Custom iOS Wallpaper Dynamic Text Tips

What

FileWaveConsideration v14.10.0of hasthe introducedsize aand new feature that allows youwhere to customize the wallpaper of iOS devices. This feature enables you to add text to the device wallpaper, including the device's Serial Number, Department, or Assigned User. You can also insert variables intoplace the text tobeing personalize the wallpaperadded to youran requirements.Apple mobile device's Wallpaper.

When/Why

CustomizingWhen adding text, there are 3 Font size options, plus 9 possible locations for placing text.

Note, the wallpaperpreview is portrait, but this is not necessarily how the image will appear on the device.

The Font used is GothicA1-Regular and the sizes refer to:

	SMALL	MEDIUM	BIG
FONT SIZE	65	80	95

Image uploaded to FileWave must be smaller than 2MB to add text, to help protect against undue heavy load on the server.

How

Consider the devices currently managed.  An image of iOSthe devicescorrect withsize FileWaveshould v14.10.0be required for each different device screen aspect ratio.  Unfortunately, MDM cannot retrieve screen resolution from devices, but each device type resolution can be helpfulobserved inat manythe ways.following:

Some

https://www.ios-resolution.com/

Alternatively, a tool like Mactracker lists details for all Apple device types.

Smart Groups

Since a Wallpaper Profile Command Policy will be required for each screen resolution, devices need to be targeted appropriately.

Consider the following method:

Obtain the Product Name for a device type to be managed (e.g. iPad6,11).  Cross reference this with something like Mactracker to obtain details.

• Create a New Smart Group
  • Type: Inventory Query
  • Criteria: Product Name > is > iPad6,11
  • Group Name: (Something obvious)

It may be sensible to include the screen resolution as part of the reasonsgroup whyname, youbut mightnot wantuse the Product Name.  There is overlap with device types and resolution.  E.g. both 'iPad 6th Gen' and 'iPad mini 5th Gen' have a resolution of 2048x1536, so one group could be used to customizetarget both device types.  Example group name: iOS 2048x1536

Example of multiple device types for the wallpaperSmart include:

Group

which
• Personalizingall share the devicesame resolution.  Note the 'one or more expressions must be true' and the 'Main Component':

  

  Copy the above process for aneach organization,required department,resolution.

  or

  Image individual

Preparation
• Identifying

  Although athere deviceis withoptions itsfor uniquecolour Serialof Number,text, whichcomplex images may hinder the visibility of the text.  Image levels could be altered before uploading to FileWave.  However, wouldn't it be better to test this first.

  Additionally, text position can be helpfulof consequence, since devices may be rotated between portrait and landscape and the image will adjust accordingly.  This will have the appearance of a cropped image, either at the sides or top and bottom, which in trackingturn could crop the text.

  Before commencing, download the Font and assetuse managementFont Book to add the Font.

  The following walkthrough should help assist with pre-planning the image and text visibility.  Taking the above 2048x1536 as an example.  The chosen starting image is:

  

  Note this image is currently the wrong resolution.  Preview.app can be used to address this landscape image:

  1. Open the image in Preview
  2. DisplayingProportionally alter the height (which is currently too small) to match the height (y value in this example) of the device's departmentscreen orresolution assignedwith userthe forAdjust easySize identificationTool.  The image is now oversized, but will more than fill the entire screen in one axis and accountabilitymatch in the other. (In this example, the height should now be 1536 and the width greater than 2048)
  3. ProvidingZoom additionalout informationso thatthe entire image may be usefulviewed
  for
  4. Select All
  5. Move one of the end-usersliders of the selection area, in this example left or technicalright, supportuntil team.it reads 2048.

The

How

selection

Tocan customizethen be moved to the wallpaperdesired ofarea

an iOS device with FileWave v14.10.0, follow the steps below:

Copy

• Logthis inselection, toopen your FileWave console.
• Createinto a new iOSPreview Profile.window and save.

  Add an outline:

  1. Alter the size of this new image, such that the smaller axis is set to match the larger.  In this case alter 1536 to 2048
  2. There will now be an image that is 2732x2048.  Make a note of these values and undo.
  3. Open Keynote
  4. Select the CommandDocument Policybutton itemand alter the Document Slide Size to match this newly observed resolution: 2732x2048
  5. From a blank slide, add a rectangle and remove the colour fill
  6. Add a border line to the rectangle, choosing an obvious colour (for example bright green) and 5pt width should suffice
  7. Alter the size of this rectangle, such that it matches the reverse dimensions of the device: 1536x2048
  8. Centre the rectangle within the slide
  9. Copy the rectangle
  10. Alter the size of the new copied rectangle to match the resolution of the entire slide and centre: 2732x2048
  11. Edit the Master Slide so that it has no background
  12. Export the slide as a PNG with transparent background
  13. Open the exported image into Preview
  14. Resize the image, matching the resolution back to the target resolution, in this case: 2048x1536
  15. Select All from Preview and Copy
  16. Back in Keynote, create a new document and alter the leftslide listsize to the desired screen resolution: 2048x1536
  17. Add the desired matching sized image to the slide, in this case the 2048x1536 FileWave building image
  18. Paste the copied green boxes from Preview over the top

  In Keynote there should now be an image, including the green inserted boxes, something like:

  

  Since the green lines forming the boxes have a transparent background, the image behind may be altered, simplifying the testing of profilediffering types.images.

