Sections (acts) in a script

Sections divide an Arthoff script into logical parts such as theatre acts, conference blocks, concert songs, or corporate-event segments.

Sections in Arthoff divide a script into logical parts, such as acts in a theatre production, conference blocks, songs in a concert, or segments of a corporate event. They help organize large cue lists, support different numbering schemes, and make navigation easier.

Creating a section

Open the script where you want to add a section.

In the left panel containing sections and cues, go to the end of the section list.

Click + Add section.

Enter a section name, for example “Act II”, “Talk 3: Network Security”, or “Song 5 – Ballad”.

Optionally choose an identification color. It is used as an accent in the section list, previews, and selected exports.

Confirm by clicking outside the field or pressing Enter.

Tip

Section colors make large scripts with many acts, songs, or blocks much easier to scan.

Editing a section

Hover over the section name in the left panel until the pencil icon ✎ appears.

Click it, change the name or color, and confirm.

Alternatively, right-click the section and choose Edit section.

Moving cues between sections

Drag and drop a cue from the list onto the target section.
Open the cue menu … → Move to section and choose a destination.
For bulk changes, select multiple cues with Shift/Ctrl and choose … → Move selected to section.

Deleting a section

Warning

Deleting a section also deletes every cue inside it. Move any cues you want to keep before deleting the section.

Right-click the section in the left panel and choose Delete section.

Confirm the action in the dialog.

If you need to preserve cues, move them to another section first.

Reordering sections

Drag sections up or down in the left panel. Section order defines their order in the script and affects presenter and live views.

Section view in the editor

When a section is selected, the properties panel can show information such as:

number of cues,
average cue duration when available,
estimated total section duration,
a compact list of cues in the section.

Cue numbering inside sections

Cues are numbered continuously by default. To restart displayed numbering in every section:

Open Project settings → Scripts.

Enable Restart cue numbering in each section.

Save the changes.

The first cue in every section is then displayed as cue 1, while internal global identifiers remain unchanged.

Section export and reporting

PDF can display the section name before each group of cues and optionally restart numbering in each section.
CSV can add a Section column for every cue.
JSON includes section information such as section and sectionId.

Common scenarios

Scenario 1: Theatre production with three acts

Create “Act I”, “Act II”, and “Act III”.
Assign different colors for quick navigation.
Use Comment cues as scene-level subtitles when a deeper hierarchy is needed.
Export a rehearsal PDF with cue numbering restarted for every act.

Scenario 2: Conference with five speakers

Create sections for the welcome, individual talks, Q&A, and closing.
Speakers can work on their own content according to the project’s permission model.
The operator uses sections to jump quickly to the next speaker.

Scenario 3: Concert with songs and breaks

Use sections such as “Song 1”, “Band talk”, “Song 2”, and “Encore”.
Song sections contain synchronized lighting, audio, and visual cues.
Break sections can contain work-light cues and operator notes.

Scenario 4: Corporate event with themed blocks

Divide the script into registration, strategy, innovation, coffee break, sales, and closing blocks.
Section colors make it easier for operators to recognize context.
A break section can include neutral lighting and a message directing guests to catering.

Frequently asked questions

Can sections be nested?

No. Arthoff supports one section level. For deeper hierarchy, split content into multiple scripts or use Comment cues as internal subheadings.

How can I restore a deleted section?

Deleting a section removes its cues. Move important cues before deletion or create a backup export. If script version history contains the earlier state, restore from that history.

Does a section color affect live view?

Section color is primarily an editor and export aid. /present, /show, and /view focus on cue content. Use a Lighting cue if you want a section transition to change the physical lighting state.

How do I jump to another section during a presentation?

In presenter mode, use Shift + ArrowUp / ArrowDown to move to the first cue of the previous or next section, or choose a section from the presenter menu.

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