Create a Collection Object

Introduction

A collection is a curated grouping of related content around a theme or topic. You create the collection object in ViewLift Tools, optionally attach games or livestreams for multi-view, then place the collection on site pages in Template Builder.

This article explains how to add a new collection, complete the object, publish it, and place it on the site.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help you:

• Create a new collection object in ViewLift Tools
• Fill in the metadata and images required to publish
• Attach games or livestreams on Multi-View
• Know how to place the collection on trays and which Template Page renders it

Scope

This article covers:

• Creating a collection in ViewLift Tools → Content Management → Collection
• Completing the collection object (metadata, images, SEO)
• Using the Multi-View tab
• Publishing the collection
• The required Template Builder points for trays and the Collection Template Page

It does not cover full Template Builder how-to (that is a separate documentation set), or creating the games or livestreams themselves. For livestreams, see Create a Live Object. For on-demand files, see Create a VOD Object.

A collection is not a video playlist. A playlist is an ordered list of videos. On the collection object in Tools, the items you attach are games or livestreams on Multi-View (up to 4).

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Access to ViewLift Tools with permission to create and publish collection content
• Access to Template Builder
• Games or livestreams already created in Tools if you want to add multi-view feeds now (you can also add them later)
• A 16:9 thumbnail image (recommended 1920 × 1080 px), already cut to size — Tools does not crop images for you
• Your metadata ready before you start: title, description, tags, and categories

Example used in this article
Throughout the steps below we use one running example — a collection called Championship Weekend Hub. Replace the sample values with your own.

Step 1: Open Collection in ViewLift Tools

1. Log into ViewLift Tools.
2. From the main menu, open Content Management.
3. In the content type selector at the top of the list, choose Collection.

Figure 1. ViewLift Tools → Content Management → Collection. Use the content-type dropdown to select Collection, then click + Add New Collection.

The Collection list shows existing collection objects. You can search by title, tag, or category.

Step 2: Curate a New Collection

1. On the Collection list, select + Add New Collection in the header. The button is labelled with the content type you selected, so it reads Add New Collection while Collection is active.
2. The Curate New Collection dialog opens.
3. Enter a Title (required). Example: Championship Weekend Hub.
4. Optionally enter a Description.
5. Select Create.

Tools creates the collection as a draft and opens the editor.

Permalink is not set in this dialog. It is generated on the detail page — editorialize it before you publish (see Step 3).

Figure 2. Curate New Collection dialog. Enter a Title (required) and an optional Description, then select Create.

Step 3: Complete Content Metadata

Open the collection. The detail page sidebar includes Content Metadata, Manage Images, Multi-View, and SEO.

Start with Content Metadata.

Figure 3. Collection detail page, Content Metadata. Required fields are Title and Permalink.

Permalink guidelines

Use the same rules as other content types:

• Start with a slash (/)

• Lower-case letters only

• No spaces or special characters except dash (-) or underscore (_); dashes are preferred

• No leading or trailing whitespace

• Keep it SEO-friendly (about 59 characters)

• Remove auto-generated numeric identifiers when you editorialize the path

• Good: /championship-weekend-hub

• Avoid: /Championship Weekend_Hub_final

You can change the permalink later if you need a better URL.

Quick settings

Enable Hide Content (Search & Trays) if this collection should not appear in search results or content trays.

Step 4: Manage Images

Open Manage Images.

The 16:9 Landscape image is required to publish. Recommended size: 1920 × 1080 px. Upload images already cropped to the correct aspect ratio. Tools does not crop for you.

Figure 4. Manage Images. 16:9 Landscape is required to publish.

Step 5: Multi-View

Open Multi-View. The section header is Multi-View & Alternate Feeds.

Use this to attach games or livestreams that can play as parallel feeds on the collection detail page.

1. Open Select Games & Livestreams.
2. Search and select games or livestreams. Empty search copy is No games or livestreams found.
3. You can attach up to 4 items. If you try to add more, Tools warns: You can only select up to 4 games or livestreams.
4. Tools saves when you change the selection.

You can publish a collection with no multi-view items. Add them when you want the multi-view player experience.

Figure 5. Multi-View. Select up to 4 games or livestreams from the dropdown.

Step 6: SEO (Search & Discovery)

Open SEO. These fields are optional and are not required to publish.

Follow your site’s SEO guidelines when filling these fields.

Step 7: Publish the Collection

Required before publish:

• Title
• Permalink
• 16:9 Landscape image

Multi-view items are not required to publish.

