Play Rules Best Practices

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When content includes nested elements (collection with playlists), play rules are evaluated in this order:

  1. Collection entry level - Evaluated first

  2. Nested playlist level - Evaluated second (only if collection entry is eligible)

  3. Playlist item level - Evaluated last

The player checks eligibility at each level before proceeding to the next. If any level fails, the content won't play.

Do

  • Set rules at ONE level (collection entry, OR playlist entries within zones)

  • Test rules with a simple setup first

  • Document your rule strategy for your team

  • Use time ranges for time-sensitive content (menus, greetings)

  • Use Custom Recurrence (RRules) for complex scheduling patterns

  • Use labels for location-specific filtering

  • Use date ranges for seasonal or campaign content

  • Set lead zones when you have playlists in zones and multiple collection entries

Don’t

  • Set conflicting rules at multiple levels (collection entry AND playlist)

  • Create rules that can never both be true simultaneously

  • Over-complicate with too many rule combinations initially

  • Forget that rules are filters (content must be eligible when checked)

  • Mix landscape and portrait layouts in the same collection if displays have fixed orientation