Advanced mode is the event tracker with the in-room display panel. It runs the same wizard as simple mode (Start, Booking, Group, Objectives, Notes, Photos, Review), but the Objectives step renders a three-column layout that includes the DisplayControlPanel sidebar, the Send interaction quick button on every objective, a live timer in the sticky header, and an optional customer-screen mirror — all driving the communication screen for that event over WebSocket in real time.
Getting started
Open Events > Event tracker settings and turn on the Enable in-room display toggle. Then open Events > Event tracker and click any booking to start a session in advanced mode.
How it works
Advanced mode is gated by the Enable in-room display setting in Event tracker settings. When it's on, the Objectives step renders a three-column layout:
| Column | Content |
|---|---|
| Left | DisplayControlPanel sidebar with widgets for connection, timer, background music, custom interaction, hint counter, and currently-on-screen content |
| Middle | PuzzleStep with the live event timer in the sticky header and a Send interaction quick button on every objective row |
| Right | Optional customer-screen mirror iframe (only when Display mirror view is on in tracker settings) |
The mode talks to the communication screen over WebSocket. Every action on the DisplayControlPanel or the Send interaction panel updates the customer-facing display in real time.
The wizard tabs are the same as simple mode — Start, Booking, Group, Objectives, Notes, Photos, Review. The advanced-only UI lives inside the Objectives step.
Step-by-step guide
Run a session in advanced mode
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm Enable in-room display is on in Event tracker settings |
| 2 | Open Event tracker and click the booking |
| 3 | Open the communication screen URL on the customer-facing display (TV, projector, tablet) |
| 4 | Move through the wizard: Start → Booking → Group |
| 5 | Land on Objectives. The three-column layout appears with the DisplayControlPanel sidebar on the left |
| 6 | Confirm the Connection status widget reads the right number of screens (e.g., "1 screen") — that means the customer display has connected |
| 7 | Hit Start on the Timer widget when the session begins (or use Start event if intro media is configured) |
| 8 | As objectives complete, click Complete on the row, set the Completion time (or use Now), record interactions, and toggle issues |
| 9 | To send something to the customer screen, click Send interaction on an objective row (or use the Send custom interaction widget on the sidebar for a one-off message) |
| 10 | When the session ends, click Complete event on the Timer widget or Complete event now in the wizard footer |
| 11 | Move to Notes to record end time and post-event details, then Photos, then Review, then Submit |
The Timer widget (DisplayControlPanel)
The Timer widget is the main session timer. It drives the timer on the customer-facing display and gives the host every control they need.
| Element | What it does |
|---|---|
| Timer face | Large monospace clock (00:00:30 format). Shows Elapsed or Remaining label depending on countdown mode |
| Start / Pause | Toggle button (pink accent). Starts or pauses the timer |
| Reset | Resets the timer to the configured starting value |
| Start event | Only renders when intro media is configured. Triggers the intro media on the customer screen, then starts the timer (timing depends on the Timer behavior setting on Communication screen settings) |
| Show / Hide on screen | Toggles whether the timer appears on the customer display |
| Override | Opens a manual time input to set the timer to a specific value |
| Adjust time | Six small buttons (-5, -3, -1, +1, +3, +5 minutes) for quick adjustments |
| Speed | Six speed buttons (0.5x, 0.8x, 1x default, 1.2x, 1.5x, 2x) for time-compression demos or quick replays |
| Complete event | Marks the event complete with a confirmation prompt. Stops the timer and propagates the complete state |
Many of the Timer widget's controls (Adjust time, Speed, Show/Hide, Override, Complete event) can be turned on or off independently in Event tracker settings.
Send an interaction from an objective
Each objective in the Objectives step has a quick-action row with Complete, Did not finish, and Send interaction buttons (advanced mode only). Click Send interaction to expand the PuzzleHintPanel inline.
The panel shows every interaction configured on that objective with its type badge, content preview, and Send button.
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Header | "Interaction options" with a "(N sent)" badge showing how many have been sent this session |
| Per-row type badge | TEXT (blue), IMAGE (pink), AUDIO (orange), VIDEO (teal) |
| Per-row preview | Text snippet (first 50 chars), filename for media, image thumbnail for images |
| Description | Smaller gray text below the preview, when configured |
| Loop button | Only on videos. Set the video to loop on the customer screen |
| Send button | Sends this interaction to the customer screen. Shows a checkmark for 1.5 seconds after click |
When no interactions are configured, the panel reads No interactions have been configured. Configure them in Objectives and interactions.
Send a custom interaction (one-off)
The DisplayControlPanel has a Send custom interaction widget for messages that aren't pre-configured.
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Title | "Send custom interaction" |
| Textarea | 3 rows, placeholder "Type a message to display..." |
| Send button | Primary. Disabled when the textarea is empty |
The custom message renders on the customer screen in the Content widget area of the layout.
Manage the hint counter
The Hint counter widget on the DisplayControlPanel is the session-level interaction count that's visible on the customer screen.
