> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sightlinebehavior.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Record an observation

> Operate the recorder, finish the observation, and confirm it was saved.

After [setting up an observation](/observation-setup), the recorder opens with the student, method, and behaviors you chose. Check those details, then select **Start** to begin the observation clock.

## Use the controls for your method

Sightline changes the recording area to match the method. Use the buttons on screen or the shortcut keys shown beside them.

| Method | During recording |
| - | - |
| [Interval](/interval-recording) | Score Partial and Whole Interval as you observe. If the interval pauses, check the scores and select **Continue**. For MTS, score at the sampling moment. |
| [Anecdotal](/anecdotal-recording) | Type observations as entries. Each entry takes the elapsed time when you start typing. Use Enter to save it, or select the time to change it to the current time. |
| [ABC](/abc-recording) | Record the antecedent, behavior, and consequence for each event. Add details that help explain what happened. |
| [Frequency](/frequency-recording) | Select the behavior each time it occurs. Each action adds an event. |
| [Duration](/duration-recording) | Start the behavior's timer when an episode begins and stop it when the episode ends. |
| [Latency](/latency-recording) | Start timing when the cue is delivered, then record the response or mark **No response**. |

For Interval and Frequency observations with peer comparison, check whether the recorder is currently recording the student or the comparison peer before entering data.

## Record with iPhone

[Record with your computer nearby](/companion/record-nearby) explains how to enter scores on iPhone while the desktop recorder runs. To leave the computer behind, [prepare an away observation](/companion/record-away) before leaving. See [Companion requirements](/companion/overview) for access and supported methods.

## Keep context alongside the data

Use **Context** for notes about the observation as a whole, such as an interruption, a change in staffing, or circumstances that will matter when interpreting the results.

Use an observation note for something tied to a particular moment. Anecdotal recording keeps written observations in its entry list. The other recorders provide a note control alongside the measurement controls.

If **Track activities** is on, choose the current activity and update it when the activity changes. This lets you review the data by activity later. Activity is a description of the context; selecting an activity does not record a behavior or establish that the student completed the activity.

## Pause when you stop observing

Select **Pause** to stop the observation clock, then **Resume** to continue.

If you turned on **Pause when Sightline loses focus** in Settings, switching away from Sightline also pauses the recorder. Check its state when you return.

A Latency trial cannot be paused while it is active. Finish the trial by recording the response, marking **No response**, or canceling the trial before pausing the session.

## Find shortcuts and hide the student's name

Select the keyboard icon near the top of the recorder to see shortcuts for the current method. Interval and Frequency use the behavior keys from setup. For other methods, follow the shortcuts shown in the recorder.

Use **Privacy mask** in the recorder's top bar when you need to hide the student name on screen. The saved observation still belongs to the same student.

## End and save the observation

Select **End** when you are finished and confirm **End Session**. With Duration recording, ending stops any running behavior timers. If a Latency trial is still active, Sightline asks whether to end it as **No Response**.

On the completion screen, review or add the final **Context** notes. Then choose the next step:

* With Starter or Pro, including an active Pro trial, **View Results** opens Results, where Sightline attempts to save the observation. **Review later** saves it and returns you to your students.
* With the free Community plan, **Save observation** keeps the record. **Download CSV** saves it and starts a CSV export.

If saving fails, stay on the completion screen and select **Retry save**. Follow the error message before leaving the session.

Use **Discard** only when you intend to throw away the current observation. It is separate from ending and saving, and its confirmation cannot be undone.

After saving finishes, check the home observation list on Community or the student’s **Sessions** on Starter or Pro. Once the observation is saved, see [Review observation results](/results) for checking the measurements and correcting recording errors.

## Recover an interrupted observation

Sightline keeps a recovery copy of the observation in progress. It saves the copy about a second after each change, at least every 30 seconds while the observation clock runs, and when you switch away from the window.

If the recorder shows **Auto-save failed. Your data may not be saved. Keep the session open.**, keep Sightline open and finish the observation through the completion screen. The warning clears when a later save succeeds.

If Sightline closes before the observation is saved, the next time you open the observation setup screen it shows an **Interrupted session found** banner with the student, behaviors, method, and elapsed time.

* Select **Resume** to reopen the recorder at the recovered elapsed time with the data saved so far.
* Select **Discard** to delete the recovery copy. This cannot be undone.

The recovery copy holds only what was saved before the interruption. Entries from the last few seconds may be missing. Review the recovered record before continuing, especially for timed methods:

* **Duration:** recovery closes running episodes at the recovered elapsed time and reports how many it closed. That time does not tell you when the behavior actually ended.
* **Latency:** only completed trials are recovered. A trial still being timed is lost without a notice, so check **Completed trials** against your notes.

The recovery banner does not appear in demo mode.


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