Make onboarding scan review a linear wizard

PlotLine/Controllers/OnboardingController.cs

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public sealed class OnboardingController(IOnboardingService onboarding, IOnboard
     }
 
     [HttpGet("scan-characters")]
-    public async Task<IActionResult> ScanCharacters(Guid? previewId)
+    public async Task<IActionResult> ScanCharacters(Guid? previewId, int page = 1)
     {
         var model = await onboarding.GetScanReviewAsync(previewId)
             ?? (previewId.HasValue ? await onboarding.GetScanReviewAsync() : null);
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ public sealed class OnboardingController(IOnboardingService onboarding, IOnboard
         }
 
         ViewData["ScanReviewStep"] = "characters";
+        ViewData["CharacterReviewPage"] = Math.Max(1, page);
         return View("ScanReview", model);
     }
 
@@ -513,10 +514,13 @@ public sealed class OnboardingController(IOnboardingService onboarding, IOnboard
     [RequestSizeLimit(25 * 1024 * 1024)]
     [RequestFormLimits(ValueCountLimit = 20000, KeyLengthLimit = 4096, ValueLengthLimit = 1024 * 1024)]
     [ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
-    public async Task<IActionResult> SaveScanReview(ManuscriptScanReviewForm form, string intent = "save")
+    public async Task<IActionResult> SaveScanReview(ManuscriptScanReviewForm form, string intent = "save", int characterPage = 1)
     {
         var continueToCharacters = string.Equals(intent, "characters", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var continueCharacterReview = string.Equals(intent, "character-next", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var backCharacterReview = string.Equals(intent, "character-back", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         var readyToImport = string.Equals(intent, "continue", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var nextCharacterPage = Math.Max(1, characterPage + (backCharacterReview ? -1 : 1));
         try
         {
             var model = await onboarding.SaveScanReviewAsync(form, readyToImport);
@@ -528,9 +532,11 @@ public sealed class OnboardingController(IOnboardingService onboarding, IOnboard
             TempData["OnboardingReviewMessage"] = readyToImport
                 ? "Review saved. Next: prepare chapters and analyse manuscript."
                 : continueToCharacters ? "Chapter and scene review saved. Next: review detected characters."
+                : continueCharacterReview || backCharacterReview ? "Character review choices saved."
                 : "Review choices saved.";
             return readyToImport
                 ? RedirectToAction(nameof(StoryIntelligence))
+                : continueCharacterReview || backCharacterReview ? RedirectToAction(nameof(ScanCharacters), new { previewId = form.PreviewID, page = nextCharacterPage })
                 : continueToCharacters ? RedirectToAction(nameof(ScanCharacters), new { previewId = form.PreviewID })
                 : RedirectToAction(nameof(ScanReview), new { previewId = form.PreviewID });
         }
@@ -543,9 +549,10 @@ public sealed class OnboardingController(IOnboardingService onboarding, IOnboard
                 return NotFound();
             }
 
-            if (readyToImport)
+            if (readyToImport || continueCharacterReview || backCharacterReview)
             {
                 ViewData["ScanReviewStep"] = "characters";
+                ViewData["CharacterReviewPage"] = Math.Max(1, characterPage);
             }
 
             return View("ScanReview", model);

PlotLine/Services/OnboardingService.cs

@@ -188,13 +188,30 @@ public sealed class OnboardingService(
         var review = new ManuscriptScanReviewDecision
         {
             PreviewID = preview.PreviewID,
-            Status = readyToImport ? ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReadyToImport : ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReviewInProgress,
+            Status = ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReviewInProgress,
             Chapters = chapterDecisions,
             Scenes = sceneDecisions,
             Characters = characterDecisions
         };
 
+        if (readyToImport)
+        {
+            await scanPreviews.SaveReviewAsync(userId, review);
             ValidateScanReview(review, preview);
+            review = new ManuscriptScanReviewDecision
+            {
+                PreviewID = review.PreviewID,
+                Status = ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReadyToImport,
+                Chapters = review.Chapters,
+                Scenes = review.Scenes,
+                Characters = review.Characters
+            };
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            ValidateScanStructure(review, preview);
+        }
+
         var saved = await scanPreviews.SaveReviewAsync(userId, review);
         return saved is null ? null : BuildScanReviewViewModel((userId, preview, saved, project, book, existingCharacters));
     }
@@ -439,6 +456,42 @@ public sealed class OnboardingService(
     }
 