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Title | "Hints" |
| Badge | "N / M" (used / total). Total comes from the Maximum number of interactions in Communication screen settings |
| Icon row | Used hints render pink with a glow; remaining hints render gray |
− button | Decrements the count |
| Undo last | Reverts the most recent change |
| Reset | Resets the count to zero |
+ button | Increments the count |
The counter updates the customer-facing display immediately.
Play background music
The Background music widget plays or pauses the music configured on the communication screen.
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Title | "Background music" |
| Play / Pause button | Toggle. Pink accent when active |
Only renders when Play background music is on in Communication screen settings.
Watch the customer screen mirror
The customer screen mirror is an optional iframe rendered on the right column of the Objectives step. Turn it on with Display mirror view in Event tracker settings. It shows exactly what the customer-facing display is showing right now, so the host doesn't have to walk into the room to check.
Track connection status
The top widget on the DisplayControlPanel shows how many customer screens are currently connected.
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Connection dot | Green and pulsing when connected; gray when not |
| Count | "N screens" or "No screens" |
| Sync button | Refresh icon. Re-sends current state. Only when auto-sync is off |
| Copy URL button | Copies the customer-facing display URL to your clipboard |
If the count reads "No screens", open the customer-facing display URL in a browser on the room's TV / tablet / projector.
Use the live timer in the Objectives sticky header
The PuzzleStep's sticky header in advanced mode includes a compact mirror of the Timer widget:
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Event timer | Compact clock (e.g., "Event 00:00:30") that stays visible as you scroll |
| Play | Starts the timer |
| Pause | Pauses |
| Reset | Resets |
The compact controls match the DisplayControlPanel's larger Timer widget so the host can manage the timer without scrolling back to the sidebar.
Complete the event
There are two ways to end the session:
| Method | Where |
|---|---|
| Complete event button | On the Timer widget in the DisplayControlPanel (when enabled in tracker settings). Shows a confirmation prompt before propagating the completion |
| Complete event now button | In the wizard footer on the Objectives step (when Show complete button is on in tracker settings). Saves objectives state, navigates to the Notes step, auto-fills the end time, and pauses the timer |
Either way, the customer screen's completion media (if configured) plays immediately.
Save and submit
The wizard auto-saves drafts as you type. After the Review step, click Submit to save the session to Event history.
Reference
Mode gate
| Setting | Location |
|---|---|
| Enable in-room display | Event tracker settings. On = advanced; off = simple |
| Display mirror view | Tracker settings. On = render customer-screen mirror iframe on Objectives step |
Wizard steps (same as simple mode)
| Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Start | Pick draft or start new |
| Booking | Select booking slot |
| Group | Confirm players, team name, corporate flag, experience |
| Objectives | Per-objective data plus advanced-mode controls |
| Notes | End time, custom time, notes, completion outcome |
| Photos | Player photo with overlay |
| Review | Final summary; submit to save |
DisplayControlPanel widgets (Objectives step, left column)
| Widget | What it surfaces |
|---|---|
| Connection status | Connected screen count, Sync button, Copy URL button |
| Timer | Large clock, Start/Pause, Reset, Start event (with intro media), Show/Hide, Override, Adjust time, Speed, Complete event |
| Background music | Play/Pause toggle |
| Send custom interaction | Textarea + Send button |
| Hint counter | Used/total badge, icon row, +/− buttons, Undo last, Reset |
| On screen | Currently-displayed content with Clear link |
Widgets are conditional on the matching Communication screen settings being on for the event and the matching display_* toggle being on in Event tracker settings.
Objectives step (advanced mode)
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Sticky header — compact timer | Event timer with Play / Pause / Reset; mirrors the DisplayControlPanel Timer |
| Sticky header — Check data | Magnifying-glass link; validates required fields and scrolls to first missing |
| Sticky header — Expand all / Collapse all | Opens or closes every objective accordion |
| Per-row Complete button | Green check; toggles completion. Stamps the time |
| Per-row Did not finish button | Red X; toggles DNF |
| Per-row Send interaction button | Send icon (advanced only); opens the inline PuzzleHintPanel |
| Per-row "Sent" badge | Blue count of interactions sent on this objective this session |
| Per-row Interactions badge | Pink count badge when interaction count > 0 |
| Per-row Issues badge | Red badge when issue toggle is on |
| Per-row Expand/collapse chevron | Up/down arrow to open the body |
| Body — Completion time | Time picker with Now append. Disabled when DNF is on |
| Body — Did not finish | Inline toggle |
| Body — Interactions | Numeric counter + Description textarea |
| Body — Issues | Issue occurred toggle + Description textarea (when on) |
PuzzleHintPanel (per objective)
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Interaction options with "(N sent)" badge + down chevron |
| Per-row type badge | TEXT (blue), IMAGE (pink), AUDIO (orange), VIDEO (teal) |
| Per-row content preview | Text snippet or filename + optional image thumbnail (80×50) |
| Per-row description | Small gray text below the preview |
| Per-row Loop button | Only on videos; sets the video to loop on the customer screen |
| Per-row Send button | Primary; shows a check icon for 1.5s after click |
| Empty state | "No interactions have been configured." |
Timer widget controls
| Control | Conditional |
|---|---|
| Start / Pause | Always when timer is enabled |
| Reset | Always |
| Start event | Only when intro media is configured |
| Show / Hide on screen | Always |
| Override | Always |
| Adjust time | Configurable in tracker settings |
| Speed (0.5x / 0.8x / 1x / 1.2x / 1.5x / 2x) | Configurable in tracker settings |
| Complete event | Configurable in tracker settings |
Per-mode comparison
| Element | Simple mode | Advanced mode |
|---|---|---|
| Wizard steps | Start / Booking / Group / Objectives / Notes / Photos / Review | Same |
| Objectives data fields | Completion time, interactions, issues, DNF | Same |
| Live timer in sticky header | No | Yes |
| DisplayControlPanel sidebar | No | Yes |
| Customer screen mirror | No | Optional (Display mirror view) |
| Send interaction quick button | No | Yes |
| Per-objective Sent badge | No | Yes |
| WebSocket to customer screen | No | Yes |
| Reports / event history | Identical | Identical |
Good to know
- Advanced mode talks to the communication screen over WebSocket. Every Timer / Background music / Send interaction / Hint counter action propagates to the customer-facing display immediately. Latency is typically under a second.
