Settings Guide

This guide explains the Settings screen in plain language:

• what each option changes in real use
• when you might want to change it
• what to expect after you click Save Settings

For a broader tour of the app, see doc/GUI_REFERENCE.md.

Before you change settings

• Changes take effect after you click Save Settings at the bottom of the Settings window.

Quick recommendations for most people

• Keep Networking on localhost unless you need other devices to connect.
• Set Preferred Display first if you use two screens.
• Leave server ports at their defaults unless you have a conflict.
• Only set custom FFMPEG/FFPROBE paths if media features are not working.

General

Preferred Display

• Chooses which monitor the presentation opens on.

Language

• Changes the app interface language.
• Saving this setting restarts the app so the new language is used everywhere.

Preferred Presentation Language

• Sets the default language version of presentations.

• You should only need to set this if you prefer presentating in a language other than the application interface language, i.e. this instance or peer is presenting a translated version of your presentations. You may also wish to leave this blank and configure virtual peers (screens) in alternative languages.

In practice:

• Leave it blank to follow the app language.
• Set it (for example en or es) to force that language by default.

CCLI License Number

This is now configured in Plugin Manager under credit_ccli.

What it does:

• Makes your CCLI number available to slides that use :ccli: and :credits: blocks.

Why change it:

• You need your license number included when presenting content that expects it.

In practice:

• If you do not use CCLI-related content, you can leave this empty.

Screen Type Variant

What it does:

• Sets a default presentation style variant, like lower thirds or notes.

Why change it:

• You usually run a specific output style and want it to be the default.

In practice:

• If you are unsure, keep Normal.

Additional Screens (Virtual Peers)

Use this section when you want more than one output at the same time, for example:

• one output to a projector
• one output in a browser link
• one output with a different language or layout

Each row is one extra output.

Screen

What it does:

• Picks where that extra output goes:
• Window only: extra local window
• URL Publish: browser link output
• a specific display: direct to that monitor

Why change it:

• You want to target a room display, stream screen, or remote browser viewer.

Language

What it does:

• Overrides language for that one extra output.

Why change it:

• You need bilingual output (for example main screen in English, side screen in Spanish).

Variant

What it does:

• Overrides layout style for that one extra output.

Why change it:

• You want notes on one screen, normal slides on another.

Default Screen

What it does:

• Controls what that extra output shows when no live presentation is open.

Options:

• Use Main Default: follow main default behavior
• Solid Black: black screen
• Solid Green: green screen
• Default Presentation: show a chosen presentation by default

Why change it:

• You want clean standby behavior before and after a service.

Default Pres Path

What it does:

• Sets which presentation opens when Default Screen is Default Presentation.

Why change it:

• You want a welcome loop, announcement deck, or holding slide by default.

URL Publish Link

What it does:

• Shows the browser link people can open to follow the presentation.

Why change it:

• You want TVs, tablets, or phones to follow from a web link.

In practice:

• This link appears only if at least one row uses URL Publish.

Presentation Screen Mode

What it does:

• Controls when configured extra screens open.

Options:

• Always Open: opens them automatically after app startup
• Group Control: open them manually with Open Screens
• On Demand: opens only while actively presenting

Why change it:

• Pick the mode that matches your event flow and operator habits.

Main Screen Default

What it does:

• Sets the default standby content for the main presentation output.

Why change it:

• You want a consistent look before slides start.

Main Default Presentation Path

What it does:

• Chooses which presentation is used when Main Screen Default is Default Presentation.

Why change it:

• You want a specific default deck every time.

Check for updates automatically

• Lets the app check for new versions on its own.
• Turn it off if your environment blocks update checks or you prefer manual updates.

Networking

This section controls whether this app stays local-only or can work with other devices on the same network.

Networking (localhost or network)

What it does:

• localhost: this app only works on the same computer.
• network: allows other devices on your network to connect. Use this to allow "peering" in master mode, or Publish URL.

Why change it:

• Use network for multi-device setups.
• Keep localhost for simple single-computer use.

