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Playlist Management

Playlists allow you to organize and sequence your media files for playback on digital screens. Learn how to create, edit, and manage playlists effectively.

Overview​

Playlists enable you to:

  • Combine multiple media files into a sequence
  • Set custom durations for each media item
  • Organize content for different purposes
  • Assign playlists to devices
  • Preview playlist content
  • Manage playlist order and timing

Accessing Playlists​

Navigate to Playlist from the sidebar menu to view all your playlists.

![Screenshot: Playlists page showing a table/list of playlists with columns for Playlist Name, Media Items (count), Created date, Last Updated date, and Actions. Should show multiple playlists with different media counts.]

Playlist List View​

Playlist Table Columns​

The playlist table displays:

  • Playlist Name: Name of the playlist
  • Media Items: Number of files in the playlist
  • Created: Date and time of creation
  • Last Updated: Most recent modification date
  • Actions: Menu for playlist operations

![Screenshot: Close-up of the playlists table showing several rows with playlist names, media item counts displayed as chips/badges (e.g., "5 items"), creation dates, and update dates. Should highlight the media items column.]

Searching Playlists​

Use the search box to find playlists:

  • Search by playlist name
  • Partial matches supported
  • Case-insensitive search

![Screenshot: Search box with placeholder "Search playlists..." showing filtered results when typing a playlist name. Should show the search icon and filtered playlist list below.]

Creating a Playlist​

To create a new playlist:

  1. Click the "Create" button (top-right)
  2. In the dialog, enter a Playlist Name
  3. Click "Create" to create an empty playlist
  4. You'll be redirected to edit the playlist and add media

![Screenshot: Create Playlist dialog showing a form with "Playlist Name" field, placeholder text "Enter playlist name", and Create/Cancel buttons at the bottom. Should show the Create button enabled when name is entered.]

Naming Best Practices​

Use clear, descriptive names:

  • ✅ Good: "Morning Promotions - Q1 2024"
  • ✅ Good: "Lobby Welcome Screen"
  • ✅ Good: "Product Showcase - Electronics"
  • ❌ Avoid: "Playlist1", "Test", "New Playlist"

Editing a Playlist​

After creating a playlist, you'll need to add media files:

Adding Media to Playlist​

  1. Navigate to the playlist edit page (click playlist name or Actions → Edit)
  2. Click "Add Media" or use drag-and-drop
  3. Select media files from your library
  4. Media files will be added to the playlist

![Screenshot: Playlist edit page showing a list of available media files on the left or in a modal, with checkboxes or selection interface. Selected files should be highlighted, and an "Add to Playlist" button should be visible.]

Managing Playlist Items​

In the playlist editor, you can:

  • Reorder Items: Drag and drop to change sequence
  • Set Duration: Specify how long each item displays
  • Remove Items: Delete items from playlist
  • Preview: Preview individual items or entire playlist

![Screenshot: Playlist editor showing a list of playlist items with thumbnails, filenames, duration inputs (e.g., "10 seconds"), drag handles for reordering, and delete buttons. Should show at least 3-4 items in the playlist.]

Setting Media Durations​

For each media item in your playlist:

  1. Find the Duration field for the item
  2. Enter duration in seconds (e.g., 10, 15, 30)
  3. Duration applies to that specific item
  4. Default duration is usually 10 seconds

![Screenshot: Close-up of a playlist item showing the duration input field with a value like "10" and "seconds" label, with up/down arrows or a slider to adjust the duration.]

Reordering Playlist Items​

To change playback order:

  1. Use drag handles (⋮⋮) to drag items up or down
  2. Or use arrow buttons if available
  3. Order determines playback sequence
  4. Changes save automatically or click Save

![Screenshot: Playlist items with drag handles visible, showing one item being dragged to a new position with visual feedback (highlighted or shadow effect).]

Playlist Actions​

Access playlist actions via the three-dot menu:

  • Edit: Modify playlist content and settings
  • Preview: Preview playlist playback
  • Delete: Remove playlist (cannot be undone)

![Screenshot: Actions menu dropdown for a playlist showing Edit (with pencil icon), Preview (with play icon), and Delete (with trash icon in red). The menu should be positioned next to a playlist row.]

Previewing Playlists​

To preview a playlist:

  1. Click Actions → Preview
  2. Playlist will play in preview mode
  3. See how content appears and timing
  4. Adjust durations if needed

![Screenshot: Playlist preview interface showing a media player or preview window displaying the first item in the playlist, with playback controls, current item indicator, and playlist timeline showing all items.]

