refactor: titlecard component

Surface {{groupNow.*}} template variables (title, note, colour, times,
custom fields) in the automation template autocomplete so events inside a
group can reference their group. The runtime store already carries
groupNow, so substitution and filters worked already; this makes it
discoverable.

Extend the message-secondary action with an optional text field so an
automation can set the secondary message content, not just its source.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01LZYPZVdZLWowU7DyzGkWyy

.codegraph/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# CodeGraph data files — local to each machine, not for committing.
+# Ignore everything in .codegraph/ except this file itself, so transient
+# files (the database, daemon.pid, sockets, logs) never show up in git.
+*
+!.gitignore

apps/client/src/common/components/kbd/Kbd.module.scss

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+.kbd {
+  display: inline-block;
+  min-width: 1.5rem;
+  padding: 0.0625rem 0.375rem;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  background-color: $gray-1100;
+  color: $ui-white;
+  box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+  font-family: monospace;
+  font-size: calc(1rem - 4px);
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  text-align: center;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/kbd/Kbd.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { PropsWithChildren } from 'react';
+
+import style from './Kbd.module.scss';
+
+export default function Kbd({ children }: PropsWithChildren) {
+  return <kbd className={style.kbd}>{children}</kbd>;
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/multi-part-progress-bar/MultiPartProgressBar.scss

@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ $progress-bar-br: 3px;
 .multiprogress-bar__indicator-bar {
   background-color: var(--background-color-override, $ui-black);
   opacity: 0.8;
-  transition: 1s linear;
-  transition-property: width;
 
   .multiprogress-bar--ignore-css-override & {
     background-color: $ui-black;

apps/client/src/common/components/multi-part-progress-bar/MultiPartProgressBar.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { MaybeNumber } from 'ontime-types';
 
+import { useAnimatedProgress } from '../../hooks/useAnimatedProgress';
 import { getProgress } from '../../utils/getProgress';
 import { cx } from '../../utils/styleUtils';
 
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ export default function MultiPartProgressBar(props: MultiPartProgressBar) {
     className = '',
   } = props;
 
-  const percentRemaining = 100 - getProgress(now, complete);
+  const percentRemaining = 100 - useAnimatedProgress(now, complete);
   const dangerWidth = danger ? 100 - getProgress(danger, complete) : 0;
   const warningWidth = warning ? 100 - dangerWidth - getProgress(warning, complete) : 0;
   const isOvertime = now !== null && now < 0;

apps/client/src/common/components/navigation-menu/ViewNavigationMenu.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { useDisclosure, useHotkeys } from '@mantine/hooks';
 import { memo } from 'react';
+import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router';
 
+import { hasCustomParams, useSavedViewParams } from '../../stores/savedViewParams';
 import { useViewParamsEditorStore } from '../view-params-editor/viewParamsEditor.store';
 import FloatingNavigation from './floating-navigation/FloatingNavigation';
 import NavigationMenu from './NavigationMenu';
@@ -17,6 +19,9 @@ export default memo(ViewNavigationMenu);
 function ViewNavigationMenu({ isNavigationLocked, suppressSettings }: ViewNavigationMenuProps) {
   const [isMenuOpen, menuHandler] = useDisclosure();
   const { open: showEditFormDrawer } = useViewParamsEditorStore();
+  const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
+  const savedParams = useSavedViewParams((store) => store.params);
+  const hasSavedChanges = hasCustomParams(searchParams) || Object.keys(savedParams).length > 0;
 
   useHotkeys([
     [
@@ -46,6 +51,7 @@ function ViewNavigationMenu({ isNavigationLocked, suppressSettings }: ViewNaviga
       <FloatingNavigation
         toggleMenu={isNavigationLocked ? undefined : menuHandler.toggle}
         toggleSettings={suppressSettings ? undefined : showEditFormDrawer}
+        hasSavedChanges={hasSavedChanges}
       />
       {!isNavigationLocked && <NavigationMenu isOpen={isMenuOpen} onClose={menuHandler.close} />}
     </>

apps/client/src/common/components/navigation-menu/client-link/ClientLink.module.scss

@@ -1,4 +1,29 @@
-.linkIcon {
+.trailing {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
   margin-left: auto;
+}
+
+.linkIcon {
   @include rotate-fourty-five;
 }
+
+.indicator {
+  width: 0.5rem;
+  height: 0.5rem;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background-color: $active-indicator;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.clear {
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  transition: opacity $transition-time-action;
+
+  &:hover,
+  &:focus-visible {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/navigation-menu/client-link/ClientLink.tsx

@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-import { PropsWithChildren } from 'react';
-import { IoArrowUp } from 'react-icons/io5';
-import { useNavigate } from 'react-router';
+import { MouseEvent, PropsWithChildren } from 'react';
+import { IoArrowUp, IoCloseOutline } from 'react-icons/io5';
+import { useLocation, useNavigate, useSearchParams } from 'react-router';
 
 import { useElectronEvent } from '../../../hooks/useElectronEvent';
+import {
+  hasCustomParams,
+  reservedParams,
+  stripReservedParams,
+  useSavedViewParams,
+} from '../../../stores/savedViewParams';
 import { handleLinks } from '../../../utils/linkUtils';
+import IconButton from '../../buttons/IconButton';
+import Tooltip from '../../tooltip/Tooltip';
 import NavigationMenuItem from '../navigation-menu-item/NavigationMenuItem';
 
 import style from './ClientLink.module.scss';
@@ -16,32 +24,104 @@ interface ClientLinkProps {
 
 export default function ClientLink({ current, to, postAction, children }: PropsWithChildren<ClientLinkProps>) {
   const { isElectron } = useElectronEvent();
-  const navigate = useNavigate();
 
   if (isElectron) {
     return (
-      <NavigationMenuItem
-        active={current}
-        onClick={() => {
-          handleLinks(to);
-          postAction?.();
-        }}
-      >
+      <ElectronNavigationItem current={current} to={to} postAction={postAction}>
         {children}
-        <IoArrowUp className={style.linkIcon} />
-      </NavigationMenuItem>
+      </ElectronNavigationItem>
     );
   }
 
   return (
-    <NavigationMenuItem
-      active={current}
-      onClick={() => {
-        navigate(`/${to}`);
-        postAction?.();
-      }}
-    >
+    <BrowserNavigationItem current={current} to={to} postAction={postAction}>
       {children}
+    </BrowserNavigationItem>
+  );
+}
+
+function ElectronNavigationItem({ current, to, postAction, children }: PropsWithChildren<ClientLinkProps>) {
+  const navigateToLink = () => {
+    handleLinks(to);
+    postAction?.();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <NavigationMenuItem active={current} onClick={navigateToLink}>
+      {children}
+      <span className={style.trailing}>
+        <IoArrowUp className={style.linkIcon} />
+      </span>
+    </NavigationMenuItem>
+  );
+}
+
+function BrowserNavigationItem({ current, to, postAction, children }: PropsWithChildren<ClientLinkProps>) {
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const location = useLocation();
+  const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
+  const { params: savedParams, save, clear } = useSavedViewParams();
+
+  /**
+   * Save the params of the view we are leaving and resolve the destination,
+   * restoring any params previously saved for the target view.
+   */
+  const resolveDestination = () => {
+    const currentView = location.pathname.replace(/^\//, '');
+    save(currentView, stripReservedParams(location.search));
+    const restored = savedParams[to];
+    return `${to}${restored ? `?${restored}` : ''}`;
+  };
+
+  const isCustomised = current ? hasCustomParams(searchParams) : Boolean(savedParams[to]);
+
+  const navigateToLink = () => {
+    const destination = resolveDestination();
+    navigate(`/${destination}`);
+    postAction?.();
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * Clear the saved settings for this route without navigating to it.
+   * When it is the current view, also reset the live URL to its defaults.
+   */
+  const clearViewSettings = (event: MouseEvent) => {
+    event.stopPropagation();
+    clear(to);
+
+    // if mounted, clear the URL params
+    if (current) {
+      const preserved = new URLSearchParams();
+      reservedParams.forEach((key) => {
+        const value = searchParams.get(key);
+        if (value !== null) preserved.set(key, value);
+      });
+      setSearchParams(preserved);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <NavigationMenuItem active={current} onClick={navigateToLink}>
+      {children}
+      {isCustomised && (
+        <span className={style.trailing}>
+          <span className={style.indicator} aria-hidden data-testid='client-link__saved-indicator' />
+          <Tooltip
+            text='Reset to default'
+            render={
+              <IconButton
+                variant='ghosted-white'
+                size='small'
+                className={style.clear}
+                aria-label='Reset to default'
+                onClick={clearViewSettings}
+              />
+            }
+          >
+            <IoCloseOutline />
+          </Tooltip>
+        </span>
+      )}
     </NavigationMenuItem>
   );
 }

apps/client/src/common/components/navigation-menu/floating-navigation/FloatingNavigation.module.scss

@@ -22,3 +22,19 @@
   top: 0;
   z-index: $zindex-nav;
 }
+
+.buttonWithIndicator {
+  position: relative;
+  display: inline-flex;
+}
+
+.indicator {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: -0.15rem;
+  right: -0.15rem;
+  width: 0.6rem;
+  height: 0.6rem;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background-color: $active-indicator;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/navigation-menu/floating-navigation/FloatingNavigation.tsx

@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ import style from './FloatingNavigation.module.scss';
 interface FloatingNavigationProps {
   toggleMenu?: () => void;
   toggleSettings?: () => void;
+  hasSavedChanges?: boolean;
 }
 
-export default function FloatingNavigation({ toggleMenu, toggleSettings }: FloatingNavigationProps) {
+export default function FloatingNavigation({ toggleMenu, toggleSettings, hasSavedChanges }: FloatingNavigationProps) {
   const isButtonShown = useFadeOutOnInactivity(true);
 
   return (
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ export default function FloatingNavigation({ toggleMenu, toggleSettings }: Float
       className={cx([style.fadeable, style.buttonContainer, !isButtonShown && style.hidden])}
     >
       {toggleMenu && (
+        <div className={style.buttonWithIndicator}>
           <IconButton
             variant='subtle-white'
             size='xlarge'
@@ -29,6 +31,8 @@ export default function FloatingNavigation({ toggleMenu, toggleSettings }: Float
           >
             <IoApps />
           </IconButton>
+          {hasSavedChanges && <span className={style.indicator} data-testid='navigation__saved-indicator' />}
+        </div>
       )}
       {toggleSettings && (
         <IconButton

apps/client/src/common/components/progress-bar/ProgressBar.scss

@@ -14,6 +14,4 @@ $progress-bar-br: 3px;
 .progress-bar__indicator {
   height: $progress-bar-size;
   background-color: var(--timer-progress-override, $accent-color);
-  transition: 1s linear;
-  transition-property: width;
 }

apps/client/src/common/components/progress-bar/ProgressBar.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { MaybeNumber } from 'ontime-types';
 
-import { getProgress } from '../../utils/getProgress';
+import { useAnimatedProgress } from '../../hooks/useAnimatedProgress';
 
 import './ProgressBar.scss';
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ interface ProgressBarProps {
 
 export default function ProgressBar(props: ProgressBarProps) {
   const { current, duration, className } = props;
-  const progress = getProgress(current, duration);
+  const progress = useAnimatedProgress(current, duration);
 
   return (
     <div className={`progress-bar__bg ${className}`}>

apps/client/src/common/components/schedule-time/ScheduleTime.scss

@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-@use '@/theme/viewerDefs' as *;
-
-.schedule__ {
-  padding-top: 0.5rem;
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 0.25em;
-  font-size: $timer-label-size;
-  color: var(--label-color-override, $timer-color);
-}
-
-.schedule__delayed {
-  color: $ontime-delay-text;
-}
-
-.schedule__strike {
-  text-decoration: line-through;
-  color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
-}
-
-.schedule__over {
-  color: $playback-over;
-}
-
-.schedule__under {
-  color: $playback-under;
-}

apps/client/src/common/components/schedule-time/ScheduleTime.tsx

@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-import { OntimeEvent } from 'ontime-types';
-import { dayInMs, MILLIS_PER_MINUTE } from 'ontime-utils';
-
-import ClockTime from '../../../views/common/clock-time/ClockTime';
-import { getOffsetState } from '../../utils/offset';
-import { ExtendedEntry } from '../../utils/rundownMetadata';
-
-import './ScheduleTime.scss';
-import { cx } from '../../utils/styleUtils';
-
-type ScheduleTimeProps = {
-  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
-  showExpected: boolean;
-  className?: string;
-  preferredFormat12?: string;
-  preferredFormat24?: string;
-  expectedStart: number;
-};
-
-//TODO: consider relative mode
-export default function ScheduleTime(props: ScheduleTimeProps) {
-  const {
-    event,
-    showExpected,
-    className,
-    preferredFormat12 = 'h:mm a',
-    preferredFormat24 = 'HH:mm',
-    expectedStart,
-  } = props;
-  const { timeStart, duration, delay, countToEnd } = event;
-
-  const plannedStart = timeStart + delay + event.dayOffset * dayInMs;
-
-  // only show new expected value if outside  range of the planned value
-  const isExpectedValueShow = showExpected && isOutsideRange(plannedStart, expectedStart);
-
-  const plannedStateClass = isExpectedValueShow ? 'schedule__strike' : delay !== 0 ? 'schedule__delayed' : '';
-
-  const expectedOffsetState = getOffsetState(expectedStart - plannedStart);
-  const expectedStateClass = expectedOffsetState ? `schedule__${expectedOffsetState}` : '';
-  const plannedEnd = plannedStart + duration;
-  const expectedEnd = countToEnd ? Math.max(expectedStart + duration, plannedEnd) : expectedStart + duration;
-  const expectedEndOffsetState = getOffsetState(expectedEnd - plannedEnd);
-  const expectedEndClass = expectedEndOffsetState ? `schedule__${expectedEndOffsetState}` : '';
-
-  return (
-    <div className={cx(['schedule__', className])}>
-      <ClockTime
-        value={plannedStart}
-        preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
-        preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
-        className={plannedStateClass}
-      />
-      {!isExpectedValueShow && (
-        <>
-          →
-          <ClockTime
-            value={plannedEnd}
-            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
-            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
-            className={plannedStateClass}
-          />
-        </>
-      )}
-      {isExpectedValueShow && (
-        <>
-          <ClockTime
-            value={expectedStart}
-            className={expectedStateClass}
-            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
-            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
-          />
-          →
-          <ClockTime
-            value={expectedEnd}
-            className={expectedEndClass}
-            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
-            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
-          />
-        </>
-      )}
-    </div>
-  );
-}
-
-function isOutsideRange(a: number, b: number): boolean {
-  return Math.abs(a - b) > MILLIS_PER_MINUTE;
-}

apps/client/src/common/components/state/Empty.module.scss

@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
   color: $white-10;
 
   .empty {
-    width: 100%;
+    display: block;
+    width: min(100%, 24rem);
+    margin-inline: auto;
     opacity: 0.8;
   }
 
@@ -13,6 +15,6 @@
     margin-inline: auto;
     font-weight: 600;
     font-size: 2em;
-    max-width: 600px;
+    max-width: min(100%, 600px);
   }
 }

apps/client/src/common/components/title-card/TitleCard.scss

@@ -4,31 +4,50 @@
   position: relative;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-}
 
-.title-card__title,
-.title-card__placeholder {
-  font-weight: 600;
-  font-size: $title-font-size;
-  line-height: 1.2em;
+  background-color: var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
+  padding: $view-card-padding;
+  border-radius: $element-border-radius;
+
+  border-left: 1vw solid;
+
+  .title-card__title:empty::before {
+    color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
+    content: attr(data-placeholder);
   }
 
   .title-card__title {
-  color: var(--color-override, $viewer-color);
+    font-weight: 600;
+    line-height: 1.4em;
     padding-right: 1em;
-  min-height: 1.2em;
-}
-
-.title-card__placeholder {
-  color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
+    color: var(--color-override, $viewer-color);
   }
 
   .title-card__secondary {
-  font-size: $base-font-size;
     color: var(--secondary-color-override, $viewer-secondary-color);
     line-height: 1.2em;
   }
 
+  &.md {
+    .title-card__title {
+      font-size: $title-font-size;
+    }
+    .title-card__secondary {
+      font-size: $base-font-size;
+    }
+  }
+  &.lg {
+    .title-card__title {
+      font-size: $large-font-size;
+    }
+    .title-card__secondary {
+      font-size: $title-font-size;
+    }
+    .schedule__ {
+      font-size: $base-font-size;
+    }
+  }
+
   .title-card__label {
     position: absolute;
     right: 1rem;
@@ -41,3 +60,4 @@
       color: var(--accent-color-override, $accent-color);
     }
   }
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/title-card/TitleCard.tsx

@@ -1,33 +1,60 @@
-import { ForwardedRef, forwardRef } from 'react';
+import { OntimeEvent } from 'ontime-types';
 
 import { useTranslation } from '../../../translation/TranslationProvider';
-import { cx } from '../../utils/styleUtils';
+import { ExtendedEntry } from '../../utils/rundownMetadata';
+import { cx, enDash } from '../../utils/styleUtils';
 
 import './TitleCard.scss';
 
-interface TitleCardProps {
+type TitleCardMainProps = {
   title?: string;
   label?: 'now' | 'next';
   secondary?: string;
   className?: string;
-}
+  colour?: string;
+  textAlign?: 'left' | 'right' | 'center';
+  size?: 'md' | 'lg';
+  placeholder?: string;
+};
+
+type TitleCardExpectedProps = TitleCardMainProps & {
+  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
+  expectedStart: number;
+  showExpected: boolean;
+};
+
+type TitleCardNoExpectedProps = TitleCardMainProps & {
+  event?: undefined;
+  expectedStart?: undefined;
+  showExpected?: false;
+};
+
+type TitleCardProps = TitleCardExpectedProps | TitleCardNoExpectedProps;
+
+export default function TitleCard({
+  label,
+  title,
+  secondary,
+  className = '',
+  colour = 'transparent',
+  textAlign = 'left',
+  size = 'md',
+  placeholder = enDash,
+}: TitleCardProps) {
+  'use memo';
 
-const TitleCard = forwardRef((props: TitleCardProps, ref: ForwardedRef<HTMLDivElement>) => {
-  const { label, title, secondary, className = '' } = props;
   const { getLocalizedString } = useTranslation();
-
   const accent = label === 'now';
 
   return (
-    <div className={cx(['title-card', className])} ref={ref}>
-      <span className='title-card__title'>{title}</span>
+    <div className={cx(['title-card', className, size])} style={{ borderColor: colour }}>
+      <span className='title-card__title' style={{ textAlign }} data-placeholder={placeholder}>
+        {title === '' ? null : title}
+      </span>
       <span className={cx(['title-card__label', accent && 'title-card__label--accent'])}>
         {label && getLocalizedString(`common.${label}`)}
       </span>
       <div className='title-card__secondary'>{secondary}</div>
     </div>
   );
-});
-
-TitleCard.displayName = 'TitleCard';
-export default TitleCard;
+}

apps/client/src/common/components/view-params-editor/ViewParamsEditor.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router';
 
 import useViewSettings from '../../hooks-query/useViewSettings';
 import { useIsSmallScreen } from '../../hooks/useIsSmallScreen';
+import { useSavedViewParams } from '../../stores/savedViewParams';
 import Button from '../buttons/Button';
 import IconButton from '../buttons/IconButton';
 import Info from '../info/Info';
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ function ViewParamsEditor({ target, viewOptions }: EditFormDrawerProps) {
   const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const { data: viewSettings } = useViewSettings();
   const { isOpen, close } = useViewParamsEditorStore();
+  const clearSavedParams = useSavedViewParams((store) => store.clear);
   const isSmallScreen = useIsSmallScreen();
 
   const getPreservedParams = () => getPreservedSearchParams(searchParams, viewOptions);
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ function ViewParamsEditor({ target, viewOptions }: EditFormDrawerProps) {
   };
 
   const resetParams = () => {
+    clearSavedParams(target);
     setSearchParams(getPreservedParams());
   };
 

apps/client/src/common/hooks/useAnimatedProgress.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { MaybeNumber, Playback } from 'ontime-types';
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+
+import { getProgress } from '../utils/getProgress';
+import { usePlayback } from './useSocket';
+
+/**
+ * Returns the live completion percentage (0–100) of a countdown, interpolated locally.
+ */
+export function useAnimatedProgress(current: MaybeNumber, duration: MaybeNumber): number {
+  const playback = usePlayback();
+  const isRunning = playback === Playback.Play || playback === Playback.Roll;
+
+  const baseline = useRef({ current, at: performance.now() });
+  const [, setTick] = useState(0);
+
+  // there is only something to animate while a running timer is counting down towards 0
+  const shouldAnimate = isRunning && current !== null && current > 0 && duration !== null;
+
+  // re-anchor to the authoritative value whenever the server pushes a new timer update
+  useEffect(() => {
+    baseline.current = { current, at: performance.now() };
+  }, [current, duration, playback]);
+
+  // while counting down, re-render every animation frame so the derived progress stays smooth
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!shouldAnimate) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let frame = requestAnimationFrame(function tick() {
+      setTick((value) => value + 1);
+      frame = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    });
+    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(frame);
+  }, [shouldAnimate]);
+
+  // derive from the anchor plus elapsed time at render; frozen to the anchor when not running
+  const anchored = baseline.current.current;
+  const value = isRunning && anchored !== null ? anchored - (performance.now() - baseline.current.at) : anchored;
+  return getProgress(value, duration);
+}

