Dropping files onto the cue list is the quickest way to build a list, and the program accepts much more than media files alone.
Where the material is placed
You can drop material anywhere on the list, and a line shows where it will go. This also works inside a group, so you can drop a block of clips exactly where it belongs.
If you drop material onto the header of a collapsed group, the program adds it to that group.
What it accepts
| What you drop | Result |
|---|---|
| Video and audio files | A media cue for each file |
| Images | A still for each image |
| A folder | A group with the contents of the folder |
.m3u, .m3u8, .pls | A media playlist |
A Windows shortcut (.url) | The link in the shortcut |
| A web address | A media cue if the address plays directly. Otherwise a web page |
.playoutgroup | The exported group, added to your list |
.playoutbundle | The group, with its media unpacked |
.playout | A complete list. The program first asks what to do. See below |
When you drop a .playout file, the Import window opens. You can replace your current list, or add the list as one block where you dropped it or in another place. See importing and exporting. Adding lets you build a service from parts that other people prepared.
What it refuses
The program does not add file types that it cannot read. You get one message that lists all skipped files, not a message for each file, so you notice a missing line at once and not during the broadcast.
The most common case is a video file in a container that the program does not support. Convert such a file, or export it again as mp4.
Dropping while the show runs
You can safely drop material onto a running list. It does not affect the cue on air, it does not arm anything, and it does not renumber what is playing.
This is the normal way to handle something unplanned: drop the file into the list, arm it and start it.
Practical notes
The order follows your selection. The program adds the files in the order in which File Explorer shows them. If the order matters, give the files names that sort in the right order.
A folder needs one action. Fifteen photos in a folder become one group with fifteen stills, which is quicker than selecting all photos and gives a tidier list.
Network paths work, but they are the usual reason why a cue starts slightly late. For material that must not stutter, copy the media to the computer first.