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Embedding external sites using other methods

Using screenshot service​

If the webpage does not have any interaction or is otherwise a simple series of static pages we would suggest taking screenshots of the pages and using the SCREENSHOT data source type.

tip

Using this method has the advantage to showcase external pages even on low-end or weak devices, or devices that can not use our traditional HTML based displayer, such as eInk devices.

  1. In Settings > Data sources > External data sources select the SCREENSHOT type
  2. Set the Name of the data source
  3. Set the Refresh frequency. The Refresh Frequency is the frequency on how often the data source will try to refresh itself
Please note

Refresh Frequency is not the same as the Wait time of the screenshot in the Screenshot section

  1. Fill out the parameters of the Screenshot(s)
    • URL from which the screenshot will be created
    • The generated image's width and height
    • Wait time (ms) where the service will wait for the amount of time specified to take the screenshot
    • Headers is an optional field referring to HTML headers

img.png

Please note

You can have multiple screenshots even from different sites in one data source.

  1. When the service runs it will create screenshot(s) of the page(s) and it will give back a JSON list of the created images' path and a status of the creation process.
{
  "screenshots": [
    {
      "imagePath": "https://beta.wallboard.info/api/storage/screenshots/cf064d75072b4c89af76532a645d1098.jpg",
      "status": "SUCCESS"
    },
    {
      "imagePath": "https://beta.wallboard.info/api/storage/screenshots/eefdef65ef6a44d5816fa549c277b00f.jpg",
      "status": "SUCCESS"
    }
  ]
}
  1. It can be referenced via the data source picker of a widget. We will include the databinding of Image widget as an example

img_1.png

Using pdf widget​

If the webpage does not have any interaction or is otherwise a simple series of static pages there is also the option to download the pages as pdf.

  1. In most browsers if you press CTRL+P this will bring up the Print modal of the browser

img_2.png

  1. You can then save this pdf and upload it into our File manager
  2. You can utilize PDF widget or Gallery widget with PDF settings to show the file inside content