This page answers common questions about how Outline Analyzer works, what it analyzes, and how project files and analysis behave.
What does Outline Analyzer do?
Outline Analyzer is designed to help you judge whether a story outline is working before you draft the manuscript. It analyzes plot strength, excitement, conflict, character arc, originality, act structure, and chapter-by-chapter story strength.
Who is Outline Analyzer for?
Outline Analyzer is for authors and screenwriters who want to pressure-test a story before drafting. It is especially useful for writers who like to plan in advance, often called "plotters", and who want to revise and strengthen structure early rather than discovering major plot or pacing problems after large sections have already been written.
It is a strong fit for people working on novels, series planning, film treatments, episodic outlines, or chapter-by-chapter story maps who want feedback on tension, conflict, arc movement, originality, and whether each chapter is carrying enough dramatic weight.
Do I need to upload a full manuscript?
No. Outline Analyzer is designed for outline analysis. It works best with chapter-by-chapter outline summaries, scene summaries, spreadsheets, or structured planning documents.
Why do I have to choose a genre first?
Genre changes what "good" looks like. A romance, thriller, mystery, or science fiction novel has different promises, pacing expectations, and emotional payoffs. Choosing a genre helps the analysis judge your outline by the right standard.
What file types can I import?
You can import PDF, Word, Excel, CSV, TXT, Markdown, and project JSON files. Excel outline files usually produce the best structure because chapter IDs, titles, summaries, and act labels can be read more clearly.
What happens when I click Run Analysis?
Run Analysis sends your outline, genre, and related project context to the selected OpenAI model. It then generates the act structure view, the outline assessment, the report, character suggestions, and the chapter-by-chapter grading.
Where is my work stored?
Your real project data should be saved to a project JSON file using Save or Save As. Once a project file is linked, the app autosaves to that file. Browser storage is only a fallback cache and should not be treated as your main backup.
What are snapshots for?
Snapshots are manual restore points for a project. They let you save a moment in time before a big change, then compare or roll back later if needed.
Why do the chapter grades not measure prose quality?
The chapter grades are editorial outline judgments. They estimate how strong a chapter is likely to work as a story unit when written, based on its implied dramatic value, tension, conflict, and payoff rather than sentence-level prose quality.
Why can scores change after I rerun analysis?
AI models can vary slightly from run to run. Outline Analyzer reduces that by using structured outputs, snapshot model versions where available, and score reuse when the outline has not changed, but small variation is still possible.
What does adding character names do?
Adding character names gives the app a clearer roster to track. That improves character arc analysis, character HUD suggestions, and the report's understanding of who matters most in the outline.
Is my OpenAI API key stored locally?
Yes. Your OpenAI API key stays local in your browser or app storage and is used from your machine when you run analysis or chat. It is not managed through a separate backend service.
How should I structure my outline for the best results?
The clearest results usually come from one chapter per row or one chapter per paragraph, with a clear title or ID and a concise summary of what happens, what changes, and what conflict or revelation occurs.