     private static void ValidateScanReview(ManuscriptScanReviewDecision review, ManuscriptScanPreview preview)
+    {
+        ValidateScanStructure(review, preview);
+
+        var duplicateName = review.Characters
+            .Where(IsIncludedCanonicalCharacter)
+            .Select(character => Clean(character.Name))
+            .Where(name => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name))
+            .GroupBy(name => name, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            .FirstOrDefault(group => group.Count() > 1);
+        if (duplicateName is not null)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"The character name \"{duplicateName.Key}\" appears more than once. Exclude or rename one before continuing.");
+        }
+
+        if (review.Characters.Any(character => character.Include && string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(character.Name)))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Every included character needs a display name.");
+        }
+
+        var characterLookup = review.Characters.ToDictionary(character => character.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparer.Ordinal);
+        foreach (var character in review.Characters.Where(character => character.Include && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey)))
+        {
+            if (string.Equals(character.TemporaryCharacterKey, character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("A character candidate cannot be an alias of itself.");
+            }
+
+            if (!characterLookup.TryGetValue(character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey!, out var target)
+                || !IsIncludedCanonicalCharacter(target))
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Choose an included primary character for the alias \"{character.Name}\".");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void ValidateScanStructure(ManuscriptScanReviewDecision review, ManuscriptScanPreview preview)
     {
         var previewChapters = preview.Chapters.ToDictionary(chapter => chapter.TemporaryChapterKey, StringComparer.Ordinal);
         var previewScenes = preview.Scenes.ToDictionary(scene => scene.TemporarySceneKey, StringComparer.Ordinal);
@@ -488,37 +541,6 @@ public sealed class OnboardingService(
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("One of the selected chapters no longer exists in the scan preview.");
             }
         }
-
-        var duplicateName = review.Characters
-            .Where(IsIncludedCanonicalCharacter)
-            .Select(character => Clean(character.Name))
-            .Where(name => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name))
-            .GroupBy(name => name, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
-            .FirstOrDefault(group => group.Count() > 1);
-        if (duplicateName is not null)
-        {
-            throw new InvalidOperationException($"The character name \"{duplicateName.Key}\" appears more than once. Exclude or rename one before continuing.");
-        }
-
-        if (review.Characters.Any(character => character.Include && string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(character.Name)))
-        {
-            throw new InvalidOperationException("Every included character needs a display name.");
-        }
-
-        var characterLookup = review.Characters.ToDictionary(character => character.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparer.Ordinal);
-        foreach (var character in review.Characters.Where(character => character.Include && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey)))
-        {
-            if (string.Equals(character.TemporaryCharacterKey, character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal))
-            {
-                throw new InvalidOperationException("A character candidate cannot be an alias of itself.");
-            }
-
-            if (!characterLookup.TryGetValue(character.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey!, out var target)
-                || !IsIncludedCanonicalCharacter(target))
-            {
-                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Choose an included primary character for the alias \"{character.Name}\".");
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     private async Task AddScanCharacterAliasesAsync(ManuscriptScanReviewDecision review, OnboardingManuscriptBuildResult result)

PlotLine/Services/OnboardingStoryIntelligenceService.cs

@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ public sealed class OnboardingStoryIntelligenceService(
         var included = IncludedChapters(preview, review);
         var existingBatch = await batchStore.GetLatestForPreviewAsync(userId, preview.PreviewID);
         var missingTextCount = included.Count(chapter => string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(chapter.Preview.ChapterText));
+        var primaryCharacterCount = preview.CharacterCandidates.Count(candidate => !string.Equals(candidate.Category, "Excluded", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+        var excludedCharacterCount = preview.CharacterCandidates.Count(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "Excluded", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+        var characterPageCount = Math.Max(1, (int)Math.Ceiling(primaryCharacterCount / 10d))
+            + (excludedCharacterCount > 0 ? (int)Math.Ceiling(excludedCharacterCount / 10d) : 0);
+        var totalWizardSteps = 7 + characterPageCount + 2;
         return new StoryIntelligenceOverviewViewModel
         {
             PreviewID = preview.PreviewID,
@@ -76,6 +81,8 @@ public sealed class OnboardingStoryIntelligenceService(
             ApprovedChapterCount = included.Count,
             ApprovedWordCount = included.Sum(chapter => chapter.Preview.WordCount),
             MissingChapterTextCount = missingTextCount,
+            WizardCurrentStep = totalWizardSteps - 1,
+            WizardTotalSteps = totalWizardSteps,
             ExistingBatchID = existingBatch?.BatchID,
             CanStart = included.Count > 0 && missingTextCount == 0,
             Message = build is null

PlotLine/ViewModels/OnboardingViewModels.cs

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public sealed class OnboardingOptionViewModel
 public sealed class OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel
 {
     public int CurrentStep { get; init; }
-    public int TotalSteps { get; init; } = 9;
+    public int TotalSteps { get; init; } = 10;
     public string AriaLabel { get; init; } = "Manuscript import progress";
 }
 
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ public sealed class StoryIntelligenceOverviewViewModel
     public int ApprovedChapterCount { get; init; }
     public int ApprovedWordCount { get; init; }
     public int MissingChapterTextCount { get; init; }
+    public int WizardCurrentStep { get; init; } = 9;
+    public int WizardTotalSteps { get; init; } = 10;
     public string? Message { get; init; }
     public Guid? ExistingBatchID { get; init; }
     public StoryIntelligenceJobProgress? ExistingJob { get; init; }

