🎉 New to Skykit? Get up and running fast — Free live training + on-demand resources — Start here →

Collections & Layouts: Common Setup Scenarios

  • Updated on Oct 28, 2026
  • Published on Feb 16, 2026
Prev Next

In this article, we will explore several typical scenarios regarding the arrangement of layouts within a collection.

Scenario 1: Simple Full-Screen Rotation

Goal: Rotate through multiple full-screen images or videos

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add single-pane layout (landscape or portrait based on display)

  3. Add playlist to the zone (containing all your content)

  4. Assign to displays

Scenario 2: Static Header with Rotating Content

Goal: Company logo at top, rotating announcements below

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add two-pane layout (horizontal split, top/bottom)

  3. Top zone: Add your logo image

  4. Bottom zone: Add playlist with announcements

  5. Set bottom zone as lead zone (to ensure all announcements play before cycling)

  6. Assign to displays

Scenario 3: Multi-Zone Dashboard

Goal: Three static data displays plus one rotating video feed

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add four-pane layout

  3. Three zones: Add your static dashboard content

  4. Fourth zone: Add video playlist

  5. Set playlist zone as lead zone (to ensure all videos complete before advancing)

  6. Assign to displays

Scenario 4: Time-Based Content Switching

Goal: Breakfast menu 6am-11am, lunch menu 11am-2pm, dinner menu 2pm-close

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add three single-pane layouts (one collection entry for each meal)

  3. Add menu content to each layout

  4. Set play rules on each collection entry:

    1. Entry 1: Time range 6:00am - 11:00am

    2. Entry 2: Time range 11:00am - 2:00pm

    3. Entry 3: Time range 2:00pm - 11:59pm

  5. Assign to displays

Scenario 5: Location-Specific Content

Goal: Same collection structure, but different content for different store locations

Setup:

  1. Ensure displays are labeled by location (e.g., "Store-NYC", "Store-LA")

  2. Create collection with your desired layout

  3. Add playlists to zones

  4. Within playlists, set play rules on entries using display labels

  5. Content automatically filters based on which display is playing it

Scenario 6: Recurring Weekly Content

Goal: Display specific content only on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add your layout with content

  3. Set play rules on the collection entry

  4. Use Custom Recurrence (RRules) to set "Every Tuesday and Thursday"

  5. Assign to displays

Scenario 7: Portrait Display with Multi-Zone Layout

Goal: Vertical way-finding display with header, main content area, and footer

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Select Portrait orientation

  3. Add three-pane layout (stacked vertically)

  4. Top zone: Static header with building name/logo

  5. Middle zone: Playlist with directional content (set as lead zone)

  6. Bottom zone: Static footer with emergency contact info

  7. Assign to portrait-oriented displays

Scenario 8: Multiple Entries with Lead Zone Control

Goal: Two different four-pane layouts that should each complete fully before switching

Setup:

  1. Create collection

  2. Add first four-pane layout entry

  3. Add content to all zones, with one zone containing a playlist

  4. Set the playlist zone as lead zone for this entry

  5. Add second four-pane layout entry

  6. Add different content, with another playlist

  7. Set that playlist zone as lead zone for this entry

  8. Collection will now wait for each entry's lead zone to complete before advancing

Scenario 9: Reuse an Existing Program with a Single-Zone Entry

Goal: Use previously created Programs in New Collections & Layouts

  1. Create Collection

  2. Select + and choose Program

  3. Select a Single-zone Program to play in a single or multi-zone layout

  4. Collection will now wait for each entry's lead zone to complete before advancing

Scenario 10: Stack Playlists in Sequence in a Collection by Copying Entries

Goal: Fewer clicks for repeat layouts, simply update one zone

  1. Open the collection

  2. Select the number of the entry you want to copy

  3. Click Copy Entry

  4. A message appears: "Do you want to copy this Entry? A copy of this Entry includes its content and play rules, will be added to this Collection."

  5. Click Copy Entry

  6. The copy appears directly below the original

  7. Rename the copy so you can tell the two apart

  8. Click the + icon in each zone to swap in new content

  9. Click Publish

Note: Copying an entry keeps its content, play rules, layout and orientation, so you don't have to rebuild it.

Tip: Check the play rules on the copy before you publish. It starts with the same rules as the original, so update them if the copy should play at a different time or on different displays.

Related articles