About
Put one playlist inside another. The sub-playlist shows as a box on a slide of the parent playlist and plays all its own slides there. This is how zones work: main content, offers on the side and news at the bottom, each changing on its own. Or rotate a set of ads, one per loop. Available on all plans.
Get Started
The playlist inside is the sub-playlist; the one that holds it is the parent playlist (older pages say master playlist). Your playlists are at my.playsignage.com/playlists.
Add and set up
Add a sub-playlist to a slide
- Create the playlist you want to show inside another, and add its slides
- Open the parent playlist in the editor, and the slide where it should go
- Click Playlists in the top toolbar (or Plugins, then the Playlist-in-playlist tile)
- Click the playlist. Sort, filter or open folders to find it
- Drag the box into place and resize it from the corners, or type Left, Top, Width and Height
- Choose how long the slide plays (see the next item), and click Publish
The box keeps the shape of the sub-playlist and can’t be rotated. In the editor it shows the sub-playlist’s first slide; click Preview in the settings to see it play. The playlist you’re editing isn’t in the list, because a playlist can’t contain itself.
Choose how long the sub-playlist plays
The parent slide’s duration decides when the parent playlist moves on. If it’s shorter than the sub-playlist, only part of the sub-playlist shows; if it’s longer, the sub-playlist starts over. Pick one:
- Play it once: click Set slide duration to …. It sets the parent slide to the sub-playlist’s play time. Click it again if the sub-playlist changes
- Move on after each loop: turn on Advance parent after each loop. Handy when the sub-playlist changes often
- One slide at a time: turn on Advance parent after each slide. Each time the parent comes around, the next slide of the sub-playlist shows
For zones, where the parent has one slide, leave it on Play this slide forever so all zones keep playing.
Make zones that fill the whole screen
- Go to Playlists, click Create playlist, pick a layout and click Create
Play makes the parent playlist and one sub-playlist per zone, all the right size. If no layout fits, create one playlist per zone with the exact size of that zone, and add them all to one slide of the parent. See Zones.
Show one ad from a set each time your playlist loops
- Put the ads in their own playlist
- Add it to a slide in your main playlist
- Select the box and turn on Advance parent after each slide
Each time the main playlist reaches that slide, the next ad shows, and then the main playlist moves on.
Change and remove
Change what a sub-playlist shows
- Select the box, and click the sub-playlist’s name (with the small arrow) in the settings. It opens in a new tab
- Change the slides, and click Publish in the sub-playlist
Every group, schedule and tag that uses a parent of this playlist is published with it. If the playlist is used in several places, the change shows everywhere.
Show a different playlist in a box
You can’t swap the playlist in a box. Note its Left, Top, Width and Height, delete the box, add the other playlist, put it in the same spot, set the options and publish. For different content in the same spot, just edit the sub-playlist.
Remove a sub-playlist from a slide
- Select the box (unlock it first if it’s locked)
- Click the trash can (Remove), or press Delete or Backspace
- Publish the parent playlist
The sub-playlist itself isn’t deleted.
See where a playlist is used
- Go to Playlists
- Hover over the small sitemap icon on the playlist
You see the groups and schedules that use it, and a line like “Slide 1 in Lobby screen” for each parent playlist.
Delete a playlist that is used as a sub-playlist
- On Playlists, click the gear icon on the playlist, then Remove, and confirm
- If it’s in use, This Playlist is in use lists the parents under Used as sub-playlist (click one to open that slide), and any groups, schedules and tags
- Click Remove to delete it anyway, or Cancel
The box is removed from those slides. Slides that held nothing else are deleted; on other slides the empty spot is cleaned up when someone opens the slide (Sub-playlist has been deleted, removed it from the slide as well.). Check the parent playlists afterwards and publish them. Deleting a parent made from a layout deletes its zone playlists too (This will remove all sub-zones as well).
Options
Adding a sub-playlist
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Playlists (top toolbar) | Opens the Playlists window |
| Plugins → Playlist-in-playlist | Does the same |
| Sort | By name, date or last publish |
| Filter… | Searches by playlist name |
| Folders | Click to open; use the path at the top to go back |
Each playlist shows its play time, aspect ratio and number of slides.
Settings of the box (select it)
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Fit to canvas, align left, center, right, top, middle or bottom, and lock |
| Playlist info | Play time, number of slides, aspect ratio, and Preview |
| Set slide duration to … | Sets the parent slide to one loop of the sub-playlist |
| Continue from previously played slide | Off by default. Starts from the next slide each time, instead of the first, so every slide gets its turn |
| Advance parent after each slide | Off by default. Shows one slide, then moves the parent on. Also turns on Continue from previously played slide and sets the parent slide to play forever |
| Advance parent after each loop | Off by default. Plays all slides once, then moves the parent on. Sets the parent slide to play forever |
| How it works? | Short explanations under each switch |
| Link to the sub-playlist | Opens it in the editor in a new tab |
| Positioning | Left and Top |
| Sizing | Width and Height (the shape stays the same) |
Use only one Advance parent switch at a time. Turning one off doesn’t change the slide duration back: the slide stays on play forever until you set a duration or click Set slide duration to …. The switches only show when the sub-playlist has a play time, so not when one of its slides plays forever.
In a zone playlist made from a layout, the small arrow next to Preview opens Preview parent, showing all zones together.
FAQ
How it plays
Why does only part of my sub-playlist play?
The parent slide is shorter than the sub-playlist. Click Set slide duration to …, or turn on Advance parent after each loop. To carry on where it stopped next time, turn on Continue from previously played slide.
Why can't I see the Advance parent switches?
A slide in the sub-playlist plays forever, so it has no end. Give that slide a duration and they appear.
Does the sub-playlist keep its own durations and slide conditions?
Yes, and its own transitions. Each slide’s conditions are checked; if none of them can play and Advance parent after each loop is on, the parent slide is skipped. The parent slide still decides how long the box shows, unless you use an Advance parent option. Slide conditions need Pro or Ultimate.
Can a sub-playlist have a different shape than the parent?
Yes. It’s scaled to fit the box without stretching; if the box has another shape, part of it stays empty.
Can a sub-playlist have a transparent background?
Yes, so the parent slide shows through. See Transparent Background.
How deep can I nest playlists?
There’s no limit, but each playlist uses the player’s memory and power. On entry-level devices, keep it to one level.
Publishing and managing
Do I need to publish every parent when I change a sub-playlist?
No. Publishing the sub-playlist publishes every group, schedule and tag that uses one of its parents. And publishing a parent also publishes its sub-playlists, including saved changes that weren’t published yet.
Can I use the same playlist in several places?
Yes: on several slides, in several parents, or more than once on one slide. It’s a link, not a copy, so a change shows everywhere.
Can a playlist contain itself, or two playlists each other?
No. If A contains B and B contains A, publishing shows Detected sub-playlist circular reference loop starting with playlist … and the loop isn’t played. Remove one of them.
Can I use a zone playlist as a group's base playlist?
No. Zone playlists made from a layout can’t be a base playlist. Use the parent playlist.
Why aren't my sub-playlists indented on the Playlists page?
Only zone playlists made from a layout are shown under their parent. Play doesn’t know which custom sub-playlist belongs where (one can be used in many places). It’s only how the list looks; everything works the same.
Which plans include it?
All plans. Some things you might use inside, like slide conditions, need Pro or Ultimate.
Which players support it?
All our player apps. Advance parent after each slide came later, so keep your player app up to date.
