Skip to main content

Creating and Managing Playlists

Learn how to create and manage playlists for reusable content sequences.

What are Playlists?​

Playlists in Castit are reusable collections of content that play in sequence. They allow you to:

  • Group related content together
  • Create reusable content sequences
  • Assign the same content to multiple screens
  • Manage content centrally
  • Update content across all screens using that playlist

Playlists vs. Screen Contents​

Playlists:

  • Reusable collections stored in the Playlists section
  • Can be assigned to multiple screens
  • Update once, affects all screens using it
  • Managed centrally

Screen Contents:

  • Content assigned directly to a specific screen
  • Unique to that screen
  • Can include playlists, library items, apps, and slides

Accessing Playlists​

  1. Click Playlists in the left sidebar
  2. You'll see the playlists list view with:
    • Search bar
    • Sort options (Sort by: Name)
    • View toggles (Grid/List)
    • Create playlist button (top-right)

Playlists List View​

Empty State​

When you have no playlists yet, you'll see:

  • "No playlists found" message
  • "You don't have any playlists yet. Create a new playlist to get started."
  • "Create a new playlist" button (center)

With Playlists​

Once you have playlists, they display as cards showing:

  • Thumbnail - Preview of first item or playlist icon
  • Playlist name
  • Status indicator - Green check for available
  • Duration - Total playback time (e.g., "00:02:16")

Example: "Default Playlist" with YouTube thumbnail and duration indicator.

Creating a New Playlist​

Step 1: Open Create Dialog​

Click either:

  • "Create a new playlist" button (center, when empty)
  • "Create playlist" button (top-right corner)

Step 2: Name Your Playlist​

The "Create playlist" dialog appears:

  • Dialog title: "Create playlist"
  • Instructions: "Create playlist by setting the name first."
  • Name field: Enter your playlist name
    • Placeholder: "New playlist"
    • Required field

Step 3: Create the Playlist​

  1. Enter a descriptive name
  2. Click "Create" button
  3. Playlist is created and opens automatically

Or click "Cancel" to abort creation.

Naming Best Practices​

Use clear, descriptive names:

  • Purpose-based: "Morning Announcements", "Lunch Menu", "Safety Tips"
  • Location-based: "Lobby Content", "Break Room Entertainment"
  • Time-based: "Weekday Schedule", "Weekend Promotions"
  • Campaign-based: "Q4 Sale", "Holiday 2025", "New Product Launch"

Playlist Detail View​

After creating a playlist, you see the playlist editor with two tabs:

Tab 1: Playlist Contents​

Manage the content in your playlist.

Tab 2: Availability​

Control when the playlist is available for use.

Adding Content to Playlists​

Playlist Contents Tab​

The main workspace for building your playlist:

Left Side: Content Canvas​

  • Drag and drop area for content items
  • Total duration displayed at top (e.g., "00:03:36")
  • Content items show as cards with:
    • Thumbnail preview
    • Content name
    • Type badge (IMAGE, VIDEO, etc.)
    • Duration in seconds
    • Editable duration field

Right Side: Content Sidebar​

Three tabs to access content:

LIBRARY Tab (default)

  • Browse your uploaded media
  • Images and videos
  • Search functionality
  • Click + to add items

APPS Tab

  • Available app integrations
  • Social media feeds
  • Business intelligence widgets
  • Interactive content

SLIDES Tab

  • Custom-created slides
  • Designed in Slide Creator
  • Graphics and text content

Adding Content Methods​

Method 1: Click to Add​

  1. Browse content in the right sidebar
  2. Click the + (plus) button next to any item
  3. Content is added to the playlist canvas

Method 2: Drag and Drop​

  1. Click and drag an item from the sidebar
  2. Drop it onto the playlist canvas
  3. Content appears in the sequence

Content Types in Playlists​

Images​

  • JPEG, PNG, GIF files
  • Badge: IMAGE
  • Set custom duration (seconds)
  • Example: "Default Image" - 8 seconds

Videos​

  • MP4, AVI, MOV files
  • Badge: VIDEO
  • Duration is video length
  • Example: "FrontAssist-Digital-Reception-Video-v1.mp4" - 208 seconds

Apps​

  • Dynamic content widgets
  • Real-time data
  • Social media feeds

Slides​

  • Custom-created graphics
  • Text and image combinations
  • Professional signage content

Managing Playlist Content​

Arranging Content Order​

To change playback sequence:

  1. Click and hold a content item
  2. Drag to desired position
  3. Drop in place
  4. Content plays in left-to-right, top-to-bottom order

Setting Duration​

Each content item has a Duration field:

  1. Locate the duration input (shows seconds)
  2. Enter desired duration in seconds
  3. Duration updates automatically

Example durations:

  • Images/Slides: 8-15 seconds
  • Videos: Full video length (auto-detected)
  • Apps: Based on refresh rate

Total Duration​

The "Total duration" appears at the top:

  • Format: HH:MM:SS
  • Example: "00:03:36" (3 minutes, 36 seconds)
  • Represents complete playlist loop time

Removing Content​

To remove an item:

  1. Hover over the content card
  2. Click delete/remove icon (typically X or trash)
  3. Item is removed from playlist

Empty Content State​

When playlist has no content:

Drag or add content from
the right sidebar.

You can arrange the items
by dragging and dropping.

