Playlist Configuration in Advision: Playlist Types, Playback Parameters, and Content Management

Playlist Configuration and Types

Creating a playlist requires the following mandatory fields:

  • Name
  • Playback period (start date and end date)
  • Days of the week
  • Broadcast time

Playback Period

The playback period defines the timeframe during which the playlist is active:

  • The start date is the first day the playlist becomes available for playback.
  • The end date is the last day the playlist may be played.

Days of the Week

These specify the days within the playback period when the playlist is allowed to run. If a day is not selected, the playlist will not be played on that day, even if it falls within the playback period.

Broadcast Time

Defines the daily time interval during which the playlist is eligible for playback on the selected days.

Advanced Playlist Options

Advanced settings include the following additional fields:

  • Category
  • Start at
  • End at
  • Playlist type
  • Playback order
  • Refresh

Category

The category is used when scheduling multiple playlists on the same screen.

If several playlists belonging to different categories are assigned to the same screen, the scheduling algorithm avoids placing playlists from the same category consecutively whenever possible.

For example, if a user schedules:

  • 2 playlists in the Transport category
  • 2 playlists in the Telecommunications category

the playback order will be:

Transport → Telecommunications → Transport → Telecommunications

instead of playing both Transport playlists back-to-back.

Start at / End at

These settings define:

  • the exact time playback begins on the first day of the playback period;
  • the exact time playback ends on the last day of the playback period.

Playlist Types

A playlist can be configured as one of the following types:

  • Filler
  • Periodic
  • Floating
  • Block

Filler Playlist

A filler playlist continuously loops through its content from the first item to the last and then starts over, filling all available broadcast time.

Periodic Playlist

A periodic playlist schedules its content at a fixed interval specified by the user.

For example, if two media files are configured with a 5-minute interval, both files will be played every five minutes.

This type is recommended for time-critical content that must appear at regular intervals. The remaining broadcast time can be filled using a Filler playlist.

Floating Playlist

A floating playlist works similarly to a periodic playlist. However, instead of defining the playback interval, the user specifies the number of times the playlist should be played during the selected broadcast period.

The system automatically distributes these playbacks throughout the available time.

Block Playlist

A block playlist allows the user to define:

  • the duration of a playback block;
  • the number of times each media item should be played within that block.

Playback Order

The following playback modes are available for Filler, Periodic, and Floating playlists:

  • Sequential
  • Reverse
  • Random
  • One of

Sequential

Media files are played in the order they appear in the playlist.

Reverse

Media files are played in reverse order.

Random

The playback order is randomized.

One of

Only one media item is played during each scheduled playlist occurrence.

For example, assume a Periodic playlist:

  • interval: 5 minutes
  • playback order: One of
  • media files: A, B, C

The playback sequence will be:

  • 00:00 — File A
  • 00:05 — File B
  • 00:10 — File C
  • 00:15 — File A
  • ...and so on.

Each scheduled occurrence plays only one file, cycling through the playlist.

Playlist Content

A playlist may contain:

  • audio files;
  • video files;
  • images;
  • HTML content;
  • ZIP archives containing HTML content.

Content can be:

  • uploaded from the user's local device; or
  • selected from the media gallery.

Content Controls

Hovering over a media item displays several control options.

Remove from Playlist

A red trash icon in the upper-left corner removes the media item from the playlist.

The media file itself remains available in the user's gallery.

Add to Favorites

An orange star icon adds the media item to Favorites in the gallery.

Change Position

Arrow controls in the center of the thumbnail allow the media item to be moved within the playlist.

Multi-select

A checkbox in the upper-right corner enables selection of multiple media items.

After selecting one or more items, the Edit button becomes available.

Using the Edit menu, the selected media items can be:

  • Deactivate – the media remains in the playlist but is excluded from scheduling.

    Change Duration – customize playback duration.

    • For video files, a shorter duration can be specified (for example, half of the original video length).
    • For images, the display duration can also be configured.
  • Remove – detach the selected media items from the playlist while keeping the original files in the media gallery.
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