Build a playlist

A playlist is the list of slides a screen plays, in order, on a loop. You build it once in CastWize Studio and can put it on one screen or many.

Step 1: upload your images and videos

1. In Studio, open Media Library.
2. Click Upload media and choose your files, or drag them anywhere onto the page.
3. Optional: click New folder to keep things tidy, for example one folder per menu or per season.

You can also pick images and videos straight from Google Drive. See Show Google Drive images and videos.

Step 2: create the playlist

1. Open Playlists and click New playlist.
2. Type a name, such as "Lunch menu", and click Create.
3. Open the new playlist.

Step 3: add slides

1. Click Add slide.
2. Choose what the slide shows on the left: Image, Video, Text, Webpage or Widget.
3. For an image or video, pick the file under Media. Files are grouped by folder.
4. Click Add. The slide fills the whole screen.
5. Repeat for every slide you want.

To make several text slides at once, use Multi Create in the same window: type one line per slide, such as "Open 9am to 5pm" and "Free Wi-Fi", and click the Create button, which shows how many slides it will make.

Step 4: set timing and order

1. Click a slide in the list on the left. Its settings appear on the right.
2. Set Duration in seconds. New slides show for 10 seconds. A video slide starts with the length of its clip, so the whole video plays.
3. Pick an Animation for how the slide comes in: None, Fade, Slide or Zoom.
4. Drag slides by their handle to change the order.
5. Tick Shuffle under Playlist if you want a mixed order instead.

The preview in the middle plays the playlist the way a screen will. Changes save as you make them.

Step 5: put the playlist on a screen

1. Open Screens and click the screen.
2. Under What's playing, choose the playlist for the Main zone.
3. Click Preview to check it, then Publish. The screen updates within a few seconds.

To put the same playlist on many screens at once, use Groups: a group plays one playlist on all the screens in it.

Do I have to publish again after I edit a playlist?

No. Screens that play the playlist pick up your edits at their next sync, about every 15 seconds. New images and videos are downloaded to the player first, so a large video can take a little longer to appear.

Can I put a slide on hold without deleting it?

Yes. Select it and click Stash. It stops playing but stays in the playlist. Click Show stashed slides and then Restore to bring it back.

Does video play with sound?

No. All video plays muted on every CastWize player. There is no audio option.

Can I put several things on one slide?

Yes. Select the slide and click Edit slide, then use Add object to place more images, text or widgets, and drag them into position. To show different playlists side by side, use a zone layout instead.