Dell SE2423DS/SE2723DS Monitor User Manual

Overview

Dell Display Manager (DDM) is an application that allows users to configure settings for supported Dell monitors, such as brightness, contrast, and preset modes. After installation, DDM is accessible via the taskbar. Information about connected monitors is available by hovering the mouse pointer over the taskbar icon.

A key requirement for DDM functionality is the use of the Display Data Channel Command Interface (DDC/CI). Users must ensure that DDC/CI is enabled in the monitor's on-screen display (OSD) menu for DDM to communicate effectively with the monitor.

Visual Description: The document shows a screenshot of the DDM taskbar icon and a menu pop-up indicating the monitor model (e.g., 'Dell SE2X23DS - Standard') and the DDC/CI setting, which should be 'On'. Another visual shows a typical Dell monitor's OSD menu structure, highlighting the 'DDC/CI' option.

Quick Settings

Users can access 'Quick Settings' by clicking the DDM icon in the taskbar. If multiple Dell monitors are connected, a dropdown list allows selection of a specific target monitor. Within Quick Settings, users can adjust:

• Resolution
• Auto Mode (automatically applies preset modes based on active applications) or Manual Mode (manual selection of preset modes)
• Brightness and contrast levels
• Easy Arrange window layouts for the monitor

Visual Description: A screenshot displays the 'Quick Settings' window of Dell Display Manager. It shows fields for 'Display', 'Resolution', radio buttons for 'Auto Mode' and 'Manual Mode', sliders for 'Brightness' and 'Contrast', and a section for 'Recently used' window layout presets.

Opening Dell Display Manager for Advanced Settings

For more advanced configuration, users can click 'Open Dell Display Manager' from the Quick Settings window. This opens the full DDM application with various tabs for detailed control.

Key Features and Functions:

• Quick DDM Access: A shortcut key (Ctrl + Shift + D) to open the DDM user interface.
• Multi-Monitor Control: Allows users to select a monitor from a list and move the DDM interface to the monitor they wish to control.

Basic Display Options

Users can choose between 'Manual Mode' for manually selecting a preset mode or 'Auto Mode', which automatically applies a preset mode based on the active application. A notification appears on screen when the preset mode changes. Brightness and contrast levels can also be adjusted directly via the 'Basic' tab.

For users with multiple Dell monitors, enabling 'Enable display matrix control' allows brightness, contrast, and color preset settings to be applied to all connected monitors simultaneously.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the 'Basic' tab of Dell Display Manager. It includes the monitor model, resolution, radio buttons for Auto Mode and Manual Mode with a dropdown for preset selection, sliders for Brightness and Contrast, and a checkbox for 'Enable display matrix control'.

Assigning Preset Modes to Applications

The 'Auto Mode' tab enables users to associate specific preset modes with particular applications. When Auto Mode is active, DDM automatically switches to the corresponding preset mode whenever the linked application is launched. Preset modes assigned to an application can be consistent across all connected monitors or vary from one monitor to another.

DDM comes pre-configured for many common applications. New applications can be added to the list by dragging them from the desktop, Windows Start Menu, or other locations into the application list.

Note: Preset mode assignments are not supported for batch files, scripts, loaders, or non-executable files like ZIP archives.

Users can also configure game preset modes for Direct3D applications running in full-screen mode. To prevent a game from using a specific mode, assign a different preset mode.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the 'Auto Mode' tab of Dell Display Manager. It features a list of applications (e.g., 'Default for desktop apps', 'Default for fullscreen Direct3D', 'Adobe Photoshop 2021') with corresponding 'Preset Mode' dropdowns (e.g., 'Standard', 'FPS Game', 'Warm').

Arranging Windows with Easy Arrange

The 'Easy Arrange' tab allows users to easily arrange open windows into predefined layouts by dragging them into specific zones on supported Dell monitors. Users can cycle through additional layouts using the '>' button or arrow keys. Custom layouts can be created by arranging windows as desired and then clicking 'Save'.

When selecting a layout, the zones are temporarily displayed on the monitor. As a window is dragged, the current window layout is shown, and the active zone the window is passing through is highlighted. Users can drop the window into the desired zone.

To create a custom layout, users arrange windows on their desktop and click 'Save' in Easy Arrange. The size and position of these windows are saved as a custom layout, and a corresponding icon is created.

Note: This feature saves only the size and position of windows, not the applications themselves. Applications must remain running for this function to work.

To use a custom layout, click its icon. To delete a saved custom layout, close all desktop windows and click 'Save' in Easy Arrange.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the 'Easy Arrange' tab of Dell Display Manager, presenting a grid of various predefined window layout templates. Users can select a template or create a custom layout. Checkboxes for 'Overlap transparent borders' and 'Hold down the SHIFT key to enable zone positioning' are visible.

Additional Easy Arrange Features:

• Advanced Easy Arrange: Allows saving and naming up to five custom Easy Arrange patterns. Users can configure x*y patterns.
• Six Most Recently Used (MRU) Layouts: Use Ctrl + Shift + Home to cycle through the last six MRU layouts.
• Spontaneous Partition Resizing: Press and hold the Ctrl key while resizing the current Easy Arrange layout to adjust the size and number of rows in a layout. A newly created Easy Arrange pattern is saved to the Easy Arrange icon position.
• Portrait Layouts: Easy Arrange icons for portrait orientation are displayed when the monitor is rotated. Pressing Ctrl while clicking a modified layout icon restores the standard layout.

