Skip to main content

Preset Time Column

How to add and use the Preset Time column to display countdown and count up times across your rundown rows.

The Preset Time column lets you display a running countdown (or count up) clock across your rundown rows. You set anchor times on one or more rows, and every other row automatically calculates its value from the row durations in between, no manual entry needed. There are two kinds of anchor: a downward anchor (just type a time) and an up-and-down anchor (use Set anchor). Small arrows next to each value show which direction it is counting.

This is especially useful for sports productions, game shows, or any event where teams need to know exactly how much time is left at any given point in the show.

Who can use it?

Only Admins and Show Callers can add, edit, or delete the Preset Time column, set values, and set or clear anchors. All crew members can see the column once it has been added, and can reorder or hide it from their personal view.

Adding the Preset Time Column

  1. Click the + button in the rundown toolbar to open the Add Column dialog.

  2. Open the Column Type dropdown and select Preset Time.

  3. The title will auto-fill as Preset Time. Rename it if needed.

  4. Click Add Column.

Note: Only one Preset Time column can exist per rundown. If you don't see the option, check whether the column is hidden, or if it is archived you can restore it.

Setting a downward anchor (type a time)

The quickest way to anchor a row is to simply type a time into its cell. This creates a downward anchor: the rows below count down from it, and rows above are not affected.

  1. Click on a Preset Time cell in the rundown. (Empty cells show a faint 0 on hover to indicate they are editable.)

  2. A popover opens with a minutes and seconds input. Minutes supports values up to 999.

  3. Enter your desired time (e.g. 90 min 00 sec for a 90-minute mark).

  4. Press Enter or click outside the popover to save.

The anchor row displays in green to distinguish it from auto-calculated rows. The rows below it count down from your time, based on their durations.

Setting an up-and-down anchor (Set anchor)

If you also want the rows above the anchor to count up toward it, use the Set anchor action. This turns a downward anchor into an up-and-down anchor that rows calculate toward from both directions.

  1. Click the Preset Time cell to open the popover.

  2. Click Set anchor.

Once a row is an up-and-down anchor:

  • Rows below the anchor count down from it.

  • Rows above the anchor count up toward it.

  • You can set multiple anchors. Each row re-times to the nearest anchor, so each anchor effectively starts its own segment.

To turn the upward timing off, open the popover and click Clear anchor. The row keeps its time and goes back to being a downward anchor (rows below only).

Reading the direction arrows

Each calculated cell shows a small arrow to the left of its value so you can see at a glance how it was derived:

  • Down arrow: the row is counting down from an anchor above it.

  • Up arrow: the row is counting up toward an up-and-down anchor below it.

  • No arrow (green): the row is an anchor you set yourself (downward or up-and-down).

By default, values are displayed as MM:SS (total minutes : seconds), so a 90-minute 30-second value shows as 90:30. You can switch the format (see Changing the time format below). Values that go negative (over time) display in red.

Changing the time format

You can choose how Preset Time values are displayed. The format applies to the whole column.

  1. Click the column header menu (the chevron at the top of the Preset Time column).

  2. Choose Column settings.

  3. Under Time Format, pick one of the options. Each button previews the style.

  4. Click Save.

The options are:

  • Clock: minutes and seconds, like 62:03. This is the default.

  • Six Digit: hours, minutes, and seconds, like 01:02:03.

  • Preset: a compact style, like 62m3s.

Clearing an anchor

To return a row to a purely auto-calculated value:

  • For a downward anchor (one where you typed a time), open the popover and click Reset (the ↺ icon). The cell clears and goes back to auto timing.

  • For an up-and-down anchor, open the popover and click Clear anchor to drop the upward timing. The row stays a downward anchor; click Reset as well to clear it entirely.

Once cleared, the row shows a value derived from the surrounding anchors, or stays blank if there is nothing to calculate from.

Showing or Hiding Values Per Row

You can toggle whether a row's Preset Time value is visible without removing any data:

  1. Click the Preset Time cell for that row.

  2. Click Hide or Show in the popover.

Hidden values are invisible to all crew members and are excluded from the PDF export and Guest Pass view. The underlying calculated value is preserved, so toggling Show brings it back.

Preset Time in PDF Export and Guest Pass

The Preset Time column is included in PDF exports and Guest Pass links. Values respect the per-row show/hide setting, so hidden rows display blank in both views.

Notes

  • Preset Time values update automatically whenever row durations change, no need to re-enter times manually.

  • Typing a time creates a downward anchor (rows below count down). Use Set anchor if you also want rows above it to count up toward it.

  • Only one Preset Time column can exist per rundown.

  • Rows with no duration set are treated as 0 seconds for calculation purposes.

Did this answer your question?