User Manual

Culsi for Android — User Manual (2025 Edition)

1. Introduction

Culsi is a free Android application for foodservice operations to manage Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TPHC), maintain compliance records, and streamline labeling and logging workflows.

It prints through Android’s native system print framework, so any printer supported by your device’s Print Service (e.g., Mopria, Brother, HP, Epson, Canon) will work — no vendor SDKs or subscriptions required.

With Culsi, you can:

  • Log food items when removed from temperature control.
  • Track discard times automatically with alerts.
  • Print prep/discard labels using Avery sheets or thermal single-label pages.
  • Use Saved Labels for one-tap printing of common items.
  • Queue and batch print multiple labels at once.
  • Export your compliance history for auditing.

Culsi is lightweight, offline-capable, and optimized for Android 7.0+ (API 24+).

2. Getting Started

Installation

  • Download and install Culsi on your Android device.
  • Open the app and follow the setup wizard.

First-Time Setup

  • Set your default discard duration (typically 4 hours).
  • Select your label template:
    • Avery: 5160, 5163, 5167
    • Thermal sizes: 62×30 mm, 57×32 mm, or Custom Thermal Size

Navigation Overview

  • TPHC Logs — Create and manage temperature/time logs.
  • Catalog — Standardized items and categories.
  • Saved Labels — One-tap printing for common items.
  • Settings — Templates, alignment profiles, Avery tools, alarms, and utilities.

UI note: The top bar shows the Culsi logo at left. Tap About (top-right) for app info.

3. TPHC Logs

TPHC Logs record items once removed from temperature control and calculate discard times automatically.

Creating a TPHC Log

  1. Tap Add New Log.
  2. Enter or select the food item name.
  3. Set the time removed from control.
  4. Confirm duration (defaults from Settings).
  5. Enter Logged by and optional notes.
  6. Tap Save.

The discard due time is calculated automatically and used for alerts and label printing.

Viewing Logs

  • Active — Items still within their discard window.
  • All — Full record history.
  • Recent — Last 30 days.

Discarding & Deleting

  • Mark items as Discarded with a reason/action (trash/compost/other).
  • Delete a single log or clear by date range.

Exporting Logs

  • CSV — Spreadsheet-friendly.
  • JSON — Structured data for systems.

4. Item Catalog

The catalog standardizes item names for fast, consistent logging.

Categories

  • Breakfast: Bacon, French Toast
  • Lunch & Dinner: Beef, Vegetables
  • Sauces & Mise: Ranch, Salsa

Custom Items

  • Add your own items per category.
  • Items are stored locally and shown with defaults.

“Logged by” memory: Culsi remembers the last “Logged by” name to speed repeat entries.

5. Saved Labels

Saved Labels are one-tap shortcuts to instantly print common prep or discard labels.

Screen Layout

  1. Batch print (toggle) — enables multi-select mode.
  2. Saved label buttons — newest first.
  3. Add New Saved Label — create a new shortcut (unique names enforced).
  4. Logged by & Duration — inputs below Add.

Adding & Managing

  • Create new buttons from Saved Labels → Add.
  • Use each button’s ⋮ menu to Edit or Delete.
  • Duplicates are prevented (case-insensitive).

Printing with Saved Labels

  • Tap a button → instant print (requires Logged by).
  • Duration applies in days (or hours if configured).
  • Batch Mode: enable, tap to queue, then use Print Batch (or Clear Batch).

Avery Sheet Tracking
Culsi tracks used cells on Avery sheets. When a sheet fills, you’ll be prompted to start a new one — or start a new sheet manually in the Partial Sheet Editor. You can also enable Auto-advance Avery sheet (Settings) to continue without prompts.

6. Label Printing & Templates

The Label Printing screen controls templates, alignment, and Avery utilities.