apps/client/src/common/stores/__tests__/savedViewParams.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import { hasCustomParams, stripReservedParams, useSavedViewParams } from '../savedViewParams';
+
+describe('savedViewParams store', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().clearAll();
+  });
+
+  it('saves and restores params per view', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=true');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('backstage', 'showProgress=false');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params.timer).toBe('hideSeconds=true');
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params.backstage).toBe('showProgress=false');
+  });
+
+  it('overwrites the saved params for a view on subsequent saves', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=true');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=false');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params.timer).toBe('hideSeconds=false');
+  });
+
+  it('does not store an entry for an empty search string', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', '');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('removes a previously saved entry when saved with an empty search string', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=true');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', '');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('ignores empty view keys', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('', 'hideSeconds=true');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it('clears the saved params for a single view without touching others', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=true');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('backstage', 'showProgress=false');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().clear('timer');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({ backstage: 'showProgress=false' });
+  });
+
+  it('is a no-op when clearing a view without saved params', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('backstage', 'showProgress=false');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().clear('timer');
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({ backstage: 'showProgress=false' });
+  });
+
+  it('clears all saved params', () => {
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().save('timer', 'hideSeconds=true');
+    useSavedViewParams.getState().clearAll();
+
+    expect(useSavedViewParams.getState().params).toEqual({});
+  });
+});
+
+describe('stripReservedParams', () => {
+  it('removes reserved auth/preset params while keeping view customisation', () => {
+    expect(stripReservedParams('hideSeconds=true&token=abc&n=1&alias=my')).toBe('hideSeconds=true');
+  });
+
+  it('returns an empty string when only reserved params are present', () => {
+    expect(stripReservedParams('token=abc&n=1&alias=my')).toBe('');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('hasCustomParams', () => {
+  it('is true when a non-reserved param is present', () => {
+    expect(hasCustomParams(new URLSearchParams('hideSeconds=true&token=abc'))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('is false when only reserved params are present', () => {
+    expect(hasCustomParams(new URLSearchParams('token=abc&n=1&alias=my'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('is false when there are no params', () => {
+    expect(hasCustomParams(new URLSearchParams(''))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

apps/client/src/common/stores/savedViewParams.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { create } from 'zustand';
+
+// params that are auth/preset markers, not user view customisation (see common/utils/urlPresets.ts)
+export const reservedParams = new Set(['token', 'n', 'alias']);
+
+interface SavedViewParamsStore {
+  params: Record<string, string>; // view key (e.g. "timer") -> search string without leading "?"
+  save: (view: string, search: string) => void;
+  clear: (view: string) => void;
+  clearAll: () => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remembers the last view parameters used for each view so they can be
+ * restored when the user navigates back to that view through the menu.
+ * In-memory only: persists across SPA navigation, resets on a full page reload.
+ */
+export const useSavedViewParams = create<SavedViewParamsStore>((set) => ({
+  params: {},
+  save: (view, search) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      // ignore empty view keys and do not store empty entries, so the
+      // "saved changes" indicator only reflects genuine customisation
+      if (!view) return state;
+      const params = { ...state.params };
+      if (search) {
+        params[view] = search;
+      } else {
+        delete params[view];
+      }
+      return { params };
+    }),
+  clear: (view) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      if (!state.params[view]) return state;
+      const params = { ...state.params };
+      delete params[view];
+      return { params };
+    }),
+  clearAll: () => set({ params: {} }),
+}));
+
+/**
+ * Removes reserved (auth/preset) params from a search string, keeping only
+ * genuine view customisation.
+ */
+export function stripReservedParams(search: string): string {
+  const sp = new URLSearchParams(search);
+  reservedParams.forEach((key) => sp.delete(key));
+  return sp.toString();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether the search params contain any genuine view customisation,
+ * ignoring reserved params.
+ */
+export function hasCustomParams(searchParams: URLSearchParams): boolean {
+  for (const key of searchParams.keys()) {
+    if (!reservedParams.has(key)) return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}

apps/client/src/common/utils/__tests__/linkUtils.test.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { linkToOtherHost } from '../linkUtils';
+import { hostToBaseUrl, linkToOtherHost } from '../linkUtils';
 
 describe('linkToOTherHost', () => {
   it('should handle electron links', () => {
@@ -22,3 +22,18 @@ describe('linkToOTherHost', () => {
     expect(destination).toBe('https://app.getontime.no/user-hash/path');
   });
 });
+
+describe('hostToBaseUrl', () => {
+  it('uses http when the page is plain http', () => {
+    expect(hostToBaseUrl('192.168.10.166', 4001, 'http://localhost:4001')).toBe('http://192.168.10.166:4001');
+  });
+
+  it('keeps https when the page reaches the server over TLS on the same port', () => {
+    expect(hostToBaseUrl('192.168.10.166', 4001, 'https://localhost:4001')).toBe('https://192.168.10.166:4001');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to http when the page is https on a different port (TLS proxy)', () => {
+    // the raw server port does not speak TLS, an https link to it would fail
+    expect(hostToBaseUrl('192.168.10.166', 4001, 'https://ontime.example.com')).toBe('http://192.168.10.166:4001');
+  });
+});

apps/client/src/common/utils/linkUtils.ts

@@ -37,7 +37,12 @@ export function handleLinks(
   event?.preventDefault();
 
   const destination = new URL(externalServerUrl);
-  destination.pathname = externalBaseURI ? `${externalBaseURI}/${location}` : location;
+  // split off any query string so it is not encoded into the pathname
+  const [pathname, search] = location.split('?');
+  destination.pathname = externalBaseURI ? `${externalBaseURI}/${pathname}` : pathname;
+  if (search) {
+    destination.search = search;
+  }
   openLink(destination.toString());
 }
 
@@ -54,3 +59,17 @@ export function linkToOtherHost(
   }
   return destination.toString();
 }
+
+/**
+ * Builds a base URL for reaching the Ontime server on a given network interface.
+ * The Ontime server itself only speaks HTTP, so we only keep https when the page
+ * already reaches the server over TLS on that same port (eg. a proxy in front of it);
+ * any other explicit server port gets http.
+ * externalServerUrl is used for testing
+ */
+export function hostToBaseUrl(host: string, port: number, externalServerUrl: string = serverURL): string {
+  const page = new URL(externalServerUrl);
+  const pagePort = page.port === '' ? (page.protocol === 'https:' ? 443 : 80) : Number(page.port);
+  const scheme = page.protocol === 'https:' && pagePort === port ? 'https' : 'http';
+  return `${scheme}://${host}:${port}`;
+}

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-utils/PanelUtils.module.scss

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ $inner-padding: 1rem;
 .section {
   position: relative;
   margin-top: 2rem;
-  max-width: 850px;
+  max-width: 1024px;
 }
 
 .indent {

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/AutomationForm.tsx

@@ -293,8 +293,9 @@ export default function AutomationForm({ automation, onClose }: AutomationFormPr
         <h3>Outputs</h3>
         <Info>
           Automation outputs can be used to send data from Ontime to external software <br />
-          or to change properties of Ontime itself.
-          <ExternalLink href={integrationsDocsUrl}>See the documentation for templates</ExternalLink>
+          or to change properties of Ontime itself. <br /> <br />
+          Use Ontime runtime data in these fields with template strings. Type {'{{'} to see autocomplete, or{' '}
+          <ExternalLink href={integrationsDocsUrl}>read the docs</ExternalLink>
         </Info>
 
         {fieldOutputs.map((output, index) => {
@@ -341,12 +342,17 @@ export default function AutomationForm({ automation, onClose }: AutomationFormPr
                   </label>
                   <label>
                     Address
-                    <Input {...register(`outputs.${index}.address`)} fluid placeholder='/cue/start' />
+                    <TemplateInput
+                      {...register(`outputs.${index}.address`)}
+                      value={output.address}
+                      fluid
+                      placeholder='/cue/start'
+                    />
                     <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.address?.message}</Panel.Error>
                   </label>
                   <label>
                     Arguments
-                    <TemplateInput {...register(`outputs.${index}.args`)} value={output.args} placeholder='1' />
+                    <TemplateInput {...register(`outputs.${index}.args`)} value={output.args} fluid placeholder='1' />
                     <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.args?.message}</Panel.Error>
                   </label>
                   <div>
@@ -376,7 +382,7 @@ export default function AutomationForm({ automation, onClose }: AutomationFormPr
                 <div className={style.httpSection}>
                   <label>
                     Target URL
-                    <Input
+                    <TemplateInput
                       {...register(`outputs.${index}.url`, {
                         required: { value: true, message: 'Required field' },
                         pattern: {
@@ -384,6 +390,7 @@ export default function AutomationForm({ automation, onClose }: AutomationFormPr
                           message: 'HTTP messages should target http:// or https://',
                         },
                       })}
+                      value={output.url}
                       fluid
                       placeholder='http://127.0.0.1/start/1'
                     />

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/OntimeActionForm.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { UseFormRegister, UseFormSetValue, UseFormWatch } from 'react-hook-form'
 import Input from '../../../../common/components/input/input/Input';
 import Select from '../../../../common/components/select/Select';
 import * as Panel from '../../panel-utils/PanelUtils';
+import TemplateInput from './template-input/TemplateInput';
 
 import style from './AutomationForm.module.scss';
 
@@ -71,8 +72,8 @@ export default function OntimeActionForm({
             { value: 'playback-pause', label: 'Playback: pause' },
             { value: 'playback-roll', label: 'Playback: roll' },
 
-            { value: 'message-set', label: 'Primary Message: set' },
-            { value: 'message-secondary', label: 'Secondary Message: source' },
+            { value: 'message-set', label: 'Primary Message' },
+            { value: 'message-secondary', label: 'Secondary Message' },
           ]}
         />
         <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.action?.message}</Panel.Error>
@@ -96,7 +97,12 @@ export default function OntimeActionForm({
         <>
           <label>
             Text (leave empty for no change)
-            <Input {...register(`outputs.${index}.text`)} fluid placeholder='eg: Timer is finished' />
+            <TemplateInput
+              {...register(`outputs.${index}.text`)}
+              value={watch(`outputs.${index}.text`) ?? ''}
+              fluid
+              placeholder='eg: Timer is finished'
+            />
             <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.text?.message}</Panel.Error>
           </label>
           <label>
@@ -120,12 +126,28 @@ export default function OntimeActionForm({
       )}
 
       {selectedAction === 'message-secondary' && (
+        <>
+          <label>
+            Text (leave empty for no change)
+            <TemplateInput
+              {...register(`outputs.${index}.text`)}
+              value={watch(`outputs.${index}.text`) ?? ''}
+              fluid
+              placeholder='eg: Next up: keynote'
+            />
+            <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.text?.message}</Panel.Error>
+          </label>
           <label>
             Timer secondary source
-          <Select<SecondarySource | 'null' | null>
+            <Select<SecondarySource | 'no-change' | 'null' | null>
               onValueChange={(value) => {
                 // null -> no selection
                 if (value === null) return;
+                // no-change -> leave the current secondary source untouched
+                if (value === 'no-change') {
+                  setValue(`outputs.${index}.secondarySource`, undefined, { shouldDirty: true });
+                  return;
+                }
                 // 'null' -> clear the secondary source
                 if (value === 'null') {
                   setValue(`outputs.${index}.secondarySource`, null, { shouldDirty: true });
@@ -133,9 +155,9 @@ export default function OntimeActionForm({
                 }
                 setValue(`outputs.${index}.secondarySource`, value, { shouldDirty: true });
               }}
-            value={watch(`outputs.${index}.secondarySource`)}
+              value={watch(`outputs.${index}.secondarySource`) ?? 'no-change'}
               options={[
-              { value: null, label: 'Select secondary source' },
+                { value: 'no-change', label: 'No change' },
                 { value: 'aux1', label: 'Auxiliary timer 1' },
                 { value: 'aux2', label: 'Auxiliary timer 2' },
                 { value: 'aux3', label: 'Auxiliary timer 3' },
@@ -145,6 +167,7 @@ export default function OntimeActionForm({
             />
             <Panel.Error>{rowErrors?.secondarySource?.message}</Panel.Error>
           </label>
+        </>
       )}
 
       <div className={style.test}>{children}</div>

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/TriggersList.tsx

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ export default function TriggersList(props: TriggersListProps) {
           <tbody>
             {!showForm && triggers.length === 0 && (
               <Panel.TableEmpty
-                label='Create an automation to attach triggers to'
+                label='Create a trigger to run an automation'
                 handleClick={canAdd ? () => setShowForm(true) : undefined}
               />
             )}

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/template-input/TemplateInput.module.scss

@@ -1,29 +1,67 @@
-.wrapper {
+.inputShell {
   position: relative;
 }
 
-.suggestions {
-  background: $gray-1250;
-  color: $ui-white;
-
-  position: absolute;
-  top: 100%;
-  left: 0;
+.fluid {
   width: 100%;
-  margin: 0;
-  z-index: $zindex-floating;
-  padding-block: 0.25rem;
-
-  max-height: 200px;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-  color: $label-gray;
-
-  li {
-    padding: 0.25rem;
 }
 
-  li:hover {
+.input {
+  padding-right: 2rem;
+}
+
+.expandButton {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 50%;
+  right: 0.25rem;
+  transform: translateY(-50%);
+}
+
+.positioner {
+  outline: 0;
+}
+
+.popup {
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  min-width: var(--anchor-width);
+  max-width: var(--available-width);
+  border: 1px solid $gray-1000;
+  border-radius: $component-border-radius-md;
+  background: $gray-1250;
+  color: $label-gray;
+}
+
+.list {
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  max-height: min(20rem, var(--available-height));
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  overscroll-behavior: contain;
+  padding-block: 0.25rem;
+  outline: 0;
+}
+
+.item {
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+  outline: 0;
+  cursor: default;
+  user-select: none;
+  overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+
+  &[data-highlighted] {
     color: $ui-white;
     background: $blue-700;
   }
 }
+
+.expandedEditor {
+  min-height: min(18rem, 45vh);
+  font-family: monospace;
+  line-height: 1.4;
+}
+
+.footerHint {
+  margin-right: auto;
+  color: $label-gray;
+  font-size: calc(1rem - 2px);
+}

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/template-input/TemplateInput.tsx

@@ -1,69 +1,258 @@
-import { mergeRefs, useClickOutside } from '@mantine/hooks';
-import { forwardRef, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { Autocomplete as BaseAutocomplete } from '@base-ui/react/autocomplete';
+import type { ChangeEvent, ReactNode, Ref } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { IoExpandOutline } from 'react-icons/io5';
 
-import Input, { type InputProps } from '../../../../../common/components/input/input/Input';
+import Button from '../../../../../common/components/buttons/Button';
+import IconButton from '../../../../../common/components/buttons/IconButton';
+import { type InputProps } from '../../../../../common/components/input/input/Input';
+import Textarea from '../../../../../common/components/input/textarea/Textarea';
+import Modal from '../../../../../common/components/modal/Modal';
 import useCustomFields from '../../../../../common/hooks-query/useCustomFields';
-import { makeAutoCompleteList, matchRemaining, selectFromLastTemplate } from './templateInput.utils';
+import { cx } from '../../../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
+import { makeAutoCompleteList } from './templateInput.utils';
+import { useTemplateAutocomplete } from './useTemplateAutocomplete';
 
+import inputStyle from '../../../../../common/components/input/input/Input.module.scss';
 import style from './TemplateInput.module.scss';
 
-interface TemplateInputProps extends InputProps {}
+interface TemplateInputProps extends Omit<InputProps, 'value'> {
+  ref?: Ref<HTMLInputElement>;
+  value?: string;
+}
 
-const TemplateInput = forwardRef(function TemplateInput(props: TemplateInputProps, ref) {
-  const { value, onChange, ...rest } = props;
+interface TemplateEditorModalProps {
+  autocompleteList: string[];
+  isOpen: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  onSave: (value: string) => void;
+  value: string;
+}
+
+type TemplateAutocompleteState = ReturnType<typeof useTemplateAutocomplete<HTMLInputElement>>;
+
+interface TemplateAutocompleteRootProps {
+  autocomplete: TemplateAutocompleteState;
+  children: ReactNode;
+  value: string;
+}
+
+function assignRef<T>(ref: Ref<T> | undefined, value: T | null) {
+  if (typeof ref === 'function') {
+    ref(value);
+  } else if (ref) {
+    ref.current = value;
+  }
+}
+
+function emitInputChange(name: string | undefined, value: string, onChange: InputProps['onChange']) {
+  onChange?.({
+    target: { name, value },
+    currentTarget: { name, value },
+  } as ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>);
+}
+
+export default function TemplateInput({
+  className,
+  disabled,
+  fluid,
+  height = 'medium',
+  onChange,
+  readOnly,
+  ref,
+  value,
+  variant = 'subtle',
+  ...rest
+}: TemplateInputProps) {
   const { data } = useCustomFields();
-  const localRef = useClickOutside(() => setShowSuggestions(false));
+  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
+  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState(value || '');
+  const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false);
 
   const autocompleteList = useMemo(() => {
     return makeAutoCompleteList(data);
   }, [data]);
 
-  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState(value || '');
-  const [suggestions, setSuggestions] = useState<string[]>([]);
-  const [showSuggestions, setShowSuggestions] = useState(false);
+  const updateInputValue = useCallback(
+    (nextValue: string) => {
+      setInputValue(nextValue);
+      emitInputChange(rest.name, nextValue, onChange);
+    },
+    [onChange, rest.name],
+  );
 
-  const updateSuggestions = (value: string) => {
-    const template = selectFromLastTemplate(value);
-    return autocompleteList.filter((suggestion) => suggestion.startsWith(template));
+  const autocomplete = useTemplateAutocomplete(inputValue, autocompleteList, inputRef, updateInputValue);
+  const { setCursorForValue } = autocomplete;
+
+  // Keep the local autocomplete input in sync when react-hook-form resets or swaps field-array values.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const nextValue = value || '';
+    setInputValue(nextValue);
+    setCursorForValue(nextValue, nextValue.length);
+  }, [setCursorForValue, value]);
+
+  const setInputRef = useCallback(
+    (element: HTMLInputElement | null) => {
+      inputRef.current = element;
+      assignRef(ref, element);
+    },
+    [ref],
+  );
+
+  const openExpandedEditor = () => {
+    autocomplete.setShowSuggestions(false);
+    setIsExpanded(true);
   };
 
-  const handleInputChange = (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
-    setInputValue(event.target.value);
-
-    if (event.target.value.endsWith('{')) {
-      setShowSuggestions(true);
-      setSuggestions(updateSuggestions(event.target.value));
-    } else if (event.target.value === '' || event.target.value.endsWith('}}')) {
-      setShowSuggestions(false);
-    } else if (showSuggestions) {
-      setSuggestions(updateSuggestions(event.target.value));
-    }
-
-    onChange?.(event);
+  const closeExpandedEditor = () => {
+    setIsExpanded(false);
   };
 
-  const handleSuggestion = (value: string) => {
-    setInputValue((prev) => {
-      const remaining = matchRemaining(prev as string, value);
-      return prev + remaining;
-    });
-    setShowSuggestions(false);
+  const saveExpandedEditor = (nextValue: string) => {
+    updateInputValue(nextValue);
+    autocomplete.setCursorForValue(nextValue, nextValue.length);
+    setIsExpanded(false);
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className={style.wrapper} ref={mergeRefs(localRef, ref)}>
-      <Input value={inputValue} {...rest} onChange={handleInputChange} fluid />
-      {showSuggestions && suggestions.length > 0 && (
-        <ul className={style.suggestions}>
-          {suggestions.map((suggestion) => (
-            <li key={suggestion} onClick={() => handleSuggestion(suggestion)}>
-              {suggestion}
-            </li>
-          ))}
-        </ul>
-      )}
+    <>
+      <TemplateAutocompleteRoot autocomplete={autocomplete} value={inputValue}>
+        <div className={cx([style.inputShell, fluid && style.fluid])}>
+          <BaseAutocomplete.Input
+            ref={setInputRef}
+            className={cx([
+              inputStyle.input,
+              inputStyle[variant],
+              inputStyle[height],
+              fluid && inputStyle.fluid,
+              style.input,
+              className,
+            ])}
+            {...rest}
+            disabled={disabled}
+            onClick={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onFocus={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onKeyUp={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onSelect={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            readOnly={readOnly}
+          />
+          <IconButton
+            aria-label='Expand template editor'
+            className={style.expandButton}
+            disabled={disabled || readOnly}
+            onClick={openExpandedEditor}
+            size='small'
+            title='Expand template editor'
+            variant='ghosted-white'
+          >
+            <IoExpandOutline />
+          </IconButton>
         </div>
+      </TemplateAutocompleteRoot>
+      <TemplateEditorModal
+        autocompleteList={autocompleteList}
+        isOpen={isExpanded}
+        onClose={closeExpandedEditor}
+        onSave={saveExpandedEditor}
+        value={inputValue}
+      />
+    </>
   );
-});
+}
 
-export default TemplateInput;
+function TemplateAutocompleteRoot({ autocomplete, children, value }: TemplateAutocompleteRootProps) {
+  return (
+    <BaseAutocomplete.Root
+      items={autocomplete.suggestions}
+      autoHighlight
+      highlightItemOnHover
+      mode='none'
+      open={autocomplete.open}
+      value={value}
+      onOpenChange={autocomplete.setShowSuggestions}
+      onValueChange={autocomplete.handleValueChange}
+    >
+      {children}
+      <TemplateSuggestionPopup />
+    </BaseAutocomplete.Root>
+  );
+}
+
+function TemplateEditorModal({ autocompleteList, isOpen, onClose, onSave, value }: TemplateEditorModalProps) {
+  const expandedInputRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
+  const [draftValue, setDraftValue] = useState(value);
+  const autocomplete = useTemplateAutocomplete(draftValue, autocompleteList, expandedInputRef, setDraftValue);
+  const { setShowSuggestions } = autocomplete;
+
+  // Reset the draft whenever the modal opens so cancel never leaks unsaved changes.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isOpen) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setDraftValue(value);
+    setShowSuggestions(false);
+  }, [isOpen, setShowSuggestions, value]);
+
+  const handleClose = () => {
+    setShowSuggestions(false);
+    onClose();
+  };
+
+  const handleSave = () => {
+    setShowSuggestions(false);
+    onSave(draftValue);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Modal
+      isOpen={isOpen}
+      onClose={handleClose}
+      showBackdrop
+      showCloseButton
+      title='Edit template'
+      bodyElements={
+        <TemplateAutocompleteRoot autocomplete={autocomplete} value={draftValue}>
+          <BaseAutocomplete.Input
+            autoFocus
+            className={style.expandedEditor}
+            onClick={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onFocus={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onKeyUp={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            onSelect={autocomplete.updateCursor}
+            render={<Textarea ref={expandedInputRef} fluid resize='none' rows={8} />}
+          />
+        </TemplateAutocompleteRoot>
+      }
+      footerElements={
+        <>
+          <span className={style.footerHint}>Start a template with {'{{'} to see autocomplete.</span>
+          <Button onClick={handleClose}>Cancel</Button>
+          <Button onClick={handleSave} variant='primary'>
+            Save
+          </Button>
+        </>
+      }
+    />
+  );
+}
+
+function TemplateSuggestionPopup() {
+  return (
+    <BaseAutocomplete.Portal>
+      <BaseAutocomplete.Positioner side='bottom' align='start' className={style.positioner}>
+        <BaseAutocomplete.Popup className={style.popup}>
+          <BaseAutocomplete.List className={style.list}>
+            <BaseAutocomplete.Collection>
+              {(suggestion: string) => (
+                <BaseAutocomplete.Item key={suggestion} value={suggestion} className={style.item}>
+                  {suggestion}
+                </BaseAutocomplete.Item>
+              )}
+            </BaseAutocomplete.Collection>
+          </BaseAutocomplete.List>
+        </BaseAutocomplete.Popup>
+      </BaseAutocomplete.Positioner>
+    </BaseAutocomplete.Portal>
+  );
+}

