Pandoras Box > Getting Started > Output Setup (Resolution etc.)

This topic explains how you can check the resolution of your attached display device(s) and how to change their timing if need be. This is shown when using the PB Menu and alternatively in Windows directly. Further, a quick overview of the Output settings in Pandoras Box is given.

Do not disconnect any display cable from the graphics card during runtime!
When changing display cables directly on the graphics card, we recommend to always shut down the system first!

In addition it is required to close the Pandoras Box Client or Master software when modifying the display setting.
Restart Pandoras Box software after applying changes regarding the resolution or display mode. Make sure that all displays have the same refresh rate.

Setting up Outputs With the PB Menu

The PB Menu offers a fast way to check and change the output resolution and setup. Open the Settings and choose "Display Setup".

The tab shows the current display configuration (resolution and frame rate) of all connected displays in case you are using one of the supported NVIDIA graphics cards which are used in our Server hardware. The numbering corresponds to the output port numbering of NVIDIA. If you would like to change the resolution, you have the choice between "Set Resolution" (choose one of the reported EDIDs from the display) and "Force Resolution" (with a fixed EDID). Both options are explained in detail in the PB Menu chapter. Pick an EDID from the drop-down list and confirm your settings with the "Apply" button. This will apply the timings to the display devices and possibly rearrange the desktop layout so that the output with the lowest number is on the left side of the desktop and the monitor with the highest number is on the right side. Tick the check box "Use mosaic" if you would like to set the NVIDIA mosaic mode for all displays. For more information, please see the description in the Graphics Card Settings chapter under Multiple Displays.

If the tab does not display information, click the "Open Nvidia Settings" button or use the "Screen Resolution" dialog from Windows as explained below.

Note that testpattern are automatically created when changing the output resolution. They are available with the Testpattern tab under Settings > TestPattern. As they can also display further information like IP addresses etc. they can be very helpful in getting an overview which output is generated by which system.

If your Server hardware has an LCD Menu, you may access basic resolution settings through the front panel. You can also choose to output testpattern which allows for a faster workflow (e.g. if projections should be already setup up) as it does not depend on a network connection to a Master.

Setting up Outputs With Windows

If you are not using the PB Menu, the fastest way to check and change the resolution is to go through the Windows "Screen Resolution" (Win 8.1) or "Display" (Win10) dialog. Simply right-click the desktop area and look for those options. Alternatively you can press the [Windows key], enter "Control Panel" and search there.

For more detailed output settings, look for the options offered by your graphics card manufacturer. Again, open the desktop's context menu or the Control Panel and look for options like "Nvidia Control Panel", "Intel Graphics Settings" or something like this that includes the name of your graphics card. Note that all Pandoras Box hardware is equipped with NVIDIA graphics cards and we also recommend them for custom hardware.

The chapter "Graphics Card Settings" explains the Nvidia Control Panel and includes important information about the Mosaic mode which spans one desktop image across multiple displays and is especially recommended when doing soft-edge setups with projectors or when connecting multiple outputs to a large LED wall.

Configuring Outputs in Pandoras Box

Pandoras Box shows the resolution and display mode according to your settings made above with the PB Menu or Windows. Based on this information you can adjust how outputs are handled. The Configuration tab in Pandoras Box includes two tabs that are of interest when looking at the output setup.

Under "Render Engine" you will find all settings influencing the fullscreen rendering.

You can for example set a higher color depth, overwrite the reported output resolution or associate a certain Output Layer to another physical Output. If your Master is in stand-alone mode and has an Output Layer, this is the place where you can say that one output shows the fullscreen rendering and the other one the GUI. As there are so many options please see the chapter "Render Engine" for a full description. In short:

- Select with the "Site" drop-down list which system you would like to view or change

- if a Client is not connected yet, you can set up which resolution you expect the outputs to have

- if Clients are connected, the reported resolution and display count is shown and to which Output Layer they are associated; all this can be influenced

- the "Use for Full Screen" and "Full Screen is single" check boxes are of interest if you would like to change on which displays the fullscreen rendering is shown (Client as well as Master)

configuration_local-preview_fullscreen-preview

Under "Local Preview" you can find the option "Preview Full Screen Adapter" which influences on which outputs (of the Master system) the preview is rendered in case you maximize it. Read more about this is in the chapter "Local Preview", which also explains the difference between the maximized Preview [Ctrl + Shift + F] and Fullscreen mode [Ctrl + F].