# PlotDirector Phase 18 - Scene Dashboard Refinement

## Overview

Phase 17 successfully replaced the legacy Scene Inspector with Scene Inspector V2.

The architecture is now considered stable and feature complete.

Phase 18 focuses on transforming Scene Inspector V2 from a functional editor into a polished **Scene Dashboard**.

The primary design goal is:

> Allow an author to understand the state of a scene in less than 30 seconds.

This phase is entirely concerned with presentation, information density, usability and discoverability.

No major new functionality should be introduced unless explicitly stated.

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# Core Design Principles

## 1. Summary First

The dashboard should answer:

- What happens in this scene?
- Who is present?
- What changed?
- What problems exist?
- What still needs work?

before presenting editing controls.

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## 2. Information Over Counts

Avoid displaying raw counts where meaningful information can be shown.

Prefer:

- names
- summaries
- previews
- warnings
- visual indicators

instead of:

- "6 characters"
- "3 notes"
- "2 changes"

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## 3. Reduce Clicks

The dashboard should minimise unnecessary navigation.

Users should rarely need to open an editor simply to understand scene state.

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## 4. Compact Density

Reduce excessive whitespace.

The dashboard should remain comfortable to read while showing substantially more useful information.

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# Dashboard Areas

## Overview Card

Purpose:

Provide immediate scene identity.

Recommended content:

- Scene title
- Revision status badge
- POV character
- Date/time
- Primary location
- Chapter/Scene position
- Scene type
- Synopsis preview

Remove redundant KPI-style counters.

The Overview card should become the primary source of scene identity.

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# Remove KPI Strip

The current KPI strip:

- Status
- POV
- Words
- Characters
- Assets
- Locations
- Warnings

adds little value.

Consider removing it entirely.

Any genuinely important information should be integrated into the relevant dashboard card.

Examples:

Status -> Overview

POV -> Overview

Warnings -> Continuity

Characters -> People

Locations -> World

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# Story Card

Purpose:

Communicate story structure.

Retain:

- Purpose
- Outcome
- Plot thread summary
- Dependency summary

Enhancements:

## Metrics Visualisation

Replace numeric-only metrics with visual indicators.

Examples:

- horizontal progress bars
- compact vertical bars
- mini chart visualisations

Metrics should be understandable at a glance.

Numeric values may still be shown.

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# People Card

Purpose:

Show who appears and what changed.

Enhancements:

## Character Presentation

Use avatars wherever available.

Display:

Avatar + Name + Role

Highlight POV character.

Examples:

- POV badge
- accent border
- icon

## Expandable Change Sections

Replace count-only boxes with collapsible summary sections.

Examples:

### Knowledge Changes

Collapsed when empty.

Expanded content:

- character
- knowledge item
- resulting state

### Relationship Changes

Show:

Character A ↔ Character B

Change summary.

### Attribute Changes

Show:

Character

Old value -> New value

Only display sections containing information.

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# World Card

Purpose:

Show where the scene occurs and which objects matter.

Enhancements:

Display:

- primary location
- additional locations
- important assets

Use compact summaries rather than counts.

Avoid:

"Asset Events: 0"

Prefer:

"No important assets in this scene."

or

display actual asset names.

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# Writer Card

Purpose:

Support active drafting.

## Notes

Show recent note titles.

Display first one or two notes directly.

Example:

- Research Gareth timeline
- Expand Beth reaction

## Checklist

Display incomplete items.

Hide completed items by default.

Example:

□ Add sensory detail

□ Expand dialogue

## Attachments

Display attachment dropdown or list.

Allow direct opening.

Example:

Attachments ▼

- police-report.pdf
- family-tree.png
- newspaper-clipping.url

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# Continuity Card

Purpose:

Become the dashboard health centre.

Healthy state:

✓ Scene continuity verified

No continuity concerns detected.

Display:

Last validated timestamp.

Problem state:

⚠ 2 continuity concerns

List top warnings.

Example:

- Beth knowledge regression
- Rosie location conflict

Provide:

Review warnings action.

Avoid:

Warnings: 2

Dependencies: 0

without explanation.

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# Edit Actions

Current:

Multiple "Manage..." buttons create noise.

Goal:

One primary action per card.

Examples:

Edit Story ▼

Edit People ▼

Edit World ▼

Edit Writer ▼

Review Continuity ▼

Use split-button or dropdown actions.

Default action should open the most common editor.

Dropdown exposes secondary editors.

Example:

Edit People ▼

- Characters
- Knowledge
- Relationships
- Attributes
- Suggestions

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# Layout

## Scene Edit Width

The Scene Edit page should use the full available width similar to Timeline.

Use:

container-fluid

or equivalent full-width layout.

The split editor layout requires additional horizontal space.

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# Density Improvements

Review:

- card padding
- heading spacing
- button spacing
- empty whitespace

Target:

20-25% reduction in vertical height without harming readability.

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# Accessibility

Ensure:

- keyboard navigation remains functional
- dropdown actions accessible
- avatars include alt text
- progress indicators expose values
- colour is not sole indicator

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# Success Criteria

Authors should be able to answer:

- What is this scene about?
- Who is involved?
- What changed?
- What still needs work?
- Are there continuity problems?

within thirty seconds of opening the dashboard.

The Scene Dashboard should feel:

- informative
- calm
- visual
- approachable
- writer-focused

rather than database-oriented.
