Inserting the Prices Using an ODBC Source
Mediacaster makes it possible to insert dynamic values into your overlays. An ideal application of this principle would be prices for menu items. All prices can change centrally in a data source and the Players displaying the menu boards would automatically be updated with the correct values without requiring an update.
You will have to configure an ODBC database before we can reference it in Mediacaster. To do this open control panel in Windows. Double click ‘Administrative Tools’.
Now double click ‘Data Sources (ODBC)’.
Ensure that you click the ‘System DSN’ tab. You can now add your database.
Click on the ‘Add’ button and select the Microsoft Access driver and click ‘Finish’.
Define a Data Source Name by entering ‘Mediacaster’ in the first field. This will be the name we reference in the Mediacaster Manager.
Click the ‘Select’ button and browse to the Juicy Food folder and select ‘mediacaster.mdb’.
This is the Access database file.
Click on the ‘OK’ button.
You now have defined an ODBC Data Source that can be referenced in the Overlay Designer.
Click on the ‘OK’ button and return to the Mediacaster Overlay Designer.
Create a database object by clicking the 
icon on the overlay
toolbar.
Name the database object and enter the name (‘Mediacaster’) we defined when we set up an ODBC Data Source into the Data Source Name field in the Property grid. We now have to construct a SQL query that will fetch the appropriate data value in the database. To retrieve the price for the Breakfast enter SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item =’breakfast’ into the SQL field. The price is automatically displayed. All we have to do now is configure the font properties of the price to display correctly in the design.
Please note: The Overlay Designer is a guide only. You may have to tweak the positions of your elements to conform to the final resolution of the Player display screen. Always ensure therefore your preview the design on a Player screen before approval.
Right click the database object and select ‘Font’.
Select font properties as below:
Use the background reference image to make final tweaks to the font size.
You know have to change the font color to reflect the blue in the Juicy Food logo. You can easily select this color by left clicking the reference image in the area that is blue in the logo. This will change the color in the color reference block.
You can lock the color when you are happy with it. This will prevent the color from being overridden if you click any other part of the image by mistake. Right click on the database object and select ‘Use Color’. This will change the font color to the active color.
Add a database object for all the prices. The SQL statements for all the prices are:
1. Breakfast - SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item = ’breakfast’
2. Sandwiches - SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item = ’sandwiches’
3. Burgers - SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item = ’burgers’
4. Pizza - SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item =’pizzas’
5. Wraps - SELECT price FROM menu_prices WHERE menu_item =’wraps’
Position the images and database objects correctly.