HERE'S A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
changing the application color theme changes the manuals color theme.
What this area is for: This top section acts as your main "heads-up display" (HUD) for weight management. Its primary purpose is to provide real-time, at-a-glance weight calculations as you build, modify, or review your pack. It breaks down your inventory's weight into distinct, customizable telemetry slots so you can monitor your loadout without having to dig into individual item menus.
Component Breakdown:
Understanding Consumables (C#) vs. Equipment Trackers (T#): FieldPac separates your tracking tags into two specialized families so your weight audits and analytics stay razor-sharp:
How to Assign Trackers & Consumables: The dashboard updates automatically as you tag items across your loadout:
Customizing Your 4 Dashboard Slots: Inside System Settings under Telemetry Dashboard Slots, you can assign any of the 4 HUD boxes (Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3, and Slot 4) to display Backpack, Bedroll, any Consumable (C1–C25), or any Equipment Tracker (T1–T50), and toggle between Imperial (Lbs, Oz, g) and Metric (Kg, g) at any time.
Located immediately below the weight dashboard, this small text row serves as a status indicator so you always know exactly what profile you are working on and where you are in the application.
Understanding "Main Context"
When the View indicator displays Main Context, it means you are on the application's primary home screen.
In user interface terminology, "context" refers to the specific environment or mode you are currently operating in. Because FieldPac contains multiple specialized sub-menus (such as Item Specs, Pocket Inventories, or System Settings), the "Main Context" confirms that you have backed out of those specific tasks and are looking at the top-level overview. It is your central, default starting point where you view the main pack visual and access the primary navigation menus.
The Heart of FieldPac: The main canvas is the large visual workspace located directly in the center of your screen. This is where your loadout comes to life.
How FieldPac is Different: Most traditional inventory and weight-tracking applications force you to manage your gear through endless text-based spreadsheets and lists. FieldPac abandons that outdated model in favor of spatial inventory management. Instead of just reading a list of what you packed, the canvas allows you to see exactly where your gear is physically located on your specific backpack or bedroll. It maps your physical reality into a digital space.
How the Canvas Works: The canvas is a fully interactive visual environment. When you are in the Main Context, the canvas displays the primary image of your backpack (and attached bedroll).
Marker Flags - Mapping Your Gear: To make the canvas truly yours, FieldPac utilizes a custom Flag system. Instead of relying on pre-determined zones, you can drop digital marker flags directly onto your pack's image. Got a specific side pouch for your water filter? Drop a flag right on that pouch. These flags act as interactive gateways; tapping a flag opens the inventory specifically assigned to that physical location.
The Breadcrumb Trail (Visual Search): Because FieldPac can handle incredibly complex, multi-layered loadouts, finding a specific item could be daunting. That is where the visual breadcrumb trail comes in. When you use the application's guided search modes to find a specific piece of gear, the canvas doesn't just give you a text result—it visually guides you, highlighting the exact marker flag, pocket, and sub-compartment you need to open to physically retrieve that item.
Image Optimization - Alpha Channels & File Types: Because the canvas relies on user-uploaded imagery, the quality of your images directly impacts your experience.
The Multi-Mode Search Engine: When your pack is fully loaded with dozens of items across multiple pockets and nested kits, manually hunting for a single piece of gear can be frustrating. FieldPac solves this with a targeted, 5-mode search engine that lets you control both how deep the engine scans and how it presents your results.
The 5 Search Modes:
How Category Tagging Works (# and *): Anywhere in an item's Name or Notes, you can tag a category word by placing a hashtag (#) or asterisk (*) directly in front of the word—for example: Titanium Pot #Cookware or Sawyer Squeeze *Filtration. These tags not only make your gear instantly searchable in Category Mode, they also automatically build your category breakdowns inside the Tactical Analytics Suite!
Advanced Search - Power Symbol Operators: You can type three special symbol operators directly into the search bar in any mode to filter your gear by tags, location, or weight:
lbs, oz, or g).