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/template-input/__tests__/templateInput.utils.test.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { matchRemaining } from '../templateInput.utils';
+import { completeTemplateAtCursor, matchRemaining, selectActiveTemplate } from '../templateInput.utils';
 
 describe('matchRemaining()', () => {
   it('should return a partial string needed for autocomplete', () => {
@@ -15,3 +15,54 @@ describe('matchRemaining()', () => {
     expect(matchRemaining('test', 'test')).toBe('');
   });
 });
+
+describe('selectActiveTemplate()', () => {
+  it('returns the last unclosed template fragment', () => {
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{event')).toBe('{{event');
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{eventNow.title}} and {{event')).toBe('{{event');
+  });
+
+  it('ignores single braces and closed templates', () => {
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {')).toBe('');
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{eventNow.title}}')).toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('only considers templates before the cursor', () => {
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{event}} then {{timer', 14)).toBe('');
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{event}} then {{timer', 27)).toBe('{{timer');
+  });
+
+  it('selects a partial template when the cursor is inside a completed template', () => {
+    expect(selectActiveTemplate('send {{timer.current}} after', 12)).toBe('{{timer');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('completeTemplateAtCursor()', () => {
+  it('completes the active template before the cursor', () => {
+    expect(completeTemplateAtCursor('send {{timer after', '{{timer.current}}', 12)).toEqual({
+      value: 'send {{timer.current}} after',
+      cursorIndex: 22,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('preserves text before and after the cursor', () => {
+    expect(completeTemplateAtCursor('before {{event after', '{{eventNow.title}}', 14)).toEqual({
+      value: 'before {{eventNow.title}} after',
+      cursorIndex: 25,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('preserves a following template when completing between templates', () => {
+    expect(completeTemplateAtCursor('{{clock}} and {{timer then {{eventNow.title}}', '{{timer.current}}', 21)).toEqual({
+      value: '{{clock}} and {{timer.current}} then {{eventNow.title}}',
+      cursorIndex: 31,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('replaces the whole template when the cursor is inside a completed template', () => {
+    expect(completeTemplateAtCursor('before {{timer.current}} after', '{{timer.duration}}', 15)).toEqual({
+      value: 'before {{timer.duration}} after',
+      cursorIndex: 25,
+    });
+  });
+});

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/template-input/templateInput.utils.ts

@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@ const eventStaticPropertiesNext = [
   '{{eventNext.delay}}',
 ];
 
+const groupStaticPropertiesNow = [
+  '{{groupNow.id}}',
+  '{{groupNow.title}}',
+  '{{groupNow.note}}',
+  '{{groupNow.colour}}',
+  '{{groupNow.timeStart}}',
+  '{{groupNow.timeEnd}}',
+  '{{groupNow.duration}}',
+];
+
 const staticAuxProperties = (index: 1 | 2 | 3) => [
   `{{auxtimer${index}.current}}`,
   `{{auxtimer${index}.duration}}`,
@@ -75,12 +85,19 @@ export function makeAutoCompleteList(customFields: CustomFields): string[] {
     ...Object.entries(customFields).map(([key]) => `{{eventNow.custom.${key}}}`),
     ...eventStaticPropertiesNext,
     ...Object.entries(customFields).map(([key]) => `{{eventNext.custom.${key}}}`),
+    ...groupStaticPropertiesNow,
+    ...Object.entries(customFields).map(([key]) => `{{groupNow.custom.${key}}}`),
     ...staticAuxProperties(1),
     ...staticAuxProperties(2),
     ...staticAuxProperties(3),
   ];
 }
 
+interface TemplateCompletion {
+  cursorIndex: number;
+  value: string;
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns the partial string b needed to autocomplete string a
  * @example matchRemaining('te', 'test') -> 'st'
@@ -111,13 +128,54 @@ export function matchRemaining(a: string, b: string) {
   return '';
 }
 
+function getActiveTemplateRange(text: string, cursorIndex = text.length) {
+  const textBeforeCursor = text.slice(0, cursorIndex);
+  const start = textBeforeCursor.lastIndexOf('{{');
+  if (start === -1) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const closeBeforeCursor = textBeforeCursor.lastIndexOf('}}');
+  if (closeBeforeCursor > start) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const closeAfterStart = text.indexOf('}}', start);
+  const nextStartAfterCursor = text.indexOf('{{', cursorIndex);
+  const closesBeforeNextTemplate = nextStartAfterCursor === -1 || closeAfterStart < nextStartAfterCursor;
+  const end = closeAfterStart !== -1 && closesBeforeNextTemplate ? closeAfterStart + 2 : cursorIndex;
+
+  return {
+    end,
+    start,
+    template: text.slice(start, cursorIndex),
+  };
+}
+
 /**
- * Selects the last starting template in a string
+ * Selects the last unclosed starting template before the cursor.
  */
-export function selectFromLastTemplate(text: string) {
-  const lastBraceIndex = text.lastIndexOf('{{');
-  if (lastBraceIndex !== -1) {
-    return text.slice(lastBraceIndex);
+export function selectActiveTemplate(text: string, cursorIndex = text.length) {
+  return getActiveTemplateRange(text, cursorIndex)?.template ?? '';
 }
-  return '';
+
+/**
+ * Replaces the active template fragment before the cursor with the selected suggestion.
+ */
+export function completeTemplateAtCursor(
+  text: string,
+  suggestion: string,
+  cursorIndex = text.length,
+): TemplateCompletion {
+  const activeTemplateRange = getActiveTemplateRange(text, cursorIndex);
+  if (!activeTemplateRange) {
+    const value = text + matchRemaining(text, suggestion);
+    return { value, cursorIndex: value.length };
+  }
+
+  const value = `${text.slice(0, activeTemplateRange.start)}${suggestion}${text.slice(activeTemplateRange.end)}`;
+  return {
+    value,
+    cursorIndex: activeTemplateRange.start + suggestion.length,
+  };
 }

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/automations-panel/template-input/useTemplateAutocomplete.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { Autocomplete as BaseAutocomplete } from '@base-ui/react/autocomplete';
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useState, type RefObject } from 'react';
+
+import { completeTemplateAtCursor, selectActiveTemplate } from './templateInput.utils';
+
+type TemplateElement = HTMLInputElement | HTMLTextAreaElement;
+
+function getCursorIndex(element: TemplateElement | null, fallback: string) {
+  return element?.selectionStart ?? fallback.length;
+}
+
+function focusCursor(element: TemplateElement | null, cursorIndex: number) {
+  requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+    element?.focus();
+    element?.setSelectionRange(cursorIndex, cursorIndex);
+  });
+}
+
+export function useTemplateAutocomplete<T extends TemplateElement>(
+  value: string,
+  autocompleteList: string[],
+  elementRef: RefObject<T | null>,
+  onValueChange: (value: string) => void,
+) {
+  const [showSuggestions, setShowSuggestions] = useState(false);
+  const [cursor, setCursor] = useState(value.length);
+
+  const activeTemplate = selectActiveTemplate(value, cursor);
+  const suggestions = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!activeTemplate) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    return autocompleteList.filter((suggestion) => suggestion.startsWith(activeTemplate));
+  }, [activeTemplate, autocompleteList]);
+
+  const setCursorForValue = useCallback((nextValue: string, cursorIndex: number) => {
+    setCursor(cursorIndex);
+    setShowSuggestions(Boolean(selectActiveTemplate(nextValue, cursorIndex)));
+  }, []);
+
+  const updateCursor = useCallback(() => {
+    const cursorIndex = getCursorIndex(elementRef.current, value);
+    setCursorForValue(value, cursorIndex);
+  }, [elementRef, setCursorForValue, value]);
+
+  const handleValueChange = useCallback(
+    (nextValue: string, eventDetails: BaseAutocomplete.Root.ChangeEventDetails) => {
+      if (eventDetails.reason === 'item-press') {
+        eventDetails.cancel();
+        const completed = completeTemplateAtCursor(value, nextValue, cursor);
+        setCursorForValue(completed.value, completed.cursorIndex);
+        onValueChange(completed.value);
+        focusCursor(elementRef.current, completed.cursorIndex);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const cursorIndex = getCursorIndex(elementRef.current, nextValue);
+      setCursorForValue(nextValue, cursorIndex);
+      onValueChange(nextValue);
+    },
+    [cursor, elementRef, onValueChange, setCursorForValue, value],
+  );
+
+  return {
+    handleValueChange,
+    open: showSuggestions && suggestions.length > 0,
+    setCursorForValue,
+    setShowSuggestions,
+    suggestions,
+    updateCursor,
+  };
+}

apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/settings-panel/McpSection.tsx

@@ -2,33 +2,23 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 
 import { generateUrl } from '../../../../common/api/session';
 import CopyTag from '../../../../common/components/copy-tag/CopyTag';
-import useInfo from '../../../../common/hooks-query/useInfo';
-import { isOntimeCloud, serverURL } from '../../../../externals';
+import { serverURL } from '../../../../externals';
 import * as Panel from '../../panel-utils/PanelUtils';
 
 export default function McpSection() {
-  const { data: infoData } = useInfo();
   const [mcpEndpointUrl, setMcpEndpointUrl] = useState('');
 
   // generate url
   useEffect(() => {
-    const baseUrl = (() => {
-      if (isOntimeCloud) return serverURL;
-
-      // for local setups we prefer the localhost IP to avoid remote access
-      if (infoData.networkInterfaces.length > 0) {
-        return `http://${infoData.networkInterfaces[0].address}:${infoData.serverPort}`;
-      }
-      return serverURL;
-    })();
-
+    // the page origin is reachable wherever the user is browsing from,
+    // and follows the deployment (cloud, reverse proxy, port mappings)
     // we are reusing the endpoint, so locking config and nav have no effect
-    generateUrl({ baseUrl, path: 'mcp', authenticate: true, lockConfig: false, lockNav: false })
+    generateUrl({ baseUrl: serverURL, path: 'mcp', authenticate: true, lockConfig: false, lockNav: false })
       .then(setMcpEndpointUrl)
       .catch(() => {
         setMcpEndpointUrl('');
       });
-  }, [infoData]);
+  }, []);
 
   const mcpClientConfig = mcpEndpointUrl
     ? JSON.stringify({ mcpServers: { ontime: { url: mcpEndpointUrl } } }, null, 2)
@@ -40,14 +30,19 @@ export default function McpSection() {
         <Panel.SubHeader>MCP Server</Panel.SubHeader>
         <Panel.Paragraph>Connect any MCP-compatible AI agent to Ontime using the endpoint below.</Panel.Paragraph>
         <Panel.Divider />
+        <Panel.ListGroup>
+          <Panel.ListItem>
             <Panel.Field title='Endpoint URL' description='Add this URL to your MCP client settings' />
             {mcpEndpointUrl && <CopyTag copyValue={mcpEndpointUrl}>{mcpEndpointUrl}</CopyTag>}
-        <Panel.Divider />
+          </Panel.ListItem>
+          <Panel.ListItem>
             <Panel.Field
               title='Client configuration snippet'
               description='Paste this into your AI agent settings under "mcpServers"'
             />
             {mcpEndpointUrl && <CopyTag copyValue={mcpClientConfig}>{mcpClientConfig}</CopyTag>}
+          </Panel.ListItem>
+        </Panel.ListGroup>
       </Panel.Card>
     </Panel.Section>
   );

apps/client/src/features/operator/Operator.tsx

@@ -180,7 +180,13 @@ function Operator({ rundown, rundownMetadata, customFields, settings }: Operator
 
             return (
               <Fragment key={entry.id}>
-                <OperatorGroup key={entry.id} title={entry.title} />
+                <OperatorGroup
+                  key={entry.id}
+                  title={entry.title}
+                  colour={entry.colour}
+                  count={entry.entries.length}
+                  duration={entry.duration}
+                />
                 {entry.entries.map((nestedEntryId) => {
                   const nestedEntry = rundown.entries[nestedEntryId];
                   if (!isOntimeEvent(nestedEntry)) {
@@ -217,6 +223,7 @@ function Operator({ rundown, rundownMetadata, customFields, settings }: Operator
                       isLinkedToLoaded={isLinkedToLoaded}
                       isSelected={isLoaded}
                       isPast={isPast}
+                      groupColour={entry.colour}
                       selectedRef={isLoaded ? selectedRef : undefined}
                       showStart={showStart}
                       subscribed={subscribedData}

apps/client/src/features/operator/operator-event/OperatorEvent.module.scss

@@ -22,17 +22,39 @@
     background-color: $gray-1250;
   }
 
+  &.grouped {
+    position: relative;
+    padding-left: 0.35rem;
+    background:
+      linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, transparent 88%, var(--group-colour, $gray-500) 12%), transparent 8rem),
+      $viewer-card-bg-color;
+  }
+
   &.running {
     border-top: 1px solid $gray-1300;
     background-color: var(--operator-running-bg-override, $active-green);
   }
 
+  &.grouped.running {
+    background:
+      linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, transparent 82%, var(--group-colour, $gray-500) 18%), transparent 8rem),
+      var(--operator-running-bg-override, $active-green);
+  }
+
   &.past {
     border-top: 1px solid transparent;
     opacity: 0.2;
   }
 }
 
+.groupRail {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset-block: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  width: 0.35rem;
+  background-color: var(--group-colour, $gray-500);
+}
+
 .binder {
   grid-area: binder;
   color: $section-white;
@@ -74,6 +96,9 @@
 .plannedStart,
 .timeUntil,
 .runningTime {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
   border-radius: $component-border-radius-md;
   padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
   line-height: 1;
@@ -95,6 +120,21 @@
   letter-spacing: 1px;
 }
 
+.live {
+  color: $ui-black;
+  background-color: $ui-white;
+}
+
+.due {
+  color: $ui-black;
+  background-color: $orange-500;
+}
+
+.done {
+  color: $white-60;
+  background-color: $white-7;
+}
+
 .runningTime {
   grid-area: running;
   font-size: 1.25rem;

apps/client/src/features/operator/operator-event/OperatorEvent.tsx

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ interface OperatorEventProps {
   isLinkedToLoaded: boolean;
   isSelected: boolean;
   isPast: boolean;
+  groupColour?: string;
   selectedRef?: RefObject<HTMLDivElement | null>;
   showStart: boolean;
   subscribed: Subscribed;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ function OperatorEvent({
   isLinkedToLoaded,
   isSelected,
   isPast,
+  groupColour,
   selectedRef,
   showStart,
   subscribed,
@@ -68,7 +70,12 @@ function OperatorEvent({
   const mouseHandlers = useLongPress(handleLongPress);
   const cueColours = colour && getAccessibleColour(colour);
 
-  const operatorClasses = cx([style.event, isSelected && style.running, isPast && style.past]);
+  const operatorClasses = cx([
+    style.event,
+    groupColour && style.grouped,
+    isSelected && style.running,
+    isPast && style.past,
+  ]);
 
   const hasFields = subscribed.some((field) => field.value);
   const columnCount = subscribed.length ? Math.min(subscribed.length, 4) : 0;
@@ -85,8 +92,10 @@ function OperatorEvent({
       data-testid={cue}
       ref={selectedRef}
       onContextMenu={handleLongPress}
+      style={groupColour ? ({ '--group-colour': groupColour } as CSSProperties) : undefined}
       {...mouseHandlers}
     >
+      {groupColour && <div className={style.groupRail} />}
       <div className={style.binder} style={{ ...cueColours }}>
         <span className={style.cue}>{cue}</span>
       </div>
@@ -153,11 +162,11 @@ function OperatorEventSchedule({
   isLinkedToLoaded,
 }: OperatorEventScheduleProps) {
   if (isPast) {
-    return <span className={style.timeUntil}>DONE</span>;
+    return <span className={cx([style.timeUntil, style.done])}>DONE</span>;
   }
 
   if (isSelected) {
-    return <span className={style.timeUntil}>LIVE</span>;
+    return <span className={cx([style.timeUntil, style.live])}>LIVE</span>;
   }
 
   return (
@@ -186,7 +195,7 @@ function TimeUntil({ timeStart, delay, dayOffset, totalGap, isLinkedToLoaded }:
   const timeUntilString = isDue ? 'DUE' : `${formatDuration(Math.abs(timeUntil), timeUntil > 2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE)}`;
 
   return (
-    <span className={style.timeUntil} data-testid='time-until'>
+    <span className={cx([style.timeUntil, isDue && style.due])} data-testid='time-until'>
       {timeUntilString}
     </span>
   );

apps/client/src/features/operator/operator-group/OperatorGroup.module.scss

@@ -1,13 +1,33 @@
 .group {
   width: 100%;
-  padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+  min-height: 2.5rem;
+  padding: 0.4rem 0.75rem;
+  border-left: 0.35rem solid var(--group-colour, $gray-500);
   background-color: $gray-1350;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, transparent 88%, var(--group-colour, $gray-500) 12%);
   font-size: 1.25rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 1rem;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
 }
 
-// tablet
-@media (min-width: $min-tablet) {
-  .group {
-    padding: 0.25rem 1rem;
+.title {
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  white-space: nowrap;
 }
+
+.meta {
+  display: flex;
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 60%, transparent);
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  font-weight: 500;
 }

apps/client/src/features/operator/operator-group/OperatorGroup.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,29 @@
-import { memo } from 'react';
+import { CSSProperties, memo } from 'react';
+
+import { getAccessibleColour } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
+import { formatDuration } from '../../../common/utils/time';
 
 import style from './OperatorGroup.module.scss';
 
 interface OperatorGroup {
   title: string;
+  colour: string;
+  count: number;
+  duration: number;
 }
 
 export default memo(OperatorGroup);
-function OperatorGroup({ title }: OperatorGroup) {
-  return <div className={style.group}>{title}</div>;
+function OperatorGroup({ title, colour, count, duration }: OperatorGroup) {
+  const groupColour = colour || '#929292';
+  const groupColours = getAccessibleColour(groupColour);
+
+  return (
+    <div className={style.group} style={{ ...groupColours, '--group-colour': groupColour } as CSSProperties}>
+      <span className={style.title}>{title}</span>
+      <span className={style.meta}>
+        <span>{`${count} ${count === 1 ? 'event' : 'events'}`}</span>
+        <span>{formatDuration(duration)}</span>
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  );
 }

apps/client/src/features/rundown/entry-editor/EventEditorEmpty.module.scss

@@ -3,58 +3,94 @@
   height: 100%;
   max-height: 100%;
   overflow-y: auto;
-  padding: 0.5rem;
+  padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
 
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  overflow-x: auto;
 }
 
 .shortcutSection {
   flex: 1;
-  margin-top: 15vh;
+  width: min(100%, 48rem);
+  margin-top: clamp(1.5rem, 8vh, 5rem);
   margin-inline: auto;
-  gap: 1rem;
 }
 
 .shortcuts {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 0.875rem;
+  margin-top: 0.875rem;
+}
+
+.shortcutGroup {
+  h3 {
+    margin: 0 0 0.375rem;
+    color: $ui-white;
     font-size: calc(1rem - 3px);
-  border-collapse: separate;
-  border-spacing: 4rem 0;
-
-  tr {
-    white-space: nowrap;
-    td:nth-child(odd) {
-      text-align: left;
-    }
-    td:nth-child(even) {
-      text-align: right;
-    }
+    font-weight: 600;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
   }
 }
 
-.spacer {
-  height: 1rem;
+.shortcutList {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
+}
+
+.shortcutRow {
+  min-height: 1.625rem;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(10rem, 1fr) minmax(0, auto);
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+  font-size: calc(1rem - 3px);
+}
+
+.shortcutLabel {
+  min-width: 0;
+  line-height: 1.2;
+}
+
+.shortcutKeys {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
+  gap: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.keyCombo {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  flex-wrap: nowrap;
+  gap: 0.25rem 0;
+}
+
+.separator {
+  color: $gray-500;
+  font-size: calc(1rem - 5px);
 }
 