Indicates:

  • Playlist is ready for content
  • Use right sidebar to add items
  • Drag and drop to arrange

Playlist Availability​

Availability Tab​

Controls when the playlist can be used on screens.

Similar to Screen Availability, playlists have three modes:

Always Available (Selected by Default)​

  • Description: "Shown indefinitely"
  • Playlist always available for use
  • No time restrictions
  • Most common setting

Note displayed:

"Will be available to users indefinitely. All scheduled settings will be ignored."

Date Range​

  • Description: "Specific dates only"
  • Playlist available only during date range
  • Useful for seasonal or campaign-specific playlists

Custom Schedule​

  • Description: "Set per day"
  • Control availability by day/time
  • Complex scheduling patterns

Saving Availability Settings​

  1. Select desired availability mode
  2. Click "Save changes" button
  3. Or click "Reset" to revert changes

Playlist Actions​

Top-Right Action Buttons​

When viewing a playlist, you have access to:

Delete (Red trash icon)​

  • Remove the playlist
  • Confirms before deletion
  • Affects screens using this playlist

Preview (Eye icon)​

  • Preview playlist playback
  • See content sequence
  • Check timing and transitions

Duplicate​

  • Create a copy of the playlist
  • Useful for creating variations
  • Can rename and modify the copy

Edit Playlist Name​

Click the pencil/edit icon next to the playlist name to rename it.

Playlist Status​

  • "AVAILABLE" badge (green) - Playlist is ready to use
  • Indicates playlist can be assigned to screens

Using Playlists on Screens​

Once created, playlists can be:

  1. Assigned to Screens

    • Go to Screens > Screen contents
    • Select PLAYLIST tab in sidebar
    • Add playlist to screen

  2. Updated Centrally

    • Changes to playlist affect all screens using it
    • Update once, deploys everywhere
    • Efficient content management

  3. Reused Multiple Times

    • Same playlist on multiple screens
    • Consistent content across locations
    • Easier to maintain

Best Practices​

Playlist Organization​

  1. Create Purpose-Specific Playlists

    • Don't mix unrelated content
    • Keep focused on theme or purpose
    • Easier to manage and update

  2. Logical Naming

    • Use clear, descriptive names
    • Include purpose or location
    • Make it searchable

  3. Appropriate Length

    • 2-5 minutes typical
    • Not too short (looks repetitive)
    • Not too long (never completes)

  4. Content Mix

    • Vary content types
    • Mix images and videos
    • Include dynamic content (apps)
    • Keep it engaging

Duration Settings​

Images and Slides:

  • 8-15 seconds each
  • Enough time to read
  • Not too long (boring)

Videos:

  • Full video length
  • Don't cut videos short
  • Consider video pacing

Total Playlist:

  • 2-5 minutes common
  • Consider audience dwell time
  • Match to location needs

Content Quality​

  • Use high-resolution images
  • Optimize file sizes
  • Test on actual displays
  • Ensure readability from viewing distance

Maintenance​

  1. Regular Updates

    • Keep content fresh
    • Remove outdated items
    • Add new content regularly

  2. Test Before Deploying

    • Preview playlist
    • Check duration and pacing
    • Verify all content displays correctly

  3. Monitor Performance

    • Check screens using playlist
    • Verify content plays correctly
    • Adjust based on feedback

Common Use Cases​

Restaurant Menu Board Playlist​

Playlist: "Lunch Menu Items"
Duration: 3 minutes

- Appetizers slide (10 sec)
- Soup of the day photo (8 sec)
- Entrée 1 photo (10 sec)
- Entrée 2 photo (10 sec)
- Entrée 3 photo (10 sec)
- Desserts slide (12 sec)
- Drinks menu slide (10 sec)
- Daily special video (60 sec)
- Restaurant ambiance video (50 sec)

Corporate Announcements Playlist​

Playlist: "Office Updates - Weekly"
Duration: 4 minutes

- Welcome slide (10 sec)
- Company news slide (15 sec)
- This week's events (12 sec)
- Employee spotlight photo (10 sec)
- Safety reminder slide (12 sec)
- IT updates slide (15 sec)
- Upcoming holidays slide (10 sec)
- LinkedIn feed app (30 sec)
- Company values video (90 sec)
- Thank you slide (10 sec)

Retail Promotion Playlist​

Playlist: "Weekend Sale"
Duration: 2.5 minutes

- Sale banner slide (8 sec)
- Featured product 1 photo (10 sec)
- Featured product 2 photo (10 sec)
- Featured product 3 photo (10 sec)
- Discount details slide (12 sec)
- Customer testimonial (10 sec)
- Instagram feed (30 sec)
- Store hours slide (10 sec)
- Promotional video (60 sec)

Troubleshooting​

Can't Create Playlist​

  • Check account permissions
  • Verify you're logged in
  • Try refreshing browser
  • Contact support if issue persists

Content Not Adding​

  • Check content exists in library
  • Verify content isn't corrupted
  • Try different content item
  • Check browser console for errors

Duration Not Saving​

  • Enter valid number (seconds)
  • Check for error messages
  • Ensure changes are saved
  • Try refreshing and re-entering

Playlist Not Appearing on Screens​

  • Verify playlist availability settings
  • Check screen's playlist tab
  • Ensure playlist has content
  • Confirm playlist status is "Available"

Next Steps​

After creating playlists: