Glossary A–ZLetter D
Data source
A data source is a system or file from which a screen obtains values or text instead of carrying them fixed in its content.
It may be a spreadsheet, a database, a calendar, a news feed or another program's interface.
In practice, canteen menus, shift plans, room bookings, waiting times, prices, weather data or production figures come from such sources. The screen or the management software queries the source at set intervals and inserts the values into a template. Anyone who changes the plan in the spreadsheet thereby changes the screen as well, without exporting anything.
Operators should settle three questions. How often is the source queried, and is that enough for the purpose? What does the screen show if the source is unavailable or returns empty values? And who is responsible for the accuracy of the data? A display can only be as good as its source. Access also needs suitable permissions: a player should only be able to read what it displays and should not be signed in with a personal account.