(Pro Tip: You can combine operators in a single query! Searching #c1 > 8 oz @front will find all C1 Consumables weighing over 8 ounces stored on the Front pockets!)
Smart Trail Features:
blnket instead of blanket) and still finds your gear.Building Your Foundation: The Add/Edit Pack (Pack Profile) window is where you construct the digital twin of your physical backpack, upload its 6-axis photos, set its empty base weight, and manage its items.
Uploading Your Pack Files (6-Axis Views): You will see photo upload and URL slots for all six viewing angles: Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Back, and Front. Adding transparent PNG/WebP photos gives you a crisp, floating 6-axis pack on the main canvas.
Backpack Specifications & Base Trackers: Below the photo grid, enter your Pack Name (required to save), Brand Name, Inner/Outer Pocket counts, Material Construction, Notes, and your Empty Pack Base Weight. You can even assign Tracker or Consumable tags directly to the empty pack chassis itself using the Assign Tag/Tracker (For Pack Itself) dropdown!
MOLLE & Outer Attachments: At the bottom of the Pack Profile is the Internal/External Gear & Attachments list. When you add an item here and open its specs, you can assign its exact Spatial Location (Internal Core, Front, Back, Left, Right, Top, or Bottom) so the 3D Spatial Load Map knows exactly which face of the pack carries that weight.
Inside Item Specs - Solid Weight vs. Liquid Consumable Volume: Whenever you tap an item in a pocket, on MOLLE, or in your Bedroll, the Item Specs window opens. Here you can add a photo, write auto-expanding notes, include #Category tags, set the Quantity, and choose your Measurement Mode:
The Global Action Menu & The Gear Library: In the top-right corner of the Pack Profile, Bedroll Manager, and Pocket Inventory windows, you will find the blue Menu button. It gives you two tiers of rapid inventory tools:
.json file.Switch Pack - Loading Saved Profiles: If you have multiple backpacks for different seasons or trip lengths, FieldPac allows you to save and switch between up to 5 different pack profiles right inside your active session.
How to Switch: When you tap the Switch Pack button, a system prompt will appear listing your currently occupied save slots and the names of the packs stored in them.
Delete Pack - Clearing a Save Slot: If you need to free up one of your 5 save slots, or if you are completely retiring an old backpack, use the Delete Pack button.
How to Delete: Similar to the Switch function, tapping this button will prompt you to select which pack you want to remove. Again, simply type the number of the save slot you wish to clear.
Configuring Your Sleep System: While it is called the "Bedroll" profile, this dedicated section is designed to manage your entire sleep/shelter system or any major external gear cluster strapped to your pack.
By separating the bedroll from the main backpack inventory, you gain two massive advantages: it keeps your internal pocket lists from becoming cluttered, and it allows both the main dashboard and the 3D Spatial Load Map to calculate your Bedroll weight independently from your BackPack weight.
Configuring the Bedroll Image & Scale: When you open the Add/Edit Bedroll (Configure Bedroll) window, the first step is giving it a visual presence.
Base Weight & Base Trackers: Assign a Base Weight for the empty bedroll carrier, compression sack, or lashing straps, and optionally assign Tracker or Consumable tags directly to the bedroll chassis using Assign Tag/Tracker (For Bedroll Itself).
Bedroll Inventory & Spatial Location: The bottom half of this window is your Bedroll Inventory. Open the top-right Menu to Add, Copy, Paste, Move, Delete, Store, or Fetch items from your Gear Library. When you open an item inside the Bedroll Inventory, you can set its Spatial Location to either Bedroll Internal (Core) or Bedroll External (Outer), which directly feeds the 3D Bedroll cylinder in the Tactical Analytics Suite!
Delete Bedroll - Clearing Your Sleep System: Located directly beneath the Add/Edit Bedroll option, the Delete Bedroll button serves a single, specific purpose: it completely wipes the bedroll configuration from your currently active pack profile.
