?FAQ
How do I save a project?
Cine Power Planner autosaves every change to protected local storage. The status dot beside the
Project Name
field glows while that happens so you always know the latest update was captured. For a named snapshot:
-
Enter a descriptive name and click
Save
or press Enter / Ctrl+S (⌘+S on macOS).
-
Confirm it appears in the
Saved Projects
list. Loading another entry brings it back instantly while leaving the autosaved draft untouched.
-
Repeat the save action any time to update the snapshot, or choose
-- New Project --
when you want to start fresh without deleting earlier saves.
Saved entries stay offline on your device, sync into manual exports and can always be restored, so no project data
is lost between sessions.
How do I share or back up a project?
Use the exporter to create portable archives that protect every configuration detail:
-
Click
Export Project
and choose a secure file name. Include automatic gear rules when collaborators should inherit your automation
presets.
-
Store the downloaded JSON bundle wherever you keep backups or send it to teammates. It contains the project
requirements, gear list, runtime analysis, linked auto-backups and any custom devices needed to rebuild the
setup.
-
To restore, paste or select the file inside the
Import Project
field and press
Import.
The planner validates the bundle and asks how to apply gear rules so nothing overwrites your library without
approval.
Keep regular exports as part of your backup rotation; imports never delete existing saves, so you can maintain as
many restore points as you need.
Layer the built-in safeguards so every archive stays verifiable offline:
Every export is human-readable JSON—store redundant copies on offline media, note their filenames in your
verification log and archive the diff summaries so crews travelling without connectivity inherit the same history.
How do automatic backups work?
Cine Power Planner layers three automatic safety nets alongside your manual saves:
-
Auto snapshots capture the active project every 10 minutes or after roughly 50 edits, and rapid adjustments are batched so bursts closer than a second only advance the counter once. When you switch projects, import or export data or prepare to reload, the planner captures an immediate snapshot even if that cadence hasn't elapsed. Enable
Show auto backups in project list
in Settings → Backup & Restore to reveal the timestamped
auto-backup-… entries beneath the
Saved Projects
dropdown so you can load, review and rename them.
-
Hourly full-app backups download JSON archives (for example, “2024-06-15T14-00-00 full app backup.json”) that bundle every project, automatic gear rule, device edit, favorite and runtime log. Keep at least two copies on separate drives so you always have an offline recovery point.
-
Restore safeguards run whenever you restore or perform a factory reset. The planner creates a fresh “before” backup automatically so you can revert immediately if the new file is not what you expected.
Open any auto snapshot to inspect it; press
Save
if you want to keep the snapshot as a regular project. Archive the hourly downloads once verified, or delete them after you have stored redundant copies elsewhere.
Keep Settings → Backup & Restore
open during rehearsals to monitor the autosave status overlay, launch
Compare versions
and record
Export log
results alongside your backups. Combine that diff history with
Restore rehearsal
runs and the
Latest activity
reminders in Settings → Data & Storage
so every safeguard proves it captured a fresh copy before you head offline.
How do Automatic Gear Rules work?
Open Settings → Automatic Gear Rules and click
Add rule
to reveal the editor. Name the rule so it is easy to recognise later and pick the conditions that must be active
before it runs.
Conditions can watch Required Scenarios, Mattebox options,
Camera handles, Viewfinder extension, Video distribution,
Camera selection, Onboard monitors, Wireless transmitters,
FIZ motors, FIZ controllers and FIZ distance devices. The rule
runs only when every chosen value is active in the
Project Requirements
form or selected in the Configure Devices panel. Add gear lines with category and quantity in
Add these items—choose Custom Additions for notes or bespoke kit.
Use the Remove these items list to hide entries the generator adds by default. Rules are stored in
Settings, included in backups and apply to printable gear lists and exported project bundles. Use
Reset to factory additions to restore the built-in helpers, or download and reload JSON sets with
Export rules and Import rules when collaborating offline.
Factory additions include an every five shooting days consumables kit that adds four Bluestar eye
leathers, two rolls of Pro Gaff tape per color slot, four clapper sticks, two Kimtech wipe sleeves and a Sprigs
Red 1/4" pack for each interval. Longer shoots automatically scale those quantities so you can reset to the
defaults and keep continuity gear stocked without editing rules by hand.
The
Rule coverage overview
summarises duplicates, conflicts, net add/remove totals and uncovered scenarios. Use the focus cards in the
summary grid to jump straight to affected rules, export the same insights for offline reviews and include the
coverage snapshot alongside share bundles.
Monitoring, video distribution and tripod selector fields only appear when scenarios require them, keeping the
editor focused on relevant options while still letting you pick defaults, override catalog entries or attach
notes as needed.
Every ruleset travels with backups, project exports and the coverage report, so rehearse changes inside
Restore rehearsal
and save exported JSON snapshots before making sweeping adjustments.
How do I edit device data?
Click the
Edit Device Data…
button to open the database editor where you can add, change or remove devices.
How is battery runtime calculated?