PlotLine/Views/Onboarding/Index.cshtml

@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
                 @if (Model.IsMicrosoftWordPath)
                 {
                     <h1 id="onboarding-title">@(currentJourneyOrder >= 6 ? "Scan Manuscript" : "Connect your Word Companion")</h1>
-                    <p>Open Microsoft Word, open your manuscript, start the PlotDirector Word Companion, and sign in using your PlotDirector account. PlotDirector will stay on this page with you while the scan runs.</p>
+                    <p>Open your manuscript in Word and start the Companion. When it is connected, use the wizard button below to scan and continue.</p>
                 }
                 else
                 {
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
             </div>
             @if (Model.IsMicrosoftWordPath)
             {
-                <section class="onboarding-companion-card @(Model.CompanionPresence.IsConnected ? "is-connected" : "is-offline")"
+                <section class="onboarding-companion-card onboarding-companion-card--compact @(Model.CompanionPresence.IsConnected ? "is-connected" : "is-offline")"
                          data-word-companion-presence
                          data-word-companion-status="@Model.CompanionPresence.Status"
                          aria-label="Word Companion connection">
@@ -296,20 +296,6 @@
                                     <strong data-onboarding-scan-words>@Model.ScanState.TotalWordCount.ToString("N0")</strong>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
-                            <div class="onboarding-scan-actions">
-                                <button class="btn btn-primary"
-                                        type="button"
-                                        data-onboarding-scan-start
-                                        disabled="@(!CanStartScan(Model.CompanionPresence, Model.ScanState))">
-                                    Scan manuscript
-                                </button>
-                                <a class="btn btn-outline-primary @(Model.ScanState.IsComplete ? string.Empty : "disabled")"
-                                   data-onboarding-scan-review
-                                   href="@(Model.ScanState.PreviewID.HasValue ? Url.Action("ScanReview", "Onboarding", new { previewId = Model.ScanState.PreviewID }) : "#")"
-                                   aria-disabled="@(!Model.ScanState.IsComplete)">
-                                    @(string.Equals(Model.ScanState.ReviewStatus, ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReadyToImport, StringComparison.Ordinal) ? "Edit review" : "Review chapters")
-                                </a>
-                            </div>
                             @if (string.Equals(Model.ScanState.ReviewStatus, ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReadyToImport, StringComparison.Ordinal))
                             {
                                 <div class="onboarding-build-panel" data-onboarding-build-panel>
@@ -322,51 +308,40 @@
                                         <span data-onboarding-build-progress></span>
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
-                                <a class="btn btn-success" asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="StoryIntelligence">
-                                    Analyse manuscript
-                                </a>
                             }
                         </section>
                     </div>
                 </section>
             }
-            <dl class="onboarding-summary">
-                <div>
-                    <dt>Writing journey</dt>
-                    <dd>@DisplayJourney(Model.WritingJourney)</dd>
-                </div>
-                <div>
-                    <dt>Writing software</dt>
-                    <dd>@DisplaySoftware(Model.WritingSoftware)</dd>
-                </div>
-                <div>
-                    <dt>Project</dt>
-                    <dd>@(Model.SelectedProjectName ?? "Not set")</dd>
-                </div>
-                <div>
-                    <dt>Book</dt>
-                    <dd>@(Model.SelectedBookTitle ?? "Not set")</dd>
-                </div>
-            </dl>
             <div class="onboarding-actions">
                 <form asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="Back" method="post">
                     <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary" type="submit" name="currentStep" value="@OnboardingSteps.NextPathPreview">Back</button>
                 </form>
-                @if (Model.ProjectID.HasValue)
-                {
-                    <a class="btn btn-outline-primary" asp-controller="Projects" asp-action="Details" asp-route-id="@Model.ProjectID">Go to Project Overview</a>
-                }
                 @if (Model.IsMicrosoftWordPath && string.Equals(Model.ScanState.ReviewStatus, ManuscriptScanReviewStatuses.ReadyToImport, StringComparison.Ordinal))
                 {
                     <a class="btn btn-primary" asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="StoryIntelligence">Analyse manuscript</a>
                 }
                 else if (Model.IsMicrosoftWordPath && Model.ScanState.IsComplete)
                 {
-                    <span class="text-muted">Review the scan above to continue.</span>
+                    <a class="btn btn-primary"
+                       data-onboarding-scan-review
+                       href="@(Model.ScanState.PreviewID.HasValue ? Url.Action("ScanReview", "Onboarding", new { previewId = Model.ScanState.PreviewID }) : "#")">
+                        Review chapters
+                    </a>
                 }
                 else if (Model.IsMicrosoftWordPath)
                 {
-                    <span class="text-muted">Scan your manuscript to continue.</span>
+                    <button class="btn btn-primary"
+                            type="button"
+                            data-onboarding-scan-start
+                            disabled="@(!CanStartScan(Model.CompanionPresence, Model.ScanState))">
+                        Scan manuscript
+                    </button>
+                    <a class="visually-hidden"
+                       data-onboarding-scan-review
+                       href="@(Model.ScanState.PreviewID.HasValue ? Url.Action("ScanReview", "Onboarding", new { previewId = Model.ScanState.PreviewID }) : "#")">
+                        Review chapters
+                    </a>
                 }
                 else
                 {