 .prompt {
-  margin-left: 4rem;
-}
-
-.divider {
-  display: inline-block;
-  text-align: center;
-  width: 1em;
-}
-
-.kbd {
-  font-family: monospace;
-  white-space: nowrap;
-  font-size: calc(1rem - 2px);
-  padding: 0.125rem 0.5rem;
-  background-color: $gray-1200;
   color: $ui-white;
-  border-radius: 2px;
-  font-weight: 400;
-  box-shadow: 0px 0px 3px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 680px) {
+  .entryEditor {
+    padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+  }
+
+  .shortcutSection {
+    margin-top: 1rem;
+  }
+
+  .shortcutRow {
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+    gap: 0.25rem;
+  }
+
+  .shortcutKeys {
+    justify-content: flex-start;
+  }
 }

apps/client/src/features/rundown/entry-editor/EventEditorEmpty.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { PropsWithChildren, memo } from 'react';
 
 import * as Editor from '../../../common/components/editor-utils/EditorUtils';
+import Kbd from '../../../common/components/kbd/Kbd';
 import { deviceAlt, deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
 
 import style from './EventEditorEmpty.module.scss';
@@ -12,216 +13,124 @@ function EventEditorEmpty() {
     <div className={style.entryEditor} data-testid='editor-container'>
       <div className={style.shortcutSection}>
         <Editor.Title className={style.prompt}>Rundown shortcuts</Editor.Title>
-        <table className={style.shortcuts}>
-          <tbody>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Find in rundown</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>F</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Open Settings</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>,</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr className={style.spacer} />
-            <tr>
-              <td>Select entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↑</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>/</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↓</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Select group</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↑</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>/</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↓</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Jump to top / bottom</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>Home</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>/</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>End</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Page up / down</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>PgUp</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>/</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>PgDn</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Deselect entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>Esc</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr className={style.spacer} />
-            <tr>
-              <td>Reorder selected entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↑</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>/</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>↓</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Copy selected entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>C</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Cut selected entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>X</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Paste above</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>V</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Paste below</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>V</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Clone selected entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceMod}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>D</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Delete selected entry</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Backspace</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr className={style.spacer} />
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add event below</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>E</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add event above</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>E</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add group below</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>G</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add group above</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>G</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add milestone below</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>M</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add milestone above</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>M</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add delay below</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>D</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-            <tr>
-              <td>Add delay above</td>
-              <td>
-                <Kbd>{deviceAlt}</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>Shift</Kbd>
-                <AuxKey>+</AuxKey>
-                <Kbd>D</Kbd>
-              </td>
-            </tr>
-          </tbody>
-        </table>
+        <div className={style.shortcuts}>
+          <ShortcutGroup title='Search'>
+            <Shortcut label='Find in rundown'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'F']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Open settings'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, ',']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+          </ShortcutGroup>
+
+          <ShortcutGroup title='Navigation'>
+            <Shortcut label='Select entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, '↑']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, '↓']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Select group'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', '↑']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', '↓']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Jump to top / bottom'>
+              <Combo keys={['Home']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={['End']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Page up / down'>
+              <Combo keys={['PgUp']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={['PgDn']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Deselect entry'>
+              <Combo keys={['Esc']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+          </ShortcutGroup>
+
+          <ShortcutGroup title='Editing'>
+            <Shortcut label='Reorder selected entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, deviceMod, '↑']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, deviceMod, '↓']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Copy selected entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'C']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Cut selected entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'X']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Paste below'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'V']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Paste above'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'Shift', 'V']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Clone selected entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceMod, 'D']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Delete selected entry'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Backspace']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+          </ShortcutGroup>
+
+          <ShortcutGroup title='Insert'>
+            <Shortcut label='Add event below / above'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'E']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', 'E']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Add group below / above'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'G']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', 'G']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Add milestone below / above'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'M']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', 'M']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+            <Shortcut label='Add delay below / above'>
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'D']} />
+              <Separator />
+              <Combo keys={[deviceAlt, 'Shift', 'D']} />
+            </Shortcut>
+          </ShortcutGroup>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
 
-function AuxKey({ children }: PropsWithChildren) {
-  return <span className={style.divider}>{children}</span>;
+function ShortcutGroup({ title, children }: PropsWithChildren<{ title: string }>) {
+  return (
+    <section className={style.shortcutGroup}>
+      <h3>{title}</h3>
+      <div className={style.shortcutList}>{children}</div>
+    </section>
+  );
 }
 
-function Kbd({ children }: PropsWithChildren) {
-  return <span className={style.kbd}>{children}</span>;
+function Shortcut({ label, children }: PropsWithChildren<{ label: string }>) {
+  return (
+    <div className={style.shortcutRow}>
+      <span className={style.shortcutLabel}>{label}</span>
+      <span className={style.shortcutKeys}>{children}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function Combo({ keys }: { keys: string[] }) {
+  return (
+    <span className={style.keyCombo}>
+      {keys.map((key) => (
+        <Kbd key={key}>{key}</Kbd>
+      ))}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
+function Separator() {
+  return <span className={style.separator}>/</span>;
 }

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-event/RundownEvent.tsx

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { TbFlagFilled, TbListNumbers } from 'react-icons/tb';
 import { useEntryActionsContext } from '../../../common/context/EntryActionsContext';
 import { useContextMenu } from '../../../common/hooks/useContextMenu';
 import { useEntryCopy } from '../../../common/stores/entryCopyStore';
-import { deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
+import { deviceAlt, deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
 import { cx, getAccessibleColour } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { useRenumberCuesDialogStore } from '../renumber-cues-dialog/RenumberCuesDialog';
 import { useEventIdSwapping } from '../useEventIdSwapping';
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export default function RundownEvent({
             type: 'item',
             label: 'Delete',
             icon: IoTrash,
-            shortcut: `${deviceMod}+Del`,
+            shortcut: `${deviceAlt}+Backspace`,
             onClick: () => {
               clearSelectedEvents();
               deleteEntry(Array.from(selectedEvents));
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ export default function RundownEvent({
             type: 'item',
             label: 'Delete',
             icon: IoTrash,
-            shortcut: `${deviceMod}+Del`,
+            shortcut: `${deviceAlt}+Backspace`,
             onClick: () => {
               deleteEntry([eventId]);
               unselect(eventId);

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-event/composite/RundownEventProgressBar.module.scss

@@ -3,7 +3,5 @@
   width: 0;
   border-radius: 1px 0 0 1px;
 
-  transition: 1s linear;
-  transition-property: width;
   background-color: $gray-200;
 }

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-event/composite/RundownEventProgressBar.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
+import { useAnimatedProgress } from '../../../../common/hooks/useAnimatedProgress';
 import { useTimer } from '../../../../common/hooks/useSocket';
-import { getProgress } from '../../../../common/utils/getProgress';
 
 import style from './RundownEventProgressBar.module.scss';
 
 export default function RundownEventProgressBar() {
   const timer = useTimer();
 
-  const progress = getProgress(timer.current, timer.duration);
+  const progress = useAnimatedProgress(timer.current, timer.duration);
 
   return <div className={style.progressBar} style={{ width: `${progress}%` }} />;
 }

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-group/RundownGroup.module.scss

@@ -82,6 +82,17 @@
   margin-right: 0.25rem;
   color: $ui-white;
 }
+
+.duration {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
+}
+
+.lockIcon {
+  opacity: 0.6;
+}
+
 .over {
   color: $playback-over;
   .strike {

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-group/RundownGroup.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   IoChevronUp,
   IoDuplicateOutline,
   IoFolderOpenOutline,
+  IoLockClosed,
   IoReorderTwo,
   IoTrash,
 } from 'react-icons/io5';
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import Tag from '../../../common/components/tag/Tag';
 import { useEntryActionsContext } from '../../../common/context/EntryActionsContext';
 import { useContextMenu } from '../../../common/hooks/useContextMenu';
 import { useEntryCopy } from '../../../common/stores/entryCopyStore';
-import { deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
+import { deviceAlt, deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
 import { getOffsetState } from '../../../common/utils/offset';
 import { cx, getAccessibleColour } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { formatDuration, formatTime } from '../../../common/utils/time';
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ export default function RundownGroup({ data, hasCursor, collapsed, onCollapse }:
       type: 'item',
       label: 'Delete Group',
       icon: IoTrash,
-      shortcut: `${deviceMod}+Del`,
+      shortcut: `${deviceAlt}+Backspace`,
       onClick: () => deleteEntry([data.id]),
     },
   ]);
@@ -176,14 +177,17 @@ export default function RundownGroup({ data, hasCursor, collapsed, onCollapse }:
           </div>
           <div className={style.metaEntry}>
             <div className={style.metaLabel}>Duration</div>
+            <div className={style.duration}>
               {planOffset === null ? (
-              <div>{formatDuration(data.duration)}</div>
+                formatDuration(data.duration)
               ) : (
-              <div className={cx([planOffsetLabel && style[planOffsetLabel]])}>
+                <span className={cx([planOffsetLabel && style[planOffsetLabel]])}>
                   <span className={style.strike}>{formatDuration(data.duration)}</span>
                   <Tag className={style.offsetLabel}>{planOffset}</Tag>
-              </div>
+                </span>
               )}
+              {data.targetDuration !== null && <IoLockClosed className={style.lockIcon} />}
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>

apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown-milestone/RundownMilestone.tsx

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import useReactiveTextInput from '../../../common/components/input/text-input/us
 import { useEntryActionsContext } from '../../../common/context/EntryActionsContext';
 import { useContextMenu } from '../../../common/hooks/useContextMenu';
 import { useEntryCopy } from '../../../common/stores/entryCopyStore';
-import { deviceMod } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
+import { deviceAlt } from '../../../common/utils/deviceUtils';
 import { cx, getAccessibleColour } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { useEventSelection } from '../useEventSelection';
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export default function RundownMilestone({ colour, cue, entryId, hasCursor, titl
       type: 'item',
       label: 'Delete',
       icon: IoTrash,
-      shortcut: `${deviceMod}+Del`,
+      shortcut: `${deviceAlt}+Backspace`,
       onClick: () => deleteEntry([entryId]),
     },
   ]);

apps/client/src/features/sharing/GenerateLinkFormExport.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useMemo } from 'react';
 
 import useInfo from '../../common/hooks-query/useInfo';
 import useUrlPresets from '../../common/hooks-query/useUrlPresets';
+import { hostToBaseUrl } from '../../common/utils/linkUtils';
 import GenerateLinkForm from './GenerateLinkForm';
 
 interface GenerateLinkFormExportProps {
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ export default function GenerateLinkFormExport({ lockedPath }: GenerateLinkFormE
    */
   const hostOptions = useMemo(() => {
     return infoData.networkInterfaces.map((nif) => ({
-      value: `http://${nif.address}:${infoData.serverPort}`,
+      value: hostToBaseUrl(nif.address, infoData.serverPort),
       label: `${nif.name} - ${nif.address}`,
     }));
   }, [infoData.networkInterfaces, infoData.serverPort]);

apps/client/src/theme/_viewerDefs.scss

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ $viewer-opacity-disabled: 0.6;
 $timer-label-size: clamp(12px, 1.25vw, 20px);
 $base-font-size: clamp(15px, 1.5vw, 28px);
 $title-font-size: clamp(18px, 2.25vw, 42px);
+$large-font-size: clamp(40px, 4.5vw, 80px);
 $timer-value-size: clamp(24px, 2.5vw, 48px);
 $header-font-size: clamp(24px, 2.5vw, 48px);
 

apps/client/src/translation/languages/de.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export const langDe: TranslationObject = {
   'common.no_data': 'Keine Daten',
   'countdown.ended': 'Veranstaltung endete um',
   'countdown.running': 'Veranstaltung läuft',
+  'countdown.group_running': 'Veranstaltung in Gruppe läuft',
   'countdown.loaded': 'Veranstaltung geladen',
   'countdown.select_event': 'Wählen Sie eine Veranstaltung aus, um sie zu verfolgen',
   'countdown.to_start': 'Zeit bis zum Start',

apps/client/src/translation/languages/es.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export const langEs: TranslationObject = {
   'common.no_data': 'Sin datos',
   'countdown.ended': 'Evento finalizado a las',
   'countdown.running': 'Evento en curso',
+  'countdown.group_running': 'Evento en grupo en curso',
   'countdown.loaded': 'Evento está cargado', //TODO: check translation
   'countdown.select_event': 'Seleccionar un evento para seguir',
   'countdown.to_start': 'Tiempo para comenzar',

apps/client/src/translation/languages/fr.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export const langFr: TranslationObject = {
   'common.no_data': 'Aucune donnée',
   'countdown.ended': 'Évènement terminé à',
   'countdown.running': 'Évènement en cours',
+  'countdown.group_running': 'Évènement du groupe en cours',
   'countdown.loaded': 'Évènement chargé',
   'countdown.select_event': 'Sélectionnez un évènement à suivre',
   'countdown.to_start': 'Évènement commence dans',

apps/client/src/translation/languages/it.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export const langIt: TranslationObject = {
   'common.no_data': 'Nessun dato disponibile',
   'countdown.ended': 'Evento finito alle',
   'countdown.running': 'Evento in corso',
+  'countdown.group_running': 'Evento nel gruppo in corso',
   'countdown.loaded': 'Evento caricato', //TODO: check translation
   'countdown.select_event': 'Seleziona un evento da seguire',
   'countdown.to_start': 'Tempo alla partenza',

apps/client/src/translation/languages/pt.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export const langPt: TranslationObject = {
   'common.no_data': 'Sem dados',
   'countdown.ended': 'Evento encerrado às',
   'countdown.running': 'Evento em andamento',
+  'countdown.group_running': 'Evento em grupo em andamento',
   'countdown.loaded': 'Evento carregado', //TODO: check translation
   'countdown.select_event': 'Selecione um evento para acompanhar',
   'countdown.to_start': 'Tempo para iniciar',

apps/client/src/views/backstage/Backstage.scss

@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@
     color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
   }
 
+  .title-card {
+    // overwrite the title-card bg color so they don't stack as it is transparent
+    background-color: transparent;
+  }
+
   /* =================== HEADER + EXTRAS ===================*/
 
   .project-header {

apps/client/src/views/backstage/backstage.utils.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { MaybeNumber, OntimeEvent, Playback, TimerPhase } from 'ontime-types';
 
-import { enDash } from '../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { getPropertyValue } from '../common/viewUtils';
 
 /**
@@ -46,9 +45,9 @@ export function getCardData(
   }
 
   // if we are loaded, we show the upcoming event as next
-  const nowMain = getPropertyValue(eventNow, mainSource ?? 'title') || enDash;
+  const nowMain = getPropertyValue(eventNow, mainSource ?? 'title');
   const nowSecondary = getPropertyValue(eventNow, secondarySource);
-  const nextMain = getPropertyValue(eventNext, mainSource ?? 'title') || enDash;
+  const nextMain = getPropertyValue(eventNext, mainSource ?? 'title');
   const nextSecondary = getPropertyValue(eventNext, secondarySource);
 
   return {

apps/client/src/views/common/schedule/ScheduleContext.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   useCallback,
   useEffect,
   useLayoutEffect,
+  useMemo,
   useRef,
   useState,
 } from 'react';
@@ -140,25 +141,23 @@ export const ScheduleProvider = ({ children, selectedEventId }: PropsWithChildre
     return () => clearInterval(paginator.current);
   }, [cycleInterval, numPages, stopCycle, visiblePage]);
 
-  let selectedEventIndex = events.findIndex((event) => event.id === selectedEventId);
-
   // we want to show the event after the current
-  const viewEvents = events.slice(selectedEventIndex + 1);
-  selectedEventIndex = 0;
+  const viewEvents = useMemo(() => {
+    const selectedEventIndex = events.findIndex((event) => event.id === selectedEventId);
+    return (events as ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>[]).slice(selectedEventIndex + 1);
+  }, [events, selectedEventId]);
 
-  return (
-    <ScheduleContext
-      value={{
-        events: viewEvents as ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>[],
+  const value = useMemo(() => {
+    return {
+      events: viewEvents,
       selectedEventId,
       numPages,
       visiblePage,
       containerRef,
-      }}
-    >
-      {children}
-    </ScheduleContext>
-  );
+    };
+  }, [viewEvents, selectedEventId, numPages, visiblePage, containerRef]);
+
+  return <ScheduleContext value={value}>{children}</ScheduleContext>;
 };
 
 export const useSchedule = () => {

apps/client/src/views/countdown/Countdown.scss

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 @use '@/theme/viewerDefs' as *;
-@use 'sass:color';
 
 $item-height: 3.5rem;
 
@@ -60,6 +59,7 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     right: $view-inline-padding;
 
     display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
     justify-content: end;
     gap: 2rem;
 
@@ -73,14 +73,27 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
   }
 
   /* ========================= LIST ========================*/
-  .empty-container {
+  .empty-state {
+    min-height: min(56vh, 36rem);
+    padding-top: clamp(4rem, 14vh, 9rem);
     text-align: center;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
     align-items: center;
 
     button {
-      margin-top: 2rem;
+      margin-top: 1.75rem;
+    }
+  }
+
+  .empty-state__content {
+    max-width: none;
+
+    span {
+      max-width: none;
+      white-space: nowrap;
+      font-size: clamp(1.5rem, 4vw, 2.25rem);
+      line-height: 1.1;
     }
   }
 
@@ -89,7 +102,7 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     flex-direction: column;
     overflow-y: auto;
 
-    padding-bottom: 60vh;
+    padding-bottom: max(8rem, calc(5rem + env(safe-area-inset-bottom)));
   }
 
   /* ====================== LIST-ITEM ======================*/
@@ -105,6 +118,7 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     column-gap: 1rem;
     background-color: var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
     padding-right: 1rem;
+    border: 1px solid transparent;
     border-radius: $element-border-radius;
 
     &:hover {
@@ -116,52 +130,139 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
 
   .sub--selected {
     background: $blue-700;
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px $blue-500;
   }
 
   .sub--live {
-    // we need to dim this if the schedule times are ahead of schedule they will be green and diaper in a full green background
-    background-color: color.adjust($active-green, $lightness: -10%);
+    background-color: $active-green;
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px color-mix(in srgb, $active-green 75%, $ui-white);
   }
 
   .sub--armed {
     background-color: $gray-1325;
   }
 
+  .sub--in-group {
+    position: relative;
+    margin-left: 1rem;
+
+    &::before {
+      content: '';
+      position: absolute;
+      left: -0.5rem;
+      top: -0.25rem;
+      bottom: -0.25rem;
+      width: 2px;
+      border-radius: 1px;
+      background: var(--group-color, transparent);
+    }
+
+    .sub__binder {
+      box-shadow: inset 3px 0 0 var(--group-color, transparent);
+    }
+  }
+
   .sub__binder {
     background: var(--user-color, var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color));
+    border-radius: $element-border-radius 0 0 $element-border-radius;
     grid-area: binder;
   }
 
   .sub__schedule {
     grid-area: schedule;
-  }
-
-  .sub__schedule-inline {
-    grid-area: schedule;
     padding-top: 0.5rem;
 
     display: flex;
     gap: 0.25em;
     font-size: $timer-label-size;
     color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  }
+
+  .sub__schedule--delayed {
+    color: $ontime-delay-text;
+  }
+
+  .sub__schedule--strike {
+    text-decoration: line-through;
+  }
+
+  .sub__schedule--over {
+    color: $playback-over;
+  }
+
+  .sub__schedule--under {
+    color: $playback-under;
+  }
+
+  .sub--group {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px var(--user-color, $gray-1325);
+    background:
+      linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--user-color, transparent) 18%, transparent), transparent 42%),
+      var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
+
+    .sub__binder {
+      background: var(--user-color, var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color));
+      box-shadow: none;
+    }
+
+    .sub__title {
+      font-weight: 700;
+    }
+
+    .sub__schedule,
+    .sub__status,
+    .sub__label {
+      color: var(--secondary-color-override, $viewer-secondary-color);
+    }
+  }
+
+  .sub--group.sub--selected {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px $blue-500;
+    background:
+      linear-gradient(90deg, color-mix(in srgb, var(--user-color, transparent) 22%, transparent), transparent 42%),
+      $blue-700;
+
+    .sub__schedule,
+    .sub__status,
+    .sub__label,
+    .sub__eyebrow {
+      color: $ui-white;
+    }
   }
 
   .sub__title {
     grid-area: title;
     padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
+    min-width: 0;
 
     font-size: $title-font-size;
     line-height: 1.1em;
+    overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+  }
+
+  .sub__eyebrow {
+    display: block;
+    margin-bottom: 0.15rem;
+    color: var(--secondary-color-override, $viewer-secondary-color);
+    font-size: $timer-label-size;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    line-height: 1;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
   }
 
   .sub__secondary {
     grid-area: secondary;
     padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
+    min-width: 0;
 
     font-size: $base-font-size;
     line-height: 1.1em;
+    color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
     // allow multi-line text but trim before
     white-space: pre-line;
+    overflow-wrap: anywhere;
   }
 
   .sub__status {
@@ -171,6 +272,7 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     font-size: $timer-label-size;
     text-align: right;
     text-transform: uppercase;
+    white-space: nowrap;
   }
 
   .sub__label {
@@ -180,6 +282,7 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     font-size: $timer-label-size;
     color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
     text-align: right;
+    white-space: nowrap;
   }
 
   .sub__timer {
@@ -189,6 +292,16 @@ $item-height: 3.5rem;
     line-height: 1.1em;
     font-weight: 600;
     text-align: right;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  }
+
+  .selection-count {
+    color: var(--label-color-override, $viewer-label-color);
+    font-size: $timer-label-size;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    white-space: nowrap;
   }
 
   /* ====================== MODIFIERS ======================*/

apps/client/src/views/countdown/Countdown.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
-import { EntryId, OntimeEvent, OntimeView, PlayableEvent, isOntimeEvent, isPlayableEvent } from 'ontime-types';
+import {
+  EntryId,
+  OntimeEntry,
+  OntimeEvent,
+  OntimeGroup,
+  OntimeView,
+  PlayableEvent,
+  isOntimeEvent,
+  isOntimeGroup,
+  isPlayableEvent,
+} from 'ontime-types';
 import { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { IoAdd } from 'react-icons/io5';
 
@@ -15,7 +25,7 @@ import { useTranslation } from '../../translation/TranslationProvider';
 import Loader from '../common/loader/Loader';
 import SuperscriptTime from '../common/superscript-time/SuperscriptTime';
 import { getCountdownOptions, useCountdownOptions } from './countdown.options';
-import { getOrderedSubscriptions } from './countdown.utils';
+import { getOrderedSubscriptions, resolveSubscriptionTarget } from './countdown.utils';
 import CountdownSelect from './CountdownSelect';
 import CountdownSubscriptions from './CountdownSubscriptions';
 import SingleEventCountdown from './SingleEventCountdown';
@@ -45,13 +55,19 @@ function Countdown({ customFields, rundownData, projectData, isMirrored, setting
 
   const [editMode, setEditMode] = useState(false);
 
-  // gather rundown data
-  const playableEvents = rundownData.filter((entry): entry is ExtendedEntry<PlayableEvent> => {
-    return isOntimeEvent(entry) && isPlayableEvent(entry);
+  // gather subscribable items: playable events and groups that contain at least one playable child
+  const candidates = rundownData.filter((entry): entry is ExtendedEntry<PlayableEvent | OntimeGroup> => {
+    if (isOntimeEvent(entry)) {
+      return isPlayableEvent(entry);
+    }
+    if (isOntimeGroup(entry)) {
+      return rundownData.some((item) => isOntimeEvent(item) && isPlayableEvent(item) && item.parent === entry.id);
+    }
+    return false;
   });
 
   // gather presentation data
-  const hasEvents = playableEvents.length > 0;
+  const hasEvents = candidates.length > 0;
 
   // gather option data
   const defaultFormat = getDefaultFormat(settings?.timeFormat);
@@ -69,15 +85,20 @@ function Countdown({ customFields, rundownData, projectData, isMirrored, setting
         <CountdownClock />
       </div>
 
