KL
The Architect
Posts: 3981
Karma: 596 Baby: 1
I'm a Dad!
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« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2008, 12:45:51 AM » |
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Hi Joanne,
I've been meaning to do a FAQ thread on Playlists vs Categories, so this will make me finally do it!
A Playlist is a powerful and flexible tool which gives you many more options when you want to play back a set of words. Here are the key differences:
1. FLEXIBLE CONTENT
a. You can create multiple playlists for the same set of words, each playlist with its own saved playback settings. So, like you see in your favorites, we created an Animals playlist which shows word + picture, with a pointer, and then another Animals playlist which is in flashcard mode, with just words, and no pointer.
b. You could also cherry-pick words from different categories, like what we did with the "B Words" Playlist, which takes words starting with B from different categories.
c. Playlists can be made up of the same word file more than once, and can even be made up of an entire category or playlist, or even multiple categories and playlists combined. So, for example, you could create a Creatures Playlist, which comprises the Domestic Animals, Wild Animals, and Sea Creatures Categories. You can even go on and create a Master Playlist which combines this Creatures Playlist with other Playlists or Categories, and individual words.
2. SAVE PLAYBACK SETTINGS
You can save playback settings (eg., word display mode, font, colors, pointer, etc) to each individual Playlist so that you don't have to keep changing it each time if you like to have different playback settings for different sets of words.
On the other hand, if you playback from a Category, the playback settings that you previously used for your previous Category playback will be what is shown on the playback panel, and you would have to change it again if it does not suit your requirements.
Regarding your case, if you want to play back those newly-downloaded categories (say "Musical") quickly, simply go to your Playback screen, display Categories, select "Musical" and hit the PLAY button.
If you want to create a playlist for it so you can take advantage of the benefits listed above, then in the Word Library, switch to Playlists display, press NEW under the Playlist display window, and then choose the Musical category, and press the ALL--> button to move the entire Musical category into your playlist. Press SAVE, then you can now go back to the Playback screen and play back the Musical category as a Playlist!
Hope that helps!
KL
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