Step 1: First Launch
After installing, SoftControl opens straight into the visual editor (not the runtime view). Page tree on the left, canvas in the middle, property panel on the right — that's the whole interface you need for the next four steps.
Step 2: Add Your First Device
Projectors make the easiest first device: most support PJLink, the most standardized and easiest-to-verify protocol. In the device list, create a new command, pick PJLink, enter the projector's IP, and leave the port at the PJLink default (4352). Find the IP in the projector's own network settings menu (usually under "Network" or "Wired LAN"), or ask the site's network admin — if there's no IP showing at all, network control is probably turned off, or the projector isn't plugged into the network yet.
Not sure your device is supported? Check the compatibility list firstStep 3: Test a Command, Watch for a Reply
Hit "Test" and watch whether the device replies. This is the step that matters most: a reply means the network and protocol are both working — everything left is just UI building. No reply or a timeout means you're stuck at the network layer (IP / port / firewall) — don't jump to blaming the command yet.
Step 4: Drag a Button onto the Runtime Page
Once the test passes, drag that command onto the canvas to create a button. Edit its label and style if you want — exact placement doesn't matter yet.
Step 5: Switch to Runtime and Click
Click "Runtime" at the top to switch to the actual control screen, then tap the button you just placed. The projector should respond within a few seconds (power on, power off, or source switch, depending on what you tested). Seeing the device react means your first device is fully working end to end.
About the Trial Period — Upfront and Honest
The free trial runs 30 days, plenty to get your first device working and verify the whole workflow end to end. Here's exactly what that means:
During the Trial
- Up to 3 pages, 10 components per page — plenty for getting one device working
- No custom background images
- No custom button images
Fully Available During the Trial
- Scheduled tasks
- Group control
- Configuration export
- SoftPlayer integration
After It Expires
When the 30 days run out, it's a hard stop, not a feature downgrade: the app lands on an expiry screen, the runtime view can't be opened, and every device control capability returns unavailable. Plan around this if you're evaluating for a live deployment — buy a license as soon as your evaluation wraps up, so you're not locked out on demo day.
Where to Go From Here
Didn't Work?
Work through this in order — most snags are at the network layer, not the configuration layer:
- Is the IP reachable? Ping the device from the same machine first
- Is the port right? PJLink defaults to 4352 — check the device manual for others
- Is a firewall or antivirus blocking the outbound connection?
- Is the protocol right? Confirm what your device actually supports in the compatibility list
It Worked?
One device is just the starting point. The full manual covers multi-device setup, scenes, scheduled tasks, and group control.
Read the full manualDevice Not on the List?
The compatibility list keeps growing. Tell us the model and we'll confirm within 2 business days.
Submit your device