How to Create a Block with Dynamic Block Builder

This article walks through creating a Block Builder block step by step.

Before you begin

• Your anchor asset must exist in the asset library.
• Your filler pools must exist as Playlists or Block assets.

Step 1: Open the Dynamic Block form

1. In the Playout scheduler, choose New Dynamic Block.
2. Enter a descriptive Title. Titles cannot be empty.
3. Set the block’s Duration (must be > 5 seconds).
4. Optionally enable Shrink Block to Content.

Step 2: Choose the Primary Asset type

1. Under Primary Asset, set Type to Static or Dynamic.
2. For Static: drag your anchor asset into the primary slot.
3. For Dynamic: add Content Fill Rules (series / season / episode / category).

Step 3: Configure Content Configuration

This section controls how the primary pool orders and advances through content.

• Order By Original: Created At, Published At, Season, Title, or Shuffle.
• Sort Order Original: Ascending or Descending.
• Reuse Videos: when on, Playout reuses assets once the pool is exhausted.

Step 4: Configure Secondary Content (the filler)

1. Choose a Fill Method: Random or Custom Sequence.
2. Add Pre-Fill, Break, and/or Post-Fill segments.
3. For each segment, set asset type, content pool, and max items.
4. For Custom Sequence, drag segments to set play order.

Step 5: Set the Ad Rule (separate from Secondary Content)

The Ad Rule configures inserted ads tied to the primary content (Pre-Rolls, Mid-Rolls, Post-Rolls). This is separate from the Fallback behavior.

Step 6: Set Frequency Caps

• Add one Don’t Reuse cap per asset type (bumper / video / ad).
• Set a cooldown value and unit (minute / hour / day / week / month).
• Duplicates fail validation: “Can only have one frequency rule per asset type.”

Step 7: Save the block

1. Click Create Dynamic Asset.
2. Validation errors surface inline (e.g., “Title cannot be empty”, “Duration must be greater than 5 seconds”).
3. On success, the block appears in the Assets panel.

Step 8: Use the Preview tab

• Paginator (1–10) steps through upcoming iterations.
• Colored bar previews each iteration’s composition.
• Table lists candidate assets, types, and durations.
• Fallback row appears if pools can’t fully fill the block.

Managing an existing block

• Edit: Open the inspector to adjust anchor, pools, segments, or caps.
• Reuse: Saved blocks are reusable across channels. Updates apply to future airings.
• Soft-lock: Items within 3 minutes of air are frozen.

Related Articles

• What’s New in Dynamic Block Builder
• Frequency Capping and No-Repeat Windows
• Migration Guide: Upgrading to Fill Sequences on Dynamic Blocks