This guide explains how to configure Windows and NV Play Cricket to output video to both an external scoreboard screen and to your computer monitor when using the Video Scoreboard and Replay Screen panels.
It assumes that the NV Play Cricket software is already installed on your computer.
This guide includes the following topics:
- Before you begin
- Check Windows display settings
- Configure your scoreboard output
- Configure your second scoreboard output
- Check and finalize your scoreboard settings
Before you begin
Before you open any software, check the physical state of your hardware:
- Connect the computer to the external screen or control equipment via HDMI before turning hardware on (plugging in while hardware is powered might cause electrical damage).
- Ensure the scoreboard or replay screen is plugged in and powered on.
- Check that all associated control equipment is plugged in and switched on.
Next:
- Open the NV Play Cricket for Windows software. You can either sign in or click Continue without Login as the scoreboard and replay screen output can be configured without logging in.
- Go to File > Open Match and open a match (even a completed one). This allows a scoreboard slide to appear in the Main Scoreboard panel. This panel is usually located at the top-right corner of the interface.
Check Windows display settings
To check that the Windows operating system is configured to use both your computer screen and an external display at the same time:
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Right-click on your Windows desktop and select Display settings. A diagram should appear showing two monitors: 1 (computer screen) and 2 (replay screen).
- If unsure which monitor is which, click Identify. Numbers will briefly appear on the physical screens.
Click monitor 1 (computer monitor) to highlight it in blue, then:
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Set Scale to 125% (Recommended). If you change this, you may need to sign out and back in.
- Set Resolution to the highest possible value (preferably 1920x1080).
- Set Orientation to Landscape.
- Under Multiple displays, select Extend these displays.
- Tick Make this my main display.
Click monitor 2 (replay screen) to highlight it in blue, then:
- Take note of its name (listed under Color profile).
- Set Scale to 100% (Recommended).
- Set Resolution to 1920x1080, if supported.
- Ensure Orientation is Landscape.
- Confirm that Extend these displays is selected.
- Ensure Make this my main display is not ticked.
- Close the display settings window and return to the NV Play Cricket software.
Configure your scoreboard output
With a match open in the NV Play Cricket software, and after several deliveries have been scored:
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In the NV Play Cricket software, click the Settings cog in the upper right corner of the Main Scoreboard panel.
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Select Screen Settings from the menu. The Update screen dialogue box opens.
Set the following options:
- Monitor: Select the name of the scoreboard/replay screen (as identified earlier).
- Type: Choose the most appropriate option (e.g. Small Screen, Medium Screen, etc).
- Fonts > Style: Select Normal.
- Aspect ratio: Ensure 16:9 is selected and highlighted.
- Window positioning: Select the top-left alignment.
- Respect aspect ratio: Tick this box.
- Click the Update screen button. The Main Scoreboard should now display on the scoreboard or replay screen.
Configure your second scoreboard output
With a match open in the NV Play Cricket software, and after several deliveries have been scored:
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In the NV Play Cricket software, click the Settings cog in the upper right corner of the Main Scoreboard panel.
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Select Add Screen from the menu. The Add screen dialogue box opens.
Set the following options:
- Screen Name: Enter the name of your new scoreboard/replay screen.
- Type: Choose the most appropriate option (e.g. Small Screen, Medium Screen, etc).
- Fonts > Style: Select Normal.
- Aspect ratio: Ensure 16:9 is selected and highlighted.
- Window positioning: Select the top-left alignment.
- Respect aspect ratio: Tick this box.
- Click the Update screen button. The Main Scoreboard should now display both of the scoreboards or replay screens.
Check and finalize your scoreboard settings
If, after configuring your scoreboard settings, the video output appears as expected:
- Overwrite the Screen Name (e.g. "John Smith Oval Replay Screen").
- Set all Screen margins to 5 or even 2, if the slide is not too close to the screen edges.
- Adjust colours if required.
- Click the Update screen button again.
If nothing appears on the scoreboard/replay screen:
- Re-check that Extend these displays is enabled in Windows.
- Ensure the Monitor is correctly selected in NV Play Cricket.
- Confirm that the screen and all connected devices are powered and that the HDMI connection is secure.
- Restart the computer to force Windows to detect the external monitor.
If the display is not aligned properly or only partially visible:
- In Window dimensions, switch to Custom and enter the exact pixel dimensions (if known).
- If the screen is not exactly 16:9, untick Respect aspect ratio and select Fill from the aspect ratio dropdown.
- Try Fill screen or Fill width as an alternative.
- Use Positioning adjustments to fine-tune the display, especially the Left offset or Top offset (negative numbers may help).
Once you are happy with your scoreboard setup, you can save it as a configuration profile to use again later:
- Click Save in the Update screen dialogue.
- Return to the Main Scoreboard panel, click the Settings cog, and select Save as.
- Name and save a ground configuration file (e.g. "John Smith Oval") to apply the settings automatically next time you use NV Play Cricket.