-      {!hasEvents && <Empty text={getLocalizedString('common.no_data')} className='empty-container' />}
+      {!hasEvents && (
+        <div className='empty-state'>
+          <Empty text={getLocalizedString('common.no_data')} className='empty-state__content' />
+        </div>
+      )}
 
       {hasEvents && editMode && (
-        <CountdownSelect events={playableEvents} subscriptions={subscriptions} disableEdit={() => setEditMode(false)} />
+        <CountdownSelect events={candidates} subscriptions={subscriptions} disableEdit={() => setEditMode(false)} />
       )}
 
       {hasEvents && !editMode && (
         <CountdownContents
-          playableEvents={playableEvents}
+          candidates={candidates}
+          rundownData={rundownData}
           subscriptions={subscriptions}
           goToEditMode={() => setEditMode(true)}
         />
@@ -87,19 +108,20 @@ function Countdown({ customFields, rundownData, projectData, isMirrored, setting
 }
 
 interface CountdownContentsProps {
-  playableEvents: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>[];
+  candidates: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent | OntimeGroup>[];
+  rundownData: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEntry>[];
   subscriptions: EntryId[];
   goToEditMode: () => void;
 }
 
-function CountdownContents({ playableEvents, subscriptions, goToEditMode }: CountdownContentsProps) {
+function CountdownContents({ candidates, rundownData, subscriptions, goToEditMode }: CountdownContentsProps) {
   const { getLocalizedString } = useTranslation();
   const { hidePast } = useCountdownOptions();
 
   if (subscriptions.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <div className='empty-container'>
-        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.select_event')} className='empty-container' />
+      <div className='empty-state'>
+        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.select_event')} className='empty-state__content' />
         <Button variant='primary' size='xlarge' onClick={goToEditMode}>
           <IoAdd /> Add
         </Button>
@@ -107,13 +129,15 @@ function CountdownContents({ playableEvents, subscriptions, goToEditMode }: Coun
     );
   }
 
-  const subscribedEvents = getOrderedSubscriptions(subscriptions, playableEvents);
+  const subscribedEvents = getOrderedSubscriptions(subscriptions, candidates)
+    .map((entry) => resolveSubscriptionTarget(entry, rundownData))
+    .filter((target): target is NonNullable<typeof target> => target !== null);
   const eventsToShow = !hidePast ? subscribedEvents : subscribedEvents.filter((event) => !event.isPast);
 
   if (subscribedEvents.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <div className='empty-container'>
-        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.select_event')} className='empty-container' />
+      <div className='empty-state'>
+        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.select_event')} className='empty-state__content' />
         <Button variant='primary' size='xlarge' onClick={goToEditMode}>
           <IoAdd /> Add
         </Button>
@@ -129,8 +153,8 @@ function CountdownContents({ playableEvents, subscriptions, goToEditMode }: Coun
 
   if (eventsToShow.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <div className='empty-container'>
-        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.all_have_finished')} className='empty-container' />
+      <div className='empty-state'>
+        <Empty text={getLocalizedString('countdown.all_have_finished')} className='empty-state__content' />
       </div>
     );
   }

apps/client/src/views/countdown/CountdownSelect.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { EntryId, PlayableEvent } from 'ontime-types';
+import { EntryId, OntimeEvent, OntimeGroup, isOntimeGroup } from 'ontime-types';
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { IoArrowBack, IoClose, IoSaveOutline } from 'react-icons/io5';
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router';
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { makeSubscriptionsUrl } from './countdown.utils';
 import './Countdown.scss';
 
 interface CountdownSelectProps {
-  events: ExtendedEntry<PlayableEvent>[];
+  events: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent | OntimeGroup>[];
   subscriptions: EntryId[];
   disableEdit: () => void;
 }
@@ -52,13 +52,15 @@ export default function CountdownSelect({ events, subscriptions, disableEdit }:
 
   return (
     <div className='list-container'>
-      {events.map((event, index) => {
+      {events.map((event) => {
         const title = event.title || '{no title}';
         const isSelected = selectedIds.has(event.id);
+        const isGroup = isOntimeGroup(event);
+        const isGroupedEvent = !isGroup && Boolean(event.parent);
 
         return (
           <div
-            key={index}
+            key={event.id}
             role='button'
             tabIndex={0}
             onClick={() => toggleSelect(event.id)}
@@ -68,21 +70,33 @@ export default function CountdownSelect({ events, subscriptions, disableEdit }:
                 e.stopPropagation();
               }
             }}
-            className={cx(['sub', isSelected && 'sub--selected'])}
+            className={cx([
+              'sub',
+              isSelected && 'sub--selected',
+              isGroup && 'sub--group',
+              isGroupedEvent && 'sub--in-group',
+            ])}
           >
-            <div className='sub__binder' style={{ '--user-color': event?.colour ?? '' }} />
-            <div className='sub__schedule-inline'>
+            <div
+              className='sub__binder'
+              style={{ '--user-color': event?.colour ?? '', '--group-color': event.groupColour ?? 'transparent' }}
+            />
+            <div className='sub__schedule'>
               <ClockTime value={event.timeStart} preferredFormat12='h:mm a' preferredFormat24='HH:mm' />
               →
               <ClockTime value={event.timeEnd} preferredFormat12='h:mm a' preferredFormat24='HH:mm' />
             </div>
             <div className='sub__label'>{isSelected ? 'Click to remove' : 'Click to add'}</div>
-            <div className='sub__title'>{title}</div>
+            <div className='sub__title'>
+              {isGroup && <span className='sub__eyebrow'>Group</span>}
+              {title}
+            </div>
           </div>
         );
       })}
 
       <div className='fab-container'>
+        <div className='selection-count'>{selected.length} selected</div>
         <Button variant='subtle' size='xlarge' onClick={disableEdit}>
           <IoArrowBack /> Go back
         </Button>

apps/client/src/views/countdown/CountdownSubscriptions.tsx

@@ -1,32 +1,41 @@
 import { MaybeNumber, OntimeEvent } from 'ontime-types';
-import { getExpectedStart } from 'ontime-utils';
+import { dayInMs } from 'ontime-utils';
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { IoPencil } from 'react-icons/io5';
 
 import Button from '../../common/components/buttons/Button';
-import ScheduleTime from '../../common/components/schedule-time/ScheduleTime';
 import useReport from '../../common/hooks-query/useReport';
 import { useFadeOutOnInactivity } from '../../common/hooks/useFadeOutOnInactivity';
 import useFollowComponent from '../../common/hooks/useFollowComponent';
 import { useExpectedStartData, usePlayback, useSelectedEventId } from '../../common/hooks/useSocket';
+import { getOffsetState } from '../../common/utils/offset';
 import { ExtendedEntry } from '../../common/utils/rundownMetadata';
 import { cx } from '../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { throttle } from '../../common/utils/throttle';
 import FollowButton from '../../features/operator/follow-button/FollowButton';
+import ClockTime from '../common/clock-time/ClockTime';
 import SuperscriptTime from '../common/superscript-time/SuperscriptTime';
 import { getPropertyValue } from '../common/viewUtils';
 import { useCountdownOptions } from './countdown.options';
+import {
+  CountdownEvent,
+  CountdownTarget,
+  extendEventData,
+  getIsLive,
+  isOutsideRange,
+  preferredFormat12,
+  preferredFormat24,
+  useSubscriptionDisplayData,
+} from './countdown.utils';
 
 import './Countdown.scss';
-import { getIsLive, useSubscriptionDisplayData } from './countdown.utils';
 
 interface CountdownSubscriptionsProps {
-  subscribedEvents: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>[];
+  subscribedEvents: CountdownTarget[];
   goToEditMode: () => void;
 }
 
 export default function CountdownSubscriptions({ subscribedEvents, goToEditMode }: CountdownSubscriptionsProps) {
-  'use memo';
   const { mainSource, secondarySource, showExpected } = useCountdownOptions();
   const playback = usePlayback();
   const selectedEventId = useSelectedEventId();
@@ -90,37 +99,39 @@ export default function CountdownSubscriptions({ subscribedEvents, goToEditMode
   return (
     <div className='list-container' onWheel={handleScroll} onTouchMove={handleScroll} ref={scrollRef}>
       {subscribedEvents.map((event) => {
-        const secondaryData = getPropertyValue(event, secondarySource);
-        const isLive = getIsLive(event.id, selectedEventId, playback);
-        const isArmed = !isLive && event.id === selectedEventId;
-        const { totalGap, isLinkedToLoaded } = event;
-        const expectedStart = getExpectedStart(event, {
-          currentDay,
-          totalGap,
-          actualStart,
-          plannedStart,
-          isLinkedToLoaded,
-          offset,
-          mode,
-        });
-        const { endedAt } = reportData[event.id] ?? { endedAt: null };
+        // while a group is live, surface the running event's title as the secondary line
+        const liveTitle = event.isGroup && event.liveEntry ? event.liveEntry.title : undefined;
+        const secondaryData = liveTitle ?? getPropertyValue(event, secondarySource);
+        const isGroupedEvent = !event.isGroup && Boolean(event.parent);
+        const activeEntryId = event.isGroup ? (event.liveEntry?.id ?? event.targetId) : event.id;
+        // a subscribed group is live when any of its children is the selected/running event
+        const isLive = activeEntryId ? getIsLive(activeEntryId, selectedEventId, playback) : false;
+        const isArmed = !isLive && activeEntryId === selectedEventId;
+        const countdownEvent = extendEventData(event, currentDay, actualStart, plannedStart, offset, mode, reportData);
         const displayTitle = getPropertyValue(event, mainSource ?? 'title');
         return (
           <div
             key={event.id}
             ref={isLive ? selectedRef : undefined}
-            className={cx(['sub', isLive && 'sub--live', isArmed && 'sub--armed'])}
+            className={cx([
+              'sub',
+              isLive && 'sub--live',
+              isArmed && 'sub--armed',
+              event.isGroup && 'sub--group',
+              isGroupedEvent && 'sub--in-group',
+            ])}
             data-testid={event.cue}
           >
-            <div className='sub__binder' style={{ '--user-color': event.colour }} />
-            <ScheduleTime
-              event={event}
-              expectedStart={expectedStart}
-              showExpected={showExpected}
-              className='sub__schedule'
+            <div
+              className='sub__binder'
+              style={{ '--user-color': event.colour, '--group-color': event.groupColour ?? 'transparent' }}
             />
-            <SubscriptionStatus event={event} expectedStart={expectedStart} endedAt={endedAt} />
-            <div className={cx(['sub__title', !displayTitle && 'subdued'])}>{displayTitle}</div>
+            <ScheduleTime event={countdownEvent} showExpected={showExpected} />
+            <SubscriptionStatus event={countdownEvent} />
+            <div className={cx(['sub__title', !displayTitle && 'subdued'])}>
+              {event.isGroup && <span className='sub__eyebrow'>Group</span>}
+              {displayTitle}
+            </div>
             {secondaryData && <div className='sub__secondary'>{secondaryData}</div>}
           </div>
         );
@@ -135,15 +146,73 @@ export default function CountdownSubscriptions({ subscribedEvents, goToEditMode
   );
 }
 
-interface SubscriptionStatusProps {
-  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
-  endedAt: MaybeNumber;
-  expectedStart: number;
+type ScheduleTimeProps = {
+  event: CountdownEvent;
+  showExpected: boolean;
+};
+//TODO: consider relative mode
+export function ScheduleTime(props: ScheduleTimeProps) {
+  const { event, showExpected } = props;
+  const { timeStart, duration, delay, expectedStart, countToEnd } = event;
+
+  const plannedStart = timeStart + delay + event.dayOffset * dayInMs;
+
+  // only show new exacted value if outside  range of the planned value
+  const isExpectedValueShow = showExpected && isOutsideRange(plannedStart, expectedStart);
+
+  const plannedStateClass = isExpectedValueShow ? 'sub__schedule--strike' : delay !== 0 ? 'sub__schedule--delayed' : '';
+
+  const expectedStateClass = `sub__schedule--${getOffsetState(expectedStart - plannedStart)}`;
+  const plannedEnd = plannedStart + duration + delay;
+  const expectedEnd = countToEnd ? Math.max(expectedStart + duration, plannedEnd) : expectedStart + duration;
+  const expectedEndClass = `sub__schedule--${getOffsetState(expectedEnd - plannedEnd)}`;
+
+  return (
+    <div className='sub__schedule'>
+      <ClockTime
+        value={plannedStart}
+        preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
+        preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
+        className={plannedStateClass}
+      />
+      {!isExpectedValueShow && (
+        <>
+          →
+          <ClockTime
+            value={plannedEnd}
+            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
+            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
+            className={plannedStateClass}
+          />
+        </>
+      )}
+      {isExpectedValueShow && (
+        <>
+          <ClockTime
+            value={expectedStart}
+            className={expectedStateClass}
+            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
+            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
+          />
+          →
+          <ClockTime
+            value={expectedEnd}
+            className={expectedEndClass}
+            preferredFormat12={preferredFormat12}
+            preferredFormat24={preferredFormat24}
+          />
+        </>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
 }
 
-function SubscriptionStatus({ event, endedAt, expectedStart }: SubscriptionStatusProps) {
-  'use memo';
-  const { status, statusDisplay, timeDisplay } = useSubscriptionDisplayData(event, endedAt, expectedStart);
+interface SubscriptionStatusProps {
+  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent> & { endedAt: MaybeNumber; expectedStart: number };
+}
+
+function SubscriptionStatus({ event }: SubscriptionStatusProps) {
+  const { status, statusDisplay, timeDisplay } = useSubscriptionDisplayData(event);
 
   return (
     <>

apps/client/src/views/countdown/SingleEventCountdown.scss

@@ -7,6 +7,27 @@
   gap: 5rem;
 }
 
+.event__title {
+  background-color: var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
+  padding: $view-card-padding;
+  border-radius: $element-border-radius;
+  font-size: clamp(40px, 4.5vw, 80px);
+  line-height: 1.1;
+  text-align: center;
+  border-left: 0.25em solid;
+  border-color: var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
+
+  .secondary {
+    text-align: left;
+    font-size: $title-font-size;
+  }
+
+  .sub__schedule {
+    color: inherit;
+    font-size: $base-font-size;
+  }
+}
+
 .event__status {
   color: var(--secondary-color-override, $viewer-secondary-color);
   font-size: $header-font-size;

apps/client/src/views/countdown/SingleEventCountdown.tsx

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { getExpectedStart } from 'ontime-utils';
 import { IoPencil } from 'react-icons/io5';
 
 import Button from '../../common/components/buttons/Button';
-import TitleCard from '../../common/components/title-card/TitleCard';
 import useReport from '../../common/hooks-query/useReport';
 import { useFadeOutOnInactivity } from '../../common/hooks/useFadeOutOnInactivity';
 import { useExpectedStartData } from '../../common/hooks/useSocket';
@@ -12,12 +11,13 @@ import { cx } from '../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import SuperscriptTime from '../common/superscript-time/SuperscriptTime';
 import { getPropertyValue } from '../common/viewUtils';
 import { useCountdownOptions } from './countdown.options';
+import { CountdownTarget, useSubscriptionDisplayData } from './countdown.utils';
+import { ScheduleTime } from './CountdownSubscriptions';
 
 import './SingleEventCountdown.scss';
-import { useSubscriptionDisplayData } from './countdown.utils';
 
 interface SingleEventCountdownProps {
-  subscribedEvent: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
+  subscribedEvent: CountdownTarget;
   goToEditMode: () => void;
 }
 
@@ -38,23 +38,22 @@ export default function SingleEventCountdown({ subscribedEvent, goToEditMode }:
     mode,
   });
 
-  const { endedAt } = reportData[subscribedEvent.id] ?? { endedAt: null };
-  const title = getPropertyValue(subscribedEvent, mainSource ?? 'title');
-  const secondaryData = getPropertyValue(subscribedEvent, secondarySource);
+  const { endedAt } = reportData[subscribedEvent.reportId ?? subscribedEvent.id] ?? { endedAt: null };
+  const countdownEvent = { ...subscribedEvent, expectedStart, endedAt };
+  const titleTmp = getPropertyValue(subscribedEvent, mainSource ?? 'title');
+  const title = titleTmp?.length ? titleTmp : ' '; // insert utf-8 empty space to avoid the line collapsing;
+  // while a group is live, surface the running event's title as the secondary line
+  const liveTitle = subscribedEvent.isGroup && subscribedEvent.liveEntry ? subscribedEvent.liveEntry.title : undefined;
+  const secondaryData = liveTitle ?? getPropertyValue(subscribedEvent, secondarySource);
 
   return (
     <div className='single-container' data-testid='countdown-event'>
-      <SubscriptionStatus event={subscribedEvent} expectedStart={expectedStart} endedAt={endedAt} />
-      <TitleCard
-        title={title}
-        secondary={secondaryData}
-        colour={subscribedEvent.colour}
-        textAlign='center'
-        size='lg'
-        event={subscribedEvent}
-        showExpected={showExpected}
-        expectedStart={expectedStart}
-      />
+      <SubscriptionStatus event={countdownEvent} />
+      <div className='event__title' style={{ borderColor: countdownEvent.colour }}>
+        <ScheduleTime event={countdownEvent} showExpected={showExpected} />
+        {title}
+        {secondaryData && <div className='secondary'>{secondaryData}</div>}
+      </div>
       <div className={cx(['fab-container', !showFab && 'fab-container--hidden'])}>
         <Button variant='primary' size='xlarge' onClick={goToEditMode}>
           <IoPencil /> Edit
@@ -65,13 +64,11 @@ export default function SingleEventCountdown({ subscribedEvent, goToEditMode }:
 }
 
 interface SubscriptionStatusProps {
-  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
-  endedAt: MaybeNumber;
-  expectedStart: number;
+  event: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent> & { endedAt: MaybeNumber; expectedStart: number };
 }
 
-function SubscriptionStatus({ event, endedAt, expectedStart }: SubscriptionStatusProps) {
-  const { status, statusDisplay, timeDisplay } = useSubscriptionDisplayData(event, endedAt, expectedStart);
+function SubscriptionStatus({ event }: SubscriptionStatusProps) {
+  const { status, statusDisplay, timeDisplay } = useSubscriptionDisplayData(event);
 
   return (
     <>

apps/client/src/views/countdown/countdown.options.ts

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export const getCountdownOptions = (
         {
           id: 'sub',
           title: 'Event subscription',
-          description: 'The events to follow',
+          description: 'The events and groups to follow',
           values: persistedSubscriptions,
           type: 'persist',
         },

apps/client/src/views/countdown/countdown.utils.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import { OntimeEntry, OntimeEvent, OntimeGroup, SupportedEntry } from 'ontime-types';
+
+import { ExtendedEntry } from '../../common/utils/rundownMetadata';
+import { resolveSubscriptionTarget } from './countdown.utils';
+
+/**
+ * Minimal builders for the extended (metadata enriched) entries the countdown view consumes.
+ * Only the fields exercised by resolveSubscriptionTarget are provided; the rest are cast away.
+ */
+function makeEvent(patch: Partial<ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>>): ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent> {
+  return {
+    id: 'event',
+    type: SupportedEntry.Event,
+    title: 'event title',
+    cue: '1',
+    colour: '',
+    skip: false,
+    parent: null,
+    timeStart: 0,
+    timeEnd: 0,
+    duration: 0,
+    delay: 0,
+    dayOffset: 0,
+    gap: 0,
+    countToEnd: false,
+    custom: {},
+    note: '',
+    // metadata
+    totalGap: 0,
+    isLinkedToLoaded: false,
+    isLoaded: false,
+    isPast: false,
+    ...patch,
+  } as ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>;
+}
+
+function makeGroup(patch: Partial<ExtendedEntry<OntimeGroup>>): ExtendedEntry<OntimeGroup> {
+  return {
+    id: 'group',
+    type: SupportedEntry.Group,
+    title: 'group title',
+    colour: '#abcdef',
+    note: 'group note',
+    entries: [],
+    duration: 0,
+    custom: {},
+    timeStart: 0,
+    timeEnd: 0,
+    isPast: false,
+    isLoaded: false,
+    ...patch,
+  } as ExtendedEntry<OntimeGroup>;
+}
+
+describe('resolveSubscriptionTarget()', () => {
+  it('returns events unchanged', () => {
+    const event = makeEvent({ id: 'e1' });
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(event, [event]);
+    expect(result).toBe(event);
+  });
+
+  it('derives group timing from the first playable child while keeping the group identity', () => {
+    const group = makeGroup({ id: 'g1', title: 'Session A', colour: '#123456', duration: 5000 });
+    const child1 = makeEvent({ id: 'c1', parent: 'g1', timeStart: 1000, delay: 100, dayOffset: 0, title: 'Pres 1' });
+    const child2 = makeEvent({ id: 'c2', parent: 'g1', timeStart: 3000, title: 'Pres 2' });
+    const flat: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEntry>[] = [group, child1, child2];
+
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(group, flat);
+
+    expect(result).not.toBeNull();
+    // group identity and display
+    expect(result?.id).toBe('g1');
+    expect(result?.title).toBe('Session A');
+    expect(result?.colour).toBe('#123456');
+    expect(result?.isGroup).toBe(true);
+    // timing comes from the first child, duration from the group
+    expect(result?.timeStart).toBe(1000);
+    expect(result?.delay).toBe(100);
+    expect(result?.duration).toBe(5000);
+    expect(result?.countToEnd).toBe(false);
+    // state checks target the first child before any child is loaded
+    expect(result?.targetId).toBe('c1');
+    // report lookup targets the last child (session end)
+    expect(result?.reportId).toBe('c2');
+  });
+
+  it('returns null for a group with no playable children', () => {
+    const group = makeGroup({ id: 'g1' });
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(group, [group]);
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('skips skipped children when picking the first child', () => {
+    const group = makeGroup({ id: 'g1' });
+    const skipped = {
+      ...makeEvent({ id: 'c0', parent: 'g1', timeStart: 500 }),
+      skip: true,
+    } as ExtendedEntry<OntimeEntry>;
+    const playable = makeEvent({ id: 'c1', parent: 'g1', timeStart: 1500 });
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(group, [group, skipped, playable]);
+    expect(result?.timeStart).toBe(1500);
+    expect(result?.reportId).toBe('c1');
+  });
+
+  it('is live while any child is loaded and not past', () => {
+    const group = makeGroup({ id: 'g1' });
+    const child1 = makeEvent({ id: 'c1', parent: 'g1', isPast: true });
+    const child2 = makeEvent({ id: 'c2', parent: 'g1', isLoaded: true });
+    const child3 = makeEvent({ id: 'c3', parent: 'g1' });
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(group, [group, child1, child2, child3]);
+
+    expect(result?.isLoaded).toBe(true);
+    expect(result?.isPast).toBe(false);
+    expect(result?.liveEntry?.id).toBe('c2');
+  });
+
+  it('is past only once the last child is past and nothing is loaded', () => {
+    const group = makeGroup({ id: 'g1' });
+    const child1 = makeEvent({ id: 'c1', parent: 'g1', isPast: true });
+    const child2 = makeEvent({ id: 'c2', parent: 'g1', isPast: true });
+    const result = resolveSubscriptionTarget(group, [group, child1, child2]);
+
+    expect(result?.isLoaded).toBe(false);
+    expect(result?.isPast).toBe(true);
+    expect(result?.targetId).toBe('c1');
+    expect(result?.liveEntry).toBeNull();
+  });
+});

apps/client/src/views/countdown/countdown.utils.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
-import { EntryId, MaybeNumber, OntimeEntry, OntimeEvent, Playback } from 'ontime-types';
-import { MILLIS_PER_MINUTE, millisToString, removeLeadingZero } from 'ontime-utils';
+import {
+  EntryId,
+  MaybeNumber,
+  OffsetMode,
+  OntimeEntry,
+  OntimeEvent,
+  OntimeGroup,
+  OntimeReport,
+  Playback,
+  PlayableEvent,
+  isOntimeEvent,
+  isOntimeGroup,
+  isPlayableEvent,
+} from 'ontime-types';
+import { MILLIS_PER_MINUTE, getExpectedStart, millisToString, removeLeadingZero } from 'ontime-utils';
 
 import { useCountdownSocket } from '../../common/hooks/useSocket';
 import { ExtendedEntry } from '../../common/utils/rundownMetadata';
@@ -13,6 +26,9 @@ export function sanitiseTitle(title: string | null) {
   return title ?? '{no title}';
 }
 
