---
title: "Moving From Programs to Collections"
slug: "moving-from-programs-to-collections"
updated: 2026-10-02T19:08:23Z
published: 2026-10-02T19:08:23Z
canonical: "support.skykit.com/moving-from-programs-to-collections"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.skykit.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Moving From Programs to Collections

Why Collections & Layouts?

Collections & Layouts makes it easier to build multi-zone screens than Programs, and content will play more reliably on an improved rendering engine. Your Programs will continue to work as they did before, but we recommend transitioning from creating Programs to using Collections & Layouts.

## **What's New**

With Collections & Layouts, you build each screen visually and choose what goes in each zone:

- **A single piece of content**, like a logo, image, video or weather widget
- **A Playlist**, when you want content to rotate in that zone

That's the big difference from Programs. In a Program, each zone holds one item, so rotating content means building a new segment for every item. In a Collection, you drop a Playlist into the zone and you're done.

You also get:

- **A visual editor** in portrait or landscape
- **Play rules** on layouts, playlists and individual items
- **Lead zones**, so your main content finishes before the screen moves on
- **Smoother playback** from a newer playback engine

> **Example:**
> 
> One customer had a four-zone screen with 100 rotating videos. As a program, that took 292 panes set up by hand. As a collection, it became 3 zones with single content items and 1 zone with a playlist, and their players stopped crashing.

## **Your Programs Still Work**

Nothing is being taken away. Your Programs keep playing on your displays, and you can keep editing them. We recommend Collections & Layouts for anything new you build.

---

## **Recreate a Program as a Collection**

1. Open the program in one browser tab so you can refer to it
2. In a second tab, navigate to **Collections** and click the **+ Collection** button
3. Click **Add Entry**, choose an orientation, and choose the layout that matches your program's zones
4. Click the **+** icon in each zone and add:
  1. The **same content item**, if that zone shows one thing, like a logo or header
  2. A **playlist**, if that zone rotates content
5. Click **Publish**

> **Note:**
> 
> If a zone has a playlist, open the zone's **Settings**, toggle **Lead Zone** to **Enabled** and click **Update**. This keeps the layout on screen until the whole Playlist has played. The **Crown** icon shows which zone is the lead zone.

## **Switch Your Displays**

1. Check the Collection on a test display or in **Live View**
2. Navigate to **Displays**, select the display and click **Change**
3. Click the **Media** dropdown menu, select **Collection**, and choose your new collection

Keep the old Program until the new Collection has been running correctly for a few days.

## **Not Ready to Rebuild? Use Your Program in a Collection**

Add a **single-zone entry** to a new collection and put your existing program in it. The program plays normally, so you can move your displays to collections now and rebuild the program later.

> ⚠️ **Important:**
> 
> Programs can only be used in single-zone entries. See [Programs in Collections: What Plays Where](https://support.skykit.com/docs/programs-in-collections).

## **Tips for Success**

- **Start with one display group**, not everything at once
- **Copy entries** to reuse a layout, then swap in new content
- **Name things clearly**, for example "Lobby – Main (Collection)"
- **Avoid three or more videos playing at once.** Use images or GIFs in secondary zones.
- **Set play rules at one level only**, either on the entry or on the playlist

## **Need Help?**

Your Skykit team can help you plan the move, especially if you have a lot of programs. Contact **support@skykit.com** or your Customer Success Manager.

## **Related articles**

- [Programs in Collections: What Plays Where](https://support.skykit.com/docs/programs-in-collections) Skykit Beam > Collections > Collections & Layouts
- [How to Set Up Collections & Layouts (New Edition)](https://support.skykit.com/docs/how-to-set-up-collections-layouts) Skykit Beam > Collections > Collections & Layouts
- [Common Setup Scenarios](https://support.skykit.com/docs/common-setup-scenarios) Skykit Beam > Collections > Collections & Layouts