TV Display Mode
Run menu boards on wall-mounted TVs with a fullscreen slideshow layout, dense multi-column menus, and automatic slide rotation.
TV display mode is a purpose-built layout for wall-mounted screens, digital signage, and large-format displays. Append ?display=tv to any published board URL and the public boards app switches to a fullscreen-friendly slideshow that packs as much menu information as possible while staying readable from a distance.
TV mode uses the same published board and realtime connection as the standard public display. No extra dashboard configuration is required, only the URL changes.
Walkthrough: Putting a Board on a TV
Publish the board
In the dashboard, ensure the board is Published and linked to the correct location. Unpublished boards return "Menu unavailable" on any public URL.
Get the board URL
Boards resolve by organization slug and the board's URL slug (from board settings), not the location slug:
| Environment | URL pattern |
|---|---|
| Production (subdomain) | https://{org}.boards.yourdomain.com/{boardSlug} |
| Development | Your GreenSails-provided board URL for testing |
Omit the board slug segment to use the org's Primary published board.
Add TV mode
Append the query parameter to the URL:
?display=tvExample: https://acme.boards.example.com/lunch?display=tv
Optional slide interval (5–120 seconds, default 12):
?display=tv&interval=15Open on the TV browser
Navigate to the URL on the TV's built-in browser or a connected streaming stick. Bookmark it so the screen boots directly into TV mode after power cycles.
Enter fullscreen
Tap the Fullscreen button in the top-right header. Browsers require a user tap to enter true fullscreen. The button handles this reliably. Tap Exit fullscreen (or press Esc) to leave.
What TV Mode Looks Like
TV mode fills the entire viewport (100dvh) with no scrolling:
| Area | Content |
|---|---|
| Header | Organization name, board name, location, active daypart, live clock, slide counter |
| Main grid | Categories in a responsive multi-column layout (2–4 columns based on category count) |
| Footer | GreenSails branding and slide progress bar |
Typography scales with screen size so text stays legible on HD TVs and 4K panels alike. Items use classic dot-leader price lines for quick scanning. Sold-out items stay on the board with strikethrough and a Sold out label; they are never hidden.
Slideshow Behavior
Large menus don't fit on one screen. TV mode automatically paginates categories into slides:
- Categories are grouped by item count (roughly 24 item-units per slide).
- Whole categories stay together when possible.
- Oversized categories split across slides with a (continued) label.
- Slides auto-advance on a timer (default 12 seconds).
- A progress bar in the footer shows which slide is active and how long until the next.
For menus with many categories, increase the slide interval so customers have
time to read each slide, add &interval=20 to the board URL (20 seconds per
slide).
Reduced motion
If the device has prefers-reduced-motion: reduce enabled, slides still rotate on the timer but crossfade animations are disabled.
Fullscreen Button
The Fullscreen / Exit fullscreen toggle expands the display to fill the entire TV screen. It appears only when the browser on your TV supports fullscreen mode.
- TV mode no longer auto-requests fullscreen on load (browsers block that without a user gesture).
- The CSS layout still fills the viewport even outside browser fullscreen, fullscreen just hides browser chrome.
Realtime & Offline Behavior
TV mode inherits the same sync behavior as the standard display:
- Live connection: menu edits and sold-out toggles apply within seconds.
- Disconnected: refreshes automatically every 60 seconds until the connection returns.
The TV header does not show a connection badge (to keep the layout clean), but updates still flow in the background.
Linking from the Standard Display
The regular public board footer includes a TV display mode link that opens the same path with ?display=tv. Use this during setup to verify TV mode before bookmarking on the physical screen.
Between-Service & Empty States
TV mode uses the same closed, empty, and unavailable states as the standard display, centered on screen with large typography appropriate for a TV.
URL options
| Option | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
TV mode (?display=tv) | Full-screen slideshow layout for wall displays | Standard layout |
Slide interval (&interval=) | Seconds each slide stays on screen (5–120) | 12 seconds |