1. When you are ready, select Publish to go live now.
2. Or use Schedule to publish at a later date and time.
3. After publish, use Update for further metadata changes, Unpublish to take it down, or Archive to retire it.

Duplicate is not available for collections in ViewLift Tools. Create a new collection if you need a similar title.

Figure 6. Collection detail header. Use Publish (or Schedule) to go live in the CMS.

The collection is now in the CMS library. It does not appear on the website until you curate it onto a page or a user opens its permalink (which uses the Collection Template Page).

Step 8: Curate the Collection on a Template Builder Page

To show the collection on Home (or any Modular Page):

1. Open AppCMS → Edit Template Builder.
2. Open Modular Pages and find the page (for example, Home).
3. Add or select a tray module. Typical trays:
   • VL HighlightTray
   • VL LandscapeTray
   • VL Vertical Tray
4. Open module settings and set a tray title, for example Championship Weekend.
5. Choose Content Selection:
   • Manually Curate — search for the collection. It appears as Collection. Stack items in the order you want.
   • Programmatically Generate — fill the tray from tags or categories. For example, generate from the tag championship.
6. Set Content Type to Collection (or Any) if the tray filters by type.
7. In Thumbnail Type, choose the ratio that matches the images you uploaded. Template Builder writes these with an asterisk — 16*9, 3*4, 32*9, 9*16, 1*1, 4*3.
8. Publish the Template Builder page.

Changes can take about 5–10 minutes to appear on the website because of caching. To verify sooner, use a private window, another browser, or clear cookies and cache.

Clicking the collection thumbnail takes the user to the collection detail page. That layout is the Collection Template Page. Keep one default Collection Template Page unless this collection is assigned a custom template. Detail modules on that page include VL Collection Detail and VL Collection Detail 02.

Tray modules, player settings, and template-page customization are covered in the Template Builder documentation.

Troubleshooting

Best Practices

• Write titles for viewers. Championship Weekend Hub works far better than collection_final_v3.
• Create games and livestreams first, then attach them under Multi-View. The collection object does not upload video files.
• Keep multi-view to the feeds that matter. You have a maximum of 4.
• Tag consistently. Programmatic trays are built from tags and categories, so a misspelled tag means the collection silently never appears.
• Upload images at the exact ratio. Tools does not crop for you, so a wrongly sized file will look wrong on every device.

FAQs

Q. Can I create a collection before I have games or livestreams?
Yes. Create the collection, then attach multi-view items later.

Q. Is a collection the same as a playlist?
No. A playlist is an ordered list of videos. A collection is a themed grouping. In Tools, the items you attach on the collection object are games or livestreams on Multi-View (up to 4).

Q. Can I attach more than 4 games or livestreams?
No. Multi-View allows a maximum of 4.

Q. Can I publish without a 16:9 image?
No. Title, permalink, and a 16:9 Landscape image are required to publish.

Q. Can I duplicate a collection?
No. Duplicate is not available for collections in ViewLift Tools. Create a new collection.

Q. Can I edit a collection after publishing?
Yes. Open the collection, change what you need, and select Update. You do not have to unpublish first.

Q. I published the collection but I do not see it on Home.
Publishing adds it to the library. You still need to curate it onto a tray (manually or by tag/category) and publish that Template Builder page. Allow a few minutes for cache.

Q. How do I hide a collection from trays and search without unpublishing it?
Enable Hide Content (Search & Trays) in Quick Settings on the collection object.

Q. Which Template Page does a collection use?
The Collection Template Page. Detail modules include VL Collection Detail and VL Collection Detail 02.

Important Information

• Create the collection object in Tools. Template Builder only places that object on pages and defines the detail layout.
• Multi-View items are existing games or livestreams. Create those first, then attach them here.
• Collection has no Monetization, Geo-Restrictions, Availability & Scheduling, or Version History tab.
• Upload images at the correct aspect ratio. Tools will not crop them.
• Use the same permalink style as other content: /lowercase-path-with-dashes.
• Tray thumbnail type must match the image ratios you uploaded (especially 32:9 for ultra-wide carousels).
• Cache can delay frontend updates by 5–10 minutes.

Glossary

Contact Support

If you need help beyond this article, contact the ViewLift support team.

• Email: techsupport@viewlift.com
• Phone (US): +1-800-859-0420
• Phone (UK): +44-203-014-8921

Support hours: B2C requests are handled Monday to Friday. B2B support is available 24/7.

After the collection is published in Tools, users can open it on the site by permalink, or from a tray after you curate it in Template Builder. The detail layout is the Collection Template Page.