> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.xibosignage.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.xibosignage.com/introduction/testing-with-xibo.md). # Make the most out of your Xibo Trial! ## Sign up Click on a **Start Free Trial** button from the website and create an account or login: ![Trail signup form](/files/5o8TuTddMtWw2fEmBNL3) 1. Complete the form as these are required to create your trial CMS instance and click the **Start Trial** button. 2. Next, activate your **Xibo Account** by clicking the link included in the Welcome email, sent to the email address provided. 3. Once activated, go to **My Account** to check the status of your CMS by clicking the **In Progress** button. 4. Once your CMS is ready, your **CMS login** information will be shown. ## Testing the CMS Follow the steps below to see the features and functionality the Xibo CMS has to offer. If you don’t intend to trial a Player App, you can still take a look at the scheduling capabilities of Xibo by creating a test **Display Group**, to view scheduled events in Schedule Lists and Calendar views: 1. Click on **Display Groups** under the **Display** section of the main CMS menu 2. Click the **Add Display Group** button 3. **Name** your Display Group (Test for example) 4. **Save** ### Uploading an Image If you have content created outside of the Xibo CMS, by an outside agency for example. Xibo allows you to easily upload and show on your display screens. Directly upload Image and Video files to the media Library and schedule to play full screen on Displays. {% embed url="" %} * Click on **Media** under the **Library** section of the main CMS menu. * Select the **Add Media** button. * Click **Add Files** and select the image file to upload. * Rename or leave as the default file name on upload. * Click **Start Upload**. * Select **Done**. The uploaded Image will now show in your Library. From here you can **Schedule** directly to your Displays, using the row menu: * Select **Schedule** from the row menu. * Select your **Test Display Group**. * Click **Finish**. By following these steps, you will have successfully uploaded an image and scheduled it to play on your test Display at all times as an Always (which is set as the default) schedule. See the **Showing an Image on Displays** page for more information and to view further reading links. [Showing an Image on Displays](https://account.xibosignage.com/manual/en/getting_started_showing_an_image) ### Create a Playlist You may need to show multiple items in rotation, a slideshow of images to showcase certain products for example. Playlists contain multiple items which when scheduled to play on Displays will show a carousel of content. {% embed url="" %} 1. Click on **Playlists** under the **Library** section of the main CMS menu 2. Select the **Add Playlist** button 3. Provide a **Name** 4. On saving the **Playlist Editor** will open to add content 5. Use the **Toolbox**, located on the left hand side of the designer, and click on **Library image search** to add Images from the CMS Library 6. Drag and drop images to add to the **Timeline** 7. You can drag and drop **Upload Image** to the timeline to add more images to your Library to use 8. Click on **Pixabay** from the Toolbox to add images directly from Pixabay’s library 9. Re-order the sequence by drag and drop 10. Click **Exit** The created Playlist will now show in the Playlists grid. From here you can **Schedule** directly to your Displays, using the row menu: 1. Select **Schedule** from the row menu 2. Select your **Test Display Group** 3. Click **Finish** By following these steps, you will have successfully created a Playlist and scheduled it to play on your test Display at all times as an Always (which is set as the default) schedule. See the **Showing a Playlist on Displays** page for more information and to view further reading links. [Showing a Playlist on Displays](https://account.xibosignage.com/manual/en/getting_started_showing_a_playlist) ### Create your own content using the Xibo Layout Editor Create your own content to show on Displays from inside the Xibo CMS. The Layout Editor is at the heart of content creation in the Xibo CMS. With a variety of features, users can easily create eye-catching designs to show on their Displays. {% embed url="" %} 1. Click on **Layouts** under the **Design** section of the main CMS menu 2. Select the **Add Layout** button 3. If you want to give your Layout a **Name** now, click on the “**Untitled**…” text shown in the top left of the Layout Editor 4. Using the **Toolbox** to the left of the Layout Editor, click on **Search for Templates available from the Xibo Exchange** 5. Select a template using the filters and drag and drop to the canvas 6. Click in elements of the template to open available options from the **Properties Panel** to customise and re-style the appearance 7. Once happy with your design, click on the three line **Options** menu at the top right of the Layout Editor (next to the alarm bell icon) 8. Select **Publish** 9. Keep **Publish Now** ticked and click the **Publish** button Once the Layout is Published it will be locked for editing and can be scheduled to Displays: 1. Return to the **Options** menu 2. Select **Schedule** 3. Select your **Test Display Group** 4. Click **Next** 5. From **Dayparting** select **Custom** 6. Tick **Use Relative** 7. Enter **2** Hours 8. Click **Finish** Following these steps, you will have successfully created a Layout utilising a pre-designed template, published and scheduled to play for 2 hours on your test Display. The Layout Editor has many features which allow you to create your own designs from scratch. Take a look at the **Layout Editor Overview** page for more information and to view further reading links. [Layout Editor Overview](https://account.xibosignage.com/manual/en/layouts_editor) ### Schedule All content to be shown on Displays needs to be included in a schedule. {% embed url="" %} Created schedules can be viewed as a list or in the form of icons: 1. Click on **Schedule** from the main CMS menu 2. Using the filters, select the **Test Display Group** created for the trial 3. The **Grid** tab will show a detailed list of created events 4. Use the row menu and click **Edit** to re-open schedule options 5. The **Calendar** tab will show schedule events represented as icons, which when clicked will re-open schedule options See the **Simple Scheduling** page for more information on creating schedules. [Simple Scheduling](https://account.xibosignage.com/manual/en/simple_scheduling) ## Further Guidance The User Manual contains further guidance on all available CMS features. Visit our Training page to access a collection of helpful training videos to assist new users in getting started. [User Manual](https://xibosignage.com/manual/en/) [Training for new users](https://xibosignage.com/training) ## Convert your trial You can convert to a paid plan at any point during your trial via My Account. If after the 14 day trial you do not wish to continue, your Xibo Account will be automatically deleted from our system after 30 days. ### Testing beyond the 14 day trial period… For the majority of users this time frame gives ample time to trial all of Xibo’s functionality, but we do understand that this may not be the case for all users. If you feel like you need more time to assess Xibo for your organisation then please contact our Sales team who will be happy to assist you further. ## Want to trial a Player Application with the CMS? If you want to see content on your Displays to fully test the CMS and Player App capabilities combined, **Download** the Player App you would like to trial and use the installation quick start guide link for your chosen Player, from the **Player Comparison** table and follow the steps: 1. **Prepare** device (if applicable) 2. **Download** Player Software 3. **Install** Player Software 4. **Connect** to the CMS 5. **Authorise** your Display {% hint style="warning" %} Leave the field for **Code for Licence Pool** blank and click **Skip** to activate the 14 day player trial! {% endhint %} If you have set up a **Test Display Group**, add your new **Display** to this to start seeing scheduled content: 1. Click on **Display Groups** under the **Displays** section of the main CMS menu. 2. Use the row menu for the **Test Display Group** and select **Members**. 3. Click to **Save**. Your Display will now be added to the Test Display Group and inherit any schedules already created for this group. The trial includes support with our expert team so if you do experience any issues with installation and set up, please go to the **Tickets** section of **My Account** to open a ticket. ### Quick Links [Plans](https://xibosignage.com/pricing) [Downloads](https://xibosignage.com/downloads) [Player Comparison Table](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRMlLA1A40YBipC4Vx8bEjoQflGNy0AKtXa2Uc7e2UlZGnTvN5Mut7aTfbU9-6uAPvoZI3cbAc3Xdsm/pubhtml) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.xibosignage.com/introduction/testing-with-xibo.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.