# Handling the transition when the next input is fixed or immediate
<a name="ips-transition-gap"></a>

When planning the schedule, you should ensure that there is no gap when switching from a file input (input A) to an input (input B) that starts at a fixed time or that starts immediately. Input B can be a file or a live input. If the current input ends before the switch start time, there is potential for a gap. 

The **Source end behavior** field in each input attachment controls the gap. (This field appears in the **Input attachments** page, in the **General input settings** section of the channel.) There are two options to ensure a smooth transition in this situation:
+ If you set the **Source end behavior** field for input A to **LOOP**, then when input A finishes, MediaLive goes back and ingests it again until the start time of input B occurs. 
+ If you set the **Source end behavior** field for input A to **CONTINUE**, then input A is ingested only once; when the input finishes, the channel follows the behavior specified in the **Input Loss Behavior** set of fields (although without the "repeat frames" logic). When the start time of input B occurs, the input loss behavior ends and the channel switches to input B.

  (To display this field, in **General input settings** for **Global configuration**, for **Input loss behavior**, choose **Input loss behavior**. More fields appear. For more information, see [Handling loss of video input](feature-input-loss.md).)