diff --git a/PlotLine/Docs/Features/ContinuityExplorer.md b/PlotLine/Docs/Features/ContinuityExplorer.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7be6f89 --- /dev/null +++ b/PlotLine/Docs/Features/ContinuityExplorer.md @@ -0,0 +1,268 @@ +# Continuity Explorer + +## Overview + +The Continuity Explorer is a dedicated tool within PlotDirector designed +to allow authors to visualise and trace the state of their fictional +world throughout a story. + +Unlike the existing Scene Inspector, which focuses primarily on editing +the current scene, the Continuity Explorer provides a global view of how +Characters, Assets, and Locations evolve over time. + +The goal is to answer questions such as: + +- Where is the murder weapon at this point in the story? +- Which characters have been inside the library? +- Who possessed the diary before Beth found it? +- What was the state of the world during Scene 42? +- Are there continuity issues caused by characters or objects + appearing in impossible locations? + +This feature is particularly valuable for mysteries, thrillers, fantasy +novels, historical fiction, and any work involving large casts or +numerous interconnected locations. + +## Objectives + +The Continuity Explorer should allow authors to: + +- View the complete story state at any point in the timeline. +- Track the movement of characters between locations. +- Track the movement and ownership of assets. +- Examine the history of individual characters, assets, or locations. +- Identify continuity problems before publication. +- Reduce reliance on external notes and spreadsheets. + +## Core Concepts + +### Story State + +Story State represents the author's current understanding of the +fictional world at a particular scene. + +If an entity has not explicitly moved since its last appearance, its +previous state is assumed to remain valid. + +#### Explicit State + +The entity's state was directly set within the selected scene. + +Examples: + +- Beth enters the kitchen. +- The revolver is placed inside the desk. + +#### Inferred State + +The entity has not been updated since an earlier scene. + +Examples: + +- Beth remains in the kitchen. +- The revolver remains inside the desk. + +The last scene in which the state was explicitly confirmed should always +be displayed. + +## Access Points + +### 1. Scene Inspector Integration + +A new tab should be added: + +**Story State** + +Purpose: + +Provide immediate continuity information while writing. + +This view is scene-specific and read-only. + +### 2. Continuity Explorer Page + +A dedicated navigation item: + +**Continuity Explorer** + +Purpose: + +Allow detailed investigation of continuity throughout the project. + +## Filter Panel + +Users may filter by: + +- Characters +- Assets +- Locations + +Multiple types may be selected simultaneously. + +### Scene Range + +Options: + +- Entire Project +- Specific Book +- Specific Chapter +- Custom Scene Range + +### Display Mode + +#### Full Timeline + +Display every scene. + +#### Changes Only + +Display only scenes where the selected entity changed state. + +## Views + +### Story State View + +Answers: + +"What does the world look like at Scene X?" + +Displays: + +- Characters and locations +- Assets and ownership +- Locations with occupants and contents + +### Character Journey View + +Answers: + +"Where has this character been?" + +Supports: + +- Table view +- Timeline view + +### Asset Journey View + +Answers: + +"Where has this object been?" + +Supports: + +- Table view +- Timeline view + +### Location Activity View + +Answers: + +"What happened in this location?" + +Shows: + +- Characters present +- Assets present +- Changes over time + +### Combined Tracking View + +Allows multiple entities to be displayed together to reveal +relationships and continuity issues. + +## Visual Timeline View (Future Enhancement) + +Provide a horizontal timeline showing movement patterns. + +Example: + +SCENE → + +Beth: Bedroom → Kitchen → Library → Study + +Knife: Library → Beth → Evidence Locker + +Diary: Library → Study + +## Continuity Warnings (Future Enhancement) + +Potential warnings include: + +- Impossible movement +- Asset discrepancies +- Multiple locations +- Missing states + +## Technical Requirements + +Story State calculations should be generated dynamically. + +Initial implementation should reuse existing: + +- Character Appearance records +- Asset State records +- Scene chronology + +For each selected scene: + +1. Identify all Characters, Assets, and Locations. +2. Search backwards through prior scenes. +3. Retrieve the most recent explicit state. +4. Carry state forwards until superseded. +5. Mark whether the displayed state is Explicit or Inferred. + +## Performance Considerations + +Large projects may contain: + +- 100+ Characters +- 500+ Assets +- Thousands of Scenes + +Potential optimisation: + +Pre-compute continuity snapshots during project save operations. + +## Phase 1 Scope + +### Included + +- Story State tab within Scene Inspector +- Continuity Explorer page +- Character Journey View +- Asset Journey View +- Location Activity View +- Combined Tracking View +- Changes Only filtering +- Explicit/Inferred state indicators + +### Excluded + +- Automatic continuity warnings +- Visual movement diagrams +- Snapshot persistence +- AI continuity suggestions + +## Expected Benefits + +Authors gain immediate visibility into their fictional world. + +Continuity errors become easier to identify. + +Complex mysteries become significantly easier to manage. + +PlotDirector moves beyond planning software and becomes an active +continuity assistant. + +The Continuity Explorer transforms PlotDirector from a repository of +information into a system capable of understanding and tracking the +evolving state of a story. + +Rather than asking: + +"Where did I write that?" + +Authors can ask: + +"Where was everyone and everything when this happened?"