How to Automatically Launch Smart Client and Display Smart Wall Tiles on Specific Monitors

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You’ve got a slick multi-monitor video wall setup in your operations center.

It looks great, right? Wrong.

Every time your computer reboots, you have to manually place each video tile back on the correct screen. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle you’ve already solved a hundred times.

Frustrating.

Time-consuming.

Unnecessary.

If you’ve ever found yourself squinting at six different screens trying to remember where the security feed from “North Entrance 2” is supposed to go, you’re going to love this. I’m about to show you how to automate that whole process.

No more guessing, no more “where does this tile go?” moments.

Just reboot, and boom—your tiles are right where they belong.

The Problem: Please Don’t Make Me Place These Smart Wall Tiles Again

Every time your computer reboots, Smart Client launches, but your Smart Wall views? Chaos.

And that means you’re stuck manually placing the video feeds on each of the monitors. It’s like trying to recreate a seating chart from memory. You’re annoyed. I’m annoyed. Everyone’s annoyed.

And it’s worse than that. Manually placing tiles introduces human error. Maybe you swap two tiles by mistake. Maybe it takes longer than expected, and suddenly you’re behind. 

The Solution: Use a Smart Client Startup Script to Automate Smart Wall Tile Placement

We’re going to automate it. Using a Smart Client Startup Script, you can have Smart Client launch at login and automatically place each tile on its designated screen — perfectly aligned every single time. No human intervention required.

I know “script” sounds like it’s going to involve some 1s and 0s wizardry, but this one’s simple. I’ll walk you through it. 

By the end of this, your system will reboot like a boss, and you won’t even have to think about it.

Here’s How To Do It

1. Understand the Smart Wall Setup

  • Smart Wall Views are different from standard views. Smart wall tiles are dynamic and can be changed programmatically to display different feeds or analytics.
  • Each monitor on a smart wall must be referenced by its specific name in the system.

2. Edit the Smart Wall Script

Use the following script to control how Smart Client places tiles on each of the monitors:

				
					<Script>
  SCS.Application.ShowLive();
  SCS.MultiWindow.MultiWindowOpenFullScreenWindow("smart_walls.SMARTWALL_NAME_HERE.1ST_MONITOR_NAME_HERE",0);
  SCS.MultiWindow.MultiWindowOpenFullScreenWindow("smart_walls.SMARTWALL_NAME_HERE.2ND_MONITOR_NAME_HERE",1);
  SCS.MultiWindow.MultiWindowOpenFullScreenWindow("smart_walls.SMARTWALL_NAME_HERE.3RD_MONITOR_NAME_HERE",2);
</Script>

				
			

Explanation of the script:

  • SCS.Application.ShowLive(); — Launches the Smart Client in live view.
  • SCS.MultiWindow.MultiWindowOpenFullScreenWindow
    (“smart_walls.SMARTWALL_NAME_HERE.1ST_MONITOR_NAME_HERE”,0); — Places the first tile on the first monitor.

 

Simple enough. Here’s where you’ll need to customize it for your setup:

  • Replace SMARTWALL_NAME_HERE with the name of your Smart Wall (e.g., SoC1 for “Security Operations Center 1”).
  • Replace 1ST_MONITOR_NAME_HERE, 2ND_MONITOR_NAME_HERE, and 3RD_MONITOR_NAME_HERE with the names of your monitors. (Yes, they need to be named in your management client.)

3. Configure the Smart Client Startup Script

Smart Client allows the use of startup scripts to automate system behavior at launch.

You can learn more about how to use Smart Client Start Up Scripts on Milestone’s Developer Forum.

Steps to create the startup script:

1. Choose a login method

Login as Windows current user, Windows user, or Basic user.

2. Create the Startup Script:

Copy the provided Smart Wall Script with your customizations for the Smart Wall name and monitor names and paste it into the start up script that matches your login method. 

Windows Current User ⬇️

				
					<ScriptEngine>
<Login>
<ServerAddress>custom_servername</ServerAddress>
<AuthenticationType>WindowsDefault</AuthenticationType>
</Login>
[[INSERT SCRIPT HERE]]
</ScriptEngine>
				
			

Windows User ⬇️

				
					<ScriptEngine>
<Login>
<ServerAddress>custom_servername</ServerAddress>
<UserName>custom_username</UserName>
<Password>custom_password</Password>
<AuthenticationType>Windows</AuthenticationType>
</Login>
[[INSERT SCRIPT HERE]]
</ScriptEngine>
				
			

Basic User ⬇️

				
					<ScriptEngine>
<Login>
<ServerAddress>custom_servername</ServerAddress>
<UserName>custom_username</UserName>
<Password>custom_password</Password>
<AuthenticationType>Simple</AuthenticationType>
</Login>
[[INSERT SCRIPT HERE]]
</ScriptEngine>
				
			

3. Save the script:

Save it as a .SCS file (Smart Client Script file) on your computer.

4. Place the Startup Script in the Correct Folder

  • Save the .SCS file in the Startup folder for Smart Client.
  • How to find the Startup folder:
    1. Open the Run dialog (Win + R).
    2. Type shell:startup and press Enter.
    3. Place your .SCS file in this folder.

Now, every time your computer reboots, this script will run automatically.

Smart Client launches.

Your Smart Wall tiles show up exactly where you want them.

It’s basically sorcery, but you did it yourself.

5. Test It

Reboot the system and watch the magic happen. If you did everything right, Smart Client will open automatically, and each tile will land on the correct screen in the correct layout.

If something’s off, check these common issues:

  • Did you name your monitors properly in the management client?
  • Did you name your Smart Wall correctly?
  • Did you save the script file as .SCS (not .txt)?

TL;DR

Want Smart Client to automatically launch and place tiles on the right monitors every time the system reboots? 

Do this:

  1. Write the script (above) and customize it with your Smart Wall and monitor names.
  2. Save it as a .SCS file.
  3. Drop it in the Startup folder.
  4. Reboot and relax.

 

This one’s a game-changer if you’re dealing with multi-screen setups.

No more wasted time, no more misplaced tiles, and no more cranky operators.

Just pure, automatic perfection.

If you’re looking for the script, scroll back up — it’s all right there.

 

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Your go-to XProtect eXPerts. We learn the technical stuff that will save you time and make it less boring.

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