+export const preferredFormat12 = 'h:mm a';
+export const preferredFormat24 = 'HH:mm';
+
 /**
  * Whether the current event is live
  */
@@ -37,9 +53,7 @@ export const timerProgress: TimerMessage = {
  * Handles events in different days but disregards whether an event has actually played
  */
 export function useSubscriptionDisplayData(
-  subscribedEvent: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent>,
-  endedAt: MaybeNumber,
-  expectedStart: number,
+  subscribedEvent: CountdownTarget & { endedAt: MaybeNumber; expectedStart: number },
 ): { status: ProgressStatus; statusDisplay: string; timeDisplay: string } {
   const { playback, current, clock } = useCountdownSocket();
   const { getLocalizedString } = useTranslation();
@@ -66,7 +80,11 @@ export function useSubscriptionDisplayData(
 
     return {
       status: 'live',
-      statusDisplay: getLocalizedString(timerProgress['live']),
+      statusDisplay: getLocalizedString(
+        subscribedEvent.parent || (subscribedEvent.isGroup && subscribedEvent.liveEntry)
+          ? 'countdown.group_running'
+          : timerProgress['live'],
+      ),
       timeDisplay: bigDuration(current ?? 0),
     };
   }
@@ -83,11 +101,11 @@ export function useSubscriptionDisplayData(
     return {
       status: 'done',
       statusDisplay: getLocalizedString(timerProgress['done']),
-      timeDisplay: formatTime(endedAt, { format12: 'h:mm a', format24: 'HH:mm' }),
+      timeDisplay: formatTime(subscribedEvent.endedAt, { format12: preferredFormat12, format24: preferredFormat24 }),
     };
   }
 
-  if (expectedStart - clock <= 0) {
+  if (subscribedEvent.expectedStart - clock <= 0) {
     return {
       status: 'due',
       statusDisplay: getLocalizedString(timerProgress['future']), // We use future here on purpose for the look of it
@@ -98,7 +116,7 @@ export function useSubscriptionDisplayData(
   return {
     status: 'future',
     statusDisplay: getLocalizedString(timerProgress['future']),
-    timeDisplay: bigDuration(expectedStart - clock),
+    timeDisplay: bigDuration(subscribedEvent.expectedStart - clock),
   };
 }
 
@@ -162,3 +180,97 @@ export function isLinkedToLoadedEvent(events: OntimeEvent[], loadedId: EntryId |
 
   return true;
 }
+
+export function isOutsideRange(a: number, b: number): boolean {
+  return Math.abs(a - b) > MILLIS_PER_MINUTE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A subscription target normalised to the event-shaped object the countdown display consumes.
+ * For events this is a pass-through; for groups it carries the group identity and display data
+ * while deriving timing from the group's first playable child (see resolveSubscriptionTarget).
+ */
+export type CountdownTarget = ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent> & {
+  isGroup?: boolean;
+  targetId?: EntryId; // child entry used for countdown/live/armed state checks
+  reportId?: EntryId; // entry used for the report lookup (e.g. last child of a group)
+  liveEntry?: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent> | null; // the running child while a group is live
+};
+
+export type CountdownEvent = CountdownTarget & { expectedStart: number; endedAt: MaybeNumber };
+
+/**
+ * Resolves a subscription (event or group) into an event-shaped countdown target.
+ * - Events are returned unchanged.
+ * - Groups count down to their first playable child while displaying the group identity.
+ *   Status is group-aware: live while any child is loaded, past only once the whole group has finished.
+ * Returns null when a group has no playable children (nothing to count down to).
+ */
+export function resolveSubscriptionTarget(
+  entry: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEvent | OntimeGroup>,
+  flatRundown: ExtendedEntry<OntimeEntry>[],
+): CountdownTarget | null {
+  if (!isOntimeGroup(entry)) {
+    return entry;
+  }
+
+  const children = flatRundown.filter(
+    (item): item is ExtendedEntry<PlayableEvent> =>
+      isOntimeEvent(item) && isPlayableEvent(item) && item.parent === entry.id,
+  );
+
+  if (children.length === 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const firstChild = children[0];
+  const lastChild = children[children.length - 1];
+  const liveEntry = children.find((child) => child.isLoaded) ?? null;
+  const isLoaded = liveEntry !== null;
+  const isPast = !isLoaded && lastChild.isPast;
+
+  return {
+    // timing derives from the first playable child
+    ...firstChild,
+    // group identity and display data
+    id: entry.id,
+    parent: null,
+    title: entry.title,
+    colour: entry.colour,
+    note: entry.note,
+    custom: entry.custom,
+    duration: entry.duration,
+    countToEnd: false,
+    // group-aware status
+    isLoaded,
+    isPast,
+    // group markers
+    isGroup: true,
+    targetId: firstChild.id,
+    reportId: lastChild.id,
+    liveEntry,
+  };
+}
+
+export function extendEventData(
+  event: CountdownTarget,
+  currentDay: number,
+  actualStart: MaybeNumber,
+  plannedStart: MaybeNumber,
+  offset: number,
+  mode: OffsetMode,
+  reportData: OntimeReport,
+): CountdownEvent {
+  const { totalGap, isLinkedToLoaded } = event;
+  const expectedStart = getExpectedStart(event, {
+    currentDay,
+    totalGap,
+    actualStart,
+    plannedStart,
+    isLinkedToLoaded,
+    offset,
+    mode,
+  });
+  const { endedAt } = reportData[event.reportId ?? event.id] ?? { endedAt: null };
+  return { ...event, expectedStart, endedAt };
+}

apps/client/src/views/cuesheet/__tests__/cuesheet.utils.test.ts

@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-import { parseField } from '../cuesheet.utils';
-
-describe('parseField()', () => {
-  it('returns a string from given millis on timeStart, TimeEnd and duration', () => {
-    const testData1 = 1000;
-    const testData2 = 60000;
-    const testData3 = 600000;
-    expect(parseField('timeStart', testData1)).toBe('00:00:01');
-    expect(parseField('timeEnd', testData2)).toBe('00:01:00');
-    expect(parseField('duration', testData3)).toBe('00:10:00');
-  });
-
-  it('returns an empty string on undefined fields', () => {
-    // @ts-expect-error -- testing user data with missing fields
-    expect(parseField('title')).toBe('');
-  });
-
-  describe('simply returns any other value in any other field', () => {
-    const testFields = [
-      { field: 'nothing', value: '123' },
-      { field: 'title', value: 'test' },
-      { field: 'note', value: 'test' },
-      { field: 'colour', value: 'test' },
-    ];
-
-    testFields.forEach((testCase) => {
-      test(`${testCase.field}:${testCase.value}`, () => {
-        expect(parseField(testCase.field, testCase.value)).toBe(testCase.value);
-      });
-    });
-  });
-});

apps/client/src/views/cuesheet/cuesheet.utils.ts

@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-import { CustomFields, MaybeNumber, OntimeEntryCommonKeys } from 'ontime-types';
-import { millisToString } from 'ontime-utils';
-
-type CsvHeaderKey = OntimeEntryCommonKeys | keyof CustomFields;
-
-/**
- * @description parses a field for export
- * @param {string} field
- * @param {*} data
- * @return {string}
- */
-
-export const parseField = (field: CsvHeaderKey, data: unknown): string => {
-  if (field === 'timeStart' || field === 'timeEnd' || field === 'duration') {
-    return millisToString(data as MaybeNumber, { fallback: '' });
-  }
-
-  if (field === 'skip') {
-    return data ? 'x' : '';
-  }
-
-  return String(data ?? '');
-};

apps/client/src/views/editor/finder/Finder.module.scss

@@ -54,17 +54,51 @@
 }
 
 .footer {
+  width: 100%;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-end;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 1rem;
   font-size: calc(1rem - 2px);
   color: $label-gray;
 }
 
+.filterHint {
+  text-align: right;
+}
+
 .em {
   color: $ui-white;
   margin-inline: 0.25rem;
 }
 
+.hints {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 0.5rem 1rem;
+  color: $label-gray;
+  font-size: calc(1rem - 3px);
+}
+
+.hintItem {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
+}
+
 .scrollContainer {
   max-height: 70vh;
   overflow: auto;
   padding-top: 1rem;
 }
+
+@media (max-width: 680px) {
+  .footer {
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    flex-direction: column;
+  }
+
+  .filterHint {
+    text-align: left;
+  }
+}

apps/client/src/views/editor/finder/Finder.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { SupportedEntry } from 'ontime-types';
 import { KeyboardEvent, useState } from 'react';
 
 import Input from '../../../common/components/input/input/Input';
+import Kbd from '../../../common/components/kbd/Kbd';
 import Modal from '../../../common/components/modal/Modal';
 import useFinder from './useFinder';
 
@@ -96,8 +97,25 @@ export default function Finder({ isOpen, onClose }: FinderProps) {
       }
       footerElements={
         <div className={style.footer}>
-          Use the keywords <span className={style.em}>cue</span>, <span className={style.em}>index</span> or
-          <span className={style.em}>title</span> to filter search.
+          <div className={style.hints}>
+            <span className={style.hintItem}>
+              <Kbd>↑</Kbd>
+              <Kbd>↓</Kbd>
+              Navigate
+            </span>
+            <span className={style.hintItem}>
+              <Kbd>Enter</Kbd>
+              Go
+            </span>
+            <span className={style.hintItem}>
+              <Kbd>Esc</Kbd>
+              Close
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          <div className={style.filterHint}>
+            Filter by <span className={style.em}>cue</span>, <span className={style.em}>index</span>, or
+            <span className={style.em}>title</span>
+          </div>
         </div>
       }
     />

apps/client/src/views/timeline/TimelineEntry.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { Day } from 'ontime-types';
 import { CSSProperties, RefObject } from 'react';
 
+import { useAnimatedProgress } from '../../common/hooks/useAnimatedProgress';
 import { useExpectedStartData, useTimer } from '../../common/hooks/useSocket';
-import { getProgress } from '../../common/utils/getProgress';
 import { alpha, cx } from '../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { formatDuration, formatTime, getExpectedTimesFromExtendedEvent } from '../../common/utils/time';
 import { useTranslation } from '../../translation/TranslationProvider';
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ function TimelineEntryStatus({
 /** Generates a block level progress bar */
 function ActiveBlock() {
   const { current, duration } = useTimer();
-  const progress = getProgress(current, duration);
+  const progress = useAnimatedProgress(current, duration);
   return (
     <div data-status='live' className={style.timelineBlock} style={{ '--progress': `${progress}%` } as CSSProperties} />
   );

apps/client/src/views/timer/Timer.scss

@@ -65,10 +65,6 @@
   /* =================== TITLES ===================*/
 
   .event {
-    background-color: var(--card-background-color-override, $viewer-card-bg-color);
-    padding: $view-card-padding;
-    border-radius: $element-border-radius;
-
     &.now {
       grid-area: now;
     }

apps/client/src/views/timer/Timer.tsx

@@ -206,8 +206,24 @@ function Timer({ customFields, projectData, isMirrored, settings, viewSettings,
 
       {!hideCards && (
         <>
-          {showNow && <TitleCard className='event now' label='now' title={nowMain} secondary={nowSecondary} />}
-          {showNext && <TitleCard className='event next' label='next' title={nextMain} secondary={nextSecondary} />}
+          {showNow && (
+            <TitleCard
+              className='event now'
+              label='now'
+              title={nowMain}
+              secondary={nowSecondary}
+              colour={eventNow?.colour}
+            />
+          )}
+          {showNext && (
+            <TitleCard
+              className='event next'
+              label='next'
+              title={nextMain}
+              secondary={nextSecondary}
+              colour={eventNext?.colour}
+            />
+          )}
         </>
       )}
     </div>

apps/client/vite.config.js

@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ export default defineConfig({
         changeOrigin: true,
         configure: logProxyRequests,
       },
+      '^/mcp': {
+        target: 'http://localhost:4001/',
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        configure: logProxyRequests,
+      },
       '^/ws*': {
         target: 'http://localhost:4001/',
         changeOrigin: true,

apps/resolver/package.json

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   "license": "AGPL-3.0-only",
   "devDependencies": {
     "ontime-types": "workspace:^4.2.1",
-    "tsdown": "^0.21.5",
+    "tsdown": "^0.22.4",
     "typescript": "catalog:"
   },
   "files": [

apps/resolver/tsconfig.dts.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   "extends": "./tsconfig.json",
   "compilerOptions": {
-    "ignoreDeprecations": "6.0"
+    "isolatedDeclarations": true,
+    "allowJs": false
   }
 }

apps/server/src/api-data/automation/__tests__/automation.validation.test.ts

@@ -163,5 +163,70 @@ describe('parseOutput', () => {
         secondarySource: 'secondary',
       });
     });
+
+    it('parses message-secondary with a text value', () => {
+      expect(
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          text: 'hello',
+        }),
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        text: 'hello',
+      });
+      expect(
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          secondarySource: undefined,
+          text: 'hello',
+        }),
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        text: 'hello',
+      });
+      expect(
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          secondarySource: 'secondary',
+          text: 'hello',
+        }),
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        secondarySource: 'secondary',
+        text: 'hello',
+      });
+      // an empty text is treated as no change
+      expect(
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          secondarySource: 'secondary',
+          text: '',
+        }),
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        secondarySource: 'secondary',
+        text: undefined,
+      });
+      // text can be set while clearing the secondary source
+      expect(
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          secondarySource: null,
+          text: 'hello',
+        }),
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        secondarySource: null,
+        text: 'hello',
+      });
+      expect(() =>
+        parseOutput({
+          type: 'ontime',
+          action: 'message-secondary',
+          secondarySource: 'secondary',
+          text: 123,
+        }),
+      ).toThrow('Unexpected payload type:');
+    });
   });
 });

apps/server/src/api-data/automation/__tests__/ontime.client.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+import { runtimeStorePlaceholder } from 'ontime-types';
+
+import * as messageService from '../../../services/message-service/message.service.js';
+import { toOntimeAction } from '../clients/ontime.client.js';
+
+vi.mock('../../../services/message-service/message.service.js', () => ({
+  patch: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+describe('toOntimeAction()', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('parses templates in primary message text', () => {
+    toOntimeAction(
+      {
+        type: 'ontime',
+        action: 'message-set',
+        text: 'Current: {{timer.current}}',
+        visible: true,
+      },
+      {
+        ...runtimeStorePlaceholder,
+        timer: {
+          ...runtimeStorePlaceholder.timer,
+          current: 42,
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(messageService.patch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      timer: {
+        text: 'Current: 42',
+        visible: true,
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('parses templates in secondary message text', () => {
+    toOntimeAction(
+      {
+        type: 'ontime',
+        action: 'message-secondary',
+        secondarySource: 'secondary',
+        text: 'Next: {{eventNext.title}}',
+      },
+      {
+        ...runtimeStorePlaceholder,
+        eventNext: {
+          id: 'next-event',
+          type: 'event',
+          cue: '2',
+          title: 'Keynote',
+          note: '',
+          timeStart: 0,
+          timeEnd: 0,
+          duration: 0,
+          timerType: 'count-down',
+          colour: '',
+          delay: 0,
+          isPublic: true,
+          skip: false,
+          endAction: 'none',
+          revision: 0,
+          custom: {},
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(messageService.patch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      timer: {
+        secondarySource: 'secondary',
+      },
+      secondary: 'Next: Keynote',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can set secondary message text without changing the secondary source', () => {
+    toOntimeAction(
+      {
+        type: 'ontime',
+        action: 'message-secondary',
+        text: 'Next: {{eventNext.title}}',
+      },
+      {
+        ...runtimeStorePlaceholder,
+        eventNext: {
+          id: 'next-event',
+          type: 'event',
+          cue: '2',
+          title: 'Keynote',
+          note: '',
+          timeStart: 0,
+          timeEnd: 0,
+          duration: 0,
+          timerType: 'count-down',
+          colour: '',
+          delay: 0,
+          isPublic: true,
+          skip: false,
+          endAction: 'none',
+          revision: 0,
+          custom: {},
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(messageService.patch).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      secondary: 'Next: Keynote',
+    });
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/api-data/automation/automation.service.ts

@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ function send(output: AutomationOutput[], store: RuntimeStore) {
     } else if (isHTTPOutput(payload)) {
       emitHTTP(payload, store);
     } else if (isOntimeAction(payload)) {
-      toOntimeAction(payload);
+      toOntimeAction(payload, store);
     } else {
       logger.warning(LogOrigin.Tx, `Unknown output type: ${payload}`);
     }

apps/server/src/api-data/automation/automation.validation.ts

@@ -225,13 +225,28 @@ function parseOntimeAction(maybeOntimeAction: object): OntimeAction {
   }
 
   if (maybeOntimeAction.action === 'message-secondary') {
-    assert.hasKeys(maybeOntimeAction, ['secondarySource']);
+    // the secondary text is optional, an empty string is treated as no change
+    let text: string | undefined = undefined;
+    if ('text' in maybeOntimeAction) {
+      assert.isString(maybeOntimeAction.text);
+      text = indeterminateText(maybeOntimeAction.text);
+    }
+
+    if (!('secondarySource' in maybeOntimeAction) || maybeOntimeAction.secondarySource === undefined) {
+      return {
+        type: 'ontime',
+        action: 'message-secondary',
+        text,
+      };
+    }
+
     // null is used to clear the secondary source
     if (maybeOntimeAction.secondarySource === null) {
       return {
         type: 'ontime',
         action: 'message-secondary',
         secondarySource: null,
+        text,
       };
     }
 
@@ -240,6 +255,7 @@ function parseOntimeAction(maybeOntimeAction: object): OntimeAction {
       type: 'ontime',
       action: 'message-secondary',
       secondarySource: chooseSecondarySource(maybeOntimeAction.secondarySource),
+      text,
     };
   }
 

apps/server/src/api-data/automation/clients/ontime.client.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
-import { LogOrigin, OntimeAction } from 'ontime-types';
+import { LogOrigin, OntimeAction, RuntimeStore } from 'ontime-types';
 import { parseUserTime } from 'ontime-utils';
+import { DeepReadonly } from 'ts-essentials';
 
 import { logger } from '../../../classes/Logger.js';
 import { auxTimerService } from '../../../services/aux-timer-service/AuxTimerService.js';
 import * as messageService from '../../../services/message-service/message.service.js';
 import { runtimeService } from '../../../services/runtime-service/runtime.service.js';
+import { parseTemplateNested } from '../automation.utils.js';
 
-export function toOntimeAction(action: OntimeAction) {
+export function toOntimeAction(action: OntimeAction, store: DeepReadonly<RuntimeStore>) {
   const actionType = action.action;
   switch (actionType) {
     // Aux timer actions
@@ -55,18 +57,25 @@ export function toOntimeAction(action: OntimeAction) {
     case 'message-set': {
       messageService.patch({
         timer: {
-          text: action.text,
+          text: action.text ? parseTemplateNested(action.text, store) : action.text,
           visible: action.visible,
         },
       });
       break;
     }
     case 'message-secondary': {
-      messageService.patch({
+      const secondary = action.text ? parseTemplateNested(action.text, store) : action.text;
+      const patch =
+        action.secondarySource === undefined
+          ? { secondary }
+          : {
               timer: {
                 secondarySource: action.secondarySource,
               },
-      });
+              secondary,
+            };
+
+      messageService.patch(patch);
       break;
     }
 

apps/server/src/api-mcp/__tests__/mcp.service.test.ts

@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ const editEntryMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const groupEntriesMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const ungroupEntriesMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 const getCurrentRundownMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const getProjectCustomFieldsMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const createCustomFieldMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 
 vi.mock('../../api-data/rundown/rundown.dao.js', () => ({
   getCurrentRundown: getCurrentRundownMock,
   getCurrentRundownId: vi.fn(() => 'loaded-rundown'),
-  getProjectCustomFields: vi.fn(() => ({})),
+  getProjectCustomFields: getProjectCustomFieldsMock,
 }));
 
 vi.mock('../../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js', () => ({
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ vi.mock('../../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js', () => ({
 vi.mock('../../api-data/rundown/rundown.service.js', () => ({
   addEntry: addEntryMock,
   batchEditEntries: vi.fn(),
+  createCustomField: createCustomFieldMock,
   deleteEntries: vi.fn(),
   editEntry: editEntryMock,
   groupEntries: groupEntriesMock,
@@ -27,7 +30,8 @@ vi.mock('../../api-data/rundown/rundown.service.js', () => ({
   ungroupEntries: ungroupEntriesMock,
 }));
 