Templates

  • Avery: 5160 (30-up), 5163 (10-up), 5167 (80-up)
  • Thermal: 62×30 mm, 57×32 mm (single-label pages)
  • Custom Thermal Size: define width/height (mm)

Alignment Controls

  • Scale (%) — overall size
  • X Offset (pt) — horizontal shift
  • Y Offset (pt) — vertical shift

Alignment Profiles (per-printer presets)

  • Save current as… — e.g., “Front Desk HP”.
  • Apply — instantly applies saved Scale/X/Y.
  • Rename / Delete — manage presets.

Partial Sheet Editor (Avery)

  • Collapsible editor with live summary when collapsed (Free/Used/Planned).
  • Tap cells to toggle used/free; grid honors real label aspect ratios (e.g., 5160 is wide).
  • Planned print order shows numbered overlays (1..N) when a batch is queued.
  • Start new sheet — resets the sheet after confirmation.
  • Grid height is capped (scrollable) to keep the screen usable.
  • Undo last print and Reprint last batch are available.

7. Printing Utilities

  • Print Alignment Test — prints outlines/indices to calibrate Scale/X/Y (Avery grid / Thermal guides).
  • Export Last PDF — share the most recent printed PDF for printing elsewhere.
  • Tip: Print Services — if none are installed, Culsi suggests installing one (e.g., Mopria or your printer brand’s plugin).

Culsi prints via Android’s system dialog and works with Brother/HP/Epson/Canon, etc., through installed print services.

8. Bluetooth & Print Services

  • Bluetooth status — On/Off/Unavailable; opens system Bluetooth settings to pair devices.
  • Installed print services — lists detected services; Get Print Service opens the Play Store.
  • After pairing/installing a service, run Print Alignment Test to verify output.

9. Data Management

  • Logs older than 30 days are purged automatically (configurable in Settings).
  • All data is stored locally in culsi.db.
  • Exports (CSV/JSON) are saved to your device or shared via Android share sheet.

Privacy note: Culsi does not upload or sync your data automatically. Everything stays local unless you export it.

10. Permissions & Requirements

Permissions

  • POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+): Due alerts and notifications.
  • INTERNET: Printing via network print services and sharing PDFs.
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE: Ensures timely notification handling.

Culsi doesn’t request Bluetooth permissions; pairing happens in system settings.

Device Requirements & Screen Size

  • Min SDK: 24 (Android 7.0)
  • Target SDK: 34 (Android 14)
  • Recommended display: smallest width ≥ 400dp and height ≥ 700dp.
  • On devices below the minimum, Culsi shows a compatibility warning with an option to exit.

11. Troubleshooting

  • Labels misaligned: run Print Alignment Test, then adjust Scale/X/Y in Settings.
  • Printer not listed: install a print service (e.g., Mopria), then try printing again.
  • “Screen too small” message: use a device or tablet that meets the display requirements or rotate to landscape.
  • Export fails: ensure a recent print exists; then use Export Last PDF.
  • Crashes/freezes: update to the latest version and restart the app.

Keep your print service plugin current — outdated drivers commonly cause blank or misaligned output.

12. Appendix — Glossary

  • TPHC — Time/Temperature Control for Safety.
  • Discard Action — Method/reason for disposal (trash/compost/other).
  • Placement Plan — The algorithm that fills Avery sheets with queued labels.
  • Alignment Profile — Saved Scale/X/Y offsets per template/printer.
  • Custom Thermal Size — User-defined label dimensions (mm).
  • Culsi Mobile — The Android app edition (phones/tablets).

Supported Avery Templates

  • 5160 (30-up)
  • 5163 (10-up)
  • 5167 (80-up)

File Formats

  • CSV — Comma-separated values for spreadsheets.
  • JSON — Structured data for systems.
  • License: Culsi is FREE software. If you paid someone for it, request a refund.
  • About dialog: “Culsi — built in Austin, TX by Chris Villarreal • culsi.com • © 2025 • FREE software. If you paid for it, get a refund.”
  • Target SDK: 34 (Android 14)
  • Min SDK: 24 (Android 7.0)
  • Last updated: October 23, 2025

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