Glossary A–ZLetter P
Preview
The preview shows in the management software how a content item, playlist or layout will look on screen before it actually runs there.
It serves as a check before approval.
A good preview takes the resolution and orientation of the target screen into account, shows a layout's areas in the right place and plays videos, transitions and dynamic content. Some programs can display the preview for a particular point in time, such as “What is running on Monday at 9 am?”. A preview can often also be shared as a link with people who have no access to the software themselves, for example to agree details with an agency or an advertiser.
The preview is a simulation, not a copy of the real device. Fonts, colours, video codecs and the player's performance may turn out differently on the screen; a test on the actual device is therefore part of launching a new format. Only a remote screenshot proves what a screen is actually showing at that moment. In networks that sell advertising, a preview should not be counted as a play.