Content variants

Quick start

1. In the presentation editor, open the Slides filmstrip.
2. Select a main slide (numbered 1, 2, 3…).
3. Click Add variant under that slide.
4. Edit variant B (and C, D…) with different text or layout for side screens.
5. Assign a Screen layout so each physical screen knows which variant to show.

You should see variants grouped under their main slide with letter labels (A, B, C…).

Deep dive

What content variants are

A content variant is an alternate version of the same slide — not a separate slide in your setlist. One main slide can have:

• Main slide (A) — what the congregation usually sees
• Variant B — translation, simplified lyrics, lower-third text, or confidence-monitor content
• Variant C, D… — additional outputs as needed

During present mode, the operator still advances one main slide at a time. Screen layouts route variant A, B, or C to each physical output automatically.

This is different from adding another numbered slide. Variants stay tied to their parent slide so lyrics, timing, and service order stay in sync.

Main slide vs variant

	Main slide	Variant
Filmstrip label	Number (1, 2, 3…)	Letter (A, B, C…) under the main slide
Role	Primary content	Alternate layout for specific screens
Navigation	Operator advances main slides	Variants switch per screen layout or live preview
Speaker notes	Per slide/variant	Each variant can have its own notes

The main slide is always variant role A (display index 0). Add variant creates B, C, and so on.

Adding a variant

1. In the Slides panel, find the main slide group.
2. Click Add variant at the bottom of the group.
3. The new variant appears indented with the next letter.
4. Select the variant thumbnail and edit the canvas independently.

Variants inherit the same position in the deck as their main slide — they do not add to the slide count shown in the library.

When to use variants

Use case	Example
Translation	English on the main screen, Spanish on a side screen
Lower third	Full lyrics on center; song title + key on stream overlay
Confidence monitor	Simplified lyrics or chords on stage display
Simplified text	Shorter lines for lobby displays
Bilingual worship	Dual-language song slides without duplicating the setlist

Editing variants

Each variant has its own:

• Canvas elements (text, images, shapes)
• Speaker notes
• Optional Slide background scoped to that variant role
• Optional scoped background audio

Use Apply to scopes like Variant B when setting backgrounds or audio — see Themes, backgrounds, and audio.

Screen layouts connect variants to screens

Variants only reach physical screens when a Screen layout maps them:

1. An admin designs a layout under Screen layouts — each screen slot picks a content type (main slide, variant 1, variant 2, speaker notes, blank).
2. Assign that layout to the presentation in the editor (Settings → Screen layout) or during creation.
3. During present mode, each output shows the mapped variant for the current main slide.

See Screens and layouts for the full multi-screen workflow.

Variants in present mode

• The operator filmstrip groups variants under each main slide.
• Use Preview variant to check alternate versions before Start.
• While live, switch variants with the filmstrip or dropdown — see Live controls.

Variants broadcast to all open outputs — you do not open separate present sessions per variant.

Reordering and deleting

• Reorder main slides by dragging numbered thumbnails. Variants move with their group.
• Delete slide on a main slide removes the whole group including all variants.
• Remove variant from the variant’s ⋮ menu (or delete variant-only operations where available).

You cannot cut a main slide that still has variants without resolving them first.

Worship decks

Worship presentations rebuild slides from the song editor. Manual edits on worship-generated slides may be overwritten when you Apply lyrics changes. Add variants after your song arrangement is stable, or expect to re-edit variants after a rebuild.

When you compose a worship presentation from the Songs catalog or My Songs, WorshipDeck auto-creates lower third (variant 1) and confidence monitor (variant 2) slides alongside the main congregation output.

Tips

• Plan variants before building your screen layout template — know how many alternate outputs you need (B, C…).
• Keep variant B text shorter than main if it feeds a lower third or side screen with less space.
• Use Hide slide on a variant only when you need a backup — hidden variants still exist in the group.
• Rehearse with Present and open each output to confirm the right variant appears on each screen.
• Speaker notes can differ per variant — useful when translators need different script on stage.

[!tip] One main slide with variants is almost always better than two separate presentations in a service. The operator advances once; every screen stays in sync.

Troubleshooting

Variant not showing on the right screen

• Check Screen layout assignment on this deck.
• Confirm the layout maps Variant B (or the correct letter) to that output — see Screens and layouts.

Cannot delete main slide

• Move or delete variants first, or delete the whole group from the main slide’s ⋮ menu.

Add variant is missing

• Add variant appears under each main slide group in the filmstrip, not on variant thumbnails themselves.

Variant edits disappeared after Edit song

• Rebuilding worship slides can reset generated content. Re-apply variant edits after song changes, or finish lyrics first.

Wrong variant while live

• Use Preview variant in present mode. In presentation present, plan the screen layout before Start (the bottom-panel picker locks while live). In a service, you can change an item’s layout from the setlist ⋮ menu.