Priority & Conflicts
What plays when more than one schedule or override applies at the same time.
Two schedules can apply to the same screen at the same time, for example a group schedule for a menu and a location schedule for a promo. Stratos always plays exactly one thing, and these rules decide which.
The rules, in order
Section titled “The rules, in order”- Overrides beat schedules.
- An emergency override beats a normal override.
- Between two overrides of the same kind, the one that started latest wins.
- Among schedules, the one with the higher priority wins.
- If priorities are equal, the newest schedule (most recently created) wins.
- If nothing applies, the screen plays its fallback content, then the workspace default.
Where a schedule comes from doesn’t matter: a schedule on a screen, its group or its location are all treated alike and compete on the rules above.
Setting a priority
Section titled “Setting a priority”In the schedule form, under Overlaps, switch on Win when schedules overlap and choose a Priority level (1 or higher). Higher numbers win. With the switch off the schedule has normal priority and the newest schedule wins ties.
Use priority sparingly. A simple pattern is:
| Level | Use for |
|---|---|
| Off (normal) | Everyday content |
| 1 | Daypart or seasonal content that should beat the everyday loop |
| 2+ | Specific promotions that should beat everything else on a screen |
Seeing conflicts
Section titled “Seeing conflicts”- While editing, the Conflicts panel lists active schedules that overlap, with the content each plays. It tells you who wins: This schedule plays instead of it, or It plays instead of this schedule. When priorities tie it explains the tie-break, such as Same priority: this schedule plays because it’s newer. If this schedule would lose, it suggests a priority that makes it win.
- On the timeline, a schedule that loses is drawn shadowed, and the list shows a note: A higher-priority schedule plays instead. See Managing Schedules.
- On a screen’s Playback tab, every schedule that reaches the screen is listed with its priority (Pn). See The Screen Page.
A conflict is not an error. It’s often intended, such as a lunch promo that overrides the all-day loop. The panel just makes sure you know which plays.
Overnight and time zones
Section titled “Overnight and time zones”A schedule whose hours cross midnight belongs to the day it starts. Overlaps are worked out on each screen’s own clock, so the same two schedules can overlap differently in different cities.