Signagelive provides powerful tools for managing and displaying your digital signage content. Two fundamental components you will encounter are Layouts and Playlists. Although both relate to content display, they serve distinct purposes. Understanding the key differences between them is essential for effective content scheduling and presentation.
Have a look at this video to observe the differences between a Playlist and a Layout.
What is a Playlist?
A Playlist in Signagelive defines the sequence of content that will play within a single region of a Layout. It's essentially a list of media assets (videos, images, web pages, etc.) that will play one after another, according to a defined schedule.
Here's what a Playlist enables you to do:
Content Sequencing: You determine the order in which your media assets will be displayed.
Scheduling: Playlists allow you to set specific start and end times for individual items within the playlist or for the entire playlist. You can also define how long each media item plays.
Content Repository: A Playlist serves as a container for your media files, facilitating the grouping and management of related content.
Dynamic Content Delivery: While a layout provides the structure, a playlist delivers the actual content that fills this structure over time. You can easily update a playlist to change the content in a specific area without altering the layout.
Example Use Case for a Playlist:
Continuing with the restaurant menu board example, for the "daily specials" region in your Layout, you would create a Playlist containing:
An image of today's soup special (plays for 10 seconds).
A video showcasing a new dessert (plays for 30 seconds).
An image of a limited-time offer (plays for 15 seconds).
This Playlist would then loop or adhere to a specific schedule within that dedicated region of the layout.
What is Layout?
In Signagelive, a Layout defines the structure or design of your screen. Think of it as a canvas divided into one or more independent regions. Each region within a Layout can display different content simultaneously.
Here's a breakdown of what a Layout allows you to do:
Screen Division: You can split your screen into multiple zones (e.g., one large area for a main video, a smaller sidebar for news tickers, and a bottom strip for social media feeds).
Content Independence: Each region in a Layout can be assigned its content and playback schedule that operates independently of other regions. This means you could play a video in one area while an image slideshow runs in another, and a live web page displays in a third.
Design Flexibility: Layouts provide the framework for your visual presentation, allowing you to create dynamic and engaging screen designs. You define the size, position, and layering of each region.
Static Structure: A Layout itself is a static design. It dictates where content will appear on the screen, but not what specific content will play or when it will play (that's where Playlists come in!).
Example Use Case for a Layout:
Imagine a restaurant menu board. You could create a Layout with:
A large central region for daily specials.
A smaller region on the right for promotions.
A bottom ticker region for social media updates or allergy information.
Key Differences Summarised (Playlists and Layouts)
Feature | Layout | Playlist |
Purpose | Defines the screen structure and regions. | Defines the sequence of content within a single region. |
Focus | Where the content will be displayed. | What content will be displayed and when? |
Content | Contains empty regions. | Contains actual media files (videos, images, web pages, etc.). |
Nature | Static design template. | Dynamic list of playable content. |
Relation | A Layout contains one or more regions, each of which can be assigned a Playlist. | A Playlist is assigned to a specific region within a Layout. |
By leveraging both Layouts and Playlists effectively, you can create sophisticated and dynamic digital signage experiences tailored to your specific needs.