Editing layouts on AREC Media Stations

As we defined in previous lessons, layouts consist of video channels, and it is the layouts that determine the size and position of video channels in a mixed video.

All AREC Media Stations come with a number of default layouts depending on the Media Station model. For example, LS-210 has 15 default layouts, LS-310 has 28, and LS-410 has 41.

On all Media Stations, layouts can be edited using the theme editor on the Online Director page of the station or using free software called Layout Editor. Starting with firmware version 1.1.0.13, it also became possible to create, edit, and delete layouts using the new Layout Editor found on the “Administrator” page of the station. We will review each method in this lesson, starting with the built-in Layout Editor.

Editing layouts through the Media Station's built-in Layout Editor interface

The built-in Layout Editor can be accessed through the “Administrator” → “Video” → “Theme” page. Click “Open” under “Layout manager settings” to use it.

Note that the built-in Layout Editor is available only on the latest AREC Media Stations (e.g., LS-210, LS-310, and LS-410) running firmware version 1.1.0.13 and newer. It is not available on previous models (e.g., LS-300, KL-3T, LS-400). To edit layouts on the previous models, use the Layout Editor app or theme editor in the Online Director page – both methods are covered later in this lesson.

Built-in Layout Editor functions

Here is what each function allows you to do:

1. Add a layout: click to add a layout from a template. The template can then be further modified.

2. Copy the layout: select an existing layout from the list of layouts (4) and click this button to copy it.

3. Delete the layout: select an existing layout from the list of layouts (4) and click this button to delete it.

4. List of layouts: shows all created layouts in the system. Click on a layout to copy (2), delete (3), or modify it (5). The selected layout gets a blue outline in the list.

5. Selected layout: this shows the selected layout from the list of layouts (4). Click on a channel in the layout to select it (6). You can remove a channel (9), change channel designation (7/10), order (11), crop mode (12), coordinates (13) and dimensions (14).

6. Selected channel: blue outline and squares on a channel indicate that this is the currently selected channel.

7. Channel designation: this indicates the channel number in the same way it is displayed on the "Administrator" → "Media I/O" → "Video inputs" page.

8. Add a channel: click to add a channel. After a channel is added, you need to designate its channel (10) before the layout (5) can be saved.

9. Remove a channel: click to remove a selected channel (6).

10. Channel number designation: click to change the channel number of the selected channel (6). Channel numbers are unique and cannot be shared in the same layout.

11. Arrangement: click to change the order in which the selected channel (6) is displayed relative to other channels.

12. Crop mode: click to change how this channel is displayed. The options are identical to the Layout Editor application for AREC Media Stations: letterbox (default), Fit to Width, Fit to Height, Fill.

13. Coordinates: change the X/Y coordinates of the selected channel (6).

14. Dimensions: change the width and height of the selected channel (6).

15. Save: click to save changes to the selected layout (5).

If you had the "Theme" page open before clicking "Save" in the Layout Editor, you will need to refresh the page for the layouts to update. After the page is refreshed, you will see the new and edited layouts when editing themes.

Editing layouts with the Layout Editor application

Layout Editor is a free application that can be downloaded from our website, www.a-dena.com → “Resources” → “Firmware & Resources”.

To use the Layout Editor application, first export only “Theme and Layout” from your Media Station on the “Administrator” → “System” → “Configuration” page. Then, open this file with the Layout Editor app (do not create a new file with the app itself). The list of layouts in the app will update to show the layouts that were exported from the Media Station.

To edit layouts in the Layout Editor, export only "Theme and Layout"

Click "File" → "Open" in the Layout Editor

Open the file you exported from the Media Station

Layout Editor functions

You are now ready to start editing the layouts. Select any layout that you wish to edit. Here is what each function allows you to do:

1. List of layouts: choose a layout to edit from the list of Media Station’s layouts. It will then appear in the selected layout (2).

2. Selected layout: currently selected layout and channels in this layout. Click on a channel to change its number (6), arrangement (7), crop mode (8), coordinates (9/10) and dimensions (11/12). Click and drag a channel to reposition it, or click and drag its corner to resize it.

3. Apply: click to apply changes made to a layout.

4. Discard: click to discard changes made to a layout.

5. Layout templates: click to change the selected layout template and increase or decrease the number of channels in a layout. The number of available options is determined by the model of your Media Station.

6. Channel selection: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), click to change its channel number in a layout. Only channels that are not already in a layout can be chosen.

7. Arrangement: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), click to change in which order it is displayed relative to other channels.

8. Aspect ratio: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), click to change its crop mode. Options include:

   • Letter box: scale the channel to fit the dimensions (11/12) while preserving aspect ratio. This is the standard mode, and channels in letter box crop mode do not have symbols.

   • Fit to Width: scale the channel to match horizontal dimensions (11) while preserving the ratio, cutting/cropping vertical parts of the channel that do not fit (12). A channel with this crop mode has a two-sided horizontal arrow symbol.

   • Fit to Height: scale the channel to match vertical dimensions (12) while preserving the ratio, cutting/cropping horizontal parts of the channel that do not fit (11). A channel with this crop mode has a two-sided vertical arrow symbol.

   • Fill: stretch the channel to completely fill the dimensions (11/12). A channel with this crop mode has a symbol with arrows pointing at all corners.

9. X coordinates: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), this shows the horizontal position of the selected channel. Set a number from 0.00 to 100.00 to change the channel position. 0.00 is the left-most edge of a layout.

10. Y coordinates: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), this shows the vertical position of the selected channel. Set a number from 0.00 to 100.00 to change the channel position. 0.00 is the top-most edge of a layout.

11. Width: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), this shows the channel’s width. Set a number from 0.00 to 100.00 to change it.

12. Height: after a channel is clicked in the selected layout (2), this shows the channel’s height. Set a number from 0.00 to 100.00 to change it.

13. File: click to manage layout configuration files. Specifically:

    • New: click to create a new layout configuration file. This file is compatible only with non-VA1 LS-400 models. If your Media Station is different, do not use this feature and make sure to open your station’s exported layout configuration file instead.

    • Open: click to open an exported layout configuration file.

    • Save: click to save the changes you made to the layout configuration file. You can either overwrite the original configuration file or save it as a different file.

    • Exit: close the application.

14. Edit: click for an alternative way of applying (3) and discarding (4) changes, choosing layout templates (5), channel selections (6), arrangements (7), and aspect ratios (8). These options are applied to the channel that was clicked on in the selected layout (2) area.

15. Help: click to access the “About” menu, showing the Layout Editor application version.

If you are not sure which crop mode you need, or what kind of layout to try, review our ADENA Hack on this topic via this link: how to use AREC stations' layouts for more effective presentations and conferencing.

When you are finished editing, click “File” → “Save” to either overwrite the configuration file you were editing or save the edited configuration as a different file. Import the configuration file back into your Media Station by clicking “Import” on the “Administrator” → “System” → “Configuration” page and selecting this file.

Editing layouts through the Online Director page

Layouts can be edited through the Online Director page in the “Director Tab” (main page) → “Themes”, by clicking on “pen and paper” icons next to existing themes. This allows you to modify the layout that is currently used by this theme.

Create a new theme with a layout you want to edit

If you want to preserve the layouts that are used in your existing themes, you should create new themes with layouts that are not needed. You can do this on the “Administrator” → “Video” → “Theme” page.

Note that it is currently not possible to modify the number of channels in a layout using the Online Director version of Layout Editor. This means that if you want to have a single-channel layout, it can only be edited using another single-channel layout, and so on for two, three, and four-channel layouts. If you need to change the number of channels in a layout, we recommend using other layout editing solutions described in this lesson.

Online Director Layout Editor Functions

Here is what each function allows you to do:

1. Selected theme: this is how the currently selected theme looks like. Click on a channel to change its number (2), arrangement (3/4), crop mode (5), coordinates (6/7) and dimensions (8/9). Click and drag a channel to reposition it, or click and drag its corner to resize it.

2. Channel number: after a channel is clicked (1), click to change its channel number. If two or more channels share the same channel number, the theme cannot be saved.

3. Bring forward: after a channel is clicked (1), click to bring this channel forward relative to other channels.

4. Send backward: after a channel is clicked (1), click to send this channel backwards relative to other channels.

5. Aspect ratio: after a channel is clicked (1), click to change its crop mode. Options include:

   • Letter box: scale the channel to fit the dimensions (8/9) while preserving aspect ratio. A channel with this crop mode has a black rectangle symbol.

   • Fit to Width: scale the channel to match horizontal dimensions (8) while preserving the ratio, cutting/cropping vertical parts of the channel that do not fit (9). A channel with this crop mode has a two-sided horizontal arrow symbol.

   • Fit to Height: scale the channel to match vertical dimensions (9) while preserving the ratio, cutting/cropping horizontal parts of the channel that do not fit (8). A channel with this crop mode has a two-sided vertical arrow symbol.

   • Fill: stretch the channel to completely fill the dimensions (8/9). A channel with this crop mode has a symbol with arrows pointing at all corners.

6. X coordinates: after a channel is clicked (1), this shows the horizontal position of the selected channel. Set a number from 0 to 100 to change the channel position. 0 is the leftmost edge of a layout.

7. Y coordinates: after a channel is clicked (1), this shows the vertical position of the selected channel. Set a number from 0 to 100 to change the channel position. 0 is the top-most edge of a layout.

8. Width: after a channel is clicked (1), this shows the channel’s width. Set a number from 0 to 100 to change it.

9. Height: after a channel is clicked (1), this shows the channel’s height. Set a number from 0 to 100 to change it.

10. Theme name: set the name of this theme.

11. Overlay: shows available overlays in a list. Click on an overlay to apply it to this theme.

12. Background: shows available backgrounds in a list. Click on a background to apply it to this theme.

13. Save: click to save changes to the theme.

14. Close: click to close the theme editor without saving changes.

Changes to themes are applied instantly when you click “Save”. However, if you had this theme selected, the changes will be visible only if you reapply this theme.

That concludes the lesson. You can now test your knowledge and understanding by answering the questions on the lesson's form and watching the linked videos before moving on to the next lesson.

After you submit your answers on the form, make sure to click "View Scores" to see whether you answered correctly. You will also receive an email at the address you used when starting this lesson, containing your answers and a "View Scores" link.

Training Videos

Training Video – How to Edit Layouts in the Online Director Webpage

ADENA Hacks

Please read these ADENA Hacks on our website:

• ADENA Hack: How to use AREC stations' layouts for more effective presentations and conferencing. https://www.a-dena.com/post/adena-hack-how-to-use-layouts-for-more-effective-presentations-and-conferencing
  

• ADENA Hack: How to make your own layouts for AREC stations.

  https://www.a-dena.com/post/adena-hack-how-to-make-your-own-layouts-for-arec
  

• ADENA Hack: How to edit layouts in the Online Director webpage. https://www.a-dena.com/post/adena-hack-how-to-edit-layouts-from-within-the-online-director

En español:

• Con ADENA: Cómo usar los layouts de video para presentaciones y conferencias más efectivas con AREC.

  https://www.a-dena.com/post/personalizar-layouts-video-arec-presentaciones-videoconferencia