- Send interaction is different from the Interactions counter. The counter on each objective row records how many times something was sent during the session. The Send interaction button is the act of sending one (which increments the counter). Reports surface both.
- Custom interaction is the freeform message channel. Use it for one-off content you didn't pre-configure as an interaction on the objective.
- The hint counter on the DisplayControlPanel and the Interactions counter on each objective are different things. The DisplayControlPanel counter is session-wide and renders on the customer screen as a row of icons. The Interactions counter on each objective is per-objective for internal reporting.
- Start event vs Start (timer). When you've configured intro media, Start event plays the intro and (depending on Timer behavior) starts the timer when the media ends or at the moment the media starts. Start on the timer just starts the timer without media.
- Override is the manual reset. Use it when the timer drifted from real time or when you need to set a specific value (e.g., starting a session mid-way).
- Speed controls compress or slow time for demos and training. 2x lets you walk through a session twice as fast; 0.5x lets you slow it down for instruction.
- The Connection status widget is your sanity check. If it reads "No screens," the customer-facing display isn't loaded — open it on the venue display and the count flips to 1+.
- The customer screen mirror saves trips into the game room. Turn on Display mirror view in tracker settings to render the iframe and watch what the customers see live, right next to the host's controls.
- Loop on video is a video-specific Send option. The video keeps looping until you Clear it from the On screen widget or send something else.
- The Complete event button on the Timer shows a confirmation prompt; the Complete event now button in the wizard footer does not. The behavior is otherwise the same.
- All advanced-mode features are non-blocking. If WebSocket drops mid-session, you can keep recording data; the customer screen catches up via Sync when reconnected.
FAQ
Q: My DisplayControlPanel doesn't appear. Why?
A: Enable in-room display is off in Event tracker settings. Toggle it on; the Objectives step re-renders in three columns the next time you open a session.
Q: The customer screen says "No screens" on the Connection widget. What's wrong?
A: The customer-facing display hasn't connected to the WebSocket. Open the communication screen URL on your venue TV or tablet — the count flips to 1 (or more) once it loads.
Q: I sent an interaction but nothing showed on the customer screen.
A: Check the Connection widget first. If it shows screens connected, click Sync to force a re-push of the current state. If still nothing, refresh the customer-facing display.
Q: How is the hint counter on the sidebar different from the Interactions counter on each objective?
A: The Hint counter on the DisplayControlPanel is session-wide and renders on the customer screen as a row of icons (used + remaining). The Interactions counter on each objective is per-objective for internal reporting only — it doesn't render on the customer screen.
Q: My Start event button is missing.
A: It only renders when Play media on event start is configured on the communication screen settings. Upload an intro video or audio file there and the button appears.
Q: Can I see the customer screen without walking into the room?
A: Yes. Turn on Display mirror view in Event tracker settings. The customer screen renders as an iframe on the right column of the Objectives step.
Q: What does Loop on video do exactly?
A: It sends the video to the customer screen with the loop flag. The video repeats indefinitely until you Clear it from the On screen widget or send a different interaction.
Q: How do I undo a hint I added by mistake?
A: Click Undo last on the Hint counter widget on the sidebar. It reverts the most recent change. Reset resets the counter to zero.
Q: My Complete event button is missing.
A: It's gated by the Enable complete event button option in Event tracker settings. Turn it on. The wizard-footer Complete event now button is separately gated by Show complete button.
Q: Do reports look different for advanced-mode sessions?
A: No. The underlying session record is the same for both modes. Reports treat them identically.
Q: I switched a draft from advanced to simple mode. Did I lose data?
A: Drafts retain the mode they were started in, so the layout doesn't change mid-draft. The data fields (completion time, interactions, issues) are common to both modes and carry over.
Q: My host is using the Speed control to fast-forward. Will the customer screen follow?
A: Yes. Timer speed propagates to the customer screen over WebSocket. Use 2x for demos; reset to 1x for live customers.