# Simplified Workflow - Single Button Encoding

**Date:** December 21, 2024
**Purpose:** Simplified from 2-button to 1-button workflow

---

## The Problem with Previous Approach

The "ready → pending → start" workflow was **too confusing**:

❌ Too many steps (4 total):
1. Scan
2. Select files
3. Click "Queue Selected" (marks as pending)
4. Click "Start Processing" (actually starts encoding)

❌ Two buttons that sound similar:
- "Queue Selected for Encoding"
- "Start Processing"

❌ Too many states (6):
- ready, pending, processing, completed, failed, skipped

❌ Artificial distinction between "ready" vs "pending"

---

## New Simplified Workflow

✅ **3 simple steps:**
1. **Select files** using checkboxes
2. **Choose profile** from dropdown
3. **Click "Encode Selected"** → Starts immediately

✅ **One button:** "Encode Selected" does exactly what it says

✅ **5 states** (only actual encoding status):
- **pending** - Not yet encoded (gray badge, or no badge)
- **processing** - Currently encoding (blue)
- **completed** - Successfully encoded (green)
- **failed** - Encoding failed (red)
- **skipped** - No subtitles (light gray)

---

## Changes Made

### 1. reencode.py

**Removed "ready" state:**
```python
class ProcessingState(Enum):
    """File processing states"""
    PENDING = "pending"       # Not yet encoded (files with subtitles)
    PROCESSING = "processing" # Currently being encoded
    COMPLETED = "completed"   # Successfully encoded
    FAILED = "failed"         # Encoding failed, can retry
    SKIPPED = "skipped"       # No subtitles or excluded
```

**Scan marks files as PENDING** (not "ready"):
```python
# Files with subtitles are marked as PENDING (ready to encode)
# Files without subtitles are SKIPPED
state = ProcessingState.PENDING.value if has_subtitles else ProcessingState.SKIPPED.value
```

### 2. dashboard.html

**Updated Instructions:**
```
1. Select movies using checkboxes or Quick Select buttons below.
2. Choose an encoding profile.
3. Click "Encode Selected" to start encoding immediately.
```

**Simplified Filter Dropdown:**
- All Files
- Not Encoded (pending)
- Processing
- Completed
- Failed
- Skipped

**Updated Quick Select Buttons:**
- 📁 Not Encoded (selects all "pending")
- 🔄 Failed (selects all "failed" to retry)

**Single Button:**
- Changed from "Queue Selected for Encoding"
- To "▶️ Encode Selected"
- Function renamed: `reencodeSelected()` → `encodeSelected()`

**Simplified State Colors:**
```javascript
'pending': '#64748b',    // Gray - not yet encoded
'processing': '#3b82f6', // Blue - currently encoding
'completed': '#10b981',  // Green - successfully encoded
'failed': '#ef4444',     // Red - encoding failed
'skipped': '#94a3b8'     // Light gray - skipped (no subtitles)
```

**Single-Step Encoding:**
```javascript
async function encodeSelected() {
    // 1. Queue the selected files (marks as pending)
    await fetchWithCsrf('/api/jobs/reencode-selected', {...})

    // 2. Immediately start processing
    await fetchWithCsrf('/api/jobs/start', {...})

    // Done! Encoding starts immediately
}
```

---

## User Experience Comparison

### Before (2-Button Workflow)

```
User: "I want to encode these 5 movies"

1. Select 5 movies ✓
2. Click "Queue Selected for Encoding"
   → Message: "Files queued! Now click Start Processing"
   → User: "Wait, didn't I just click to encode?"
3. Scroll to top
4. Click "Start Processing"
   → Finally starts encoding
```

**Result:** Confused, extra steps

### After (1-Button Workflow)

```
User: "I want to encode these 5 movies"

1. Select 5 movies ✓
2. Choose profile ✓
3. Click "Encode Selected"
   → Immediately starts encoding ✓
```

**Result:** Clear, direct, simple

---

## States Explained

### PENDING (Gray/No Badge)
- **What it means:** File has subtitles, not yet encoded
- **What user can do:** Select it and click "Encode Selected"
- **When it changes:** When encoding starts (→ processing)

### PROCESSING (Blue)
- **What it means:** Currently being encoded
- **What user can do:** Wait, or click "Stop Processing"
- **When it changes:** When done (→ completed/failed)

### COMPLETED (Green)
- **What it means:** Successfully encoded
- **What user can do:** Nothing needed, it's done
- **When it changes:** Stays completed (can re-encode if needed)

### FAILED (Red)
- **What it means:** Encoding failed
- **What user can do:** Select and retry by clicking "Encode Selected"
- **When it changes:** When re-encoded (→ processing)

### SKIPPED (Light Gray)
- **What it means:** No subtitles, or manually excluded
- **What user can do:** Nothing, file doesn't meet criteria
- **When it changes:** Doesn't change (unless subtitles added)

---

## Benefits

1. **Simpler mental model**: "Select → Encode" instead of "Select → Queue → Start"
2. **One clear action**: Button name matches what it does
3. **Fewer states**: Only real encoding status, not UI workflow states
4. **Less confusion**: No need to explain difference between "ready" and "pending"
5. **Faster workflow**: 3 steps instead of 4
6. **Clearer UI**: State colors match encoding status
7. **Better UX**: Immediate feedback when clicking "Encode Selected"

---

## Migration

### Existing Databases
- Files in "ready" state will be treated as "pending"
- Files in "pending" state remain pending
- No data loss, fully compatible

### No Breaking Changes
- API endpoints unchanged
- Backend logic unchanged
- Only UI and state naming simplified

---

## Testing

- [ ] Scan library → Files show as "pending" (gray badge)
- [ ] Select files → Checkbox works
- [ ] Click "Encode Selected" → Encoding starts immediately
- [ ] Check processing → Files turn blue
- [ ] Check completed → Files turn green
- [ ] Check failed → Files turn red, can retry
- [ ] Filter by "Not Encoded" → Shows pending files
- [ ] Quick Select "Not Encoded" → Selects all pending
- [ ] Quick Select "Failed" → Selects all failed

---

## Version

**encoderPro Version:** 3.3.0 (Simplified Workflow)
**Date:** December 21, 2024