Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Scope: Cell Planner Desktop
Tasks & Lab Notes
1. If different tasks use the same color, what happens?
The system still organizes by task identity, not by color. The main impact is visual: in the Planner page, those tasks are harder to distinguish at a glance.
2. I have many tasks and cannot keep all colors clearly distinct. What should I do?
We recommend keeping visually distinct colors for non-archived tasks. Once a task is archived and no longer appears in the Planner page, you can safely reuse similar colors.
3. After a task color has been used in cells, can I still change it?
Yes. When you change a task color, the app automatically updates both the related cell colors in the Planner page and the legend color.
4. If I delete a task, will related cell content be deleted?
No. Existing cell content is not auto-deleted unless you clear it manually. After task deletion, you cannot continue writing cells under that task.
5. I need one-off reminders (for example, replying to emails) that do not belong to existing tasks. How should I record them?
Turn off the current task toggle to use the black pen. These one-off entries are for planning on the Planner page and are not organized into Lab Notes task records.
6. How do I move multiple cells at once?
When the move button is active, use multi-select with modifier keys: Command + click on macOS, and Ctrl + click on Windows.
7. In Lab Notes when viewing the project framework, what are the lines between tasks for?
They are used to mark logical relationships and evolution paths between projects or tasks, helping you understand context during review.
8. What is the Hide button in Lab Notes for?
It hides less important or noisy records so your main experimental narrative stays concise. You can always turn on Show Hidden to review full history.
9. Can I export Lab Notes?
Yes. You can choose export scope and grouping, then export as .docx for further editing in other tools, or export as HTML for printing and archiving.
10. I want to quickly jump from a cell to its related outcome in Lab Notes. How?
You can jump between the Planner page and Lab Notes: Option + click on macOS, Alt + click on Windows. For page switching only, use Command/Ctrl + 1 (Planner) and Command/Ctrl + 2 (Lab Notes).
Saving & Offline Use
11. Where is the Save button?
Cell Planner is local-first and continuously saves your work locally. No need for frequent manual saves.
12. Can I keep working offline?
Yes. Daily editing does not require continuous internet access.
Pro Features
13. What is the difference between Pro and non-Pro users?
On the Planner page, non-Pro users can edit up to 4 weeks, while Pro users have no week limit and can use Note features. In Lab Notes, Pro users can edit outcomes.
14. If I downgrade from Pro to non-Pro, will data in restricted features be deleted?
No. We do not proactively delete your data. Existing content is retained.
Backup & Restore
15. When are automatic backups triggered?
Automatic backups are triggered at app exit, before account switch when you choose to keep cloud data, before loading backups, and at periodic checkpoints after detected editing activity.
16. What is the difference between automatic and manual backups?
Automatic backups are for routine protection and rollback and are cleaned up by policy. Manual backups are created by you and kept for long-term retention.
17. I loaded a backup and regret it. Can I return to the pre-load state?
Yes. The app creates an automatic backup of your current state before each backup load operation.
18. Why is Auto-sync turned off after loading a backup?
To reduce accidental cloud overwrite risk. Backup loading is a high-risk data-change path, so the app protects cloud data first and lets you decide next sync actions.
Account & Cloud Sync
19. Can I log in to my account on someone else's computer?
Technically yes, but we do not recommend it. Even with conflict checks, your data may still be auto-backed up to that device at trigger points, increasing data exposure risk.
20. Why is Auto-sync turned off after account switch?
If you chose Keep local during account switch, local data may differ significantly from cloud data. The app turns off Auto-sync on this path to reduce overwrite risk.
21. I accidentally chose Keep cloud during account switch and local data was overwritten. What can I do?
Do not worry. Because this path has higher overwrite risk, the app creates an automatic backup before account switch. You can recover it from Settings.
22. After enabling cloud sync, are experiment data and images publicly accessible?
No. The cloud uses strict account isolation and private image storage, and all access requires account authorization. When cloud sync is enabled, images use temporary URLs rather than permanent URLs to reduce long-term direct external access risk.
App Security
23. Can App Lock password be recovered by email?
No. For data safety, App Lock password is handled locally only and does not support online recovery.
Feature Requests
24. How can I request new features?
We welcome all feature requests. Email us anytime.