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Running an Execution

Once you have a procedure template, you can execute it in Procnote.

Starting an Execution

  1. Launch Procnote with a workspace directory:

    procnote /path/to/my-workspace
    

    If omitted, Procnote uses the current working directory. 2. The home screen lists all procedure templates found in the workspace. Click on a template to view its details. 3. Click Start Execution to begin.

Procnote creates an execution directory under .executions/ with:

  • events.jsonl -- The append-only event log
  • template.md -- A snapshot of the template at the time of execution

Working Through Steps

Each step in the procedure is displayed as a card. To work through a step:

  1. Start the step -- Click to mark it as active.
  2. Complete checklist items -- Toggle checkboxes as you verify each condition.
  3. Record inputs -- Enter measurements, select options, or attach files.
  4. Add notes -- Attach freeform notes to any step or to the execution as a whole.
  5. Complete the step -- Mark it as done, or skip it with a reason.

Attachment Uploads from Another Device

If DropPoint integration is configured, attachment inputs also show Upload via QR Code. Use it when a sender needs to upload files from another device, such as photos from a phone. Procnote creates a short-lived DropPoint upload session, imports the encrypted upload as local attachments, and then closes the remote drop point.

Adding Steps During Execution

You can add new steps dynamically during an execution using the + Add Step button in the toolbar. The new step is inserted after the currently selected step (or at the end).

Completing or Aborting

When all steps are done:

  • Click Complete and choose Pass or Fail to finish the execution.
  • Click Abort to stop early with a reason.

Reversing Actions

Procnote supports reversing operator actions through normal UI actions:

  • Clear a recorded input before recording a new value.
  • Remove an attachment file or note.
  • Unskip a skipped step.
  • Reopen a completed or aborted execution.
  • Toggle a checkbox back to its previous value.

The original event is not deleted. A typed reversing event such as InputCleared, StepUnskipped, or ExecutionReopened is appended to the log, preserving the full audit trail. Execution state is rebuilt by replaying every event in order.

Not all actions are reversible

Structural events like ExecutionStarted and StepAdded are not reversed by normal operator actions.

Reviewing Past Executions

The home screen shows recent executions with their status (active, pass, fail, aborted). Click on any execution to view its full event history and recorded data.

Storage Layout

Each execution is stored in its own directory:

my-workspace/
└── my-procedure/
    ├── template.md
    └── .executions/
        └── 20260402T033055-edb182e8/
            ├── events.jsonl
            ├── template.md
            └── attachments/
                ├── a1b2c3d-report.pdf
                └── d4e5f6a-photo.jpg

The events.jsonl file is the single source of truth. It is append-only and never modified after creation.