PlotLine/Views/Onboarding/ScanReview.cshtml

@@ -13,32 +13,60 @@
     var excludedCharacters = Model.CharacterCandidates
         .Where(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "Excluded", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         .ToList();
+    var primaryCharacters = probableCharacters
+        .Concat(possibleCharacters)
+        .Concat(relationshipTitles)
+        .ToList();
     var detectedAliasTargets = Model.CharacterCandidates
         .Where(candidate => !string.Equals(candidate.Category, "Excluded", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         .OrderBy(candidate => candidate.ReviewName)
         .ToList();
     var visibleCharacterCount = probableCharacters.Count + possibleCharacters.Count + relationshipTitles.Count;
     var isCharacterStep = string.Equals(ViewData["ScanReviewStep"] as string, "characters", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
-    var currentStep = isCharacterStep ? 8 : 7;
+    const int characterPageSize = 10;
+    var primaryCharacterPageCount = Math.Max(1, (int)Math.Ceiling(primaryCharacters.Count / (double)characterPageSize));
+    var excludedCharacterPageCount = excludedCharacters.Any()
+        ? (int)Math.Ceiling(excludedCharacters.Count / (double)characterPageSize)
+        : 0;
+    var characterReviewPageCount = primaryCharacterPageCount + excludedCharacterPageCount;
+    var requestedCharacterPage = ViewData["CharacterReviewPage"] is int requestedPage ? requestedPage : 1;
+    var characterPage = Math.Clamp(requestedCharacterPage, 1, characterReviewPageCount);
+    var isExcludedCharacterPage = excludedCharacterPageCount > 0 && characterPage > primaryCharacterPageCount;
+    var excludedPageIndex = isExcludedCharacterPage ? characterPage - primaryCharacterPageCount : 0;
+    var currentCharacters = isExcludedCharacterPage
+        ? excludedCharacters.Skip((excludedPageIndex - 1) * characterPageSize).Take(characterPageSize).ToList()
+        : primaryCharacters.Skip((characterPage - 1) * characterPageSize).Take(characterPageSize).ToList();
+    var currentStep = isCharacterStep ? 7 + characterPage : 7;
+    var totalSteps = 7 + characterReviewPageCount + 2;
+    var characterPageTitle = isExcludedCharacterPage
+        ? "Review Excluded Characters"
+        : $"Review Characters {characterPage} of {primaryCharacterPageCount}";
 }
 
 <section class="onboarding-shell" aria-labelledby="scan-review-title">
     <form class="onboarding-panel onboarding-review-panel" asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="SaveScanReview" method="post">
         @Html.AntiForgeryToken()
         <input type="hidden" asp-for="PreviewID" name="PreviewID" />
-        <partial name="_OnboardingJourneyHeader" model="@(new OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel { CurrentStep = currentStep, TotalSteps = 10 })" />
+        <input type="hidden" name="characterPage" value="@characterPage" />
+        <partial name="_OnboardingJourneyHeader" model="@(new OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel { CurrentStep = currentStep, TotalSteps = totalSteps })" />
 
         <div class="onboarding-copy">
-            <p class="eyebrow">Step @currentStep of 10</p>
+            <p class="eyebrow">Step @currentStep of @totalSteps</p>
-            <h1 id="scan-review-title">@(isCharacterStep ? "Review Characters" : "Review Chapters")</h1>
+            <h1 id="scan-review-title">@(isCharacterStep ? characterPageTitle : "Review Chapters")</h1>
-            <p>@(isCharacterStep ? "Review detected character names, aliases and existing character matches before Story Intelligence begins." : "Confirm the chapter and scene structure before reviewing detected characters.")</p>
+            <p>@(isCharacterStep ? "Review this page of detected names and aliases, then continue through the wizard." : "Confirm the chapter and scene structure before reviewing detected characters.")</p>
         </div>
 
         @if (TempData["OnboardingReviewMessage"] is string reviewMessage)
         {
             <div class="alert alert-success">@reviewMessage</div>
         }
-        <div asp-validation-summary="ModelOnly" class="text-danger"></div>
+        @if (!ViewData.ModelState.IsValid)
+        {
+            <div class="alert alert-danger" role="alert">
+                <strong>Review this before continuing.</strong>
+                <div asp-validation-summary="ModelOnly"></div>
+            </div>
+        }
 
