Offline mode (Offline First)
Arthoff is designed for environments where internet connectivity can be unstable or completely unavailable. Its Offline First architecture keeps most core functions available without a network connection and synchronizes changes after reconnecting.
Arthoff is designed for environments where internet connectivity can be unstable or completely unavailable. Thanks to its Offline First architecture, most core functions remain available without network access, and changes are synchronized automatically after you reconnect.
What works offline?
When Arthoff detects that the network is unavailable, or when you enable offline mode manually, the following features remain available.
📖 Script viewing
You can browse scripts, sections, and cues as if you were online. Data is loaded from the local cache stored in IndexedDB through Dexie.
✏️ Cue editing
You can create and modify cues and mark them as completed. Changes are stored locally and synchronized with the server when the connection returns.
📊 Progress tracking
Actors and the presenter can mark cues as completed (✅). The state is buffered locally and sent to the server after reconnecting.
What does not work offline?
Some features require a permanent server connection and are unavailable or limited while offline.
| Feature | Offline behavior |
|---|---|
| Real-time cue execution | Disabled. Arthoff cannot send commands to lighting, audio, camera, or other devices without a connection to the controller. |
| State synchronization with other users | Disabled. Local changes are not visible to other users until you reconnect. |
| Server updates | Disabled. The local database does not receive new server-side records or updates. |
| Public links and sharing | Limited. Existing shared content may be viewable, but new public links and sharing settings cannot be created or updated. |
| Cloud export | Disabled. Files cannot be uploaded to the server while offline. |
| Role and permission changes | Disabled. Member roles cannot be added or changed while offline. |
Note
Offline mode is intended mainly for rehearsal rooms, stages without reliable local networking, and travel where connectivity may disappear temporarily.
Enabling and disabling offline mode
Automatic detection
Arthoff automatically detects loss of internet connectivity and switches to offline mode after a short delay, by default after roughly three seconds without network activity. A ⚡ Offline mode indicator appears in the upper-right notification area.
Enable manually
Click Settings (gear icon) in the upper-right corner.
Open General.
Switch Offline mode to On.
Click Apply. The application reloads and enters offline mode.
Return online
Make sure internet connectivity has been restored.
Click ⚡ Offline mode → Return online in the notification area.
Arthoff attempts to synchronize local changes with the server. If the same cue was edited independently by multiple users, a conflict-resolution dialog appears.
Synchronization after reconnecting
Detect changes
Arthoff compares the local database with the current server state.
Merge
Non-conflicting changes, for example edits to different cues, are merged automatically.
Resolve conflicts
When the same data changed in incompatible ways, choose one of the available actions:
- Use server version to replace local changes with the latest server state.
- Use local version to keep your local changes and overwrite the server state.
- Open in editor to decide manually which changes should be preserved.
After synchronization finishes, the local and server state are consistent and the ⚡ indicator disappears.
Common scenarios
Scenario A: Rehearsal room without Wi-Fi
- The director and actors open Arthoff on laptops in a room without network access.
- Arthoff detects the missing connection and switches to offline mode.
- Everyone can review the script, add comments, and mark cues as completed.
- When Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot becomes available, local changes are synchronized with the project.
Scenario B: Network outage during a live event
- The router or venue network fails during the event.
- The presenter can still record local progress, but cannot reliably trigger network-controlled devices or receive real-time updates from other operators.
- When the network returns, Arthoff reconnects and synchronizes the progress recorded during the outage.
Scenario C: Working on a tablet while travelling
- A director edits a project while travelling with unstable mobile connectivity.
- Arthoff falls back to offline mode when the connection becomes unreliable.
- Script editing, new cues, and section changes can continue locally.
- After a stable network connection is restored, the changes are synchronized with the team project.
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive push notifications while offline?
No. Push notifications require an active connection to the notification and Arthoff servers. New notifications appear after reconnecting.
Are cached local data deleted when I leave offline mode?
No. Local IndexedDB data remains available and is synchronized when you return online, unless you explicitly clear the cache in settings.
Can I export a script while offline?
Yes. PDF, CSV, and JSON exports can be generated from data available in the local cache.
What happens if I clear the cache while offline?
Unsynchronized local changes are lost. After reconnecting, Arthoff reloads the latest server state, so export important offline work before clearing local data.
Device and connectivity troubleshooting
This guide covers common Arthoff device problems involving lighting, audio, cameras, effect machines, network connectivity, triggers, synchronization conflicts, and local browser storage.
Tutorial: Building a theatre show from scratch
Create a complete theatre production in Arthoff with projects, roles, script sections, dialogue, lighting, audio, stage movement, rehearsals, presenter mode, and exports.