# Playlists and programs

Bundle content into playlists, plan with programs what runs when, and step in when something else has to show right away.

> **Type:** area
> **For:** anyone who decides what runs on the displays and when
> **Where in the portal:** **Playlists** and **Programs**

![The Programs page with the tile grid: one card for each program with a preview of the base program, name, number of program entries, and assignment, above it Create program and the search field](/programs/bilder/d8b77468-overview.png)

## Understand

How a display chooses between an override, a program entry, and the base program.

| Page | When you need it |
|---|---|
| [How does a display decide what to play?](/programs/about-programs) | You are planning for the first time, or a display shows something you didn't expect. |

## Playlists

A playlist rotates scenes, images, videos, and app contents in a loop, picked by hand or filled from a folder.

| Page | When you need it |
|---|---|
| [Create a playlist](/programs/create-playlist) | Several scenes, media items, or app contents should take turns on a display. |
| [Fill a playlist automatically from a folder or tags](/programs/automatic-playlists) | A rotation should keep itself up to date as files are added. |
| [Manage playlists](/programs/manage-playlists) | You want to rename, copy, or delete playlists, or see where one runs. |

## Programs

A program says what runs when: the base program for normal hours, program entries for the exceptions.

| Page | When you need it |
|---|---|
| [Create a program](/programs/create-program) | A display should follow a weekly plan. |
| [Show content at specific times](/programs/create-program-entry) | Something else should run at certain times, such as a lunch menu at noon. |
| [Read the weekly plan](/programs/read-weekly-plan) | You want to know what the colors and blocks in the weekly plan mean. |
| [Schedule off-air time](/programs/schedule-off-air) | A display should stay blank at night or on closing days. |
| [Manage programs](/programs/manage-programs) | You want to rename or delete programs, or see where one runs. |

## Step in

For when something else has to show right away.

| Page | When you need it |
|---|---|
| [Show something else now, such as an urgent notice](/programs/start-override) | Something has to appear on a display right away, without changing the program. |