CueCaller — Manual

1. Overview

CueCaller is a professional live show calling application for Windows. It is designed for the person running a show — the show caller, floor manager, or technical director — who needs to manage a running order, keep events on time, and keep all screens and crew in sync from one focused interface.

CueCaller is built around three core ideas:

Rundown — your full show order, one row per event, with names, types, presenters, durations, and notes.
Timer — a per-event countdown that starts the moment you press GO, visible on any screen or browser anywhere in the world.
Viewers — internet-based viewer URLs (no LAN required) for Live View and Timer, shareable with your crew and audience on any device.

The application is organized into three tabs:

Tab	Purpose
Rundown	The full event list with all controls for building, editing, and running the show.
Viewers	Internet viewer URLs, copy buttons, and HDMI output window controls.
Messages	Broadcast text messages to connected viewers — useful for crew cues and alerts.

2. Installation & Activation

System Requirements

OS: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
RAM: 4 GB minimum
Disk: 300 MB free space
Display: 1280 × 720 minimum
Internet: Required for internet viewer distribution and license activation

Installing

Download CueCaller-Setup.exe from the CueCaller product page or your CueCongress dashboard.
Run the installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning — click More info → Run anyway to proceed.
Follow the installer prompts. CueCaller installs to Program Files\CueCongress\CueCaller by default.
Launch CueCaller from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

License Activation

On first launch, the license activation window appears. Enter your license key and click Activate.
CueCaller connects to the CueCongress license server to verify your key. An internet connection is required for the first activation.
Once activated, the app works normally. Your license is tied to this device.

Deactivating (Moving to Another Device)

Click the CueCongress logo in the top-right corner to open the About dialog, then click Deactivate this device. This frees the license slot so you can activate on a different machine.

3. Interface Overview

Header Bar

Element	Function
CueCaller logo (left)	App icon — decorative.
Show Name	Editable text field — type your show name. Displayed in viewer URLs and saved with the show file.
ON AIR indicator	Pulses red when an event is actively running. Dark when the show is stopped.
Clock	Live wall clock — shows the current time of day at all times.
Save	Save the current show to a `.cueshow` file.
Load	Open a previously saved `.cueshow` file.
⋮ Menu	Dropdown with Viewer URLs and Reset Show options.
CueCongress logo (right)	Click to open the About dialog — version, license key, update check, and deactivation.

Show Strip

The show strip runs across the full width below the header and is always visible. It is the primary control area during a live show.

Element	Description
NOW	Name of the currently active event.
Timer Display	Large countdown timer for the current event. Shows elapsed time (amber) if no duration is set.
RUNNING	Running delta — how far ahead or behind schedule the show is across all completed events.
NEXT	Name and scheduled time of the next upcoming event.
Progress bar	Visual progress of the current event timer.
◀ BACK	Reset current event and restart the previous one with a fresh timer.
▶ GO / NEXT	Start the next event. Also triggered by Space.
■ STOP	Pause the running timer.
−1m / −30s / +30s / +1m	Adjust the timer while it is running or paused.
↺ Reset	Stop the timer and return it to the event's set duration.

Tab Bar

Click Rundown, Viewers, or Messages to switch between the three content panels. The Viewers tab shows a count badge when viewer URLs are loaded. The Messages tab shows a dot when there is an active broadcast message.

4. Rundown Tab

The Rundown tab is where you build and manage your show order. Each row is one event. Rows are displayed in running order — the topmost upcoming event is next to be called.

Rundown Toolbar

Button	Action
Light Mode / Dark Mode	Toggle the rundown table between a light background (for bright rooms) and the default dark theme.
Lock	Lock the rundown to prevent accidental edits or row reordering during a live show.
Import CSV	Load a show rundown from a CSV file.
Import Excel	Load a show rundown from an Excel (.xlsx / .xls) file.
Export CSV	Save the current rundown as a CSV file.
Export Excel	Save the current rundown as a formatted Excel file.
Export PDF	Print or save the rundown as a PDF.
Export as Teleprompter…	Open the Teleprompter Export dialog — choose fields and save a .txt file for any teleprompter software.
+ Add Event	Add a new blank event row at the bottom of the rundown.