         <div class="onboarding-scan-counts onboarding-review-counts">
             <div>
@@ -157,34 +185,45 @@
             <aside class="onboarding-review-section" data-scan-review-panel="characters" hidden="@(!isCharacterStep)">
                 <div class="onboarding-review-section-heading">
                     <div>
-                        <h2>Character candidates</h2>
+                        <h2>@characterPageTitle</h2>
-                        <p>@visibleCharacterCount.ToString("N0") detected candidate@(visibleCharacterCount == 1 ? string.Empty : "s") before excluded names.</p>
+                        <p>
+                            @(isExcludedCharacterPage
+                                ? $"Excluded candidates page {excludedPageIndex} of {excludedCharacterPageCount}."
+                                : $"Character candidates page {characterPage} of {primaryCharacterPageCount}.")
+                        </p>
                     </div>
-                    <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" asp-action="ScanReview" asp-route-previewId="@Model.PreviewID">Back to chapters</a>
+                    <strong>@currentCharacters.Count character@(currentCharacters.Count == 1 ? string.Empty : "s") on this step</strong>
                 </div>
-                @if (!probableCharacters.Any() && !possibleCharacters.Any() && !relationshipTitles.Any())
+
-                {
+                <div class="onboarding-character-step-summary">
-                    <p>No repeated character names were found yet. You can still prepare chapters and add characters later.</p>
+                    <div>
+                        <span>Primary candidates</span>
+                        <strong>@visibleCharacterCount.ToString("N0")</strong>
+                    </div>
+                    <div>
+                        <span>Excluded</span>
+                        <strong>@excludedCharacters.Count.ToString("N0")</strong>
+                    </div>
+                    <div>
+                        <span>Wizard pages</span>
+                        <strong>@characterReviewPageCount.ToString("N0")</strong>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+
+                @{
+                    var allCharacters = Model.CharacterCandidates.ToList();
                 }
-                else
+                @if (!currentCharacters.Any())
                 {
-                    var characterIndex = 0;
+                    <p class="onboarding-empty-state">No character candidates were found for this step.</p>
-                    <label class="onboarding-character-filter">
+                }
-                        Find a candidate
-                        <input class="form-control" type="search" placeholder="Search names or notes" data-character-filter />
-                    </label>
-                    <div class="onboarding-character-pager" data-character-pager hidden>
-                        <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-page-prev>Previous</button>
-                        <span data-character-page-label></span>
-                        <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" type="button" data-character-page-next>Next</button>
-                    </div>
-                    <p class="onboarding-empty-state" data-character-empty hidden>No matching candidates.</p>
                 <div class="onboarding-character-groups">
                     @foreach (var group in new[]
                     {
-                            new { Title = "Probable characters", Candidates = probableCharacters },
+                        new { Title = "Probable characters", Candidates = currentCharacters.Where(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "ProbableCharacter", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)).ToList() },
-                            new { Title = "Possible characters", Candidates = possibleCharacters },
+                        new { Title = "Possible characters", Candidates = currentCharacters.Where(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "PossibleCharacter", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)).ToList() },
-                            new { Title = "Relationship titles", Candidates = relationshipTitles }
+                        new { Title = "Relationship titles", Candidates = currentCharacters.Where(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "RelationshipTitle", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)).ToList() },
+                        new { Title = "Excluded candidates", Candidates = currentCharacters.Where(candidate => string.Equals(candidate.Category, "Excluded", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)).ToList() }
                     })
                     {
                         if (!group.Candidates.Any())
@@ -197,21 +236,22 @@
                             <ul class="onboarding-character-candidates">
                                 @foreach (var candidate in group.Candidates)
                                 {
-                                        <li data-character-name="@candidate.ReviewName" data-character-reason="@candidate.Reason" data-character-page-item>
+                                    var currentCharacterIndex = allCharacters.FindIndex(item => string.Equals(item.TemporaryCharacterKey, candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal));
-                                            <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].TemporaryCharacterKey" value="@candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey" />
+                                    <li>
-                                            <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Category" value="@candidate.Category" />
+                                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].TemporaryCharacterKey" value="@candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey" />
+                                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].Category" value="@candidate.Category" />
                                         <label class="onboarding-review-toggle">
-                                                <input type="checkbox" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Include" value="true" checked="@candidate.Include" />
+                                            <input type="checkbox" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].Include" value="true" checked="@candidate.Include" />
-                                                <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Include" value="false" />
+                                            <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].Include" value="false" />
                                             Include
                                         </label>
                                         <label class="onboarding-review-field">
                                             Name
-                                                <input class="form-control" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Name" value="@candidate.ReviewName" />
+                                            <input class="form-control" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].Name" value="@candidate.ReviewName" />
                                         </label>
                                         <label class="onboarding-review-field">
                                             Existing character
-                                                <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@characterIndex].ExistingCharacterID">
+                                            <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].ExistingCharacterID">
                                                 <option value="">Create later if imported</option>
                                                 @foreach (var option in Model.ExistingCharacterOptions)
                                                 {
@@ -221,7 +261,7 @@
