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    Help Topics

    User Guide

    Learn how to use Cuer effectively for your broadcast productions

    Watch the Quickstart Guide
    A video walkthrough of Cuer's key features to get you up and running.

    Getting Started

    Cuer is a collaborative rundown management system designed for broadcast professionals. Here's how to get started:

    • Create a new rundown from the dashboard
    • Add items to your rundown using the + Segment and + Block buttons
    • Edit content by clicking on any cell
    • Your work automatically saves as you type

    Special Column Features

    • Images Column: Click on any cell in the images column and paste an image URL, or use images uploaded in the Media Manager. The image will display automatically if it's a valid public image link.
    • Script & Notes Columns: These columns are expandable - click on them to see the full content in a larger, easier-to-read format.

    Clock Format Preference

    • Choose between 12-hour (with AM/PM) or 24-hour time format
    • Access this setting from the timezone selector in any rundown
    • Your preference applies to all timestamps including showcaller timing, AD view, and scheduling
    • This is a personal preference and doesn't affect other team members' views

    Dashboard & Folders

    The Dashboard is your home base for managing all your rundowns and team resources:

    Creating Rundowns

    • Click "New Rundown" to start a blank rundown from scratch
    • Select "AI Template" to describe your show and let AI build a detailed rundown template
    • Use "Import CSV" to create a rundown from an existing spreadsheet file

    Folder Organization

    • Create folders to group related rundowns (e.g., by show, week, or project)
    • Create subfolders within folders for deeper organization
    • Drag and drop rundowns between folders to reorganize
    • Drag a rundown card to "All Rundowns" in the sidebar to move it out of its current folder
    • The "Recent" view shows your most recently accessed rundowns across all folders

    Archiving

    • Archive completed rundowns to keep your dashboard clean without deleting them
    • View archived rundowns in the "Archived" folder in the sidebar
    • Unarchive a rundown at any time to bring it back to your active list

    Duplicating Rundowns

    • Duplicate a rundown within your current team to create a copy
    • Duplicate to a different team to share a rundown across teams

    Search

    Use the search bar at the top of the dashboard to filter rundowns by title across all folders

    Basic Operations

    Adding Content

    • Add items to your rundown using the + Segment and + Block buttons or keyboard shortcuts (see Keyboard Shortcuts below)
    • Drag and drop to reorder items

    Segments, Blocks & Sub-Blocks

    A rundown is built from three kinds of rows:

    • Segment: A normal, numbered rundown row. This is your actual content: it plays on air and counts toward timing.
    • Block: A section header that groups the segments beneath it, like a show act or a game. Blocks are lettered rather than numbered and are skipped during playback.
    • Sub-Block: A smaller label that groups rows inside a block, for example 'Map 1' and 'Map 2' under a 'Game 1' block. Like a block it is skipped in playback and adds no time, but it sits one level down. Add one by right-clicking a row and choosing Sub Block.

    Editing

    • Click any cell to edit content
    • Press Tab to move to next cell
    • Use Enter to move down to the cell below
    • Use Cmd+Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows) to insert line breaks in cells

    Right-Click Row Options

    Right-click on any row to access additional options:

    • Color Rows: Assign colors to rows for visual organization (e.g., highlight important segments or group related content)
    • Float/Unfloat Rows: Floating a row removes it from timing calculations and teleprompter display
      • Unfloat to restore the row to normal timing and teleprompter visibility
    • Auto Time to Script: Automatically calculate the reading time for script content
      • Analyzes word count in the script column and calculates duration
      • Uses 150 words per minute as the default reading speed
      • Time is rounded to the nearest 5 seconds for clean input

    Text Formatting

    Highlight text in any cell and use the format menu that appears to style it:

    • Bold: Choose Bold from the format menu, or press Cmd+B (Mac) or Ctrl+B (Windows).
    • Italic: Choose Italic from the format menu, or press Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows).
    • Bold + Italic: Apply both to the same selection for bold italic text.
    • Color: Pick a color from the palette to highlight the text: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, or gray.

    Pop-Out Cell Editor

    Right-click a text cell like Script or Notes and choose Pop out to edit it in a floating, resizable window. It gives you a roomier space for longer writing, with the same formatting menu and its own zoom controls. Move the window anywhere on screen and close it when you are done.