The app divides the selected battery's capacity (in watt-hours) by the total power consumption of your devices. For example, a 98 Wh battery powering a 24 W project is estimated to run for about 4 hours.
What do the warning colors mean?
Orange messages indicate the project is nearing the battery's output limit. Red warnings mean the estimated current exceeds the safe rating and could damage the battery.
Where are my projects saved?
Projects, project requirements, automatic gear rules, preferences and runtime feedback live in your browser's
localStorage so they remain available offline. The active project autosaves after every change and
the planner records background safety snapshots you can reveal via
Show auto backups in project list
. Download the active setup with
Export Project, capture a full planner snapshot through
Backup
and use the Device Database Editor's
Export
/
Import
controls for custom gear. Restores always create a safety copy first so you never lose data while testing archives.
How do I verify my backups before I pack up?
Run a quick redundancy drill at the end of every session:
-
Open
Export Project
for the active setup and confirm the download completes. Keep the JSON with today's shoot notes so it travels with
the project.
-
Visit
Settings
→ Backup & Restore and trigger a full
Backup
. The planner logs the timestamp alongside the saved bundle so you can audit that the export finished before you leave.
-
In the Device Database Editor, use
Export
to capture custom gear updates. If nothing changed you can skip the upload later by comparing timestamps.
-
Re-open Settings → Data & Storage, enable
Show auto backups in project list
and confirm the autosave queue lists a fresh snapshot for every project you touched today.
-
Move every export to two locations (for example a field drive and your workstation) before disconnecting. Test one of
the bundles immediately with
Restore
in rehearsal mode so you know the recovery flow works offline.
Following the checklist keeps the autosave stream, manual exports and restore rehearsals in sync, eliminating surprises if a
workstation fails or travels without connectivity.
Does the planner work offline?
Yes. Once the fonts and database are cached on first load, all features continue to work without an internet
connection, including saving, autosaving, backups, restores and device imports. The
Offline indicator
confirms when the app is running locally, and you can refresh assets without losing saved data through
Force reload
whenever you reconnect. Keep your latest exports handy so every workflow—on set, in transit or in the studio—has
an immediate offline recovery path.
How do I move everything to another computer?
Prepare both devices before you leave the original workstation:
-
Save each project and download the active setup with
Export Project.
-
Open
Settings
→ Backup & Restore and download a full-app
Backup
so preferences, automatic gear rules, custom devices and runtime feedback travel with you.
-
Export custom gear from the Device Database Editor using the
Export
button.
- Copy the JSON files to redundant storage (two drives or a drive plus cloud sync) before leaving.
-
On the destination machine, open the planner once while connected (or complete the
install guide
) so assets cache for offline use.
-
Restore the planner snapshot through
Restore
, then import project JSON files or Device Library exports as needed.
Keep the original backup untouched until you confirm the projects and device entries load correctly on the new system.
Can I install the planner as an app?
You can install the planner like an app on most platforms:
- Chrome/Edge (desktop): Click the install icon in the address bar.
- Android: Open the browser menu and choose Add to Home Screen.
- iOS/iPadOS Safari: Tap the Share button and select Add to Home Screen.
- After installation it runs offline and updates automatically.
Tap the
Install
banner when it appears or open the
install guide
for step-by-step migration tips.
How do I reset everything to the defaults?
Open the device editor and choose
Export and Revert
to restore the default database. Delete projects individually using the
Delete
button, or open Settings → Backup & Restore and press
Factory reset
to download a safety backup and wipe saved projects, favorites and runtime data at once.
How do I change the language?
Use the
language dropdown
in the top right to pick a language. The planner remembers your choice for the next visit.
How can I print a project overview?
Save the project, then click
Generate Overview
. Use the overview toolbar to open the
Print options
dialog, choose a layout, toggle sections with the
Select all
shortcut and finish with
Print
or
Export PDF
. The overview groups gear by category and expands each selected lens into a spec card with brand, mount, front
diameter, weight, rod requirements, clamp-on compatibility and your notes so rentals and prep teams receive the
full lens data set automatically.
How do I compare different batteries?
The
Battery Comparison
section shows estimated run time for all batteries once a configuration is calculated.
How do I import or export the device database?
Open the
Device Database Editor
and use the
Export
button to download your current database as JSON. Use
Import
to load a JSON file and replace your local data.
Can I edit or add devices?
Yes. In the
Device Database Editor
you can create new devices, change existing ones or delete entries. The changes appear immediately in the dropdown menus.
What does the Connection Diagram show?
The
diagram
illustrates how power and video cables connect between your chosen devices. Drag the nodes to arrange them and use the buttons to zoom or download an image.
Which device categories are available?
Categories include Camera, Monitor, Wireless Transmitter, FIZ Motors, FIZ Controllers, Distance Sensor, Battery Plate and V‑/B‑Mount Battery. You can configure them in
Configure Devices.
How do I clear cached files or update the app?
Use the
Force reload
button () in the top bar to clear cached files and reload without losing saved data.
Where does the device data come from?
The default database is defined in the files under devices/ from manufacturer specifications. You can modify or replace them via the
Device Database Editor.
