Setup Start Parameter

Create a JSON file with the Start Object and host it under URL http://{SERVER}/msx/start.json. The {SERVER} part is entered via the Media Station X application as hostname or IP address.

Note: Since version 0.1.88, you can also load the start parameter via HTTPS (i.e. https://{SERVER}/msx/start.json) by setting the security lock during setup. Please note that the security lock is only applied to the start parameter file, for the other JSON files, you must always indicate full URLs that have to start with the protocol (i.e. http:// or https://). Please also note that if the Media Station X application is loaded via HTTPS (i.e. https://msx.benzac.de), the security lock must always be set and all JSON files and plugins must be provided via HTTPS (the application will automatically update the protocol from http:// to https:// for these URLs). In a secure context, it is also recommended to provide all media content (i.e. videos, audios, and images) via HTTPS to avoid mixed content issues (the application will not update the protocol for these URLs). Since version 0.1.140, you can adjust the protocol update settings with a URL parameter. Please see the secure parameter from the URL Parameters.

If the JSON file is hosted, please go to your corresponding application store, install and launch the Media Station X application, navigate to Settings → Start Parameter → Setup, and follow the setup instructions. Once you have completed the start parameter setup, your content is loaded every time you start the application.

For corresponding application stores, please visit: https://msx.benzac.de/info/?tab=PlatformSupport.

Example Screenshot (Setup Start Parameter)

For this example screenshot, the requested URL is http://192.168.0.10:8080/msx/start.json.

Example Screenshot (Complete Start Parameter)

After the start parameter has been successfully loaded, you can set it up. For this example screenshot, the start parameter is a menu with URL http://192.168.0.10:8080/msx/menu.json.

Example Screenshot (Configured Start Parameter)

After the start parameter has been set up, your content is loaded every time you start the application. If your content can not be loaded, you will get an error message at startup. You can change or reset the start parameter at any time via the settings.

Content Examples

Some example screenshots of how you can customize your content.

URL Shortener Services

If you would like to host the Start Object under a specific path (e.g. http://example.com/path/to/start/object) or you need a specific query (e.g. http://example.com/msx/start.php?key1=value1&key2=value2), you can use a URL shortener service and the special start parameter ID syntax id:{SERVICE}:{ALIAS} to set it up. This feature can be used with version 0.1.97 or higher. Currently, following free URL shortener services are supported.

Note: Please note that there is no URL storing or caching on MSX servers. The URL storage takes place exclusively on the used service. It is recommended to read the privacy policy of the corresponding service before registering URLs.

URL shortener services

Service	Link	Shortened URL Example	Start Parameter Example	Remarks
Bitly	https://bitly.com	https://bit.ly/example	id:bly:example	This service only supports auto-generated aliases. Please see the note below.
Cuttly	https://cutt.ly	https://cutt.ly/example	id:cly:example	This service only supports auto-generated aliases. Please see the note below.
is.gd	https://is.gd	https://is.gd/example	id:igd:example	-
v.gd	https://v.gd	https://v.gd/example	id:vgd:example	-
TinyURL	https://tinyurl.com	https://tinyurl.com/example https://tiny.io/example https://rotf.lol/example	id:trl:example id:tny:example id:rtf:example	-

Note: Please ensure that you only use numbers (0 to 9) and lowercase letters (a to z) for custom aliases, because the start parameter input does not support uppercase letters (A to Z). If you use an auto-generated alias that contains uppercase letters, you have to put a dash (-) before each uppercase letter (e.g. eXaMpLe → e-xa-mp-le).

It is also possible to register Media Station X application links (i.e. http://msx.benzac.de or https://msx.benzac.de) with the start URL parameter (please see URL Parameters). In these cases, the start URL parameter is extracted and used as start parameter (e.g. http://msx.benzac.de/?start=menu:user:http://sc.msx.benzac.de/msx/service.php → menu:user:http://sc.msx.benzac.de/msx/service.php). This feature allows you to create launchable (via browser) and registerable (via application) short URLs. Please see following examples.

• SoundCloud MSX: https://bit.ly/3Oys4Xx (id:bly:3-oys4-xx)
• Experts Content Guide: https://bit.ly/3b5000l (id:bly:3b5000l)
• MRSS Example Channel: https://bit.ly/3zzxOvK (id:bly:3zzx-ov-k)

See also

• Start Object
• Setup Precondition