What You'll Learn

• The difference between guided and non-guided (standard) workflow modes in measureQuick
• When to use each mode based on your experience level and the job type
• How to switch between modes before and during a test
• How each mode handles measurement order, phase structure, and progress tracking

What You'll Need

• Device: iPhone (iOS 15+) or Android phone/tablet (Android 10+) with measureQuick v3.5+ installed
• Account: Active measureQuick account with Premier Services (for mQ+ workflows)
• Time: 10 minutes to read

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: What Are Guided Workflows

Guided workflows walk you through each phase of a diagnostic test in a fixed sequence. The app controls the order: it tells you what to do next, which probes to connect, and when to move from one phase to the next.

A typical guided cooling workflow follows this sequence:

1. Project setup - create or select a project, choose the workflow type
2. Indoor phase - site information, customer information, deploy indoor probes, photo documentation, indoor model and serial numbers
3. System profiling - refrigerant, airflow, SEER/CTOA, metering device, electrical measurements
4. Outdoor phase - deploy outdoor probes, outdoor measurements, photo documentation, outdoor model and serial numbers
5. Results and reporting - pass/fail review, Vitals Score, report generation

Each phase contains a checklist. You complete tasks in order. The app shows checkmarks for completed items and grays out tasks that are not yet available. Step indicators at the top of the screen show where you are in the overall sequence.

When you finish one phase, the app prompts you to move to the next. You cannot skip ahead to the outdoor phase without completing the indoor phase first.

Guided workflows also include safety prompts. Before indoor work begins, the app confirms that indoor power is off. Before outdoor work, it confirms outdoor power is off. These prompts appear automatically at the correct point in the sequence.

What guided mode handles for you:

• Measurement collection order
• Safety confirmation prompts at the right time
• Probe deployment reminders with placement diagrams
• Phase transitions (indoor to profiling to outdoor)
• Photo documentation prompts at each phase
• Progress tracking with visual indicators

Step 2: What Are Non-Guided (Standard) Workflows

Non-guided workflows give you access to all measurement fields at once. There is no enforced sequence. You decide what to measure first, when to profile the system, and when to move between the indoor and outdoor units.

In non-guided mode, the app presents:

• Gauge view - all measurement gauges on a single screen, organized by category (outdoor, indoor, electrical)
• Grid view - every measurement in a compact table layout
• Toolbox - full access to probe management and mapping
• Profile - available at any time from the info button

You can start at the condenser and work your way inside, or start at the air handler and work outward. You can profile the system before or after deploying probes. The app does not enforce an order.

Non-guided mode does not show step indicators, phase transitions, or sequential checklists. The diagnostic engine runs continuously in the background. As probes connect and measurements populate, pass/fail indicators update in real time. You can check diagnostic results at any point during the test.

Non-guided workflow showing gauge view with all measurement fields accessible simultaneously

What non-guided mode expects you to manage:

• Your own measurement sequence
• Remembering to profile the system before evaluating diagnostics
• Knowing when to capture photos and documentation
• Deciding when the system has stabilized (see System Stabilization)
• Saving the test at the appropriate time

Step 3: Side-by-Side Comparison

Step 4: When to Use Guided Workflows

Use guided workflows when:

• You are new to measureQuick. The guided sequence teaches you the correct order of operations. Complete 10-20 guided workflows before switching to non-guided mode. This builds the habit of checking airflow and static pressure before connecting gauges, which prevents the "appliance fixation" pattern that Jim Bergmann describes - going straight to the condenser and gauging up before checking anything else.

• You are training new technicians. Guided workflows enforce consistent process. Every technician on your team follows the same steps in the same order, producing the same documentation. Joe Medosch uses guided workflows exclusively in 101 training classes for this reason.

• You are running an installation workflow. Installation commissioning requires electrical measurements and benchmarking that are not required for service calls. The guided workflow ensures these steps are not skipped. If you are doing ACCA QI documentation, the guided workflow structures the process to meet VEO and VSP requirements.

• The job requires thorough documentation. Guided workflows prompt photo capture at each phase - thermostat, nameplates, filter condition, installation overview, line set connections, electrical disconnect. If your company uses companywide checklists (mQ 3.6+), those appear at the configured point in the guided sequence.

• You want the app to handle safety prompts. Power confirmation dialogs appear automatically at the right time. This matters on installations where indoor and outdoor disconnects are toggled multiple times.

Step 5: When to Use Non-Guided Workflows

Use non-guided workflows when:

• You are experienced with measureQuick. You already know the measurement sequence, probe placement, and profiling requirements. You do not need the app to tell you what to do next.