-const { batchCreateEntriesForMcp, groupEntriesForMcp, ungroupEntryForMcp } = await import('../mcp.service.js');
+const { batchCreateEntriesForMcp, createCustomFieldForMcp, createEntryForMcp, groupEntriesForMcp, ungroupEntryForMcp } =
+  await import('../mcp.service.js');
 
 function makeRundown(entries: Rundown['entries'], order: string[] = Object.keys(entries)): Rundown {
   return {
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ describe('mcp.service', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     getCurrentRundownMock.mockReturnValue(makeRundown({}));
+    getProjectCustomFieldsMock.mockReturnValue({});
 
     let id = 0;
     addEntryMock.mockImplementation(async (_rundownId: string, payload: EventPostPayload) => {
@@ -252,4 +257,42 @@ describe('mcp.service', () => {
     expect(ungroupEntriesMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('loaded-rundown', 'group');
     expect(result).toMatchObject({ ungrouped: 'group', order: ['entry-1'] });
   });
+
+  describe('createCustomFieldForMcp', () => {
+    it('creates a field and returns the derived key', async () => {
+      createCustomFieldMock.mockResolvedValue({
+        Camera_Angle: { label: 'Camera Angle', type: 'text', colour: '#3E75E8' },
+      });
+
+      const result = await createCustomFieldForMcp({ label: 'Camera Angle', type: 'text', colour: '#3E75E8' });
+
+      expect(createCustomFieldMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ label: 'Camera Angle', type: 'text', colour: '#3E75E8' });
+      expect(result.key).toBe('Camera_Angle');
+    });
+
+    it('rejects labels the editor UI would not accept', async () => {
+      await expect(createCustomFieldForMcp({ label: 'Camera/GFX', type: 'text', colour: '#000000' })).rejects.toThrow(
+        'Invalid label',
+      );
+      expect(createCustomFieldMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('rejects case-insensitive duplicates and points at the existing key', async () => {
+      getProjectCustomFieldsMock.mockReturnValue({ Camera: { label: 'Camera', type: 'text', colour: '' } });
+
+      await expect(createCustomFieldForMcp({ label: 'camera', type: 'text', colour: '#000000' })).rejects.toThrow(
+        'A custom field with key "Camera" (label "Camera") already exists.',
+      );
+      expect(createCustomFieldMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('suggests the correctly cased key when custom values use the wrong casing', async () => {
+    getProjectCustomFieldsMock.mockReturnValue({ Camera: { label: 'Camera', type: 'text', colour: '' } });
+
+    await expect(createEntryForMcp({ title: 'Talk', custom: { camera: 'CAM 2' } })).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Keys are case-sensitive — did you mean: "camera" → "Camera"?',
+    );
+    expect(addEntryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });

apps/server/src/api-mcp/__tests__/mcp.wiring.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+vi.mock('../../api-data/project-data/projectData.dao.js', () => ({
+  getProjectData: vi.fn(() => ({ title: 'Test project' })),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../../api-data/rundown/rundown.dao.js', () => ({
+  getCurrentRundown: vi.fn(() => ({
+    id: 'rundown-1',
+    title: 'Test',
+    order: [],
+    flatOrder: [],
+    entries: {},
+    revision: 0,
+  })),
+  getProjectCustomFields: vi.fn(() => ({})),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js', () => ({
+  getDataProvider: vi.fn(() => ({ getProjectRundowns: () => ({}) })),
+}));
+
+const { PROMPT_DEFINITIONS, handleGetPrompt } = await import('../mcp.prompts.js');
+const { RESOURCE_DEFINITIONS, handleReadResource } = await import('../mcp.resources.js');
+
+describe('MCP resource wiring', () => {
+  it('serves non-empty content for every listed resource', () => {
+    for (const resource of RESOURCE_DEFINITIONS) {
+      const result = handleReadResource(resource.uri);
+      expect(result.contents).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(result.contents[0].uri).toBe(resource.uri);
+      expect(result.contents[0].mimeType).toBe(resource.mimeType);
+      expect((result.contents[0].text as string).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('rejects unknown resource URIs', () => {
+    expect(() => handleReadResource('ontime://nope')).toThrow('Unknown resource URI: ontime://nope');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('MCP prompt wiring', () => {
+  it('resolves every listed prompt', () => {
+    for (const prompt of PROMPT_DEFINITIONS) {
+      const args = Object.fromEntries((prompt.arguments ?? []).map((arg) => [arg.name, 'test value']));
+      const result = handleGetPrompt(prompt.name, args);
+      expect(result.messages.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      const content = result.messages[0].content;
+      expect(content.type).toBe('text');
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('rejects unknown prompts', () => {
+    expect(() => handleGetPrompt('nope', {})).toThrow('Unknown prompt: nope');
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.guides.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+/**
+ * Agent-facing Ontime guidance documents.
+ *
+ * These markdown resources teach agents rundown craft (ontime://style-guide)
+ * and Ontime's view ecosystem (ontime://views). Guidance should be concise and
+ * clear — verbosity distracts agents and users alike. Keep each document short.
+ */
+
+// The palette mirrors the editor colour picker swatches in
+// apps/client/src/common/components/input/colour-input/SwatchSelect.tsx — keep in sync.
+export const ONTIME_STYLE_GUIDE_MARKDOWN = `# Ontime rundown style guide
+
+Conventions for tidy, scannable rundowns. Read before creating or restyling a rundown. Follow the user's own conventions when they have them; otherwise prefer these. When communicating with the user, be concise — short proposals beat long explanations.
+
+## Structure
+
+- Group events into blocks matching the show's segments; 10+ ungrouped events is a wall — propose groups.
+- Set \`targetDuration\` on groups so operators can track time to block completion.
+- Use \`milestone\` for non-timed markers (doors open, broadcast start), not zero-duration events.
+- Use \`delay\` only to model schedule drift, never as padding.
+- Schedule changeovers and buffers as real events (grey; orange when technical), not invisible gaps — 5–10 min between major segments stops one overrun cascading through the day.
+- Model contingency segments as \`skip: true\` events: visible in the rundown, excluded from playback, one edit to activate.
+- Before show day, duplicate the rundown for rehearsal so the show copy stays clean.
+
+## Colours
+
+Prefer Ontime's default palette — the editor's swatches — so colours look native. Each hue has a dark/light tone pair:
+
+| Hue | Dark | Light | Use |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| Red | \`#ED3333\` | \`#FF7878\` | attention: curfews, hard deadlines, broadcast-critical |
+| Orange | \`#FFAB33\` | \`#FFCC78\` | technical changeovers, resets |
+| Green | \`#339E4E\` | \`#77C785\` | normal show content |
+| Blue | \`#3E75E8\` | \`#779BE7\` | normal show content |
+| Violet | \`#8064E1\` | \`#A790F5\` | normal show content |
+| Grey | \`#9d9d9d\` | \`#ececec\` | breaks, housekeeping |
+
+- Normal segments use the calm hues (green, blue, violet). Reserve red for what genuinely needs attention and orange for changeovers.
+- Use tones for hierarchy: dark tone on a group, the light tone of the same hue on its child events.
+- One convention per project, applied consistently.
+
+## Cues and titles
+
+- Cues follow ONE convention per rundown: numeric (\`1, 2, 3\` or \`10, 20, 30\`, leaving room for insertions), semantic (\`Preset\`, \`Key 1\`, \`Lunch\`), or a deliberate mix. Dense technical shows often prefix by department (\`LX1\`, \`SND2\`, \`VID3\`). Match what the rundown already uses; ask if nothing is established.
+- Cues are automation handles — external systems (Companion, OSC/HTTP) trigger events by cue name. Keep them unique and stable; warn before renaming cues on an existing show.
+- Title = what happens on stage, under ~50 characters. Department/tech data goes in custom fields; \`note\` is for free-text human context.
+
+## Custom fields
+
+- Structured per-department data (camera, graphics, audio, speaker) belongs in custom fields — one per department, coloured to match. This powers the cuesheet and operator views.
+- Reuse existing fields; never create near-duplicates (\`Cam\`, \`camera\`, \`Cameras\`).
+- Data repeated in titles or notes ("CAM 2") is a sign it belongs in a custom field.
+- Write values to be scannable mid-show: "CAM 2 close-up", not sentences.
+
+## Timing
+
+- \`linkStart\` events inside a block so schedule edits propagate.
+- \`flag\` sparingly — it marks critical moments and dilutes with overuse.
+- Set \`timeWarning\` where a moderator would signal the speaker to wrap (commonly 5 min); \`timeDanger\` for the final push (e.g. 1 min). Scale both down for short items.
+- Hard out? Backtime: build the closing items from the end with \`timeEnd\` + \`duration\` (Ontime calculates \`timeStart\`), protect their ends with \`timeStrategy: lock-end\`, and use \`countToEnd\` for true curfew items.
+
+After tidying, read \`ontime://views\` and suggest views that use the new structure.
+`;
+
+export const ONTIME_VIEWS_MARKDOWN = `# Ontime views and sharing guide
+
+Ontime renders the rundown into role-specific views at \`http://<host>:<port>/<view>\`. Recommend the right view when the user mentions a role, device, or sharing need. Prefer sharing live view links over exporting static documents — everyone sees the current version, ending the conflicting-copies problem of circulated spreadsheets. The agent cannot create views or presets — give exact URLs and point to the editor settings.
+
+| View | Path | For |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Timer | \`/timer\` | speakers/presenters on stage |
+| Backstage | \`/backstage\` | crew following schedule + notes |
+| Operator | \`/op\` | department operators on phone/tablet |
+| Cuesheet | \`/cuesheet\` | cross-department table editing |
+| Timeline | \`/timeline\` | producers, whole-show overview |
+| Countdown | \`/countdown\` | following selected events or a group |
+| Studio clock | \`/studio\` | on-air studio environments |
+| Project info | \`/info\` | sharing event logistics widely |
+
+Most views are configured via URL parameters (editor and cuesheet in-app); the view's cog icon exposes the options and encodes them into the URL.
+
+## Operator view parameters
+
+- \`main\` / \`secondary-src\`: the two text lines — \`title\`, \`note\`, or \`custom-<fieldKey>\`.
+- \`subscribe=<fieldKey>\`: highlight a custom field (repeatable).
+- \`shouldEdit=true\`: long-press editing of the highlighted field.
+- \`hidePast=true\`, \`showStart=true\`: trim and annotate the list.
+
+Example for a camera operator:
+\`/op?main=title&secondary-src=custom-Camera&subscribe=Camera&hidePast=true\`
+
+Offer a link like this after creating a department custom field.
+
+## URL presets
+
+Presets bundle a configured view under a short alias (e.g. \`/camera-op\`), optionally shown in the nav menu. Managed in **Editor → Settings → URL presets**. When recommending a configured view, spell out the view and query string and suggest saving it as a preset.
+Docs: https://docs.getontime.no/features/url-presets/
+
+## Custom views
+
+For branding or layouts beyond the built-in options: files in Ontime's \`external\` folder are served at \`/external/…\` and can use Ontime's APIs for live data. Recommend for sponsor branding, unusual layouts, or LED wall graphics.
+Docs: https://docs.getontime.no/features/custom-views/
+`;

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.prompts.ts

@@ -33,6 +33,18 @@ export const PROMPT_DEFINITIONS: ListPromptsResult['prompts'] = [
       },
     ],
   },
+  {
+    name: 'tidy_rundown',
+    description:
+      'Audit the rundown for readability (colours, grouping, cue naming, custom field usage) and propose improvements',
+    arguments: [
+      {
+        name: 'focus',
+        description: 'Optional area to focus on, e.g. "colours only" or "grouping"',
+        required: false,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
   {
     name: 'manage_custom_fields',
     description: 'List, create, rename, recolour, or delete project-level custom field definitions',
@@ -105,15 +117,17 @@ Flags (flag):
 - Set \`flag: true\` on events that are critical operational markers (keynote starts, broadcast moments, VIP arrivals).
 - The operator view shows a countdown to the next flagged event — use sparingly for maximum impact.
 
-Colours:
-- Ask the user what colour convention they use before applying any colours.
-- Common pattern: one colour per event type (keynotes, panels, breaks, meals).
-- Colours are hex strings: \`#RRGGBB\`.
+Structure and colours:
+- Read the ontime://style-guide resource before deciding on structure or colours.
+- Propose a group per agenda section (morning block, keynotes, breaks) rather than a flat list — in ontime_batch_create_entries this is just a group entry with \`children\`.
+- Ask the user what colour convention they use; if they have none, propose one from the default Ontime palette in the style guide: calm hues for normal content, red only for attention items, orange for changeovers, dark tone on a group with the light tone of the same hue on its children. Colours are hex strings: \`#RRGGBB\`.
 
 Custom fields (custom):
 - Call ontime_get_custom_fields for the project's field keys (cuesheet-style columns such as camera, graphics, speaker).
-- Store values per entry at \`custom: { <fieldKey>: <value> }\` — only use keys that exist in the project.
-- If the user's requested field is ambiguous, show the existing field list before choosing a key, so you avoid duplicate concepts such as \`Cam\`, \`camera\`, and \`Cameras\`.
+- Store values per entry at \`custom: { <fieldKey>: <value> }\` — keys are case-sensitive.
+- Reuse an existing field when it covers the concept (avoid duplicates such as \`Cam\`, \`camera\`, \`Cameras\`); when the agenda carries structured data with no matching field (speakers, locations), create it with ontime_create_custom_field and use the returned key — no confirmation needed.
+
+After creating the rundown, read ontime://views and suggest how the team can follow it — e.g. a timer view for speakers, a backstage view for crew, or an operator view subscribed to a department custom field.
 
 Agenda:
 ${args.agenda}`,
@@ -162,6 +176,7 @@ Schedule integrity:
 - Events with \`duration\` of 0 or negative
 - Events with \`gap < 0\`: overlaps the previous timed event and is a conflict
 - Large unexplained positive gaps between consecutive timed events (> 30 min): check whether these are intentional
+- Long segments scheduled back-to-back with no changeover or buffer between them: one overrun will cascade — suggest a buffer event
 - Events where \`timeEnd < timeStart\`: these cross midnight; confirm this is intentional
 - Events whose \`timeStart\` is the same as or earlier than the previous playable event's \`timeStart\`: Ontime schedules these on the next day; confirm this is intentional
 
@@ -181,6 +196,13 @@ Skipped events:
 Totals:
 - Total rundown duration and whether it matches the user's expected show length (ask if unknown)
 
+Readability (report at INFO level; see ontime://style-guide for the conventions):
+- Colour usage without a consistent convention, or key segments left uncoloured
+- Long runs of related ungrouped events that would read better as groups
+- Duplicate cues (cues are automation handles and should be unique) or mixed cue naming conventions
+- Structured department data in titles/notes that belongs in custom fields
+- If several readability issues surface, suggest running the tidy_rundown prompt to fix them systematically
+
 Present issues grouped by severity: ERROR (breaks playback), WARNING (likely mistake), INFO (worth confirming).`,
     );
   }
@@ -215,6 +237,34 @@ Efficiency tip: plan moves in the direction of the target position to minimise r
     );
   }
 
+  if (name === 'tidy_rundown') {
+    const focus = args.focus ? `\nFocus specifically on: "${args.focus}".` : '';
+    return userPrompt(
+      'Audit and improve rundown readability',
+      `Audit the current Ontime rundown for readability and tidiness, then propose improvements.${focus}
+
+Steps:
+1. Read the ontime://style-guide resource — it defines the conventions to audit against, including the standard colour palette.
+2. Call ontime_list_rundowns and identify the target rundown. If the user wants a background rundown, pass its \`rundownId\` in all entry read/write calls instead of loading it.
+3. Call ontime_get_rundown with the chosen \`rundownId\`, and ontime_get_custom_fields for the project field definitions.
+4. Call ontime_get_timer_state. If playback is not \`stop\` and the target is the loaded rundown, explain that MCP edits affect the live rundown and ask the user to confirm before changing it.
+
+Audit for:
+- Colour consistency: entries coloured outside a discernible convention, missing colours on key segments, red/orange used for normal content (the style guide reserves them for attention items and changeovers), or group/children colours that ignore the dark/light tone pairing. Prefer the default Ontime palette.
+- Grouping: long runs (roughly 4+) of related consecutive top-level events that would read better as a named group; groups missing \`targetDuration\`.
+- Buffers: long segments back-to-back with no changeover event between them; propose short buffer events so one overrun cannot cascade.
+- Cue naming: mixed conventions (numeric vs semantic) without apparent intent, duplicate cues, or gaps that suggest mistakes. Remember cues are automation handles — renaming them can break external triggers, so flag renames explicitly.
+- Data in the wrong place: structured department data buried in titles or notes (e.g. "CAM 2", "GFX: lower third") that belongs in a custom field; overlong titles (over ~50 chars).
+- Entry types: zero-duration events that should be milestones; milestones that carry timing expectations and should be events.
+- Flags: \`flag: true\` on many events dilutes its meaning — critical markers only.
+
+Then:
+5. Present the findings as a short, scannable proposal (what changes, on which entries, and why) and WAIT for the user to approve before mutating anything. Be concise — a tight list beats prose.
+6. Apply approved changes with the cheapest calls: ontime_group_entries to group existing entries, ontime_batch_update_entries when several entries get the same values (e.g. recolouring), ontime_update_entry for per-entry changes, ontime_create_custom_field when moving data into a new field.
+7. Finish by reading ontime://views and suggesting views that put the improved structure to work — e.g. an operator view subscribed to a department custom field, or a cuesheet for cross-department editing.`,
+    );
+  }
+
   if (name === 'manage_custom_fields') {
     return userPrompt(
       'List, create, rename, recolour, or delete custom field definitions',
@@ -223,14 +273,14 @@ Efficiency tip: plan moves in the direction of the target position to minimise r
 Custom fields are project-scoped. They appear as columns in the cuesheet and can be set on any event, milestone, or group. Changes apply to all rundowns in the project.
 
 Steps:
-1. Call ontime_get_custom_fields to see what fields already exist. This is mandatory before creating — to avoid duplicates such as "Cam", "camera", and "Cameras".
-2. Carry out the instruction using the tools below. Confirm destructive changes (rename, delete) with the user before calling.
+1. Call ontime_get_custom_fields to see what fields already exist. Reuse an existing field when it covers the concept — avoid duplicates such as "Cam", "camera", and "Cameras".
+2. Carry out the instruction using the tools below. Creating a field is non-destructive — do it directly. Confirm destructive changes (rename, delete) with the user before calling.
 
 Creating a field:
 - Call ontime_create_custom_field with { label, type, colour }.
-- label: human-readable name (alphanumeric with spaces). The key is auto-derived: spaces → underscores (e.g. "Camera Angle" → "Camera_Angle"). Confirm the derived key with the user before creating.
+- label: human-readable name (letters, numbers and spaces). The key is auto-derived: spaces → underscores (e.g. "Camera Angle" → "Camera_Angle").
 - type: "text" for short string values, "image" for image URLs. Cannot be changed after creation.
-- colour: hex colour (#RRGGBB) used to visually identify this column in the cuesheet. Ask the user what colour to use if not specified.
+- colour: hex colour (#RRGGBB) used to visually identify this column in the cuesheet. If unspecified, pick one from the default Ontime palette matching the department.
 - Returns: { key, customFields } — use the returned key when setting values on entries.
 
 Renaming or recolouring a field:
@@ -242,7 +292,9 @@ Deleting a field:
 - Call ontime_delete_custom_field with { key }.
 - Warning: this permanently removes the field definition and its values from every entry in all rundowns. Confirm with the user before deleting.
 
-After any mutation, call ontime_get_custom_fields again to confirm the result and show the user the updated field list with their keys.`,
+After any mutation, call ontime_get_custom_fields again to confirm the result and show the user the updated field list with their keys.
+
+When a field was created for a department (camera, graphics, audio…), read ontime://views and offer the views that surface it: the cuesheet shows the field as a column for cross-department editing, and the operator view can display or highlight it for that department, e.g. /op?main=title&secondary-src=custom-<key>&subscribe=<key>.`,
     );
   }
 

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.resources.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { getProjectData } from '../api-data/project-data/projectData.dao.js';
 import { getCurrentRundown, getProjectCustomFields } from '../api-data/rundown/rundown.dao.js';
 import { normalisedToRundownArray } from '../api-data/rundown/rundown.utils.js';
 import { getDataProvider } from '../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js';
+import { ONTIME_STYLE_GUIDE_MARKDOWN, ONTIME_VIEWS_MARKDOWN } from './mcp.guides.js';
 import { ONTIME_DOCS_MARKDOWN, ONTIME_SCHEMA_MARKDOWN } from './mcp.schema.js';
 
 export const RESOURCE_DEFINITIONS: ListResourcesResult['resources'] = [
@@ -45,6 +46,22 @@ export const RESOURCE_DEFINITIONS: ListResourcesResult['resources'] = [
       'Map of custom field keys to their label, type, and colour. Events reference these keys in their `custom` object.',
     mimeType: 'application/json',
   },
+  {
+    uri: 'ontime://style-guide',
+    name: 'ontime-style-guide',
+    title: 'Rundown style guide',
+    description:
+      'Best practices for tidy, easy-to-read rundowns: grouping, colour conventions and the default Ontime palette, cue naming, custom fields vs notes, timing hygiene. Read before creating or restyling a rundown.',
+    mimeType: 'text/markdown',
+  },
+  {
+    uri: 'ontime://views',
+    name: 'ontime-views',
+    title: 'Views and sharing guide',
+    description:
+      'What each Ontime view (timer, backstage, operator, cuesheet, timeline, countdown, studio clock, project info) is for, key URL parameters, URL presets, and custom views. Read when recommending how a team member should follow or edit the show.',
+    mimeType: 'text/markdown',
+  },
   {
     uri: 'ontime://docs',
     name: 'ontime-docs',
@@ -57,6 +74,8 @@ export const RESOURCE_DEFINITIONS: ListResourcesResult['resources'] = [
 
 const RESOURCE_READERS: Record<string, { mimeType: string; read: () => string }> = {
   'ontime://schema': { mimeType: 'text/markdown', read: () => ONTIME_SCHEMA_MARKDOWN },
+  'ontime://style-guide': { mimeType: 'text/markdown', read: () => ONTIME_STYLE_GUIDE_MARKDOWN },
+  'ontime://views': { mimeType: 'text/markdown', read: () => ONTIME_VIEWS_MARKDOWN },
   'ontime://docs': { mimeType: 'text/markdown', read: () => ONTIME_DOCS_MARKDOWN },
   'ontime://rundown/current': {
     mimeType: 'application/json',

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.schema.ts

@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ export const EVENT_WRITABLE_FIELDS = {
   note: { type: 'string', description: 'Free-text note for production notes or references' },
   colour: {
     type: 'string',
-    description: 'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) for visual grouping — ask the user what colour convention they use',
+    description:
+      'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) for visual grouping — ask the user what colour convention they use, and prefer the default Ontime palette from ontime://style-guide so colours match the editor swatches',
   },
   skip: { type: 'boolean', description: 'If true, event is skipped during playback' },
   flag: {
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ export const EVENT_WRITABLE_FIELDS = {
     type: 'object',
     additionalProperties: { type: 'string' },
     description:
-      'Custom field values keyed by existing project field key, e.g. { "camera": "CAM 2" }. Get available keys with ontime_get_custom_fields. Adding new custom field definitions is a separate project-level operation.',
+      'Custom field values keyed by project field key, e.g. { "Camera": "CAM 2" }. Keys are case-sensitive — get them with ontime_get_custom_fields, and create missing fields with ontime_create_custom_field.',
   },
   ...EVENT_TIMER_FIELDS,
 } as const;
@@ -180,12 +181,11 @@ Events, milestones and groups store values at \`entry.custom[fieldKey]\`.
 
