IRIS provides a feature that allows deploying "standby" messages to signs. These are messages with a low priority that display on a sign, while still leaving the sign in IRIS' list of available signs, making it easy for users to deploy it for another purpose. A common use for this is deploying a public service announcement or similar generic message for display under normal circumstances, while leaving the sign "available" should an incident or other need occur.

This feature is controlled via a Quick Message tag called [standby]. It is similar to IRIS action tags, but unlike action tags an action plan is not required for the standby feature to go into effect.

Using the Standby Message Feature

A standby message can be created using IRIS' Graphical DMS Message Editor. The editor provides a simple check box that can be use to add or remove the [standby] message tag, transforming a message into a standby or normal message, respectively.

To create a new standby message, or to turn an existing message into a standby message, follow these instructions.

1. Open the graphical message editor by going to View -> Message Signs -> Message Editor.

2. Select the sign or sign group you would like to create a message for.

3. Click the Create button to create a new message (you will be prompted to specify the message name). Or, to edit an existing message, select it, and press the Edit button. If the buttons are not enabled, make sure Edit Mode is on in your IRIS client (found in the lower-right corner of the client). You also will need the proper permissions.

4. To make a message a standby message, click to check the box next to the "Standby:" label near the bottom of the editor window. If you switch to the "MULTI" tab in the editor, you will see that a [standby] tag has been automatically added to the beginning of the message.

5. If you wish to make a standby message into a normal message, click to uncheck the "Standby" box. This will remove the [standby] tag from the message.

6. Save the message and close the editor. You will now see the quick message associated with the sign or sign group you selected and can deploy it to a sign.

Signs deployed with standby messages will appear in the "Available" group in the DMS tab of IRIS. If you deploy a different message to the sign, it will overwrite the standby message. If you wish to remove a standby message from a sign, you may simply blank the sign.

Using a Standby Message as a Default Sign Message

If you want a standby message to automatically be restored to a sign after a higher priority message is removed, you can set up a standby-priority (very low priority) action plan with a standby quick-message. While that action plan is running, the standby quick-message will be redeployed to the sign a little while after a higher priority message is removed.