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Your first labeling run

This walks through one assignment from opening the project to returning your work. Have MLabel installed, the configuration and CSV your preparer supplied, and your project’s labeling instructions. You do not need to edit the configuration.

  1. Open the project configuration

    Section titled “Open the project configuration”

    Drop your .jsonc on the window, or click Select config. If MLabel found a config next to its executable or remembered your last one, this step is already done.

    The config screen with a large drop zone and a Select config button.The config screen with a large drop zone and a Select config button.
    Select image to enlarge.

  2. Open the assigned data file

    Section titled “Open the assigned data file”

    Now MLabel asks for a data file. Drop a .csv on the window or pick one.

    The data screen, prompting for a CSV file to label.The data screen, prompting for a CSV file to label.
    Select image to enlarge.

    The file must have the columns your config’s input.fields declares. Extra columns are ignored with a warning; a missing column is an error and the file is refused — nothing is loaded, so a mismatched file can never be exported over.

  3. Answer the setup questions, if there are any

    Section titled “Answer the setup questions, if there are any”

    If the config declares any session fields, you are asked them once, up front. The answers are written onto every completed output row — think “who is labeling” or “which guideline version”.

    Configs with no session fields skip this screen entirely.

  4. Label

    Section titled “Label”
    The labeling view: input cards on the left showing the record, an output form on the right.The labeling view: input cards on the left showing the record, an output form on the right.
    Select image to enlarge.

    The record is on one side, the form on the other. Fill it in, then move on:

    Key Action
    → / Enter Next record
    ← Previous record
    1–9 Pick the nth choice
    ? Show every shortcut

    Progress at the top shows how many records are complete. A record counts as complete when every required field holds a valid value — see Labeling.

    Your work is saved continuously. Closing the app and reopening it offers to resume.

  5. Export your work

    Section titled “Export your work”

    Press Save (or ⌘/Ctrl+Enter) whenever you like — you do not have to finish everything first.

    The completion screen showing counts of exported and remaining records, with buttons to reveal each file.The completion screen showing counts of exported and remaining records, with buttons to reveal each file.
    Select image to enlarge.

    MLabel writes the results next to your input:

    • yourfile-output.csv — every complete record, in the output schema.
    • yourfile-remaining.csv — everything unfinished, in the input schema.

    Show in Finder (macOS) or Show in File Explorer (Windows) locates a file in your file manager. The remaining file loads straight back into MLabel as input, so you can stop and pick up later, or hand the rest to someone else. No remaining file is written when all records are complete.

    Partially entered answers are not saved in the remaining file. A successful export clears the saved session. To pause while keeping those answers, close the app and resume the same session before exporting.

What next

Section titled “What next”