---
title: Serial Input Event
slug: author/serial-input-event
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-11T06:56:09.060Z
---

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The Serial Input event triggers when the BrightSign player receives input from a device connected to a serial port.

- **Specify port**: Enter the port number of the input device. Most standard RS-232 serial devices enumerate on port 0. If you are connecting a USB-serial device, it will enumerate on port 2. To configure the serial port, navigate to [Presentation > Interactive > Connectors](docId\:a6Ali6u-szxHuansk6T3-).
- **Specify serial input**: Enter the serial input string that will trigger the event. You can also use the `<*>` wildcard to match some or all of the serial input (i.e., entering `<*>` in this field will match any input, while entering `mycommand_<*>` will match any input message that begins with `mycommand_`).
- **Assign input to variable?**: Check this box to assign the content of the serial input to a User Variable.
- **Input specifies variable**: The serial input string will dynamically specify which User Variable to modify. The serial input string must be sent in the form of `<variable name> : <variable value>`.
- &#x20;**Specify fixed variable**: The serial input string will modify a fixed User Variable. Use the dropdown list to choose which User Variable the serial input will modify. The serial input string must be sent in the form of `<variable value>`.

:::hint{type="success"}
You can use the **Input specifies variable** option to modify more than one User Variable with a single event. Use the following serial input string: `<variable name> : <variable value> !! <variable name> : <variable value>`
:::

- **Assign wildcard to variable?**: Check this box to specify the value of a User Variable using the `<*>` wildcard. Select the User Variable to modify using the dropdown menu to the right. The **Specify serial input** field must contain the `<*>` wildcard, either by itself or with additional text (e.g., `message_<*>`).

:::hint{type="info"}
Wildcards are only supported when the serial port is using the ASCII [protocol](docId\:dKUSdiVRXpUAiUOVm2eHL), not when using the Binary protocol.
:::