In the "Pandoras Box" tab you can set up how Pandoras Box starts when the "Pandoras Box" button is pressed in the main PB Menu screen or when the Autostart function is switched on.

In case you have changed the default installation path C:\Program Files\Christie when installing Pandoras Box, you can change the "Installation Directory" with the [...] button to the new location.
The drop-down list below, offers all Pandoras Box versions installed there. Choose the version and decided whether it should start in Master or Client mode.
In other words: If you downloaded and installed a new version, simply choose this version in the drop-down list. In return, you can also choose another older version if you would like to start it, e.g. if you have a show file saved in this version and you want to load it with this version too.

Per default, the Domain is set to be 0 and should only be changed if necessary. For more information, please see the chapter Configuration > Network where you can change the Domain in a PB Master when already started. A PB Client also offers an according "Domain" text field.

If you would like to start Pandoras Box automatically each time the system is started or rebooted, check the Autostart "Enabled" check-box. Per default, there is a delay of 10 seconds (after starting the PB Menu) to ensure that the computer finished the boot process and all USB devices (especially the dongle) are ready.

The "Check process" option checks whether the Pandoras Box process replies and restarts the application if there is no response for 60 seconds. If you would like to use this feature, activate the option and start Pandoras Box via the Menu, which means via the Autostart feature or the Menu button "Pandoras Box".

In the "Widget Designer" tab you can set up how Widget Designer starts when the "Widget Designer" button is pressed in the main PB Menu screen or when the Autostart function is switched on.

In case you have changed the default installation path C:\Program Files\Christie when installing Widget Designer, you can change the "Installation Directory" with the [...] button to the new location.
The drop-down list below, offers all Widget Designer versions installed there. Choose the version and decide which edition should start: Free, Regular or Unlimited.
In other words: If you downloaded and installed a new version, simply choose this version in the drop-down list. In return, you can also choose another older version if you would like to start it, e.g. if you have a show file saved in this version and you want to load it with this version too.

The option "Allow only one instance" is checked per default which means that Widget Designer cannot be started multiple times by pressing the "Widget Designer" button on the main page.

In addition, you can choose a project file that should be loaded. Choose a new project path by clicking on the [...] button to add it to the drop-down list.

The check box "Open in Viewer Mode" starts the chosen edition in the Viewer mode, which restricts the user from changing the project.

If you would like to start Widget Designer automatically each time the system is started or rebooted, check the "Autostart" check-box. Per default, there is a delay of 10 seconds (after starting the PB Menu) to ensure that the computer finished the boot process and all USB devices (especially the dongle) are ready.

In the "Custom Apps" tab you can choose four additional quick access buttons that should be displayed in the main PB Menu screen. This can be also done by clicking the "Add Custom App" button.

Click the [...] button to choose your file, e.g. an executable file like a EXE or BAT file and click "Open".

Icons are automatically retrieved from the app. Click the "Icon" button to choose a custom icon. Regular images as well as *.ico are allowed.

If you would like to launch the action automatically each time the system is started or rebooted, check the "Autostart" check-box. Per default, there is a delay of 10 seconds (after starting the PB Menu) to ensure that the computer finished the boot process and all USB devices (especially the dongle) are ready.

Change the "Name" if you would like to change the text that is displayed in the customized button.

App buttons are filled from left to right. If a path is left blank, the entry is simply ignored.

The bottom part of the main screen shows network and disk information. Per default, PB simply chooses three active network adapters (in the order as they are delivered from the system) and either the C: drive or preferably the folder "C:\Christie\content" or "C:\coolux\content".The "Info Section" tab allows to change the shown network adapters and disk space locations.

To change network addresses etc., open the section "Network Setup".

The "Testpattern" tab allows to choose a testpattern that is displayed as a fullscreen background on all connected (single) displays. This is especially interesting when setting up displays or projectors and a testpattern is needed but neither the network nor the Pandoras Box master are setup yet. You can also choose a testpattern using the LCD Menu on PB Server hardware.

Testpatterns are automatically created on-the-fly when starting the system, changing resolutions or opening the Testpattern dialog. Hence, they always match current and possible arbitrary resolutions. The images are saved under C:\Christie\content\Stock Assets\Testpattern (or C:\coolux...). Note that this will not overwrite existing testpattern which need to be deleted manually to have new ones generated.

The three check boxes below allow to hide / show further information regarding the Output ID, IP address and Display ID which is shown with some testpattern.

Remoting

In the "Remoting" tab you have one option: "Allow execution of files on this system". Per default, it is set to "Off", which means that the PB Menu does not trigger any actions sent via the command "PBApplicationStart" from Widget Designer.

VNC Server

The "VNC Server" tab allows you to set up the VNC Server settings.

The default port for the VNC Server is 5900, change it only if necessary.
The password is "Pandoras" per default. It can be changed (max. 8 characters), or left empty.

In the Server Management Application, you can use the syntax "IP:port", e.g. "2.0.0.1:5905" to specify another port than 5900.