Event Row Columns

Column	Description
#	Row order number — auto-assigned.
Type	Event type (Speech, Panel, VT, Break, etc.). Shown as a colour-coded badge.
Event Name	The name of the event — shown in the NOW and NEXT labels during the show.
Presenter	The name of the person presenting or performing.
Duration	Planned duration in MM:SS format. Used to set the countdown timer when GO is pressed.
Status	Current state: upcoming, active (running), done, or skipped.

Reordering Events

Drag any row by its handle (⠿ icon on the left side) to reorder it. Reordering is disabled when the rundown is locked.

Quick Message Panel

Below the event list there is a Quick Message bar. Type a message and click Send to broadcast it to all connected viewer channels simultaneously. This is the fastest way to push a message without switching to the Messages tab.

5. Adding & Editing Events

Adding an Event

Click + Add Event in the rundown toolbar. A new blank row is added at the bottom.
Click the row to open the Event editor modal.
Fill in the event details and click Save.

Editing an Event

Click any event row to open the editor modal. Make changes and click Save. Changes apply immediately — even if the event is currently active.

Event Fields

Field	Description
Event Name	The name shown in the NOW label, viewer screens, and rundown table.
Type	Category of the event — choose from the dropdown (Speech, Panel, VT, Break, Performance, Interview, Opening, Closing, Awards, Q&A, Rehearsal) or type a custom type.
Presenter	The name of the speaker or performer. Shown on viewer screens.
Duration	Planned running time. Enter minutes only (e.g. `10`) or MM:SS (e.g. `7:30`). Leave blank for events with no fixed time — the timer will count up instead of down.
Notes	Internal notes for the show caller — not shown on viewer screens.

Deleting an Event

Open the event editor modal and click Delete (bottom-left of the modal). Deletion is immediate — there is no undo, so confirm before deleting during a live show.

Tip: Use the Lock button in the rundown toolbar before going live to prevent accidental edits or row moves.

6. Show Controls — GO, BACK, STOP

▶ GO / NEXT

The GO button is the primary show control. Each press advances the show by one step:

The first press starts the first upcoming event — sets it as active, starts its timer from zero (or from its set duration if counting down).
Subsequent presses mark the current event as done and activate the next upcoming event with a fresh timer.
At the end of the show (no more upcoming events), the show stops cleanly.

Keyboard shortcut: Space

Important: GO advances the show immediately with no confirmation. Use BACK if you press GO by mistake.

◀ BACK

BACK reverses the last GO action. It is designed for live use — no confirmation dialog, instant action.

The current active event is reset to upcoming — its timer is cleared.
The previous event is restarted as active with a completely fresh timer from zero.
If you are on the first event (no previous), BACK resets the show to its pre-started state — no active event, timer stopped.

Tip: BACK always gives the previous event a clean start — timer from 0, no carry-over from before. It is safe to press in the middle of a live show.

■ STOP

STOP pauses the running timer. The current event remains active. Press GO again to resume the timer, or use the timer adjust buttons to correct the time before resuming.

↺ Reset

Reset stops the timer and returns it to the event's set duration (or 0:00 if no duration). The event stays active. Use this to restart a timer from the top without advancing the show.

Timer Adjustments

Button	Action
−1m	Subtract 60 seconds from the remaining time.
−30s	Subtract 30 seconds from the remaining time.
+30s	Add 30 seconds to the remaining time.
+1m	Add 60 seconds to the remaining time.

Adjustments work whether the timer is running or paused, and update all connected viewers instantly.

7. Timer

Timer Modes

Mode	When	Display
Countdown	Event has a set duration	Counts down from the set duration to 0:00, then continues into overtime (negative time in red).
Count-up (elapsed)	Event has no duration set	Counts up from 0:00 in amber — shows how long the event has been running.
Stopped	No active event or timer paused	Shows --:-- or the last stopped value.