    Undo & Redo

    • Use the Undo/Redo buttons in the toolbar to revert or reapply changes
    • Undo history tracks all major editing actions across the rundown

    Keyboard Shortcuts

    Navigation

    • Tab - Move to next cell
    • Shift + Tab - Move to previous cell
    • Enter - Move to next cell down
    • Shift + ↑ - Scroll to previous block
    • Shift + ↓ - Scroll to next block

    Showcaller (when not editing)

    • Space - Play/Pause
    • ← / ↑ - Move backward
    • → / ↓ - Move forward
    • Enter - Reset showcaller timer
    • ` - Scroll to current segment

    Editing Actions

    • Cmd/Ctrl + C - Copy selected rows
    • Cmd/Ctrl + V - Paste rows
    • Cmd/Ctrl + Z - Undo
    • Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z - Redo
    • Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Enter - Add new segment
    • Cmd/Ctrl + Enter - Line break in cell
    • Cmd/Ctrl + B - Bold selected text
    • Cmd/Ctrl + I - Italic selected text
    • Delete / Backspace - Delete selected rows

    Teleprompter

    • Arrow Keys - Adjust scroll speed
    • Shift + ↑ ↓ - Jump to previous/next segment
    • Space - Pause/Resume scroll
    • B - Toggle blackout (in fullscreen)
    • Esc - Exit fullscreen

    Talent Quick-Insert

    • Alt + 0-9 (Windows) - Insert talent preset
    • Ctrl + 0-9 (Mac) - Insert talent preset

    Row Number Locking

    Row number locking controls how rows are numbered when you insert new items between existing rows. This feature helps maintain stable row references throughout your production workflow.

    Unlocked Mode (Default)

    • All rows are automatically renumbered sequentially (1, 2, 3, 4...)
    • Clean, simple numbering without decimal suffixes
    • Best for pre-production planning or when row references aren't critical

    Locked Mode

    • Original row numbers are preserved when inserting new rows
    • New rows between existing items get decimal numbers (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
    • Ideal for live shows where row numbers are referenced in scripts or cues

    Layout Manager

    Customize your rundown view with column management features:

    Column Layout Management

    • Save custom column layouts for different production needs
    • Switch between saved layouts instantly
    • All saved layouts are available to all team members
    • Each team member can have their own personal layout preferences

    Column Organization

    • Drag and drop column names to reorder columns
    • Show or hide columns based on your workflow
    • Resize columns by dragging the column borders
    • Double-click column resizers to auto-fit text content

    Default Layouts for Teams

    Team administrators and managers can set a default layout that will be automatically applied for all team members:

    • Open the Layout Manager and locate a saved team layout
    • Click the "Set as Default" button (star icon) next to any team layout
    • The default layout will automatically load for team members who haven't saved their own preferences
    • Team members can still create and save their own personal layouts, which will override the team default
    • Only one layout can be set as the default at a time

    Zoom Controls

    Adjust the rundown view to fit your screen and preference:

    • Use the zoom in (+) and zoom out (−) buttons in the toolbar to adjust the view
    • Your zoom level is saved per-rundown and per-user, so each rundown remembers your preferred zoom

    Find & Replace

    Quickly locate and modify content across your entire rundown with the powerful find and replace tool:

    • Global Search: Search across all text fields including names, scripts, talent, notes, and custom fields
    • Smart Navigation: Navigate between matches with up/down arrows
    • Replace Options: Replace individual matches or all matches at once with dedicated "Replace" and "Replace All" buttons
    • Case Preservation: Optional "Preserve case pattern" setting maintains original capitalization when replacing text

    Team Collaboration

    Work together seamlessly with your team:

    • Real-time Updates: See changes from teammates instantly
    • Team Management: Invite team members from account settings
    • Layout Independence: Team members can customize their own view with different column arrangements, widths, and visibility settings without affecting other users' experience of the same rundown

    Team Switching

    If you're a member of multiple teams, you can easily switch between them from the dashboard:

    • Click on your team name in the top navigation bar
    • Select a different team from the dropdown menu
    • Your active team determines which rundowns and resources you see
    • Each team has its own rundowns, layouts, and settings

    Live Presence Indicators

    See who else is working on the same rundown in real time:

    • Avatar circles above the toolbar show all users currently viewing the rundown
    • A pencil icon appears on a user's avatar when they are actively editing a cell
    • Click on a teammate's avatar to scroll directly to the cell they are editing
    • Colored highlights appear around the cell or row another user is currently editing

    Team Roles

    Teams support six different roles, each with specific permissions and capabilities. Assign roles based on each team member's responsibilities:

    Admin

    Full access to all features and team management. Can manage team settings, invite/remove members, billing, and has complete control over all rundowns.

