Enhanced Timezone Support

Overview

NowSignage supports advanced timezone management designed for organisations operating screens across multiple regions.

Enhanced Timezone Support introduces a hierarchical timezone model that allows each screen to operate according to its local time all within a single shared project.

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How Enhanced Timezone Support Works

Timezone control within a project is now available at three levels, applied in a clear hierarchy:

1. Project Timezone (default)

2. Folder Timezone (optional)

3. Screen Timezone (optional)

Each screen automatically applies the timezone based on this hierarchy, ensuring accurate scheduling, playback, and monitoring.

 

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The Timezone Hierarchy

Timezone resolution follows the order below (lowest → highest priority).

1. Project Timezone

(lowest priority)

• Configured in Project Settings

• Acts as the default timezone for the entire project

• Newly created screens inherit this timezone automatically

• ⚠️ Applies only when no folder or screen level timezone is defined

 

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2. Folder Timezone

When a Folder structure is created using the '+ Add new' button:

• Configured in Folder → Advanced Settings

• All screens within the folder inherit this timezone

• Overrides the Project Timezone

• ⚠️ If a screen is moved out of the folder, it reverts to the Project Timezone unless a Screen Timezone is set

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3. Screen Timezone

(highest priority)

• Configured directly in the screen > settings panel

• Overrides both Folder and project time zones

• Ideal for screens in unique locations or where individual scheduling behaviour is required

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Viewing a Screen’s Effective Timezone using Table Settings

You can see which timezone a screen is actually using by enabling the Timezone column in the Screens dashboard.

Steps:

1. Open the Screens table

2. Use the column chooser

3. Enable Timezone

4. Drag and drop the column to customise your view

The column displays the effective timezone applied:

This provides clear visibility into how each screen’s time behaviour is determined.

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How Timezones Affect Core Features

Screen Status: “Last Connected At”

• Displayed using the screen’s effective timezone

• Makes it easier to understand when a screen last checked in locally

 

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Schedule Queue Behaviour

When scheduling content for a screen, all times are handled using that screen’s effective timezone (based on the Project → Folder → Screen hierarchy).

 

How Scheduling Works

• Times entered in the CMS are interpreted as local time for the screen

• A schedule triggers only when the screen itself reaches that time

• This ensures scheduled changes happen at the correct local time, regardless of where the screen is located

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Playlist Scheduling (Shown From / Removed At)

Playlist scheduling continues to be configured using the project timezone in the CMS.

Each screen then interprets those times according to its own effective timezone.

This allows:

• A single playlist to be used across multiple timezones

• Content to appear and be removed based on each screen’s local time

• Global deployments without duplicating playlists or projects

 

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Timezone Notice on Screen Scheduling Pages

When scheduling content for a screen that uses a timezone different from the project timezone, a Timezone Notice is displayed.

This helps:

• Prevent accidental mis-scheduling

• Make local-time behaviour clear while scheduling

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Summary

Enhanced timezone support provides:

• Accurate per-screen timezone behaviour

• A clear hierarchy: Project → Folder → Screen

• Reliable scheduling, playback, and monitoring across regions

• Improved visibility and predictability for global networks

This ensures NowSignage scales cleanly for organisations operating across multiple timezones

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