                                         </label>
                                         <label class="onboarding-review-field">
                                             Alias of detected character
-                                                <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@characterIndex].AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey">
+                                            <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@currentCharacterIndex].AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey">
                                                 <option value="">Not an alias</option>
                                                 @foreach (var target in detectedAliasTargets.Where(target => !string.Equals(target.TemporaryCharacterKey, candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal)))
                                                 {
@@ -243,67 +283,26 @@
                                             <small>@candidate.Reason</small>
                                         }
                                     </li>
-                                        characterIndex++;
                                 }
                             </ul>
                         </section>
                     }
-                        @if (excludedCharacters.Any())
+                </div>
+                @foreach (var candidate in allCharacters.Where(candidate => !currentCharacters.Any(current => string.Equals(current.TemporaryCharacterKey, candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal))))
                 {
-                            <details class="onboarding-excluded-candidates">
+                    var hiddenCharacterIndex = allCharacters.FindIndex(item => string.Equals(item.TemporaryCharacterKey, candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal));
-                                <summary>Show excluded candidates</summary>
+                    <div hidden>
-                                <section>
+                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].TemporaryCharacterKey" value="@candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey" />
-                                    <h3>Excluded candidates</h3>
+                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].Category" value="@candidate.Category" />
-                                    <ul class="onboarding-character-candidates">
+                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].Include" value="@candidate.Include.ToString().ToLowerInvariant()" />
-                                        @foreach (var candidate in excludedCharacters)
+                        <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].Name" value="@candidate.ReviewName" />
+                        @if (candidate.ExistingCharacterID.HasValue)
                         {
-                                            <li data-character-name="@candidate.ReviewName" data-character-reason="@candidate.Reason" data-character-excluded-item>
+                            <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].ExistingCharacterID" value="@candidate.ExistingCharacterID" />
-                                                <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].TemporaryCharacterKey" value="@candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey" />
-                                                <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Category" value="@candidate.Category" />
-                                                <label class="onboarding-review-toggle">
-                                                    <input type="checkbox" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Include" value="true" checked="@candidate.Include" />
-                                                    <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Include" value="false" />
-                                                    Include
-                                                </label>
-                                                <label class="onboarding-review-field">
-                                                    Name
-                                                    <input class="form-control" name="Characters[@characterIndex].Name" value="@candidate.ReviewName" />
-                                                </label>
-                                                <label class="onboarding-review-field">
-                                                    Existing character
-                                                    <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@characterIndex].ExistingCharacterID">
-                                                        <option value="">Create later if imported</option>
-                                                        @foreach (var option in Model.ExistingCharacterOptions)
-                                                        {
-                                                            <option value="@option.CharacterID" selected="@(candidate.ExistingCharacterID == option.CharacterID)">@option.CharacterName</option>
                         }
-                                                    </select>
+                        @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(candidate.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey))
-                                                </label>
-                                                <label class="onboarding-review-field">
-                                                    Alias of detected character
-                                                    <select class="form-select" name="Characters[@characterIndex].AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey">
-                                                        <option value="">Not an alias</option>
-                                                        @foreach (var target in detectedAliasTargets.Where(target => !string.Equals(target.TemporaryCharacterKey, candidate.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal)))
                         {
-                                                            <option value="@target.TemporaryCharacterKey" selected="@(string.Equals(candidate.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey, target.TemporaryCharacterKey, StringComparison.Ordinal))">@target.ReviewName</option>
+                            <input type="hidden" name="Characters[@hiddenCharacterIndex].AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey" value="@candidate.AliasTargetTemporaryCharacterKey" />
-                                                        }
-                                                    </select>
-                                                </label>
-                                                <span>@candidate.MentionCount mention@(candidate.MentionCount == 1 ? string.Empty : "s") / score @candidate.QualityScore</span>
-                                                @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(candidate.AliasTargetName))
-                                                {
-                                                    <small>Alias of detected character: @candidate.AliasTargetName</small>
-                                                }
-                                                @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(candidate.Reason))
-                                                {
-                                                    <small>@candidate.Reason</small>
-                                                }
-                                            </li>
-                                            characterIndex++;
-                                        }
-                                    </ul>
-                                </section>
-                            </details>
                         }
                     </div>
                 }
@@ -311,13 +310,29 @@
         </section>
 