    Manager

    Can manage team members and edit all content. Has full editing permissions but cannot access billing or delete the team.

    Showcaller

    Can edit all rundown content and call shows. Perfect for directors and production staff who need full editing access and showcaller controls.

    Crew

    Standard crew member with full editing access. Can create, edit, and manage rundowns but cannot control showcaller playback, invite new team members, or change team settings.

    Teleprompter

    Can view and control teleprompter display. Limited to viewing rundowns and operating the teleprompter - cannot edit rundown content.

    Guest

    Limited to editing specific rundowns they've been granted access to and cannot delete rundowns. Designed for freelancers and clients collaborating on select shows.

    Connection Status Icons

    The wifi icon in your rundown header shows the current connection and sync status, helping you understand your network connectivity and whether you're in sync with your team:

    Live (Green Wifi)

    Connected with real-time collaboration active. You're fully synced with your team.

    Poor (Yellow Wifi)

    Connected but with degraded performance. Syncing may be slower than normal.

    Server Disconnected (Gray Wifi Off)

    Lost connection to the server, but your device has internet. Changes will sync when reconnected.

    No Internet (Red Wifi Off)

    Your device has no internet connection. Check your network settings.

    Showcaller

    The showcaller is Cuer's live show control system that helps you track timing and progress during broadcast:

    • Play/Pause Controls: Use the playback controls in the rundown toolbar or keyboard shortcuts to start and stop the show timer
    • Live Timing: Shows countdown for current segment and tracks overall show progress
    • Visual Indicators: Current segment is highlighted in blue and marked with an arrow next to the row number.
    • Easy Autoscroll: Toggle the autoscroll feature with one click to automatically follow the current segment whether the showcaller is running or not.

    Auto-Advance

    The auto-advance toggle controls what happens when a segment's timer reaches zero:

    • On (default): When a segment's countdown reaches zero, the showcaller automatically advances to the next segment and starts its timer.
    • Off (overtime mode): When a segment's countdown reaches zero, the timer keeps running past zero and displays in red (e.g. +01:30), showing how far over time the segment is. You advance to the next segment manually.

    Access the toggle by clicking the gear icon next to the playback controls in the toolbar. The setting updates for everyone on the show in real time.

    When you manually advance with the forward button or arrow keys, the accumulated overtime carries over, which lets you see how far behind schedule you are overall. To clear the accumulated overtime and reset the timer:

    • Right-click any segment and select "Move showcaller here" — this jumps directly to that segment with a fresh timer, discarding any built-up overtime
    • Press the Reset button (Enter key). This resets the current segment's timer and clears all accumulated overtime

    Keyboard Shortcuts

    Control the showcaller without clicking buttons (shortcuts only work when not typing in a cell):

    • Space - Play/Pause showcaller
    • Left Arrow or Up Arrow - Move backward
    • Right Arrow or Down Arrow - Move forward
    • Enter - Reset showcaller timer
    • ` (Backtick) - Scroll to current segment

    Integration with Other Views

    • AD View: When you control the showcaller, the AD View automatically updates with live timing and progress
    • Shared Rundowns: External viewers see real-time updates of the current segment and timing status
    • Team Sync: All team members see the same showcaller status, ensuring everyone stays coordinated

    Pro Tip: Only one person needs to control the showcaller - everyone else will see the updates automatically. Use the autoscroll toggle to keep your view focused on the current segment.

    Cuer AI Assistant

    Click the floating Cuer AI button at the bottom-right of any rundown to open the chat. Each rundown has its own conversation that survives browser close, log out, and switching devices.