Timer Colors

Color	State
Green	Countdown — more than 2 minutes remaining.
Orange	Countdown — between 1 and 2 minutes remaining.
Red	Countdown — under 1 minute remaining, or overtime (past zero). Pulses when running.
Amber	Count-up — event has no set duration, showing elapsed time.

Progress Bar

The thin bar below the show strip fills from left to right as the event timer runs. At 100% the event duration is consumed. The bar continues to fill past 100% in red during overtime.

Viewer Sync

The timer pushes its state to all connected internet viewers every second while running. Viewers use the server-provided timestamp to display an accurate countdown with no drift — regardless of where in the world they are.

8. Viewers Tab

The Viewers tab is the central place for all viewer channel URLs and HDMI output controls.

Viewer Channels

Channel	Description
Live View	Full combined view — shows the current event name, presenter, timer, NEXT event, and any active broadcast messages.
Timer	Timer-only view — large countdown or elapsed display. Designed for confidence monitors and HDMI outputs.
Schedule	Full show schedule view — shows the complete rundown with statuses. Useful for green room or backstage screens.

Copying URLs

Click the Copy button next to any URL to copy it to the clipboard. Share it with your crew, paste it into a browser, or display it on any internet-connected device anywhere in the world.

Tip: The viewer URLs include your unique room code. Keep them private — anyone with the URL can view the live output.

9. Internet Viewers

CueCaller distributes live show state over the internet through the CueCongress server. This means your viewer URLs work from any browser, on any device, anywhere — no LAN, no VPN, no port forwarding required.

How It Works

CueCaller pushes the current show state (active event, timer, messages) to the CueCongress server every second while running.
Connected viewers poll the server every 500ms and update their display automatically.
The timer uses a server-provided timestamp to stay accurate even across different time zones and network delays.

What Viewers See

Viewer	Content
Live View	Current event name and presenter, countdown timer, next event, running delta, and broadcast messages.
Timer	Large countdown or count-up display. Color-coded by remaining time. Event name and presenter shown below the timer.
Schedule	Full show rundown with event names, types, durations, and current statuses (upcoming, active, done).

Using Viewers During a Show

Share the Live View URL with your backstage crew, floor managers, and production team.
Share the Timer URL with speakers as a confidence monitor — open it in any browser on a tablet at the lectern.
Share the Schedule URL with your green room or holding area so talent knows what is coming next.

Note: Internet viewer distribution requires an active internet connection on the operator's machine running CueCaller. If the internet connection drops, viewers will show the last received state until the connection is restored.

10. HDMI Output

CueCaller can open a dedicated fullscreen timer window on any connected display — useful for a confidence monitor, stage clock, or countdown screen visible to the audience or speaker.

Opening the Timer Output

Connect your second monitor or TV via HDMI, DisplayPort, or any other video output.
Switch to the Viewers tab in CueCaller.
In the HDMI OUTPUT section, select your target display from the dropdown. The dropdown lists all displays Windows has detected.
Click Open Timer Output. A fullscreen timer window opens on the selected display.

Timer Output Options

Option	Description
Show presenter name	When checked, the current presenter's name is displayed below the timer digits on the output window.

Closing the Timer Output

Click Open Timer Output again (the button toggles) to close the output window. The window can also be closed directly by pressing Escape or the window's close button.

Tip: The HDMI output window updates in sync with the live timer — no delay, no polling. Use it as your primary stage clock when you don't have a dedicated timer hardware unit.

11. Messages Tab

The Messages tab lets you broadcast text messages to connected viewers. Use it for last-minute instructions, warnings, cues, or any information you need to push to your crew or audience instantly.

Sending a Message

Switch to the Messages tab.
In the SEND TO row, select which viewer channels should receive the message — Timer, Rundown, Crew, or Backstage. Buttons toggle on/off. All are selected by default.
Type your message in the MESSAGE field (max 120 characters).
Click Send. The message appears on all selected viewer channels immediately.

Clearing Messages

Active messages are listed in the ACTIVE MESSAGES section. Click the ✕ next to any message to clear it from all viewers.

