How StackExpress Works

StackExpress provides the show, using the Stack web interface, and DeltaServer provides the display configuration. For the Stack web interface in general see the Delta Web Service User Guide. For all features of Delta display configurations, channels, alignments, warps and blends, see the Delta User Guide.

There are two timeline modes in StackExpress:

•Loop mode (default) allows resources to be dragged onto the timeline and given playback settings of their own, including length, repeating, fading and matching audio.

•RS422 mode allows a selection of preset resources to be played according to external control commands.

How it Works (Loop Mode)

StackExpress interacts with the Delta Media Server over the Stack web interface. The Stack web interface also provides the core play controls and preview, in the StackExpress web page.

The StackExpress page lists movie, image and capture resources that are available on the server being addressed, which, in similar manner to the DeltaGUI interface, can be dragged into a simple timeline order-of-play.

These resources can be given properties of length, repeat, fade, aspect and relative play speed, and they can be dragged to re-order them. Together they form a single sequential layer.

The destination layer and position are defined similarly in a user-configurable system file, and the Express timeline can either stand alone, or be merged with another show file on the server.

All this assembly creates a complete instruction set in StackExpress (the Media Config .json file). A ‘Generate’ button sends these instructions to the timeline of the DeltaServer being addressed, where it compiles a specifically-named show file (expressmode.xml) and saved. This becomes the default show (see DeltaGUI, Config > Preferences > Startup & File Load). Changes can be made and the show file regenerated at any time.

Any number of instruction sets (.json) files can be saved and reloaded, to recreate the DeltaServer show, as required. StackExpress can load these .json files to generate different expressmode.xml shows on multiple servers, set them running and interact with them, from a single remote PC.

How it Works (RS422 Mode)

The Express timeline is constructed by adding preset resources (i.e. with fixed play properties). Instead of populating the DeltaServer timeline to be played with the normal controls, the purpose is to address the Express timeline by external control commands.

If switching from RS422 mode to Loop mode, you will need to stop and restart StackExpress before resuming: Web Service > Configure > Add-ons > StackExpress.