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Overview
Docs for
Overview
Getting started
What is Bitfocus Buttons?
Install Buttons and get started
Manage your Buttons license
Activate Buttons offline
Find your way around Buttons
Create your first backup
Add an ATEM connection
Choose a control method
Choose an installation path
Install Buttons on Debian or Ubuntu
Understand HA clustering
Kubernetes HA
Update or remove Buttons
Positions
Understand positions
Create a position
Add controls and sections to a position
Create your first button
Use a connection's presets
Build more capable button actions
Add more feedback to a button
Organize controls in a section
Shift Section
Organize controls with a Folder Section
Add a Popover Section
Build and reuse a Shared Section
Build a Router Section
Understand Custom Routers
Custom Router panel
Surfaces
Surface compatibility
Add and attach a surface
Device orientation
Connections
Update a connection's module safely
Monitor and troubleshoot a connection
Router integrations
VideoHub and AJA KUMO
Utah Scientific BPS
Generic SW-P-08
Nevion VideoIPath
Arkona BLADE//runner
Routing
Physical routing
Configure ports and labels
Take a physical route
Understand route status
Topology graph
Routing Presets
Get started with virtual routing
Configure Nested Shapes
Reverse routing
Tielines
Routing Projects
Routing settings
Troubleshoot a route
Tally
Understand the Tally system
Send ATEM tally and labels to a UMD
Interpret Active Tally state
TSL/UMD connections
Diagnose tally problems
NMOS
Understand NMOS in Buttons
Connect Buttons to an NMOS Registry
Built-in Registry Server
Configure NMOS connections
Discover and adopt
Browse the NMOS inventory
Manage NMOS multicast addresses
Diagnose NMOS problems
Understand Cuelists
Build a Cuelist
Read and advance a running Cuelist
Control a Cuelist from a Position
Workflows
Understand workflows
Build your first workflow
Reuse a group of workflow nodes safely
Troubleshoot a workflow
Recipes
Sequence a timed automation
Call an HTTP endpoint from a workflow
REST endpoint
Use variables
Understand variable scope
Understand nested variables
Update expressions for v1.8
Plan and use Tags
Access
Create and manage users
Create roles and assign permissions
Grant access to specific resources
Show different controls by role
Sessions
Set up PIN and NFC sign-in
SSO
Get started with SSO
Connect a generic OIDC provider
Connect LDAP or Active Directory
Map identity claims to roles
Secure a Buttons deployment
Integrations
External control
Connect to Bitfocus Listener
USB Relay
Install USB Relay on Windows
Install USB Relay on macOS
Install USB Relay on Linux
Install USB Relay on a Raspberry Pi
Get started with the Control API
Secure and monitor the Control API
Control API reference
API reference
Administration
Enable and manage installable features
Services and health
Configure and monitor scheduled backups
Restore a backup and verify it
Export or import Buttons configuration
Store and rotate connection secrets
Replace the HTTPS certificate
HA backup and recovery
Settings
Collect support information
Reference
Glossary
Button Inspector reference
Network ports reference
Expressions
Internal actions reference
Routing Presets panel reference
Startup configuration reference
Workflow nodes
Connection workflow nodes
Workflow workflow nodes
Internal workflow nodes
Position workflow nodes
API workflow nodes
Utility workflow nodes

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You are viewing documentation for Buttons 1.8.See the docs for Buttons 1.6
Buttons/Overview

Overview

Bitfocus Buttons is a control system for broadcast and AV environments. It connects to the equipment you already have, such as switchers, routers, tally systems and NMOS devices, and turns that equipment into positions of buttons that operators use from a Stream Deck, a touch screen or a browser. Behind the buttons sit connections, routing, variables and workflows that keep a facility in step without the operator having to think about them.
Start with the getting-started guides if Buttons is new to you. Each topic below has a short overview page and a set of task-based guides.

Getting started#

  • What is Bitfocus Buttons?
  • Install Buttons and get started
  • Find your way around Buttons

Installation#

  • Choose an installation path
  • Install Buttons on Debian or Ubuntu
  • Deploy Buttons with Kubernetes high availability

Positions and controls#

  • Understand positions
  • Create a position
  • Create your first button

Surfaces and connections#

  • Add and attach a surface
  • Add an ATEM connection
  • Monitor and troubleshoot a connection

Routing#

  • Understand physical routing
  • Take a physical route
  • Get started with virtual routing

Tally and NMOS#

  • Understand the Tally system
  • Send ATEM tally and labels to a UMD
  • Discover, adopt, and route NMOS resources

Cuelists, variables and workflows#

  • Understand Cuelists
  • Use variables in controls and expressions
  • Understand workflows

Users, access and security#

  • Create and manage users
  • Get started with SSO
  • Secure a Buttons deployment

Integrations and the Control API#

  • Choose how another system operates Buttons
  • Get started with the Control API
  • Secure and monitor the Control API

Administration#

  • Configure and monitor scheduled backups
  • Restore a backup and verify it
  • Interpret system health and restart services safely

Reference#

  • Glossary
  • Expression functions and operators reference
  • Workflow node reference

How the routing systems fit together#

Virtual routing lets you work with logical devices and grouped signals instead of individual ports. Tielines let routes cross boundaries between routing domains, rooms, router islands or sites. The Tally system tells operators and connected devices what is live, selected or contributing.
In a real facility all three are often involved at once. Routing a camera bundle to a control room can expand into several signal-level routes, need a tieline between domains, and then update tally outputs so operators and multiviewers show the right state. Buttons keeps that complexity underneath while the operator presses one button.

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