Datasets
A dataset is a structured table — columns and rows — that you can drop into a layout to drive dynamic content. Update the dataset and every layout that reads from it updates on screen on the next content check.
Get there: sidebar → Datasets
What datasets are good for
Section titled “What datasets are good for”Anything that changes on a regular cadence and follows a consistent shape:
- Daily specials and rotating menus
- Staff directories
- Sports scores and league tables
- Product pricing
- Event calendars
- Queue or wait-time displays
Three flavors
Section titled “Three flavors”OTS Signs supports three kinds of dataset, controlled by the Remote Dataset field on the create dialog:
| Type | Setting | How data gets in |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | You enter rows manually, or import a CSV |
| Remote URL | Yes (Remote URL) | OTS Signs fetches a JSON or CSV file from a URL on a refresh schedule |
| Real-Time Connector | Yes (Real-Time Connector) | A custom connector fetches and shapes the data |
What you see on the page
Section titled “What you see on the page”| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Dataset name (links to the detail page) |
| Description | Optional description |
| Columns | Number of columns defined |
| Last Edited | Date the data was last changed |
| Owner | The user who created it |
Right-click a row for Open, Edit, Manage RSS Feeds, and Delete. Tick checkboxes to enable a bulk Delete N button.
Create a standard dataset
Section titled “Create a standard dataset”- Click the + button (tooltip: New Dataset).
- On the Basic tab:
- Name — required, e.g. Product Catalog.
- Description — optional.
- Code — optional short identifier you can reference elsewhere.
- Leave Remote Dataset set to No.
- Click Create Dataset.
The dataset is created with no columns and no rows. Open it from the list to define columns and add data.
Define columns
Section titled “Define columns”On the dataset’s detail page, add columns one at a time. Each column has a name and a data type:
- String — text
- Number — numeric values
- Date — date or date-time values
- Image — reference to a media item already in your media library
- External image — URL of an image hosted elsewhere
Add rows
Section titled “Add rows”After columns are defined, add rows by filling in the cell values. Save each row.
Import from CSV
Section titled “Import from CSV”If your data is already in a spreadsheet, export it to CSV and import. Map the CSV’s columns to the dataset’s columns and confirm. The first row of the CSV should be the column headers.
Create a Remote URL dataset
Section titled “Create a Remote URL dataset”A Remote URL dataset fetches data from a web link on a refresh schedule.
- On the Basic tab, set Remote Dataset to Yes (Remote URL).
- Switch to the Remote Source tab and configure:
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Method | GET or POST |
| URI | The URL to fetch from |
| POST Data | Request body (POST only) |
| Authentication | None, Basic, or Digest |
| Username / Password | When authentication is set |
| Custom Headers | One per line, in Header: Value form |
| Data Root | Where the rows are located in the data file (JSON only) |
| Source Type | JSON or CSV |
| Ignore First Row | CSV only — skip the header row |
| CSV Separator | CSV only — defaults to , |
| Refresh Rate | Seconds between fetches (e.g. 86400 = once a day) |
| Clear Rate | Seconds between clearing stale rows (0 = never) |
| Truncate On Empty | Whether to clear the dataset if the source returns no rows |
| Summarize | None, Summarize, or Count — for aggregate processing |
| Summarize Field | When summarize is enabled |
| Row Limit | Maximum rows to keep (0 = unlimited) |
| Limit Policy | What to do when the limit is hit — Stop, FIFO, or Truncate |
Save the dataset. OTS Signs fetches and updates the data at the configured refresh rate.
Create a Real-Time Connector dataset
Section titled “Create a Real-Time Connector dataset”A connector dataset is populated by a custom connector. Use this when:
- The data source needs a custom sign-in or connection process.
- You need to transform or merge data from multiple sources before display.
- The source is not a simple JSON or CSV link.
For a plain JSON or CSV URL, use a Remote URL dataset instead — it’s simpler.
- On the Basic tab, set Remote Dataset to Yes (Real-Time Connector).
- Switch to the Connector tab.
- Add the connector details provided by your administrator or OTS support.
- Click Create Dataset.
The connector is stored against the dataset and saved separately on creation.
Edit data
Section titled “Edit data”Open the dataset from the list. From the detail page you can edit individual rows, add new ones, and reorder columns. Schedule a content check from a screen to see changes on screen, or wait for the next regular check.
RSS feeds
Section titled “RSS feeds”A dataset can publish its rows as an RSS feed for other systems to consume. From the row’s context menu choose Manage RSS Feeds to open the feed configuration on the dataset detail page.
Delete a dataset
Section titled “Delete a dataset”Right-click → Delete and confirm. The dataset and all its rows are removed permanently. Layouts that read from the deleted dataset stop showing dataset content until updated.
For bulk delete, tick the row checkboxes and click Delete N in the toolbar.
Use a dataset in a layout
Section titled “Use a dataset in a layout”Open the layout editor, drop a Dataset View or Dataset Ticker widget into a region, and select the dataset. Configure how many rows to show, sort order, scroll speed (for tickers), and visual styling. Save and publish the layout.
Permissions
Section titled “Permissions”The page appears only when your role includes dataset access. Create, edit, and delete depend on your dataset permissions.