         <div class="onboarding-actions">
-            <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary" asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="Index">Back to setup</a>
             @if (isCharacterStep)
             {
-                <button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit" name="intent" value="continue">Save and continue</button>
+                @if (characterPage <= 1)
+                {
+                    <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary" asp-action="ScanReview" asp-route-previewId="@Model.PreviewID">Back to chapters</a>
                 }
                 else
                 {
+                    <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary" type="submit" name="intent" value="character-back">Back</button>
+                }
+
+                @if (characterPage < characterReviewPageCount)
+                {
+                    <button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit" name="intent" value="character-next">Save and continue</button>
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    <button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit" name="intent" value="continue">Save and continue</button>
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary" asp-controller="Onboarding" asp-action="Index">Back to setup</a>
                 <button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit" name="intent" value="characters">Save and review characters</button>
             }
         </div>
@@ -338,90 +353,4 @@
             checkbox.checked = checked;
         });
     });
-
-    const characterFilter = document.querySelector("[data-character-filter]");
-    const characterPager = document.querySelector("[data-character-pager]");
-    const characterPageLabel = document.querySelector("[data-character-page-label]");
-    const characterPagePrev = document.querySelector("[data-character-page-prev]");
-    const characterPageNext = document.querySelector("[data-character-page-next]");
-    const characterPageSize = 20;
-    let characterPage = 1;
-
-    const characterItems = () => [...document.querySelectorAll("[data-character-page-item]")];
-    const excludedCharacterItems = () => [...document.querySelectorAll("[data-character-excluded-item]")];
-    const matchingCharacterItems = () => {
-        const query = characterFilter?.value.trim().toLowerCase() || "";
-        return characterItems().filter((item) => {
-            const text = `${item.dataset.characterName || ""} ${item.dataset.characterReason || ""}`.toLowerCase();
-            return query.length === 0 || text.includes(query);
-        });
-    };
-
-    const refreshCharacterSections = () => {
-        document.querySelectorAll(".onboarding-character-groups section").forEach((section) => {
-            const hasVisibleItems = [...section.querySelectorAll("[data-character-page-item]")].some((item) => !item.hidden);
-            if (!section.closest(".onboarding-excluded-candidates")) {
-                section.hidden = !hasVisibleItems;
-            }
-        });
-    };
-
-    const renderCharacterPage = () => {
-        const query = characterFilter?.value.trim().toLowerCase() || "";
-        const matches = matchingCharacterItems();
-        const pageCount = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(matches.length / characterPageSize));
-        characterPage = Math.min(Math.max(characterPage, 1), pageCount);
-        const start = (characterPage - 1) * characterPageSize;
-        const visible = new Set(matches.slice(start, start + characterPageSize));
-
-        characterItems().forEach((item) => {
-            item.hidden = !visible.has(item);
-        });
-
-        if (characterPager) {
-            characterPager.hidden = matches.length <= characterPageSize;
-        }
-
-        if (characterPageLabel) {
-            characterPageLabel.textContent = matches.length === 0
-                ? "No candidates"
-                : `Page ${characterPage} of ${pageCount} / ${matches.length.toLocaleString()} candidate${matches.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}`;
-        }
-
-        if (characterPagePrev) {
-            characterPagePrev.disabled = characterPage <= 1;
-        }
-
-        if (characterPageNext) {
-            characterPageNext.disabled = characterPage >= pageCount;
-        }
-
-        refreshCharacterSections();
-        excludedCharacterItems().forEach((item) => {
-            const text = `${item.dataset.characterName || ""} ${item.dataset.characterReason || ""}`.toLowerCase();
-            item.hidden = query.length > 0 && !text.includes(query);
-        });
-
-        const emptyState = document.querySelector("[data-character-empty]");
-        if (emptyState) {
-            emptyState.hidden = matches.length > 0 || excludedCharacterItems().some((item) => !item.hidden);
-        }
-    };
-
-    characterFilter?.addEventListener("input", () => {
-        characterPage = 1;
-        renderCharacterPage();
-    });
-
-    characterPagePrev?.addEventListener("click", () => {
-        characterPage -= 1;
-        renderCharacterPage();
-    });
-
-    characterPageNext?.addEventListener("click", () => {
-        characterPage += 1;
-        renderCharacterPage();
-    });
-
-    renderCharacterPage();
 </script>

