilities.
.