Data feeds are a flexible way to present dynamic content. The easiest way to think about them is as a spreadsheet with rows and columns.
One of their most powerful features is the ability to link a data feed to a Composer element, such as a text label, image, or even a video.
Because a data feed can contain multiple rows that may shift depending on the source, this tutorial shows how to “lock” a data feed cell using a logic comparison. In simple terms, this means matching a specific value in one column so the correct content always appears in the right place.
To illustrate, consider the example below, where the data feed is configured so the price always corresponds to the correct product description.
Menu board Example - Connecting prices to specific products
- Create a Data Feed with a column for the product name, and another for the product price.
- Then create a composition and a text box to feed with a value from the data feed.
- Select the text box where you want to display the price, and connect it with your data feed.
- Choose the column price, go to Row > Match (Cycling), and choose the column you want to match the value from. In this case, I want to show the price for the value “Classic Beef Burger” in the column Burger Name.
- Done! This will make sure the price shown in this text box is always attached to the burger name “Classic Beef Burger”. Now you don't need to worry about the order of your rows and can freely change the order of items in your data feed, or add items in between rows.
Cycling
If you have more then one value that matches the “Match Value”, e.g. more then one row on the column Burger Name with the value “Classic Beef Burger”, all prices from all the rows that match it will be shown following the Cycle Duration set on the dialog box.