Mapping Your Gear in 2D Space: The Map Controls section is the bridge between a simple list and a true spatial inventory. This is where you place interactive Marker Flags onto your backpack's canvas, telling the application—and the 3D Spatial Load Map—exactly where every piece of gear is physically located.
What is a Marker Flag? At its most basic level, a flag represents a storage location. When you tap a flag on the canvas, it opens a dedicated inventory menu for that specific location. However, flags in FieldPac are highly flexible and customizable:
How to Place and Access a Flag (The Workflow): Placing flags uses a three-step workflow so you never accidentally drop markers while navigating:
Delete Flag - Proceed with Caution: Directly below the Map Mode toggle is the Delete Flag toggle.
The Telemetry Command Center: Tapping the Analytics button launches the interactive Tactical Analytics Suite. When it opens, you arrive at the Tactical Command Hub, featuring four specialized telemetry modules that let you audit your loadout from every physical and mathematical angle. You can toggle between Imperial (Lbs, Oz, g / Gal, Qt, Fl Oz) and Metric (Kg, g / L, mL) or switch between the default Tactical Theme and App Sync Theme from any module's sidebar.
1. 🎒 Spatial Load Map (3D Wireframe & Heatmap):
2. 📊 At a Glance (Charts, Audits & Saved Favorites): Use the Select At a Glance View dropdown in the sidebar to switch between 6 core analytical rooms plus your 5 Saved Favorite Battles:
#Category / *Category tag in your pack, plus Pack Base, Bedroll Base, and Untagged Gear. Tap any bar to open the scrollable Item Drilldown Modal listing every individual item inside that category.Gal, Qt, Fl Oz or L, mL) and calculated weight.3. 🌳 The Family Tree (Interactive Loadout Hierarchy):
4. ⚔️ This vs That Arena (Universal Head-to-Head Engine):
#Category, any C# / T# Tracker, or any single Gear Item!Saving and Loading Your Pack: The Data Backup section is where you secure all your hard work. Because FieldPac operates entirely within your browser for maximum privacy and offline speed, your pack data is saved directly to your device rather than a remote cloud server.
Save Pack & Load Pack:
Image Sizes - Efficiency Over Art: While the application grants you the freedom to upload images of any file size, remember that FieldPac is a tactical inventory tool, not a high-resolution photo gallery. Uploading massive, uncompressed camera photos for every single item will increase your save file size. Using reasonably sized, transparent PNG or WebP images keeps your pack running at lightning speed out in the field.
Cross-App Synergy - FieldPac & PacTrack: FieldPac and its desktop sister application, PacTrack, are built on the exact same core engine and share 100% file compatibility:
.json export) to your phone and load it into FieldPac. Every marker flag coordinate, bedroll scale setting, custom tracker, and liquid volume transfers seamlessly with unyielding coordinate stability.Personalizing Your Interface & Engine: The System Settings window is your central command panel for visual themes, measurement units, dashboard slots, and custom trackers. (Remember to tap the blue Save Settings button at the top of the window to apply changes to your visual theme, font, default view, and measurement system!)
Visuals & System Engine:
#000000).Tracking & Metrics - Managing Your C# & T# Corrals:
Fuel, Propane, or Electrolytes). C1: Water and C2: Food are permanent system baselines (locked from renaming or deletion). Any custom Consumable (C3–C25) can be renamed at any time by tapping ✎ Rename or removed by tapping ✕.MedKit, Optics, or Worn). T1 and T2 are protected from deletion so you always have primary trackers available, and all Equipment Trackers (including T1 and T2!) can be renamed anytime by tapping ✎ Rename.Demo_Pack - Your Digital Training Ground: At the bottom of System Settings, tapping the Demo_Pack button loads a pre-built, fully populated backpack loadout complete with 6-axis visuals, marker flags, nested pocket inventories, and weights so you can test the search engine and Analytics Suite right away.