  Consider duplicating slides to test alternate images, in case the desire to revert is experienced!

  Test Text

  Keynote may now be used to test adding some text.

  • Add a text box
  • InSet the CommandFont Policy,as youGothic canA1 addRegular and a desired Font size, e.g. 80
  • Select a colour for the Font
  • Add the chosen text, ensuring it does not cross over the lines when centred
    

  If the text thatdoes you want to display oncross the devicelines, wallpaper,the suchsmaller Font size of 65 could be chosen or reduce the amount of included characters.

  If using variables, confirm the longest value from FileWave and then test with that value as thetext device'sin Serial Number, Department, or Assigned User.

• Use variables to personalize the text. For example, you can use %SerialNumber% to display the device's Serial Number.
• Save the configuration and apply it to the iOS devices where you want to customize the wallpaper.

It's that simple! Now your iOS devices will have a customized wallpaper that displays the information you want.Keynote

TextFrom overlaysKeynote, are added to images without altering their size. If the image's aspect ratio doesn't match the device screen, iOS or iPadOS will adjust the image by cropping or resizing it, potentially affecting the text overlay.

Sinceif the text is addedunclear, beforeit sendingis easier to adjust the text colour or even make adjustments with the image itself, to enhance the appearance of the text.

Once happy, copy the line of text.

Create Fileset

Remove the text from the Keynote slide and save the slide as an image, using JPG (smaller size).  Remember, the image to be uploaded needs to be less than 2MB.

Open up the device,Profile Editor in FileWave and search for Wallpaper, it couldshould be partiallylocated visible or cut off if it's placed nearin the edgeCommand andPolicy.  As per the directions in the prior KB article, choose the image isjust croppedsaved byas the device'sWallpaper operatingand system.paste Testingthe out yourdesired text overlayinto withthe imagestext designedbox.  Clearly, alter the text to include any parameters if necessary.  Don't forget to set the Font colour.

As per this example, the middle position is going to be chosen.

Save the profile and consider including the screen resolution as part of the name:

Test

Associate the Profile to a test device and Update Model, observing the Command History.  The IntsallProfile mastercommand should appear and then disappear; this is not a permanent profile, but a one off command.  However, the Settings command will persist.  Further details in the following KB:

Profile Editor Command Policy

Turn the screen to confirm the look for both Portrait and Landscape,Landscape.

Portrait

Landscape

 

Additional Info

First, it is worth observing how Apple alter an image when the device is rotated between Landscape and Portrait.

Apple avoid having black bars around the image.  As such, to alter the image, as itcan potentiallybe affectsseen above, The smaller, un-matching aspect is resized to match the textsize in each mode.

To avoid these issues, use wallpaper images that matchof the device's resolution.  ForThe example,impact anof iPadthis 9this generationthat the large matching aspect is now oversized and the overall effect is the image appears cropped.

The green lines from the image above show the crop position that will be seen in portrait when the device is turned from landscape.  This has a resolutionconsequence with the text.  If the text position were bottom right instead, for example, the green box shows the text that would be lost:

Landscape

Portrait

Indeed, rotating the device into portrait shows the loss of 2160text:

x

1620

With this in Portraitmind, modebest practice would be:

• Where devices may be rotated
  • For a landscape image, only ever consider using Middle, Top Middle or Bottom Middle
  • For a portrait image, only ever consider using Middle, Left Middle or Right Middle
• Where devices will not be rotated
  • Any position could be chosen

Apple do not provide an option to prevent rotation, however, in some circumstances devices will not be rotated, e.g. wall mounted outside meeting rooms, lecture theatres, hospitals, etc.

Conclusion

Why use the profile, since the above has just made an image of the correct size and Keynote could have just added the text?

This is indeed a resolutiongood ofquestion 1620and xthe 2160above inis Landscapeto mode (iPad (9th generation) - Technical Specifications), so using imagesassist with a 4:3guide aspecton ratiobuilding alongout withthe resolutionsimage, forensuring both Portrait and Landscape modes will ensurethat the text overlaywill displaysdisplay properlyclearly withoutand adjustments.

not

Diggingbe Deeper

For more technical detailscropped on whatthe variables,image size.  Chances are once you have done this for one resolution, that you need not bother for others and will already be armed with a good approximate example.  However, the Profile still comes into its own!

The Profile can use withparameters iOSfrom deviceFileWave, wallpaper with FileWave v14.10.0, visit the FileWave Knowledge Base article here: Using variables in iOS/macOS Profiles. In this article, you'll find a list of variables you can use to personalizecustomising the text onper device, based either upon built-in inventory or Custom Fields.  This greatly exceeds the wallpaper.

above

iOS Resolutionsmethod and Displayis Propertiesvery -much iOSthe Resolutionbeauty //of Displaythis propertiesfeature.