Documentation
ProdLink: Draw on Slides — Companion Module
Control the Draw on Slides iPad app directly from Bitfocus Companion. Switch drawing presets, navigate slides, clear the canvas, adjust tools, and toggle settings — all with real-time visual feedback on your Companion buttons.
Setup
- Install the Draw on Slides app on your iPad
- In the iPad app, go to Settings → HTTP API and enable the HTTP server
- Note the IP address and port shown in the app
- In Companion, add a ProdLink: Draw on Slides connection
- Either select the iPad from the Auto-Discover dropdown, or choose Manual and enter the IP and port
- Click Save — the module will connect and start polling for state updates
Configuration
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| iPad (Auto-Discover) | Automatically finds iPads running Draw on Slides on your network via Bonjour |
| iPad IP Address | Manual IP entry (shown when Auto-Discover is set to Manual) |
| Port | HTTP server port, default 8080 (shown when Auto-Discover is set to Manual) |
| Poll Interval | How often to check for state changes. Default 1500ms. Lower = faster feedback, higher = less iPad load. Minimum 500ms |
Features
Drawing Presets (1-3)
Switch between three drawing presets, each with their own brush type, color, size, and opacity. Buttons show which preset is active with color feedback.
Tool Selection
- Pen — Standard drawing tool
- Marker — Semi-transparent marker
- Pencil — Textured pencil
- Crayon — Textured crayon
- Eraser — Erase strokes
Slide Navigation
- Next Slide / Previous Slide — Navigate through ProPresenter slides (supports action cues/builds)
- Clear Canvas — Clear all drawings (shows active state when there's something to clear)
- Undo — Undo last stroke
Zoom
- Toggle Zoom — Pinch-zoom the canvas (button shows active state when zoomed)
- Reset Zoom — Reset to default view
Color Presets
Quick-select colors with visual feedback showing which color is active. Colors display as dim when inactive and bold when selected.
Tool Adjustments
- Size Presets — Set brush size (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40)
- Opacity Presets — Set brush opacity (10% increments)
Settings Toggles
Toggle app settings directly from Companion with ON/OFF visual feedback:
- Clear on Slide Change
- Allow Finger Drawing
- Swipe Navigation
- Reset Zoom on Slide Change
- Show Timer
- Show Stage Messages
- Previous/Next Buttons
- Thumbnail Navigation
- Show Slide Labels
Auto-Reconnection
If the iPad app restarts or changes ports, the module will automatically:
- Detect the connection loss after 3 failed polls
- Scan ports 8080–8090 on the same IP to find the new port
- Reconnect automatically — no manual intervention needed
Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
active_preset | Currently active preset (1-3) |
brush_type | Current brush type |
color | Current color hex |
size | Current brush size |
opacity | Current opacity |
is_eraser | Whether eraser is active |
slide_index | Current slide index |
presentation_name | Current presentation name |
connection_status | ProPresenter connection status |
is_zoomed | Whether canvas is zoomed |
has_drawing | Whether there's a drawing on canvas |