    What Cuer Remembers

    Cuer remembers things at three levels so it gets better over time without leaking information across shows or between teammates:

    • About this rundown: facts that apply only to this specific show or episode: host names, talent assignments, special instructions for this episode. These don't carry over to other rundowns.
    • Across your team's rundowns: conventions everyone on your team should benefit from: naming patterns, default durations, formatting standards. Visible to all team members.
    • Personal preferences: how you specifically like to work: response style, formatting habits, opinions about the show. Private to you; teammates don't see these.
    • What it does NOT remember: anything you haven't told it directly. If a fact isn't in your conversation history or saved as a memory, Cuer won't make it up.

    What Cuer Can Do

    • Make rundown changes directly: ask it to add, update, move, or delete rows and sections. Each change shows as a confirmation card you review before applying.
    • Review your rundown critically: catch missing durations, structural issues, blank rows, inconsistent naming, spelling and grammar problems. It's tuned to be honest about issues, not reassuring.
    • Help with scripts: rewrite for clarity, tone, length, or structure.
    • Remember show facts and your preferences as you work, and recall them in future sessions on the same rundown.

    How to Use It Effectively

    • Be specific. "Move the Top of Show section to before Halftime" works better than "rearrange this." "Change row 3's duration to 2 minutes" beats "shorten that one."
    • Just state facts and Cuer will remember them, no special command needed. "The host is John," "we always shoot at 24fps," "I prefer short responses" all get saved at the appropriate scope automatically.
    • Correct it naturally. "Actually the host is Sarah now," "forget about that," or "stop bolding everything" — Cuer updates or deletes its stored memory in response.
    • If Cuer asks whether something applies to just this rundown or all your shows, answer plainly. It uses your answer to decide where to store the fact.
    • Use it as a thinking partner before showtime. Ask it to flag anything missing, suggest improvements to script flow, or check for inconsistencies. The criticism is more useful than the praise.

    AI Templates

    Speed up rundown creation with AI-powered templates:

    • When creating a new rundown, select "AI Template" to use an AI template
    • Describe the type of show you're producing (e.g., "morning news show", "awards ceremony", "sports broadcast")
    • The AI generates a complete rundown structure with appropriate segments, timing estimates, and placeholder content
    • Edit and customize the generated rundown to fit your specific needs
    • Templates provide a professional starting point, saving hours of setup time

    Blueprints

    Blueprints transforms your rundown into a modular pre-production planning hub. Three built-in modules come with every rundown, and you can add as many custom modules as you need:

    Built-in Modules

    AI Rundown Summary

    Generate intelligent summaries of your rundown with one click. The AI analyzes your entire rundown and creates a comprehensive overview including key segments, timing, and important notes.

    Rundown Lists

    Auto-generate checklists from any rundown column or rows with the same color. Unique items are extracted automatically with checkboxes, item counts, and optional start times. Perfect for tracking sponsorships, graphics, or talent.

    Team Notes

    A rich text scratchpad shared with your team for meeting notes, show briefs, or any free-form planning. This is the same content that appears in the Notes window on the in-rundown toolbar.

    Custom Modules

    Add as many of these as you need. Each gets its own name, color, and privacy setting:

    Rich Text

    A standalone formatted text block with bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and list formatting.

    Links

    Collect important URLs in one place: reference docs, streaming links, social media pages, or anything your team needs quick access to.

    Checklist

    A simple checkbox list for tracking to-dos, pre-show checks, or any items that need to be ticked off.

    Tasks

    A kanban-style task board with assignments, due dates, and status columns (To Do, In Progress, Done). Great for delegating pre-production work across your team.

    Grid

    A spreadsheet-like table with customizable columns (text, number, date, checkbox, person). Use it for contact sheets, equipment lists, or any structured data.

    Lookbook

    Display selected images from your media library in a visual gallery. Ideal for mood boards, set references, or wardrobe planning.

    Pro Tip: Every module can be collapsed, reordered, color-coded, and set to private (only you) or shared (visible to your team). Blueprint data is saved separately from your rundown, keeping your on-air view clean.

