Frequently Asked Questions

[cinelogpro]

General Questions

Q: Do I need an account to use CineLog Pro?
A: Yes, you cannot use CineLog Pro without signing in. Creating an account and signing in enables cloud sync across your devices and allows you to share projects with collaborators.

Q: Can I use CineLog Pro offline?
A: Yes! CineLog Pro works offline. All your data is stored locally on your device. When you're back online, changes automatically sync to the cloud (if you're signed in).

Q: How does syncing work?
A: If you're signed in, changes sync automatically when you have an internet connection. Your data is stored both locally (for offline access) and in the cloud (for multi-device access). Changes made offline are queued and sync when you reconnect.

Q: Can I use CineLog Pro on multiple devices?
A: Yes, if you're signed in. Your projects will sync across all your devices. Make a change on your phone, and it appears on your tablet automatically.

Project Organization

Q: How many projects can I create?
A: There's no hard limit on the number of projects you can create. However, free accounts may have some limitations. Check your account settings for details.

Q: Can I delete a project?
A: Yes. Open the project, tap the menu (three dots), and select "Delete Project". This action cannot be undone, so be careful.

Q: How do I organize scenes within a project?
A: Scenes are organized by scene number. You can view them in the Scenes tab of your project. The app doesn't automatically sort scenes, so use consistent numbering (1, 2, 3 or 1, 1A, 2, etc.) for best organization.

Q: Can I reorder scenes or shots?
A: Currently, scenes and shots are organized by their numbers/names. Use consistent numbering conventions to control the order.

Shots and Status

Q: What's the difference between shot status and the completed checkbox?
A: Shot status (Planned, In Progress, Completed, Needs Retake) tracks the production workflow. The completed checkbox is a separate toggle. When a shot reaches "Completed" status, the completed checkbox is automatically checked, but you can uncheck it if needed.

Q: Can I change a shot's status back?
A: Yes. Tap the status badge to cycle through statuses. The cycle is: Planned → In Progress → Completed → Needs Retake → Planned.

Q: How do I attach multiple reference images to a shot?
A: Currently, each shot supports one reference image. If you need multiple images, consider creating separate shots or using location scouts to document multiple angles.

Q: What happens to reference images when I'm offline?
A: Images are stored locally first, so you can view them offline. They'll upload to the cloud automatically when you're back online (if you're signed in).

Import and Export

Q: Can I export just one scene or shot?
A: Currently, exports are project-wide. You can export the entire project and use the resulting file to extract specific scenes or shots in your spreadsheet or PDF viewer.

Q: Can I import shots without creating a new project?
A: Yes. Open an existing project or scene, tap the menu, select "Import", and choose "Import Excel File". The shots will be added to the selected scene (or scenes will be created if needed).

Q: What if my Excel template doesn't match exactly?
A: The import looks for specific column headers. If your headers don't match exactly, the import may fail or skip those columns. Download a fresh template and compare your headers.

Q: Can I export call sheets in other formats?
A: Currently, call sheets export as PDF only. This ensures consistent formatting for your crew.

Sharing and Collaboration

Q: How do I share a project with someone?
A: Open your project, tap the menu, and select "Share Project". You can create invite links for viewers (read-only) or editors (can make changes). Share the link via message, email, or any sharing method.

Q: What's the difference between a viewer and an editor?
A: Viewers can see all project data but cannot make changes. Editors can create, edit, and delete scenes, shots, and other project content. Only the project owner can create new invite links.

Q: Can I revoke access to a shared project?
A: Yes. Open the project, tap the menu, select "Share Project", and you can remove members or change their roles.

Q: Do shared projects sync in real time?
A: Yes. When a collaborator makes a change, it appears on all devices (yours and theirs) automatically, as long as everyone is online.

Location Scouts

Q: How many photos can I add to a location scout?
A: There's no hard limit, but very large numbers of photos may affect performance. Focus on the most important angles and details.

Q: Can I export location scout photos?
A: Yes. Individual photos can be exported from the location scout detail screen. You can also export the entire scout as a PDF.

Q: Do location scouts sync across devices?
A: Yes, if you're signed in. Photos and notes sync automatically.

Call Sheets

Q: How do I add crew and cast to a call sheet?
A: First, add contacts to your project from the project's Contacts section. Then, when creating or editing a call sheet, you can select which crew and cast to include.

Q: Can I edit a call sheet after creating it?
A: Yes. Open the call sheet from the Call Sheets tab, make your changes, and save. The PDF will update accordingly.

Q: Does the weather forecast work for any location?
A: Weather forecasts require a valid address. Enter the basecamp, parking, or shooting location address in the call sheet, and the app will attempt to fetch weather for the shoot date.

Settings and Preferences

Q: What units does CineLog Pro support?
A: You can choose between Imperial (feet, inches, Fahrenheit) and Metric (meters, centimeters, Celsius) in Settings.

Q: What is auto-numbering?
A: When enabled, auto-numbering suggests the next shot number based on existing shots in the scene. You can choose between "1A" format (number then letter) or "A1" format (letter then number).

Q: What does "exclude I/O letters" mean?
A: When enabled, the app avoids using "I" and "O" in shot numbering to prevent confusion with numbers 1 and 0.

Q: Can I change the app theme?
A: Yes. Go to Settings and choose between Light, Dark, or System (follows your device theme).

Tools and Calculators

Q: Are the calculators accurate?
A: The calculators are in beta and results may vary. Always double-check critical calculations, especially for exposure and depth of field. Report any issues you find.

Q: How do I access experimental tools?
A: Go to Settings and enable "Experimental Tools". This unlocks additional calculators like the Vibe Calculator, Director's Notes Generator, DP's Notes Generator, and Random Shot Generator.

Q: Can I use calculators offline?
A: Yes, all calculators work offline. They perform calculations locally on your device.

Troubleshooting

Q: My changes aren't syncing. What should I do?
A: Check your internet connection. If you're online, try signing out and signing back in. If the problem persists, check that you're signed in to the same account on all devices.

Q: I can't see reference images. What's wrong?
A: Make sure the images have finished uploading (if you just added them). Check your internet connection. If images still don't appear, try closing and reopening the app.

Q: The app is slow or freezing. What can I do?
A: Large projects with many reference images may take longer to load. Try closing other apps to free up memory. If the problem persists, try restarting the app or your device.

Q: I accidentally deleted something. Can I recover it?
A: Currently, there's no undo feature. Be careful when deleting projects, scenes, or shots. Consider exporting your project regularly as a backup.

Q: Can I backup my data?
A: Yes. Export your projects regularly (CSV or PDF format) as backups. Your data is also stored in the cloud if you're signed in, but having local exports provides an extra safety net.

If you have additional questions, please post them in the forum and our community will help!