The Media widget allows you to present a variety of media, such as video, audio, images, or website content, on your dashboard. You can include media in the widget to provide background information about data or instructions on how to use the dashboard. You can also use the Media widget to simply enhance the look and feel of a dashboard. In the following dashboard, the Media widget in the top left corner shows a company’s CEO addressing his employees on important trends in the latest figures.
One of the primary purposes of the Media widget is to present supplemental information about the data on a dashboard. For example, a regional manager can record a video that summarizes quarterly sales and discusses the significance of the data in a sales dashboard. Analysts can then view the dashboard in the context of this additional information and commentary.
The Media widget can also be used for instructional purposes. For instance, a document designer can include audio or video files that explain how to use a dashboard. Analysts can use this information to focus on key data and take advantage of the dashboard's interactive features, allowing them to work with the dashboard more efficiently.
To create a Media widget
Add the widget to a document in Web
Open the document in Design or Editable Mode.
From the Insert menu, point to Widgets, and then select Media.
Click the location on your document, except for in the Detail section, where you want to place the widget. The widget template, which appears similar to a standard grid container, is displayed. A small icon at the bottom right corner of the widget template identifies the type of widget you have added to the document.
If desired, resize the widget by clicking and dragging its handles.
View the widget in Flash Mode
To view and interact with the widget, switch to Flash Mode by selecting Flash Mode from the View menu.
Note: If Flash Mode is not available in the View menu, you must make Flash Mode available for this document.
Specify the media content to display in the widget
As the document designer or administrator, you must specify the media content to present in the widget. You can also specify the play frequency options for the widget.
Right-click the widget and select Properties. The Properties dialog box opens.
Select the General tab.
From the Content Type drop-down list, choose the type of media to present by selecting Video, Audio, Web Content, or Image. Only specific video, audio, and image file formats are supported in the Media widget.
Specify the location of the content in the Default Feed field. You must enter "www" in the Default Feed field to ensure that the website opens in the media widget.
If the media is stored on a network location or website, specify the network location of the file or website’s URL using the following format: http://www.mycompany.com/SalesVideos/South.swf.
Folder paths in the form of \\corp_djohnson\videos\South.swf cannot be used to define a Media widget.
To display media for a specific attribute, document, or dataset, you must specify a dynamic path that includes the name of the object.
Use a + character to include a space between words. For example, http://www.mycompany.com/videos/Books+Electronics+Music+Movies.
If you selected Web Content above and the Web content is located on a different Web domain than the one used for MicroStrategy Web, select the Use Proxy check box.
Select the Play Frequency tab.
To display the Play button in the widget, select the Show play button control check box.
Note: If the Play button is not displayed, the media cannot be controlled by the user. It is displayed according to the play options selected in the Properties dialog box.
To play the media file automatically when the dashboard is loaded, select the Auto Play on Start check box.
From the drop-down list, select Continuous Play (Loop) to play the video continuously in a loop or select Play Once to play the video only once.
Click OK to apply the changes.
Modify the widget
In Flash Mode, right-click the widget and select Properties. The Media dialog box opens. These are the options:
General
Content type: You have to select which type of content you will display in your widget. The options are: Video, Audio, Web Content, and Image.
Default feed:
Use proxy:
Tooltip text: A tooltip is a note explaining a particular feature or section of the widget.
Background color: This allows you to decide which color combinations you want to use in your widget. Select a color for the background.
Popup content when clicked:
Display content: Determine how you want to display the content in the widget. The options are: Inline -- the content will be displayed within the widget itself -- or New Window -- the content will be displayed in a new window external to the widget. If you select the New Window option, you will have to click a button to access the content.
Button text: Type the text that will display on the button associated with the New Window option.
Play Frequency
Show play button control: Determine whether to show the play button in your widget. If you display the button, then you can select how you want to play the content. You can choose from Play Once or Continuous Play (Loop).
Auto play on start:
Click OK to save your changes and close the dialog box.
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