Multi-Lot Auctions > FAQs

When running an Multi-Lot / In-Room auction using Auctions Live, you can connect your Mac to a second screen, television, or projector and use each screen for a different purpose.

Your Mac screen can remain your private working screen for scribing and controlling the auction, while the external display shows the Auctions Live digital presentation to the audience.

To do this, your Mac must be configured to use the external screen as an Extended display rather than mirroring the Mac screen.

Understanding Extended Displays on Mac

An Extended display gives you two separate working areas.

This allows you to keep the Auctions Live Control Panel on your Mac while moving the Auctions Live Presentation onto the external display for the audience.

If your Mac is set to mirror the displays, both screens will show the same content. This is not recommended when scribing because the audience may be able to see the controls being used by the operator.

Steps to Connect Your Mac to an External Display

Step 1: Connect your Mac to the television, projector, or external monitor.

Depending on your Mac and the equipment being used, this may require an HDMI, USB C, Thunderbolt, or compatible display adapter.

Step 2: Turn on the television, projector, or external display.

Step 3: If you are using a television or projector, make sure the correct input source has been selected, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.

Step 4: Wait a few moments for your Mac to recognise the connected display.

Steps to Extend Your Displays on Mac

Step 1: Select the Apple menu in the top left corner of your Mac screen.

Step 2: Select System Settings.

Step 3: Select Displays.

You should see your Mac display and the connected external display.

Step 4: Select the external display.

Step 5: Locate the Use as setting and select Extended display.

This allows the Mac and external display to show different content.

Step 6: Select Arrange if this option is displayed.

Step 7: Arrange the display positions so they match the physical position of your screens.

For example, if the audience display is physically positioned to the right of your Mac, position the external display to the right within the display arrangement.

This makes it easier to move your mouse and browser windows between the two screens.

Important Note About Screen Mirroring

If both screens are showing exactly the same content, your Mac is currently mirroring the displays.

Return to System Settings, select Displays, select the external display, then change the Use as setting to Extended display.

For an Auctions Live Multi-Lot / In-Room auction, using an extended display is recommended because it keeps your auction controls on the Mac while displaying only the presentation to the audience.

Steps to Open the Auctions Live Control Panel

Step 1: Log in to the PC Console and navigate to your Auctions Live Dashboard.

Step 2: From the left side menu under Multi-Lot Auctions, select Upcoming Published.

Step 3: Locate the relevant auction event and select the blue View icon.

Step 4: From the Multi-Lot Auction overview page, locate the available actions and select the green Control Panel button.

Step 5: The Auctions Live Control Panel will open.

Keep the Control Panel on your Mac screen. This is the screen you will use to scribe bids and control the auction.

Steps to Open the Digital Multi-Lot / In-Room Presentation

Step 1: From the Auctions Live Control Panel, select the green Presentation button located towards the top right of the page.

Step 2: The Auctions Live digital presentation will open in a separate browser window.

Step 3: Click and hold the top of the presentation browser window.

Step 4: Drag the browser window towards the external audience display.

Continue moving the window until the entire presentation browser window appears on the external screen.

Step 5: Release the mouse or trackpad once the presentation is positioned on the audience display.

Your Auctions Live Control Panel should now remain on your Mac while the Presentation is displayed separately to the audience.

Steps to Make the Presentation Full Screen on Mac

Once the Auctions Live Presentation has been moved onto the audience display, you can place the browser into full screen mode.

Step 1: Click anywhere inside the Presentation browser window on the audience display.

This makes sure the presentation window is the active browser window.

Step 2: Press Control + Command + F on the Mac keyboard, or click the green full-screen button in the top-left corner of the browser window.

This will place the browser into full-screen mode, hiding the browser tabs, address bar and other controls from the audience display.

Once the browser is in full-screen mode, click the green “Go Full Screen” button within the Auctions Live presentation. This will expand the presentation itself to fill the audience display.

Step 3: To leave full screen mode, press Control + Command + F again.

Alternative Way to Enter Full Screen

If the keyboard shortcut is not suitable, select View from the browser menu at the top of the Mac screen, then select the available Full Screen option.

You may also be able to use the green window control located in the top left corner of the browser window to enter full screen mode.

Recommended Auctions Live Screen Setup

Mac screen: Keep the Auctions Live Control Panel on this screen. This allows the operator to scribe bids and manage the auction without displaying these controls to the audience.

Audience display: Keep the Auctions Live Presentation on this screen and place the browser into full screen mode.

This setup allows one Mac to operate both the auction controls and the digital Multi-Lot / In-Room presentation while keeping the two views separate.

Important Notes

Always configure and test the external display before the auction begins.

Confirm that the Auctions Live Control Panel remains visible only on the Mac and that the Presentation is showing on the audience display.

Where possible, use a wired connection between the Mac and the television, projector, or audience display.

Always move the Presentation browser window onto the audience display before entering full screen mode.

If full screen mode opens on the wrong display, leave full screen mode, move the presentation window completely onto the audience display, then activate full screen mode again.

Troubleshooting

Both screens show the same content: Your displays are being mirrored. Open System Settings, select Displays, then configure the external screen as an Extended display.

The mouse will not move easily between the screens: Open System Settings, select Displays, then adjust the display arrangement so it matches the physical position of the screens.

The presentation opened on the Mac screen: Click and drag the presentation browser window onto the external audience display.

The presentation goes full screen on the wrong display: Leave full screen mode, move the browser window completely onto the audience display, then activate full screen mode again.

The external display is not showing an image: Check that the display is powered on, the correct input source has been selected, and all cables or adapters are securely connected.