Deleting Playlists​

To delete a playlist:

  1. Click Actions → Delete
  2. Confirm deletion (if prompted)
  3. Playlist will be removed

Warning: Deleting a playlist will remove it from all assigned devices. Ensure no devices are using the playlist before deleting.

![Screenshot: Delete confirmation dialog showing a warning message like "Are you sure you want to delete this playlist? This will remove it from all assigned devices." with Cancel and Delete buttons.]

Playlist Configuration​

Default Duration​

Set a default duration for new items:

  • Usually 10 seconds per item
  • Can be customized per item
  • Longer durations for videos
  • Shorter durations for simple images

Playback Settings​

Configure how playlists play:

  • Loop: Playlist repeats continuously
  • Shuffle: Randomize playback order
  • Transition: Fade or cut between items

![Screenshot: Playlist settings panel showing options like "Default Duration: 10 seconds", "Loop Playlist" checkbox (checked), "Shuffle" checkbox (unchecked), and "Transition Effect" dropdown with options like "Fade", "Cut", "Slide".]

Assigning Playlists to Devices​

To assign a playlist to a device:

Method 1: From Device Details​

  1. Go to Devices page
  2. Click on a device to view details
  3. Find Playlist dropdown
  4. Select your playlist
  5. Click "Save Changes"

Method 2: From Playlist Page​

  1. Go to Playlists page
  2. Click Actions for a playlist
  3. Select "Assign to Devices" (if available)
  4. Choose devices
  5. Confirm assignment

![Screenshot: Device assignment interface showing a list of devices with checkboxes, allowing selection of multiple devices to assign the playlist to. Should show device names, locations, and current playlist assignments.]

Playlist Best Practices​

Content Organization​

  • Group Related Content: Keep similar media together
  • Logical Flow: Order items in a meaningful sequence
  • Balance: Mix images and videos appropriately
  • Length: Keep playlists manageable (10-20 items recommended)

Duration Guidelines​

  • Images: 5-15 seconds (depending on content complexity)
  • Videos: Let videos play fully or set specific duration
  • Text-Heavy: Allow more time for reading (15-20 seconds)
  • Simple Graphics: Can be shorter (5-8 seconds)

Naming Conventions​

Use consistent naming:

  • Include purpose: "Promotional", "Informational", "Welcome"
  • Include location: "Lobby", "Conference Room", "Reception"
  • Include time period: "Q1 2024", "Summer 2024"
  • Include content type: "Product Showcase", "Announcements"

Playlist Templates​

Consider creating templates:

  • Welcome Screen: Standard welcome content
  • Promotional: Sales and marketing content
  • Informational: General information and announcements
  • Emergency: Important alerts and notices

![Screenshot: Playlist templates or examples showing different playlist types with suggested names and purposes, helping users understand how to organize their playlists.]

Troubleshooting Playlists​

Playlist Not Playing​

If playlist isn't playing on device:

  1. Check Assignment: Verify playlist is assigned to device
  2. Verify Content: Ensure playlist has media files
  3. Check Device Status: Device must be online
  4. Review Schedule: Check if schedule is active
  5. Test Playlist: Preview playlist to verify it works

Media Not Loading​

If media files don't load:

  1. Check Media Library: Verify files exist and are accessible
  2. File Format: Ensure supported formats
  3. File Size: Check file size limits
  4. Network: Verify device connectivity

Playlist Too Long/Short​

Adjust playlist length:

  • Too Long: Remove unnecessary items or split into multiple playlists
  • Too Short: Add more content or increase item durations
  • Timing: Adjust individual item durations

Duplicating Playlists​

To create a similar playlist:

  1. Create a new playlist
  2. Manually add same media files
  3. Or use duplicate feature (if available)
  4. Modify as needed

![Screenshot: Duplicate playlist option in the actions menu or a "Duplicate" button, showing how to create a copy of an existing playlist.]

Playlist Analytics​

View playlist performance:

  • Usage statistics
  • Device assignments
  • Playback frequency
  • Content effectiveness

![Screenshot: Playlist analytics or statistics showing information like "Assigned to 5 devices", "Total playtime: 2,340 minutes", "Last played: 2 hours ago", etc.]

Next Steps​

Now that you understand playlists:

Tip: Create playlist templates for common use cases to speed up content creation!