PlotLine/Views/Onboarding/StoryIntelligence.cshtml

@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 <section class="onboarding-shell" aria-labelledby="story-intelligence-title">
     <div class="onboarding-panel onboarding-analysis-panel">
-        <partial name="_OnboardingJourneyHeader" model="@(new OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel { CurrentStep = 9, TotalSteps = 10 })" />
+        <partial name="_OnboardingJourneyHeader" model="@(new OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel { CurrentStep = Model.WizardCurrentStep, TotalSteps = Model.WizardTotalSteps })" />
         <div class="onboarding-copy">
-            <p class="eyebrow">Step 9 of 10</p>
+            <p class="eyebrow">Step @Model.WizardCurrentStep of @Model.WizardTotalSteps</p>
             <h1 id="story-intelligence-title">Analyse Manuscript</h1>
             <p>Set the analysis context, then PlotDirector will read the approved chapters and prepare scenes, characters, locations, assets, relationships and knowledge for review.</p>
         </div>

PlotLine/Views/Onboarding/_OnboardingJourneyHeader.cshtml

@@ -1,27 +1,21 @@
 @model OnboardingJourneyHeaderViewModel
 @{
-    var steps = new[]
+    var characterReviewStepCount = Math.Max(1, Model.TotalSteps - 9);
-    {
+    var steps = Model.TotalSteps <= 10
-        new { Label = "Welcome", Order = 1 },
+        ? BuildDefaultSteps()
-        new { Label = "Writing Stage", Order = 2 },
+        : BuildDynamicSteps(characterReviewStepCount, Model.TotalSteps);
-        new { Label = "Writing Software", Order = 3 },
+    var progressWidth = Model.TotalSteps <= 1
-        new { Label = "Project", Order = 4 },
+        ? 100
-        new { Label = "Book", Order = 5 },
+        : ((Math.Clamp(Model.CurrentStep, 1, Model.TotalSteps) - 1) * 100) / (Model.TotalSteps - 1);
-        new { Label = "Connect Word", Order = 6 },
-        new { Label = "Review Chapters", Order = 7 },
-        new { Label = "Review Characters", Order = 8 },
-        new { Label = "Analyse Manuscript", Order = 9 },
-        new { Label = "Complete", Order = 10 }
-    };
 }
 
 <div class="onboarding-progress" aria-label="@Model.AriaLabel">
     <span>Step @Model.CurrentStep of @Model.TotalSteps</span>
     <div class="onboarding-progress-track">
-        <span style="width:@((Model.CurrentStep * 100) / Model.TotalSteps)%"></span>
+        <span style="width:@progressWidth%"></span>
     </div>
 </div>
-<ol class="onboarding-stepper" aria-label="Manuscript import journey">
+<ol class="onboarding-stepper" style="--onboarding-step-count:@steps.Count" aria-label="Manuscript import journey">
     @foreach (var step in steps)
     {
         <li class="@StepClass(step.Order, Model.CurrentStep)">
@@ -32,6 +26,45 @@
 </ol>
 
 @functions {
+    private sealed record HeaderStep(string Label, int Order);
+
+    private static IReadOnlyList<HeaderStep> BuildDefaultSteps() =>
+    [
+        new("Welcome", 1),
+        new("Writing Stage", 2),
+        new("Writing Software", 3),
+        new("Project", 4),
+        new("Book", 5),
+        new("Connect Word", 6),
+        new("Review Chapters", 7),
+        new("Review Characters", 8),
+        new("Analyse Manuscript", 9),
+        new("Complete", 10)
+    ];
+
+    private static IReadOnlyList<HeaderStep> BuildDynamicSteps(int characterReviewStepCount, int totalSteps)
+    {
+        var steps = new List<HeaderStep>
+        {
+            new("Welcome", 1),
+            new("Writing Stage", 2),
+            new("Writing Software", 3),
+            new("Project", 4),
+            new("Book", 5),
+            new("Connect Word", 6),
+            new("Review Chapters", 7)
+        };
+
+        for (var index = 1; index <= characterReviewStepCount; index++)
+        {
+            steps.Add(new HeaderStep($"Characters {index}", 7 + index));
+        }
+
+        steps.Add(new HeaderStep("Analyse Manuscript", totalSteps - 1));
+        steps.Add(new HeaderStep("Complete", totalSteps));
+        return steps;
+    }
+
     private static string StepClass(int order, int currentStep)
     {
         if (order < currentStep)

PlotLine/wwwroot/css/onboarding.css

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 .onboarding-stepper {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: repeat(10, minmax(0, 1fr));
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(var(--onboarding-step-count, 10), minmax(0, 1fr));
   gap: .45rem;
   margin: 0 0 2rem;
   padding: 0;
@@ -268,6 +268,11 @@
   background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(47, 111, 99, .1), rgba(182, 138, 70, .12));
 }
 
+.onboarding-companion-card--compact {
+  align-items: start;
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
+
 .onboarding-companion-mark {
   position: relative;
   width: 4.25rem;
@@ -1319,36 +1324,31 @@ summary.story-review-chapter-heading {
   font-size: 1rem;
 }
 
-.onboarding-character-pager {
+.onboarding-character-step-summary {
-  display: flex;
+  display: grid;
-  align-items: center;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
-  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: .65rem;
-  gap: .75rem;
+}
+
+.onboarding-character-step-summary div {
+  min-width: 0;
   border: 1px solid rgba(31, 42, 68, .1);
   border-radius: 8px;
-  padding: .6rem;
+  padding: .7rem;
   background: rgba(255, 255, 255, .62);
 }
 
-.onboarding-character-pager span {
+.onboarding-character-step-summary span {
+  display: block;
   color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
+  font-size: .76rem;
   font-weight: 800;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
-.onboarding-excluded-candidates {
+.onboarding-character-step-summary strong {
-  border-top: 1px solid rgba(31, 42, 68, .12);
+  display: block;
-  padding-top: .65rem;
+  margin-top: .15rem;
-}
-
-.onboarding-excluded-candidates summary {
-  cursor: pointer;
-  color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
-  font-weight: 700;
-}
-
-.onboarding-excluded-candidates .onboarding-character-candidates {
-  margin-top: .65rem;
 }
 
 .onboarding-summary div {