    Shared Read-Only Rundowns

    Share your rundowns with external stakeholders or display them publicly:

    • Create share link: Use the Share button to generate a public, read-only link
    • Custom layouts: Choose which saved column layout to use for the shared view
    • Real-time updates: Shared rundowns reflect changes made to the original rundown in real-time
    • No login required: Recipients can view the rundown without needing a Cuer account
    • Content Translation: Viewers can translate the entire rundown using the language selector, available in English, Spanish, German, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean

    Note: You can update which layout is used for sharing at any time. This allows you to customize what information external viewers see without affecting your team's working view.

    AD View (Assistant Director)

    AD View provides essential timing information for Assistant Directors and control room operations:

    • Live Timing: Prominent show clock with real-time segment countdown
    • Progress Tracking: Visual show progress and next segment preview
    • Control Room Ready: Optimized for multiviewer displays
    • Easy Access: No login required - dedicated URL per rundown
    • Auto-Sync: Automatically synchronizes with the rundown's showcaller for real-time updates
    • Custom Columns: Add additional rundown columns to the display using the column picker at the bottom of the screen
    • Row Colors: Row color-coding from the main editor is preserved in the AD View for easy visual reference
    • Script Panel: Toggle a dedicated script panel that shows the full script content for the current segment. The panel is automatically hidden for rows with no script content.

    Integrations: Graphics Data Feed

    Drive your graphics system directly from your rundown. The Graphics Data Feed serves your rundown as a live feed that vMix (Data Sources) and Ross XPression (DataLinq) can poll to fill lower thirds, boards, and titles in real time, with no manual re-keying. Find it under Tools, then Integrations (Beta). It is available on all paid plans.

    • Where to find it: Open Tools, then Integrations (Beta), and turn the feed on to get your feed URLs.
    • Live feed: Always carries the current and next segment, so a lower third follows the showcaller automatically.
    • Full rundown feed: Lists the whole show for a segment board or a data-driven graphic.
    • Choose your columns: Send only the fields your graphics need, so there is less to map in vMix or XPression.
    • Clean values: Bracket colors, links, and formatting are stripped to plain text, and blocks are excluded so rows line up with their numbers.
    • Revocable link: Each feed is a per-rundown URL you can switch on or off anytime. No authentication headers are required, so it works with devices that cannot set them.
    • Connecting a device: In vMix, add a Data Source set to JSON and point it at the feed URL. In XPression, add an RSS or HTTP DataLinq source with the URL.

    Importing CSV Files

    You can import rundown data from CSV files to quickly populate your rundowns:

    • Import process: Use the "Import CSV" button on the Dashboard to upload your CSV file. A new rundown will be created from your imported data.
    • Column mapping: Map your CSV columns to the appropriate rundown fields during import
    • Custom layouts: For best results, create and save a custom column layout that matches your CSV structure before importing

    Media Manager

    The Media Manager provides a centralized way to upload, organize, and manage images for your team. Access it from the rundown toolbar or the dashboard to use images across your rundowns.

    Uploading Media

    • Upload Button: Click the Upload button in the media manager to select files from your computer
    • Multiple Files: Upload multiple images at once - progress shows for each file

    Folder Organization

    • Create Folders: Click "New Folder" to create folders for organizing your media
    • Move Between Folders: Drag and drop media items onto folders in the sidebar to move them
    • All Media View: Click "All Media" in the sidebar to see all files regardless of folder
    • Rename/Delete Folders: Use the icons next to each folder name to rename or delete it

    Finding & Sorting Media

    • Search: Use the search bar to filter files by name across all folders
    • Sort Options: Toggle between "Recent" (newest first) or "A-Z" (alphabetical) sorting

    Quick Look Preview

    • Select an image and press Space to open a large preview
    • Press Space or Esc to close the preview

    Managing Files

    • Rename: Click "Rename" to change the file's display name
    • Delete: Click "Delete" to permanently remove the file

    Using Media in Rundowns

    • Double-click an image to copy its URL, or select it and click "Copy URL"
    • Paste the URL into the Image column in your rundown
    • The image will display automatically in the rundown

    Print

    Generate printer-friendly versions of your rundown content:

    Print Rundown

    • Print the rundown as a formatted table using the print button in the toolbar
    • A column selection dialog lets you choose exactly which columns to include
    • Row colors and stylings are preserved in the printed output

    Print Script

    • Print all content from the script column formatted like the teleprompter view
    • Includes segment names, talent labels, and formatted script content
    • Optimized for easy reading by on-air talent

    Teleprompter Operation

    The teleprompter provides a fullscreen scrolling display for on-air talent:

    Talent Labels

    • Highlight the talent's name, then pick a color from the format menu, and it becomes a colored label for who reads each section.
    • Coloring works on any text, not just names. Highlight it and choose a color.
    • Available colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, gray.
    • Example: highlight "John" and pick blue to show John on a blue background.