Enable Peering as Follower

What it does:

• Lets this app find and follow another presenter on the network. Other presenters can share their presentation on your local screen.

Why change it:

• You want this machine to mirror or follow commands from another machine.

Enable Master Mode

What it does:

• Lets this app act as the main presenter that other devices can pair with.

Why change it:

• You want to control other follower devices from this machine.

In practice:

• This only works when Networking is set to network.

Pairing PIN

• Adds a PIN required for pairing followers to this master device.
• If master mode is enabled and no PIN exists, one is created automatically.

Instance Name

What it does:

• Sets the name shown to other devices during discovery.

Why change it:

• Make it easy to identify this machine (for example Front Stage PC).

For deeper network behavior details, see doc/dev/PEERING.md.

Server and folders

Vite Server Port

What it does:

• Sets the local web port used by the app content.

Why change it:

• Only if another app is already using the same port.

In practice:

• Default is 8000 and is usually fine.

Reveal Remote Port

What it does:

• Sets the port for remote control features.

Why change it:

• Only if you have a port conflict.

In practice:

• Default is 1947 and is usually fine.

Reveal Remote Public Server

What it does:

• Sets the remote service URL used for reveal remote support.

Why change it:

• Only if your team uses a different remote service endpoint.

Presentations Folder

What it does:

• Chooses where presentations and shared media are stored.

Why change it:

• You want content on a different drive, shared location, or backed-up folder.

In practice:

• Move this carefully and make sure existing files are in the new location.
• Storing this folder in cloud storage (Google Drive, Nextcloud, OneDrive) could be helpful to allow presentations to automatically sync between computers.
• This path also hosts the Media Library which can grow quite large.

Prefer High Bitrate Media

What it does:

• Tells the app to prefer higher-quality media when options exist.

Why change it:

• You want best visual quality and your hardware/network can handle it.

Auto-convert AV1 media for older hardware and software

What it does:

• Helps older devices play AV1 media more reliably by converting it.

Why change it:

• You see playback issues on older systems.

In practice:

• Leave off unless you need compatibility help.

Picture-in-picture (PIP)

Enable PIP mode

What it does:

• Opens presentations in a PIP-friendly layout.

Why change it:

• You are feeding video production tools that use chroma key workflows.

PIP Side

What it does:

• Chooses which side the PIP area is placed on.

Why change it:

• Match your capture/production layout.

Chroma key color

What it does:

• Chooses the key color used with PIP.

Why change it:

• Match your keying setup to avoid artifacts.

Global Hotkeys

Global hotkeys let you control slides using keyboard shortcuts while a presentation window is open.

Available actions:

• pipToggle (sends X)
• previous (sends P)
• next (sends Space)
• blank (sends B)
• up, down, left, right

How to use:

• Click Record next to an action.
• Press your key combination.
• Click Clear to remove it.

Practical notes:

• Duplicate shortcuts are not allowed.
• Press Esc while recording to cancel.
• Keep shortcuts simple so volunteers can operate reliably.

Media tool paths

Path to FFMPEG

What it does:

• Points the app to the ffmpeg tool used for media tasks.

Why change it:

• Set this only if media features fail because the app cannot find ffmpeg.

Path to FFPROBE

What it does:

• Points the app to the ffprobe tool used to read media details.

Why change it:

• Set this only if media metadata/inspection features are failing.

For PDF import setup (used by Add Media plugin), see doc/dev/README-PDF.md.

Plugin Manager

This section controls which plugins are on, and lets you fill plugin-specific options.

What it does:

• Turn plugins on or off.
• Edit each plugin's settings.

Why change it:

• Enable only what your team uses.
• Configure plugin behavior for your workflow.

Practical notes:

• Turning off a plugin removes its features from the app UI.
• Some plugin settings may require restarting the app or reopening related screens.
• For exact meaning of plugin options, check that plugin's README.md (for example plugins/addmedia/README.md).

For technical plugin internals, see doc/dev/PLUGINS.md.

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