What are Installations?
Installations are Apps that have been installed and configured for deployment on the PhyGrid platform. Once installed from the Marketplace or created by a developer, an App becomes an Installation that can be deployed to specific devices and physical spaces.
What is the difference between Apps and Installations?
Understanding the distinction between Apps and Installations is crucial for managing your PhyGrid platform effectively:
Apps are template applications available in the Marketplace. They act as blueprints that define a set of features and behaviors. Apps cannot be modified in the console.
Installations are created when you install an App and configure it with your own settings, content, and deployment preferences. An Installation is your customized version of the App, ready to be deployed to devices in specific spaces.
Key differences
- Apps: Provided via the Marketplace, uneditable, serve as starting points
- Installations: Configured versions of Apps, customizable, deployable to devices
- Relationship: A single App can be used to create multiple Installations, each with different configurations
Global Settings vs Settings Override
Understanding how to configure settings across your Installation is crucial for efficient management:
Global Settings are the shared configuration applied to all devices within an Installation that defines the common functionality and appearance. These serve as the foundation setup that applies uniformly across multiple devices, eliminating the need to configure each device individually.
Settings Override are device-specific configurations that modify or extend Global Settings for individual devices within an Installation. This allows customization of specific elements on a per-device basis while maintaining the shared foundation from Global Settings.
Key benefits:
- Efficiency: Configure once in Global Settings and apply to multiple devices simultaneously
- Consistency: Maintain uniform branding and core functionality across all devices
- Flexibility: Use Settings Override for location-specific customizations (store hours, contact info, local promotions)
- Scalability: Easily manage hundreds of devices without individual configuration overhead
Practical Example: Retail Chain Content Distribution
Consider how a retail chain uses Installations with Channels and Tags for automated content management:
Installation Setup:
- "Store Digital Signage" Installation deployed across all locations
- Global Settings: Brand colors, logos, and core functionality
- Settings Override: Store-specific contact info and operating hours
Content Distribution Workflow:
- Create Channels: "Seasonal Promotions", "Product Highlights", "Store Information"
- Add Tagged Content: Upload media with tags like "summer-sale", "electronics", "flagship-only"
- Target by Location: Use device tags to automatically deliver region-specific content
- Schedule Campaigns: Set seasonal content to activate automatically during promotional periods
Automated Results:
- Flagship stores automatically receive premium content tagged with "flagship-only"
- Electronics departments get targeted product content through "electronics" tags
- Seasonal campaigns deploy automatically without manual intervention across all locations
This approach combines Installation configuration with intelligent content distribution, ensuring the right content reaches the right devices automatically.