    Script Management

    • All Script View: By default, the teleprompter shows only rows with script content. Select "All Script" to display all rows.
    • Inline Editing: Any edits are automatically saved to the script column of the corresponding segment. Combine with "All Script" view for fast and easy writing sessions.
    • Null Scripts: Put [null] in a script cell to show the segment name in the teleprompter without any script content

    Scroll Controls

    • ← → ↓ ↑ Arrow Keys - Adjust scroll speed (also works with the mouse scroll wheel or laptop trackpad in fullscreen)
    • Shift + ↑ ↓ - Jump to the previous or next segment, landing it on the reading arrow
    • Space Bar - Pause/Resume scrolling
    • Esc - Exit fullscreen mode

    Timing Strip

    Turn on the timing strip from the toolbar to overlay the current segment's countdown and show state on the prompter. It follows the rundown's showcaller, so talent can see the segment timing at a glance. Choose whether it sits at the top or bottom, and pick its size.

    Display Options

    • Uppercase: Convert all script text to uppercase for easier reading on camera
    • Bold: Make all script text bold for higher contrast on teleprompter screens
    • Font Size: Adjust the teleprompter font size. Larger text is easier to read from a distance

    Sidebar Navigation

    • A collapsible sidebar lists all segments with script content
    • Click any segment in the sidebar to jump directly to that section

    Print Script

    Use the print button to generate a printer-friendly TV script layout with segment names, talent labels, and script content formatted for easy reading.

    Cue Cards

    Cue Cards is a remote-control timer and text display for on-set monitors. Display countdowns, clocks, text cards, rundown segments, and messages on talent-facing screens.

    Timer & Text Cards

    • Add countdown timers, count-up timers, clocks, or text cards from the sidebar
    • Drag to reorder items in the sidebar list
    • Click any item to make it the active display
    • Customize timer duration, labels, digit sizes, and color thresholds per item

    Timer Modes

    • Countdown: Counts down from a set duration. Changes color at configurable thresholds and enters overtime when it reaches zero.
    • Count Up: Counts up from zero. Useful for tracking elapsed time.
    • Clock: Displays the current time of day. Supports timezone selection per timer.

    Rundown Card

    • Follows the showcaller: Point it at a team rundown and it shows the current segment automatically as you run the show
    • Segment or column: Displays the segment name, or any column you choose
    • Countdown with warnings: A live segment countdown that turns yellow then red on the thresholds you set
    • Matches your rundown: Keeps its bracket colors, row colors, and line breaks, with transport driven by the showcaller

    Message Overlay

    • Type a message in the bottom bar and press Enter to send it to the display
    • Messages appear as an overlay on the current timer or text card
    • Adjust message size and background color using the controls next to the input
    • Press the X button to clear the message from the display

    Viewer Link

    • A unique share link is shown at the bottom of the sidebar
    • Open this link on any screen to display the cue cards fullscreen
    • The viewer updates in real time, no login required

    Controls & Shortcuts

    • Space - Play / Pause the active timer
    • ← → ↑ ↓ - Previous / Next item
    • Enter - Reset the active timer
    • F - Toggle fullscreen
    • Esc - Exit fullscreen

    Studio Mode

    Click the "Studio" button to enter studio mode. Changes you make are only visible to you until you click "Push Live". The display splits into a preview (left) and live (right) view. Use the "Blackout" button to hide the live display.

    Auto Take

    When enabled, the display automatically advances to the next timer and starts it when the current countdown reaches zero.

    Need More Help?

    If you need additional assistance or have questions about specific features, you can reach out to our support team at help@cuer.live or contact your system administrator.

    This guide covers the core functionality of Cuer. Features may vary based on your access level and configuration.