Quick Message

The Quick Message bar at the bottom of the Rundown tab sends to all channels simultaneously without switching tabs. Faster for show day when you need to broadcast instantly.

Tip: Use messages to alert speakers — "1 minute warning", "Please wrap up", "Technical issue — please stand by" — without physically going to the stage.

12. Save & Load Shows

CueCaller saves your entire show — rundown, event details, show name, and settings — as a .cueshow file. Double-clicking a .cueshow file on your desktop opens CueCaller and loads it automatically.

Saving a Show

Click Save in the header.
Choose a folder and filename. The file is saved with a .cueshow extension.
Click Save.

Loading a Show

Click Load in the header.
Browse to your .cueshow file and open it.
The full rundown, show name, and settings are restored immediately.

Tip: Save a separate .cueshow file for each recurring show. On show day, double-click the file to open CueCaller with the full rundown already loaded — no setup time.

Note: Loading a show replaces the current rundown. If you have unsaved changes, save first before loading a different show file.

13. Import & Export

CueCaller can import your show rundown from a spreadsheet and export it back for printing, sharing, or archiving.

Importing from CSV or Excel

Prepare your spreadsheet with one row per event. Include a header row for best results.
Click Import CSV or Import Excel in the Rundown toolbar.
Browse to your file and open it. CueCaller reads the data and populates the rundown.

Supported Column Headers

CueCaller detects column names automatically. Use any of these names in your header row:

Column	Accepted header names
Event Name	Name, Event, Title, Event Name
Type	Type, Category
Presenter	Presenter, Speaker, Host, Performer
Duration	Duration, Time, Length
Notes	Notes, Note, Comments, Remarks

If no headers are detected, CueCaller maps columns by position: Column 1 = Name, 2 = Type, 3 = Presenter, 4 = Duration, 5 = Notes.

Tip: Build your rundown in Excel with headers "Name", "Type", "Presenter", "Duration", "Notes" and import it in one click — your entire show is ready without manual data entry.

Exporting

Format	Use case
Export CSV	Universal format — open in any spreadsheet application or import into other systems.
Export Excel	Formatted .xlsx file with column widths and headers — ready for printing or sharing with the client.
Export PDF	Print-ready rundown — ideal for physical show sheets distributed to crew and talent.
Export as Teleprompter…	Plain text file — load into any teleprompter software so the presenter can read the rundown on stage. See Section 14.

Note: Import replaces the current rundown entirely. If you want to keep your existing rundown, export it first before importing a new file.

14. Teleprompter Export

The Teleprompter Export creates a clean plain-text file of your rundown that can be loaded into any teleprompter software — so the presenter on stage can read the show order, cues, and notes as they scroll.

Exporting for Teleprompter

In the Rundown toolbar, click Export ▾ then select as Teleprompter…
The Teleprompter Export dialog opens. Tick the fields you want to include in the output.
Click Export TXT. Choose where to save the file.
Load the saved .txt file into your teleprompter software (Autocue, ProPrompter, PromptSmart, or any other).

Field Options

Field	Default	Description
Event Name	On	The name of each event — shown as the main heading for each row.
Presenter	On	The presenter or speaker name.
Planned Time	On	The scheduled start time of the event.
Duration	On	The planned duration in MM:SS format.
Notes / Script	On	The notes field — use this to write the presenter's talking points or full script.
Type	Off	The event type (Speech, Panel, VT, etc.).
Sound Cue	Off	Sound cue information — crew-facing, typically not needed on a prompter.
Video Cue	Off	Video cue information — crew-facing, typically not needed on a prompter.

Tip: Your field selections are saved automatically. Next time you export for teleprompter, the same checkboxes will be pre-selected.

Tip: Use the Notes field on each event to write the presenter's script or talking points. When exported with Notes included, the teleprompter file contains the full speech text under each event heading.

15. About & License

Click the CueCongress logo in the top-right corner of the header to open the About dialog.