• You are on a service call where you know the system. Return visits to equipment you have previously benchmarked are faster in non-guided mode. Connect your probes, verify the profile from the benchmark, and check diagnostics. No need to step through an indoor phase when you already know the system.

• You need a quick check. If you are verifying charge after an adjustment, checking static pressure on a callback, or confirming a repair, non-guided mode lets you connect the relevant probes and read results immediately.

• You are doing repeat visits on similar equipment. Technicians who service the same model lines daily develop their own efficient measurement order. Non-guided mode does not slow you down with steps you have memorized.

• You want to work in parallel. In non-guided mode, you can have a second technician deploying outdoor probes while you handle the indoor measurements. The app accepts data from all probes simultaneously regardless of order.

Note on Standalone Mode (mQ 3.6+): If you need diagnostics without creating a project at all, mQ+ offers Standalone Mode. You select a system type, profile it, connect probes, and get diagnostics without the overhead of project creation. You can convert a standalone session to a full project later if needed. See Standalone Mode.

Step 6: Switching Between Modes

Before starting a test:

In mQ Classic, the workflow type is selected when you start a project. Tap Start Project, then choose either Guided Workflows (and select the specific workflow) or a non-guided test type.

In mQ+ (3.6+), you select the test type from the project start screen: Installation, Service, or Vitals. The mQ+ interface uses a streamlined guided approach by default. To use non-guided mode, select the appropriate option from the test type screen.

Switching mid-test:

If you started a guided workflow and realize you want non-guided access, you have two options:

1. Continue in guided mode and use the gauge or grid view to access measurements out of sequence. The gauge and grid views are available in guided workflows - tap the gauge or grid icon in the bottom navigation bar. This gives you free-form access to all measurements while keeping the guided checklist available.

2. Exit and restart. If you need to switch completely, save your current progress, exit the workflow, and start a new non-guided test on the same project. Your previously entered data (profile, site info, photos) is saved to the project.

You cannot convert a non-guided session into a guided workflow mid-test.

Tips & Common Issues

I picked the wrong workflow type and I'm already mid-test

Do not restart unless you have a specific reason. In most cases, you can access gauge and grid views from within a guided workflow, which gives you the same measurement access as non-guided mode. The guided workflow simply adds structure on top. Finish the test in guided mode and consider switching for your next job.

If you are in a non-guided test and need the guided checklist structure, the simplest approach is to follow the measurement order described in A/C Installation Workflow or A/C Service Workflow manually, using those articles as a reference checklist.

I can't find a measurement field in guided mode

Guided workflows show measurement fields as they become relevant in the current phase. If you need to enter a measurement that belongs to a later phase (for example, entering outdoor data while still in the indoor phase), tap the gauge or grid icon in the bottom navigation bar. The grid view shows every measurement field regardless of which guided phase you are in.

My company wants everyone using the same workflow type

Company administrators can set a default workflow preference through Company Settings. In mQ+ (3.6+), the company-wide interface mode setting (mQ Classic vs mQ+) also affects available workflow options. See Company-Wide Settings and Interface Mode Selection.

Guided workflow is missing steps I expected

Workflow content varies by equipment type and configuration. For example, combustion-related steps only appear in furnace workflows. Electrical measurement steps appear in installation workflows but not service workflows. If a step is missing, verify you selected the correct workflow type. The A/C Installation Workflow includes electrical and benchmarking; the A/C Service Workflow does not.

Which mode produces better diagnostic results?

Both modes use the same diagnostic engine. The pass/fail indicators, Vitals Score calculation, and report generation are identical. The only difference is how you navigate to the measurements. A non-guided test with all probes connected and a correct profile produces the same results as a guided test with the same inputs.

Related Articles

Prerequisites (complete these first):

• A/C Installation Workflow - Full guided workflow for new installations
• A/C Service Workflow - Guided workflow for service calls

Follow-up articles (next steps after this one):

• Save Test In / Save Test Out - Saving your results in either mode
• System Stabilization - When readings are stable enough to evaluate
• Understanding Diagnostic Screens - Reading pass/fail indicators

Related in the same domain:

• Interface Mode Selection - Choosing mQ Classic vs mQ+
• Standalone Mode - Running diagnostics without creating a project
• Workflow UI Navigation - General workflow navigation (mQ Classic)

Need Help?

If you get stuck or this article does not answer your question:

• Check the Related Articles section above
• Contact measureQuick support: support@measurequick.com