Taskbar

The "Taskbar" tab shows one option: "Taskbar state upon start". Per default, it is set to "Off", which means that the Windows taskbar and desktop are hidden because the PB Menu overlays it.

Windows Updates

In the "Windows Updates" tab you have one option: "Allow Windows updates for Win10". Per default, it is set to "Off" which means that automatic updates from Windows 10 are deactivated with the installation of the PB Menu. This is due to the high number of supported issues with hardware with automatic updates. We recommend to work with our hardware as it was delivered and to use Media Servers in their own network without permanent internet connection. Hence, deactivating those updates is not a threat. To activate them again, choose "On"- The change takes effect when restarting the computer. You might need to restart it twice to start the update process.

DPI Scaling

DPI scaling can be forced to 100% so you see a native rendered image on the screen. Values other than 100% produce wrong mouse pointer behavior when remoting into the machine via PB Server Management.

To use a different DPI scaling factor from the Microsoft Windows settings, deactivate "Force DPI Scaling". In the Microsoft Windows display settings, choose whether you want to change the scaling or leave it at 100%.

Note: As long as the DPI scaling is forced by the menu, you can change the scaling in the Windows settings, but this resets to 100% at every menu start.

The "Display Setup" tab allows to setup display output settings.

You can use the PB Menu directly, if you have one of the supported graphics cards from NVIDIA, i.e. Quadro M4000, P1000, P4000, RTX 4000, RTX 6000 as well as RTX A4000 and A6000. Otherwise click the "Open Nvidia settings" button or use the "Screen Resolution" dialog from Windows.

Note that testpattern are automatically created when changing the output resolution. They are available with the Testpattern tab under Settings > Testpattern.

The "Display Setup" tab shows the current display configuration (resolution and frame rate) of all connected displays. The numbering corresponds to the output port numbering of NVIDIA.

Choose how you want to set a resolution. With the option "Set Resolution" the drop-down list shows all timings that the display communicates to the graphics card including its preferred timing. Keep in mind that it is possible that devices switch to another timing when they are dis- and reconnected or when the signal chain is interrupted.

With the other option "Force Resolution" the drop-down list shows standard EDID timings and custom EDIDs (described further down). When applying a timing, the EDID information sent from the monitor has no effect anymore. The used EDID is now based on the information written in a special edid file. Please make sure, that you only pick a timing that is supported by the display device.
Managing the EDID in this way has several advantages. Sometimes the display EDID cannot be received due to switchers and / or cable extenders. Also, it is safer during hot plug events especially when they would reconfigure your display. Lastly, with the EDID being read from file the operating system will always think the display is attached and you can even fake a display being attached for testing.
By the way, the NVIDIA settings will show what option you have chosen here. In the "System topology" it will say "EDID (Monitor)" for the first possibility and "EDID (File)" for the second one.

In summary it can be said that using an edid file is a safer way to setup up timings as they are more reliable and can not change that easily. An even better way is to use external EDID managers which generate and hold an EDID constantly. Therefore the graphics card really thinks that there is a monitor attached that sends the (emulated) EDID. In addition they cannot be reset as easily by mistake or by the need to reinstall the graphics driver.

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.

The other buttons at the bottom are pretty self-explanatory: "Open Nvidia settings" opens the according dialog in case you would like to check there something or use it instead of our menu. "Reset" discards all forced EDIDs and sets all displays to the "Set Resolution" mode again. The "Rescan" button updates the displayed settings to the current ones reported from the NVIDIA graphics card.

Lastly, the right side from the dialog allows to save and delete custom EDIDs. Click "Add" and the depicted "Add Custom EDID" dialog opens. Here, the top shows the current timings reported from the connected outputs. Choose one, enter a name (using valid characters: a-z 0-9 @._) and save the EDID. The custom EDID will be displayed on the right side (just for your overview). When you now choose the "force resolution" mode for any output, your custom EDID will be listed in the drop-down menu.

The "Network Setup" tab allows to set individual IP addresses for Ethernet adapters.

First, choose the network adapter's name in the "Adapter" drop-down menu. With the check-box below you can setup whether DHCP is enabled for the selected adapter. If there is no DHCP server in the network, disable the option and enter a static "IP Address", e.g. 2.0.0.1, a "Subnet Mask", e.g. 255.0.0.0 and a "Gateway" if required, e.g. 2.0.0.100.

All changes must be confirmed with the "Apply" button before leaving this view or changing the Adapter.

At the bottom of the network dialog, you see available Lan ports with their according IP address. The PB Menu itself displays three ports on the main page which can be chosen in the tab "Info Section".

This works only on Pandoras Box hardware and opens the installed RAID tool or its web interface via the Windows Internet Explorer. The  tool allows collecting information about the computer's raid system and gives the possibility to manage it. Please note: Do not touch the raid system settings unless you are well skilled in doing this. If there are hard drive / raid problems, please contact Support.pandorasbox@christiedigital.com or your local distributor for support!

The "Date/ Time" tab allows to set up the timezone, date and time for the local system. It might be of interest that the Server Management Application offers date settings influencing all systems in the network.