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Rundown Module

The Rundown module is where you organize and execute the sequence of items for a live production.

It is also the source of several newer workflows in 7cg-ng, including Companion item targeting and video export.

Rundown column populated with separators, Bible passages, and a lower-third block

What the Rundown Does​

The rundown lets you:

  • Arrange show items in order
  • Select the current item
  • Execute and stop supported items
  • Track the current and next position
  • Edit labels and item details
  • Trigger blocks from Companion
  • Export supported items to video

Typical Workflow​

  1. Add or create the items you need
  2. Arrange them in production order
  3. Select the next item to air
  4. Execute it from 7CG or Companion
  5. Stop or clear it when appropriate
  6. Continue to the next item

Editing​

Rundown column in layout edit mode with drag handles and a quick-action toolbar

Undo and Redo​

Rundown changes — adding, removing, reordering, or editing blocks — are tracked in an undo history.

  • Undo: Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on macOS)
  • Redo: Ctrl+Shift+Z

Per-Block Transitions​

Each block can use its own transition type and duration, configured from the block's edit dialog. Transition icons and labels are translated, so operators see the same names in the language they've chosen.

If a block has no transition override, the channel's default transition is used.

Transition settings dialog with Fade in / Fade out toggles and a Show advanced settings button

Per-Block Edit Dialogs​

Several block types now have dedicated edit dialogs:

  • Hymn blocks expose a per-block "lines per display" override so a single hymn can break differently from the global Lyrics setting (see also Lyrics module).

Hymn block edit dialog with per-block "lines per display" override

  • Command blocks have their own edit dialog with media handling, so command-driven media files are picked and previewed in the same place as the command itself.
  • Lower-third blocks get a focused edit dialog for the on-air name and subtitle fields, with an Advanced section for transition and routing tweaks.
  • Bible blocks let you set template properties per block, overriding the module-wide defaults for that one moment in the rundown (see also Bible module).
  • Separator blocks edit a single Title field — they're visual section markers in the rundown, not playback blocks.

Bible block edit dialog with template property overrides

Lower-third block edit dialog with Name and Subtitle fields

Command block edit dialog with media file picker

Separator block edit dialog with Title field

Per-Block Actions​

Right-click any rundown row to open the context menu — Set Label, Edit, Delete, Duplicate, Export video, and Color are all available per block.

Rundown context menu with Set Label, Edit, Delete, Duplicate, Export video, and Color options

Companion Integration​

Recent versions of 7CG expose more rundown-aware Companion features.

Selected-Item Actions​

These actions operate on whatever item is currently selected in 7CG:

  • Execute selected item
  • Stop selected item
  • Select next item
  • Select previous item

Specific-Item Actions​

7CG now also exposes Companion actions that target a specific rundown item by ID:

  • Execute rundown item…
  • Stop rundown item…

These actions are useful when a button should always fire the same item, regardless of what is selected in the UI.

Because the binding uses a stable item ID, renaming or reordering the item does not break the button. If the item is removed from the rundown, Companion receives a clear "not found" error instead of failing silently.

Rundown State Broadcasts​

7CG publishes rundown state to Companion so panels and feedbacks can stay in sync:

  • Current item
  • Next item
  • Current position index
  • Total item count
  • Full rundown item list for action dropdowns

This makes it easier to build operator-friendly Companion pages without hard-coding labels manually.

Export Video​

The Rundown module can export supported items as a .mov file.

Video export dialog mid-recording with progress and Stop button

Export Workflow​

When exporting an item:

  1. Choose a filename ending in .mov
  2. Set the duration in seconds
  3. Confirm the target channel if applicable
  4. Start the export
  5. Watch the progress bar and remaining time
  6. Use Stop if you need to cancel the export mid-recording

What Happens During Export​

7CG handles more than a simple "play and record" flow:

  • A short preroll is added before playback
  • A tail is recorded after stopping so transitions are captured cleanly
  • The dialog stays open while recording to prevent orphaned recorder sessions
  • Bible and hymn exports can cycle through their chunks or verse groups during the export duration instead of staying on only the first chunk

Canceling an Export​

If the wrong item, duration, or filename was chosen, use the Stop button in the export dialog. 7CG cancels the recording and performs the necessary cleanup so CasparCG does not keep recording in the background.

Best Practices​

  • Keep item labels clear so both operators and Companion users can recognize them quickly
  • Group related items together in the order they will air
  • Test exports ahead of time for templates that rely on multiple chunks or verses
  • Use block colors to make rundown scanning faster under pressure