 Managing field definitions:
 - Read: \`ontime_get_custom_fields\` — returns \`{ [key]: { label, type, colour } }\`
-- Create: \`ontime_create_custom_field { label, type, colour }\` — key is auto-derived from label (spaces → underscores). Confirm the derived key before creating. Returns \`{ key, customFields }\`.
+- Create: \`ontime_create_custom_field { label, type, colour }\` — key is auto-derived from label (spaces → underscores). Returns \`{ key, customFields }\`.
 - Rename/recolour: \`ontime_update_custom_field { key, label?, colour? }\` — renaming the label changes the derived key and cascades to all entry references across all rundowns. Type cannot be changed.
 - Delete: \`ontime_delete_custom_field { key }\` — removes the field definition and its values from every entry in all rundowns. Destructive, confirm first.
 
-When setting \`custom\` values on entries, only use existing field keys. If a key does not exist, create it with \`ontime_create_custom_field\` first.
-Show the existing field list before creating to avoid duplicates such as \`Cam\`, \`camera\`, and \`Cameras\`.
+Keys are case-sensitive. When setting \`custom\` values, reuse an existing field when it covers the concept; otherwise create the missing field — creation is non-destructive and needs no confirmation. Rename and delete are the destructive operations: confirm those with the user.
 
 ## Targeting rundowns
 Entry read/write tools accept an optional \`rundownId\`.
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ When playback is not \`stop\`, mutations to the loaded rundown affect the live r
 
 ## Available resources
 - \`ontime://schema\` — this document
+- \`ontime://style-guide\` — rundown design best practices: grouping, colour palette, cue naming, custom field usage. Read before creating or restyling a rundown.
+- \`ontime://views\` — Ontime's role-specific views, URL parameters, URL presets, and custom views. Read when recommending how a team member should follow or edit the show.
 - \`ontime://rundown/current\` — the currently loaded rundown (JSON)
 - \`ontime://rundowns\` — all rundowns in the project (JSON)
 - \`ontime://project/info\` — project metadata (JSON)
@@ -234,6 +236,16 @@ Main site: https://docs.getontime.no
 - OSC Integration: https://docs.getontime.no/api/osc/
 - Make custom views: https://docs.getontime.no/features/custom-views/
 
+## Views
+- Configuring views: https://docs.getontime.no/quick-tips/configuring-views/
+- Operator view: https://docs.getontime.no/interface/production/operator/
+- Cuesheet: https://docs.getontime.no/interface/production/cuesheet/
+- Render views in third-party apps: https://docs.getontime.no/quick-tips/render-elsewhere/
+
+## Quick tips
+- Managing delays: https://docs.getontime.no/quick-tips/managing-delays/
+- Smart time entry: https://docs.getontime.no/quick-tips/smart-time-entry/
+
 ## Helpful references
 - Ontime Cloud: https://docs.getontime.no/ontime-cloud/
 - Connect to companion module: https://docs.getontime.no/additional-notes/companion-module/

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.service.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   Rundown,
   SupportedEntry,
 } from 'ontime-types';
+import { checkRegex, customFieldLabelToKey } from 'ontime-utils';
 
 import { getCurrentRundown, getCurrentRundownId, getProjectCustomFields } from '../api-data/rundown/rundown.dao.js';
 import {
@@ -110,11 +111,21 @@ export function assertKnownCustomFields(...customValues: Array<EntryFieldArgs['c
     const available = Object.keys(customFields);
     const hint =
       available.length > 0 ? `Available keys: ${available.join(', ')}.` : 'No custom fields are defined yet.';
+
+    // keys are case-sensitive; a near-miss on casing is the most common mistake
+    const suggestions = [...unknownKeys]
+      .map((key) => {
+        const match = available.find((existing) => existing.toLowerCase() === key.toLowerCase());
+        return match ? `"${key}" → "${match}"` : null;
+      })
+      .filter(Boolean);
+    const caseHint =
+      suggestions.length > 0 ? ` Keys are case-sensitive — did you mean: ${suggestions.join(', ')}?` : '';
+
     throw new Error(
-      `Unknown custom field key(s): ${missing}. ${hint} ` +
+      `Unknown custom field key(s): ${missing}. ${hint}${caseHint} ` +
         `Call ontime_create_custom_field with { label, type, colour } to create a missing field — ` +
-        `the key is auto-derived from the label (spaces → underscores, e.g. label "Camera" → key "Camera"). ` +
-        `Call ontime_get_custom_fields to list existing keys.`,
+        `the key is auto-derived from the label (spaces → underscores, e.g. label "Mix Output" → key "Mix_Output").`,
     );
   }
 }
@@ -333,8 +344,23 @@ export async function batchUpdateEntriesForMcp(args: TargetRundownArgs & { ids:
 }
 
 export async function createCustomFieldForMcp(args: { label: string; type: 'text' | 'image'; colour: string }) {
-  const updated = await createCustomField({ label: args.label, type: args.type, colour: args.colour });
-  const key = Object.keys(updated).find((k) => updated[k].label === args.label) ?? args.label;
+  const label = args.label?.trim();
+  // same constraint the HTTP route enforces in customFields.validation.ts
+  if (!label || !checkRegex.isAlphanumericWithSpace(label)) {
+    throw new Error('Invalid label: use letters, numbers and spaces only, e.g. "Camera Angle".');
+  }
+
+  const key = customFieldLabelToKey(label);
+  const existingFields = getProjectCustomFields();
+  const clash = Object.keys(existingFields).find((existing) => existing.toLowerCase() === key.toLowerCase());
+  if (clash) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `A custom field with key "${clash}" (label "${existingFields[clash].label}") already exists. ` +
+        `Reuse it in entry.custom["${clash}"] instead of creating a duplicate, or pick a clearly different label.`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  const updated = await createCustomField({ label, type: args.type, colour: args.colour });
   return { key, customFields: updated };
 }
 

apps/server/src/api-mcp/mcp.tools.ts

@@ -186,7 +186,11 @@ export const TOOL_DEFINITIONS = [
         ids: { type: 'array', items: { type: 'string' }, description: 'Existing top-level entry IDs to group' },
         title: { type: 'string', description: 'Group title shown in the rundown and views' },
         note: { type: 'string', description: 'Free-text group note for production notes or references' },
-        colour: { type: 'string', description: 'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) for the group' },
+        colour: {
+          type: 'string',
+          description:
+            'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) for the group — prefer the default Ontime palette from ontime://style-guide',
+        },
         custom: {
           type: 'object',
           additionalProperties: { type: 'string' },
@@ -377,7 +381,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFINITIONS = [
   {
     name: 'ontime_create_custom_field',
     description:
-      'Create a new project-level custom field definition. Custom fields add typed columns to every entry in all rundowns. The key is auto-derived from the label (spaces → underscores, e.g. "Camera Angle" → "Camera_Angle"). After creation, use the key in entry.custom when creating or updating entries.',
+      'Create a new project-level custom field definition. Custom fields add typed columns to every entry in all rundowns. The key is auto-derived from the label (spaces → underscores, e.g. "Camera Angle" → "Camera_Angle"). Creation is non-destructive — check ontime_get_custom_fields for an existing field covering the concept, and if none exists create directly without asking the user. After creation, use the returned key in entry.custom.',
     inputSchema: {
       type: 'object',
       required: ['label', 'type', 'colour'],
@@ -385,7 +389,7 @@ export const TOOL_DEFINITIONS = [
         label: {
           type: 'string',
           description:
-            'Human-readable label (alphanumeric with spaces, e.g. "Camera"). Determines the key — ask the user to confirm before creating to avoid duplicates like "Cam", "camera", "Cameras".',
+            'Human-readable label (letters, numbers and spaces, e.g. "Camera"). Determines the key. Reuse an existing field over creating near-duplicates like "Cam", "camera", "Cameras".',
         },
         type: {
           type: 'string',
@@ -395,7 +399,8 @@ export const TOOL_DEFINITIONS = [
         },
         colour: {
           type: 'string',
-          description: 'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) used to visually identify this column in the cuesheet.',
+          description:
+            'Hex colour (#RRGGBB) used to visually identify this column in the cuesheet — for department fields, match the department colour convention (see ontime://style-guide).',
         },
       },
     },

apps/server/src/services/__tests__/timerUtils.test.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type { RuntimeState } from '../../stores/runtimeState.js';
 import {
   findDayOffset,
   getCurrent,
+  getElapsed,
   getExpectedFinish,
   getRuntimeOffset,
   getTimerPhase,
@@ -15,6 +16,56 @@ import {
 
 const asTimeOfDay = (value: number): RuntimeState['clock'] => value as RuntimeState['clock'];
 
+describe('getElapsed()', () => {
+  it('returns active elapsed time from startedAt without add-time adjustments', () => {
+    const state = {
+      clock: 5 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      timer: {
+        addedTime: -10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        current: 15 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        duration: 20 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        startedAt: 2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      },
+      _timer: {
+        pausedAt: null,
+        pausedDuration: 0,
+      },
+    } as RuntimeState;
+
+    expect(getElapsed(state)).toBe(3 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+  });
+
+  it('subtracts accumulated pause time', () => {
+    const state = {
+      clock: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      timer: {
+        startedAt: 2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      },
+      _timer: {
+        pausedAt: null,
+        pausedDuration: 5 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      },
+    } as RuntimeState;
+
+    expect(getElapsed(state)).toBe(3 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+  });
+
+  it('uses the current pause start while paused', () => {
+    const state = {
+      clock: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      timer: {
+        startedAt: 2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      },
+      _timer: {
+        pausedAt: 7 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        pausedDuration: 1 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      },
+    } as RuntimeState;
+
+    expect(getElapsed(state)).toBe(4 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('getExpectedFinish()', () => {
   it('is null if we havent started', () => {
     const state = {

apps/server/src/services/restore-service/__tests__/restore.parser.test.ts

@@ -47,6 +47,23 @@ describe('isRestorePoint()', () => {
     expect(isRestorePoint(restorePoint)).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it('accepts optional paused duration', () => {
+    const restorePoint: RestorePoint = {
+      playback: Playback.Roll,
+      selectedEventId: '123',
+      startedAt: 1,
+      addedTime: 2,
+      pausedAt: null,
+      pausedDuration: 3000,
+      firstStart: 1,
+      startEpoch: asInstant(1),
+      currentDay: 0,
+    };
+
+    expect(isRestorePoint(restorePoint)).toBe(true);
+    expect(isRestorePoint({ ...restorePoint, pausedDuration: '3000' })).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   describe('rejects a badly formatted file', () => {
     it('with invalid playback value', () => {
       const restorePoint = {

apps/server/src/services/restore-service/restore.parser.ts

@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ export function isRestorePoint(restorePoint: unknown): restorePoint is RestorePo
     return false;
   }
 
+  if ('pausedDuration' in restorePoint && !is.number(restorePoint.pausedDuration)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   if (!is.number(restorePoint.firstStart) && restorePoint.firstStart !== null) {
     return false;
   }

apps/server/src/services/restore-service/restore.type.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export type RestorePoint = {
   startedAt: MaybeNumber;
   addedTime: number;
   pausedAt: MaybeNumber;
+  pausedDuration?: number;
   firstStart: MaybeNumber;
   startEpoch: Maybe<Instant>;
   currentDay: MaybeNumber;

apps/server/src/services/runtime-service/runtime.service.ts

@@ -760,6 +760,7 @@ function broadcastResult(_target: any, _propertyKey: string, descriptor: Propert
           startedAt: state.timer.startedAt,
           addedTime: state.timer.addedTime,
           pausedAt: state._timer.pausedAt,
+          pausedDuration: state._timer.pausedDuration,
           firstStart: state.rundown.actualStart,
           startEpoch: state._startEpoch,
           currentDay: state.rundown.currentDay,

apps/server/src/services/runtime-service/runtime.utils.ts

@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ export function getShouldClockUpdate(previousUpdate: number, now: number): boole
  * Checks whether we should update the timer values
  * - `current` and `secondaryTimer` trigger on seconds roll over
  * - the rest trigger on any change
- * - `elapsed` and `expectedFinish` is not checked
+ * - `elapsed` changes alongside `current`
+ * - `expectedFinish` is not checked
  */
 export function getShouldTimerUpdate(previousValue: TimerState | undefined, currentValue: TimerState): boolean {
   if (previousValue === undefined) return true;
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ export function getShouldTimerUpdate(previousValue: TimerState | undefined, curr
     previousValue.phase !== currentValue.phase ||
     previousValue.playback !== currentValue.playback ||
     previousValue.startedAt !== currentValue.startedAt
-    // elapsed - this would be the direct invert of current value so no need to check
+    // elapsed - this is derived from current / duration / addedTime, so the fields above cover it
     // expectedFinish - this will be moved out by the current value going into over time, no need to check
   );
 }

apps/server/src/services/timerUtils.ts

@@ -92,6 +92,33 @@ export function getCurrent(state: RuntimeState): number {
   return startedAt + duration + addedTime - clock - correctDay;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Calculates active time elapsed since the timer started.
+ */
+export function getElapsed(state: RuntimeState): MaybeNumber {
+  const { clock } = state;
+  const { startedAt } = state.timer;
+  const { pausedAt, pausedDuration } = state._timer;
+
+  if (startedAt === null) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const referenceClock = pausedAt ?? clock;
+  const elapsedSinceStart = getTimeSinceStart(referenceClock, startedAt);
+  const activeElapsed = elapsedSinceStart - pausedDuration;
+
+  return Math.max(0, activeElapsed);
+}
+
+function getTimeSinceStart(clock: TimeOfDay, startedAt: number): number {
+  if (clock < startedAt) {
+    return clock + dayInMs - startedAt;
+  }
+
+  return clock - startedAt;
+}
+
 /**
  * Checks whether we have skipped out of the event
  * @param {RuntimeState} state runtime state

apps/server/src/stores/__mocks__/runtimeState.mocks.ts

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ const baseState: RuntimeState = {
   _timer: {
     forceFinish: null,
     pausedAt: null,
+    pausedDuration: 0,
     secondaryTarget: null,
     hasFinished: false,
   },

apps/server/src/stores/__tests__/runtimeState.test.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ vi.mock('../../classes/data-provider/DataProvider.js', () => {
       return {
         setCustomFields: vi.fn().mockImplementation((newData) => newData),
         setRundown: vi.fn().mockImplementation((newData) => newData),
+        getAutomation: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({
+          enabledAutomations: false,
+          enabledOscIn: false,
+          oscPortIn: 0,
+          triggers: [],
+          automations: {},
+        }),
       };
     }),
   };
@@ -168,6 +175,79 @@ describe('mutation on runtimeState', () => {
       });
       expect(newState.rundown.actualStart).toBeNull();
     });
+
+    test('elapsed remains active time when adding and removing time', async () => {
+      clearState();
+      const event = {
+        ...mockEvent,
+        id: 'elapsed-add-time',
+        timeStart: 0,
+        timeEnd: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        duration: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      };
+      const mockRundown = makeRundown({
+        entries: { [event.id]: event },
+        order: [event.id],
+      });
+
+      await initRundown(mockRundown, {});
+      vi.runAllTimers();
+
+      const { metadata, rundown } = rundownCache.get();
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:00');
+      load(event, rundown, metadata);
+      start();
+
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:02');
+      update();
+
+      addTime(5 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+      let state = getState();
+      expect(state.timer.elapsed).toBe(2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+      expect(state.timer.duration! - state.timer.current!).toBe(-3 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+
+      addTime(-8 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+      state = getState();
+      expect(state.timer.elapsed).toBe(2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+      expect(state.timer.duration! - state.timer.current!).toBe(5 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+    });
+
+    test('elapsed excludes time spent paused after resume', async () => {
+      clearState();
+      const event = {
+        ...mockEvent,
+        id: 'elapsed-pause',
+        timeStart: 0,
+        timeEnd: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+        duration: 10 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE,
+      };
+      const mockRundown = makeRundown({
+        entries: { [event.id]: event },
+        order: [event.id],
+      });
+
+      await initRundown(mockRundown, {});
+      vi.runAllTimers();
+
+      const { metadata, rundown } = rundownCache.get();
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:00');
+      load(event, rundown, metadata);
+      start();
+
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:02');
+      update();
+      pause();
+
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:07');
+      start();
+      let state = getState();
+      expect(state.timer.elapsed).toBe(2 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+
+      vi.setSystemTime('jan 1 00:08');
+      update();
+      state = getState();
+      expect(state.timer.elapsed).toBe(3 * MILLIS_PER_MINUTE);
+    });
   });
 
   test('runtime offset', async () => {

apps/server/src/stores/runtimeState.ts

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { loadRoll, normaliseRollStart } from '../services/rollUtils.js';
 import {
   findDayOffset,
   getCurrent,
+  getElapsed,
   getExpectedFinish,
   getRuntimeOffset,
   getTimerPhase,
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ export type RuntimeState = {
   _timer: {
     forceFinish: Maybe<TimeOfDay>; // whether we should declare an event as finished, will contain the finish time
     pausedAt: Maybe<TimeOfDay>;
+    pausedDuration: number;
     secondaryTarget: Maybe<TimeOfDay>;
     hasFinished: boolean;
   };
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ const runtimeState: RuntimeState = {
   _timer: {
     forceFinish: null,
     pausedAt: null,
+    pausedDuration: 0,
     secondaryTarget: null,
     hasFinished: false,
   },
@@ -138,6 +141,7 @@ export function clearEventData() {
   // when clearing, we maintain the total delay from the rundown
   runtimeState._timer.forceFinish = null;
   runtimeState._timer.pausedAt = null;
+  runtimeState._timer.pausedDuration = 0;
   runtimeState._timer.secondaryTarget = null;
   runtimeState._timer.hasFinished = false;
 }
@@ -170,6 +174,7 @@ export function clearState() {
   // when clearing, we maintain the total delay from the rundown
   runtimeState._timer.forceFinish = null;
   runtimeState._timer.pausedAt = null;
+  runtimeState._timer.pausedDuration = 0;
   runtimeState._timer.secondaryTarget = null;
   runtimeState._timer.hasFinished = false;
 
@@ -426,6 +431,7 @@ export function start(state: RuntimeState = runtimeState): boolean {
   if (state._timer.pausedAt) {
     const timeToAdd = state.clock - state._timer.pausedAt;
     state.timer.addedTime += timeToAdd;
+    state._timer.pausedDuration += timeToAdd;
     state._timer.pausedAt = null;
   }
 
@@ -435,7 +441,7 @@ export function start(state: RuntimeState = runtimeState): boolean {
 
   state.timer.playback = Playback.Play;
   state.timer.expectedFinish = getExpectedFinish(state);
-  state.timer.elapsed = 0;
+  state.timer.elapsed = getElapsed(state);
 
   if (state.rundown.actualStart === null) {
     state._startDayOffset = (findDayOffset(state.eventNow.timeStart, state.clock) + state.eventNow.dayOffset) as Day;
@@ -520,6 +526,7 @@ export function addTime(amount: number) {
   // we can update the state after handling the side effects
   runtimeState.timer.addedTime += amount;
   runtimeState.timer.current += amount;
+  runtimeState.timer.elapsed = getElapsed(runtimeState);
 
   // update runtime delays: over - under
   const { absolute, relative } = getRuntimeOffset(runtimeState);
@@ -575,7 +582,7 @@ export function update(): UpdateResult {
   runtimeState.timer.current = getCurrent(runtimeState);
   runtimeState.timer.expectedFinish = getExpectedFinish(runtimeState);
   runtimeState.timer.phase = getTimerPhase(runtimeState);
-  runtimeState.timer.elapsed = runtimeState.timer.duration - runtimeState.timer.current;
+  runtimeState.timer.elapsed = getElapsed(runtimeState);
 
   // update runtime, needs up-to-date timer state
   const { absolute, relative } = getRuntimeOffset(runtimeState);

packages/types/src/definitions/core/Automation.type.ts

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export type OntimeActionKey =
   | OntimeMessageSet
   | OntimeMessageSecondary;
 
-export const ontimeActionKeyValues = [
+export const ontimeActionKeyValues: string[] = [
   ...ontimeAuxTriggerAction,
   ...ontimePlaybackAction,
   ...ontimeAuxSetAction,
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ export type OntimeAction =
       text?: string;
       visible?: boolean;
     }
-  // TODO: when setting a secondary source of type secondary we could specify a value to it
   | {
       type: 'ontime';
       action: OntimeMessageSecondary;
-      secondarySource: SecondarySource;
+      secondarySource?: SecondarySource;
+      text?: string;
     };

packages/types/src/definitions/core/TimerLifecycle.type.ts

@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ export enum TimerLifeCycle {
 
 export type TimerLifeCycleKey = keyof typeof TimerLifeCycle;
 
-export const timerLifecycleValues = Object.keys(TimerLifeCycle);
+export const timerLifecycleValues: string[] = Object.keys(TimerLifeCycle);