Note: An application may require a minimum effective resolution for its window. If the Easy Arrange zone is smaller than the required window size, the application might not fit.

Managing Multiple Video Inputs

The 'Input Manager' tab allows users to manage multiple video inputs connected to their Dell monitor. This facilitates seamless switching between inputs when working with multiple computers. All available video inputs are listed, and users can name each input and save changes.

Users can set up a favorite input shortcut key for quick switching to a preferred input, and another shortcut key for switching between two frequently used inputs.

Note: DDM communicates with the monitor even when it's displaying input from another computer. DDM can be installed on a frequently used computer to control input switching, and can also be installed on other computers connected to the monitor.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the 'Input Manager' tab of Dell Display Manager. It lists 'Input port' (e.g., DP, HDMI1, HDMI2) and allows users to input 'Input name'. Options for setting 'Favorite input shortcut key' and 'Input switch shortcut key' are also present.

Restoring Application Positions

DDM can help reset application windows to their previous positions when reconnecting the computer to the monitor(s). This can be accessed by right-clicking the DDM icon in the info bar.

Selecting 'Auto-restore window layout' causes DDM to track and save application window positions. DDM will automatically place the application windows back into their original positions upon reconnecting the computer.

Users can return to a preferred layout by selecting 'Save current window layout' and then 'Restore saved window layout'.

DDM can recognize different monitors and restore application positions accordingly, even when using monitors with different models or resolutions. If a monitor in a matrix configuration needs to be replaced, the window layout can be saved before swapping and restored after installing the new monitor.

Note: For this feature to work, applications must remain running; DDM does not start applications.

Visual Description: Screenshots show DDM context menus with options like 'Save current window layout', 'Restore saved window layout', and 'Auto-restore window layout' checked.

Attaching DDM to an Active Window

The DDM icon can be attached to an active window for convenient access to its functions. Clicking the icon provides access to features such as changing presets, snapping to partitions, triggering shortcut keys, moving application windows between Easy Arrange zones, and sending application windows to other monitors.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows a DDM context menu with 'Attach to active window...' checked, indicating this feature is enabled.

Shortcut Key Trigger: Pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter in a running application window triggers the attached DDM menu.

Applying Power-Saving Options

The 'Options' tab offers PowerNap energy-saving features for supported Dell monitors. Users can choose to reduce brightness to the minimum or put the display to sleep when the screensaver is activated.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the 'Options' tab of Dell Display Manager, with 'PowerNap options' including radio buttons for 'Reduce brightness when screensaver activates' and 'Put the display to sleep when screensaver activates'. Shortcut key definitions are also displayed.

Defining Shortcuts

Users can define shortcut keys for quick access to various DDM functions:

• Program shortcut key: Opens the 'Quick Settings' dialog window.
• Easy Arrange MRU shortcut key: Quickly applies the five most recently used window layouts.
• Application window shortcut key: Launches a shortcut menu for options within Auto Mode and Easy Arrange.

Visual Description: The 'Options' tab screenshot also displays the defined shortcut keys: 'Program shortcut key: Ctrl + Shift + D', 'Easy Arrange MRU shortcut key: Ctrl + Shift + Home', and 'Application window shortcut key: Ctrl + Shift + Num 0'.

Troubleshooting

DDM is exclusively compatible with Dell monitors; it does not support monitors from other manufacturers. If DDM is not functioning with a Dell monitor, a specific icon will appear in the system tray.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows a system tray icon indicating a connection issue with the message 'Please connect a supported Dell monitor'. Another visual shows a DDM error message: 'This program cannot communicate with any supported Dell monitors. Check your display driver, cables and connections.'

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Ensure the video cable is correctly connected to both the monitor and the computer, with secure connections.
2. Verify that DDC/CI is enabled in the monitor's on-screen display (OSD) menu.
3. Install the correct and latest graphics card driver from the manufacturer (e.g., Intel, AMD, NVIDIA). Incompatible or outdated drivers can cause DDM errors.
4. Remove any docking stations, cable extenders, or converters between the monitor and the graphics card connection, as some may not properly support DDC/CI, leading to DDM malfunction. Update drivers to the latest available version.
5. Restart the computer.

Monitors that may not function with DDM:

• Dell monitor models released before 2013 and Dell D-series monitors. For more information, visit https://www.dell.com/support/monitors.
• Gaming monitors with NVIDIA G-Sync technology.
• Virtual and wireless displays, as they do not support DDC/CI.
• Some older DP 1.2 monitors. MST/DP 1.2 may need to be disabled via the OSD.

If the computer is connected to the internet, DDM may prompt for an update to a newer version. Users should download and install the latest DDM application. Manual checking for updates can be done by right-clicking the DDM icon while holding down the Shift key.

Visual Description: A screenshot shows the DDM context menu with options like 'Refresh...', 'Auto-load at startup', 'Onscreen notifications', and 'Check for new version...'.