About Dialog Contents

Item	Description
Version	Current installed version of CueCaller.
Check for Updates	Connects to the CueCongress server and checks whether a newer version is available. A notification appears if an update is found, with a link to download it.
License Key	Your activated license key is shown here for reference.
Deactivate this device	Releases the license from this machine so it can be activated on another device. Requires an internet connection.

Checking for Updates

Open the About dialog.
Click Check for Updates.
If a new version is available, a message appears with a download link. Click it to go to the download page.
Download and run the new installer. It upgrades CueCaller in place — your show files and settings are preserved.

16. Troubleshooting

Timer shows "--:--" on viewer screens

Ensure the operator's machine running CueCaller has an active internet connection.
Check that the show is running — press GO to start an event. The timer only updates viewers while an event is active.
Reload the viewer page in the browser and wait a few seconds for the next state push.

Viewer URL shows an old state after GO / BACK

CueCaller pushes state every second. Allow up to 1–2 seconds for viewers to update.
If the viewer is stuck, reload the page in the browser.
Confirm the operator machine has a stable internet connection — if it dropped, state pushes were paused.

HDMI output window does not appear on the second screen

Ensure the second monitor is connected and recognized by Windows before opening the output window.
Go to Windows Settings → System → Display and confirm the monitor is set to Extend these displays (not Duplicate or Second screen only).
In the Viewers tab, refresh the display dropdown and re-select the target monitor, then click Open Timer Output again.

Import does not map columns correctly

Check that the first row of your spreadsheet contains headers. See Section 13 for accepted header names.
Header matching is case-insensitive — "name", "Name", and "NAME" all work.
If your headers use different names, either rename them to match the accepted names or use positional order (Name, Type, Presenter, Duration, Notes from left to right).

Space bar is not triggering GO

The Space shortcut fires only when no text field is focused. Click anywhere on the show strip or rundown background first, then press Space.
If a text input (show name field, message field, or event editor) is active, Space types a character instead.

BACK button is not available

BACK is always visible but only has an effect when there is an active event. If the show has not started yet (no active event), BACK does nothing.

License activation fails

Ensure an active internet connection is available during first activation.
Enter the license key exactly as received — with dashes, no extra spaces.
If your license is already active on another device, deactivate it there first via the About dialog, then activate on the new device.
Contact support@cuecongress.com if activation continues to fail.

App not starting / installer warning

Windows SmartScreen may warn about software from a new publisher. Click More info → Run anyway.
Try running the installer as Administrator if installation fails.
Ensure Windows 10 or later (64-bit) is installed.

CueCaller Manual

Contents

1. Overview

2. Installation & Activation

System Requirements

Installing

License Activation

Deactivating (Moving to Another Device)

3. Interface Overview

Header Bar

Show Strip

Tab Bar

4. Rundown Tab

Rundown Toolbar

Event Row Columns

Reordering Events

Quick Message Panel

5. Adding & Editing Events

Adding an Event

Editing an Event

Event Fields

Deleting an Event

6. Show Controls — GO, BACK, STOP

▶ GO / NEXT

◀ BACK

■ STOP

↺ Reset

Timer Adjustments

7. Timer

Timer Modes

Timer Colors

Progress Bar

Viewer Sync

8. Viewers Tab

Viewer Channels

Copying URLs

9. Internet Viewers

How It Works

What Viewers See

Using Viewers During a Show

10. HDMI Output

Opening the Timer Output

Timer Output Options

Closing the Timer Output

11. Messages Tab

Sending a Message

Clearing Messages

Quick Message

12. Save & Load Shows

Saving a Show

Loading a Show

13. Import & Export

Importing from CSV or Excel

Supported Column Headers

Exporting

14. Teleprompter Export

Exporting for Teleprompter

Field Options

15. About & License

About Dialog Contents

Checking for Updates

16. Troubleshooting

Timer shows "--:--" on viewer screens

Viewer URL shows an old state after GO / BACK

HDMI output window does not appear on the second screen

Import does not map columns correctly

Space bar is not triggering GO

BACK button is not available

License activation fails

App not starting / installer warning