Creating Templates for G4 PanelBuilder
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G4 PanelBuilder
Creating Templates for G4 PanelBuilder
Overview
A template is a TPD4 file complete with pages, popups and buttons, named in a manner that G4 PanelBuilder
will understand the relationship between all of the elements. Then, based on the established elements, G4
PanelBuilder customizes the TPD4 file based on the navigation flow you designed.
Any number of template files (*.TPT) can be created to constitute a template family, it is suggested you create
one for each resolution totaling 6. The resolutions and panel types are as follows:
According to the table there are only 6 resolutions, the minimum number to make a template family, but 12
different panel types. You only need one template per resolution but you should consider instances such as the
MVP-8400, where the Pixels Per Inch is higher than the CV12 and the MVP-7500's limited color depth. Both
examples are situations where you might consider making specific templates for those panel types.
1.
You should spend some time deciding what you want the panel to do. What navigation model are you
going to use? You know you're going to have the required template elements but are some of your menus
so complex they will require sub-menus? What devices and features will the template include? Consider
using some optional template elements. Careful consideration will reveal the type of navigation you will
need.
Things to remember:
You must have a minimum of 1 Navigation element.
You must have a minimum of 1 Placeholder element.
You must have a main preview image ("[preview].jpg" or "[preview].png").
You cannot create a "drill-down" style of navigation with G4 PanelBuilder.
Your navigation menus will always be on top of your Devices. Make sure they do not conflict with
each other.
2.
You are ready to begin restructuring the elements to fit your needs. Start with the Device and Navigation
elements first and the Placeholder elements last. The key for creating your own elements naming
conventions. G4 PanelBuilder looks for navigations with the name, [nav#
navName
]
pageName
.
Panel Resolutions
Resolution
Panel Type
640x480
MVP-7500
TPI4
800x600
MVP-8400
CA12
CV12
TPI4
800x480
CV7
CV10
CV10/PB
1024x768
CV15
CA15
TPI4
1280x1024
TPI4
1280x768
CV17
Suggestion
Create a simple TPD4 file showing the desired output. Doing this gives you a starting point to begin looking at
how to modify the TPD4 file to create a template.
