ezdmb

A dead-simple digital menu board display and configuration, written in Python. Engineered to be the simplest, cheapest, fastest way to get your menu to display on any tablet or computer. Ridiculously user friendly, with basic configuration interface.

How to run through python3 (dev mode)

Setup for executing the python source:

1. Run the environment install script in a bash terminal: chmod +x ./setup-dev-environment.sh && ./setup-dev-environment.sh
2. Run the app: python3 -m ezdmb

Instructions / Basic Operation

On load, both the fullscreen and configuration windows are loaded. The configuration window can be simply closed by the user if it is not needed, leaving the fullscreen "menu board display" window open.

The display in the main screen of the configuration (under the text "Current menu") mirrors the full screen display.

System configuration

The system can be configured using:

• The "Display Settings" button and related screens
• Manually editing the dmb_config.json file

Advanced install instructions / troubleshooting install

If the developer install script/procedure does not work for you, try installing manually as follows:

1. Install python libraries: pip install -r requirements.txt
2. Install pyqt dev tools: sudo apt install pyqt5-dev-tools
3. Install the qt framework loader: pip install -U pip && pip install aqtinstall
4. Use the qt framework loader to install v5.15.2: aqt install-qt linux desktop 5.9.0
5. Add qt build tools to your path (replace <username> in the command with the username on the system): export PATH="/home/<username>/ezdmb/5.15.2/gcc_64/bin":$PATH

Note 1: There is a set of .ui files in the View/ folder. If these are updated (usually they are updated with Qt Designer), you would run python3 setup.py build_ui to regenerate them. Note 2: Qt Designer can be installed, on Ubuntu systems, with:

sudo apt-get install qttools5-dev-tools
sudo apt-get install qttools5-dev

On Windows and Mac, use the Qt Framework install packages provided at https://www.qt.io/

Code Listing / Technical Documentation

dmb_config.pro

Qt Designer project file which loads all designer (*.ui) files. If you create a new .ui file, be sure to add it to this project.

ezdmb/

The ezdmb package. Contains source python for the application.

ezdmb/__main__.py

The main entry point of the application. Note: In a lot of scenarios, you will want to run python -m ezdmb (or the compiled output equivalent) on startup of the OS.

ezdmb/Controller/Configuration.py

Handles configuration of the system, and outputting the config json.

windows_install/

Files for building the Windows platform installer.

debian/

Files for building the Debian (linux) platform installer.

Note: There is currently only one file with code that is generated by the .ui files: ezdmb/View/generated/DmbConfig_ui.py. This generated file is checked in for convenience... However, you can run python setup.py build_ui to re-generate it, if you choose to edit the .ui file in QT Designer.

Resource files in ezdmb/Resources/

Resource file is at ezdmb/Resources/resources.qrc. In standard PyQt5 style, the generated resources.py class file can be regenerated with: pyrcc5 ezdmb/Resources/resources.qrc -o resources.py.

Coming Soon

• Installers + binaries for Windows, WinRT, Linux/android, iOS, MacOS
• Option for whether the app loads on OS startup, expanded file types
• Multi monitor support
• Import menu data from json, yaml file
• Menu item and sub item rendering