Save less. Remember more.

01

Getting started

Retracea is a private library for things you deliberately choose to keep. It is designed around retrieval: save the context that will help your future self, then search by the fragment, source, or idea you still remember.

The basic workflow

1. Save a URL and review its title before confirming.
2. Add a short personal note explaining why the item matters.
3. Optionally add tags or move it into a Project.
4. Find it later with search, source filters, or remembered context.

Projects and tags are optional. You can keep every item in the main Library and organize only when it helps.

02

Save a link

Select Save a link, paste an address, then review the information before confirming. Retracea should never save a page merely because you visited it.

Accepted link format

Use a complete web address such as https://www.example.com/article. If you enter www.example.com, Retracea may add https:// automatically when the save form supports it. Addresses that still cannot be parsed are rejected before saving.

Fields in the save form

• Link URL: the original page address.
• Title: a memorable name; use the suggested title or replace it.
• Personal note: why you saved it or what you expect to use it for.
• Tags: optional labels separated by commas.

Browser companion and native share-sheet capture are planned. Until they are released, the web save form is the documented path.

03

Library and reading view

Library shows all active saved items. Selecting an item opens its details without removing you from the list. The middle list can show the title, one-line summary, source, saved date, estimated reading time, favorite state, and thumbnail.

Reading view controls

• Favorite / Unfavorite: change whether the item appears in Favorites.
• Tag: add comma-separated labels or update existing labels.
• Archive: remove the item from the active Library without deleting it.
• Put in trash: move the item to Deleted items.
• Text controls: adjust reading presentation when supported.
• Show original: open the source page in a separate browser context.

Reading-time estimates are calculated from the amount of readable text, commonly using roughly 200–250 words per minute. They are an estimate, not a measurement of your personal reading speed. Video duration should use source duration when available.

04

Projects, tags, and favorites

Projects

Use a Project for an outcome or body of work—for example, “Local AI research” or “Kitchen renovation.” An item can remain in the Library while also appearing in a Project. Projects are smart working collections, not a requirement for every save.

Tags

Tags are reusable labels across Projects. They begin empty; Retracea should not pre-create tags for you. Enter multiple tags separated by commas, such as research, product design, mac. The Tags section in the sidebar can be expanded or collapsed.

Favorites

Favorite items you expect to return to often. A filled or darker star means the item is currently a Favorite; an outline means it is not. The tooltip should always describe the next action: Favorite or Unfavorite.

05

Search, filters, and sorting

Search from the Library column. Try the words you remember rather than reconstructing the exact title: a topic, website, note, Project, or tag can all be useful clues.

How search is intended to work

• Typing prepares a query; press Enter or select Search to submit it.
• Keyword matching checks available item fields in the current library.
• Semantic retrieval, when connected, should run only after an explicit search—not on every keystroke.
• If semantic retrieval is unavailable, ordinary search should continue to work.

Source filter

Filter by how an item entered Retracea, such as Chrome bookmarks, Edge bookmarks, Firefox bookmarks, Safari bookmarks, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, another app, or a direct save. Available sources depend on the imported or captured data.

Sort by date

By date ↑ shows the current direction. Selecting it reverses the order when that interaction is available. Filters and sorting change the view; they do not alter saved content.

06

Multiple selection

Choose Select to act on several items. The action bar reports how many items are selected and can provide:

• Add tags or choose existing tags.
• Move to a Project.
• Archive.
• Favorite or unfavorite.
• Put in trash.

Select the × button or press Esc to leave multiple-selection mode. Destructive actions should always make the affected scope clear before confirmation.

07

Archive and Deleted items

Archive is for content you want to keep but no longer need in the active Library. Deleted items is a temporary holding area for items you intend to remove.

• Archive: reversible; the item remains part of your data.
• Put in trash: moves the item to Deleted items.
• Restore: returns a deleted item to the Library when available.
• Delete permanently: irreversible after final confirmation.

Do not use “Remove from library” as an ambiguous shortcut. Retracea should identify whether an action archives, trashes, or permanently deletes an item.

08

Import existing bookmarks

Import is an occasional data-management task and belongs in Settings. The intended first formats are:

• Browser bookmark HTML exported from Chrome or Edge.
• Browser bookmark HTML exported from Firefox or Safari.
• Raindrop bookmark HTML.
• Retracea portable export for migration or recovery.

Rich CSV adapters for other services may be added later. A generic CSV is not automatically safe to import because column names and data meanings vary by service.

Import safety

Import should first show a preview containing valid records, duplicates, unsupported rows, and errors. Nothing should be written until you explicitly confirm. Keep the original export file until you have checked the resulting Library.

09

Export, backup, and restore

These tools solve different problems and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Direct backup to Google Drive, Dropbox, or another personal cloud is not promised in the current beta. The safer initial design is a downloadable export or backup file that you can store wherever you choose. This also gives customers a practical exit path if Retracea ever stops operating.

10

Account and subscription

Account controls live in Settings. When connected, they should show the signed-in email, profile details, session controls, plan status, and a route for account deletion.

• Sign in: use the method presented by Retracea; never share an OTP or password with support.
• Subscription: pricing and plan management appear only when billing is active.
• Sign out: ends the session on the current device.
• Delete account: requires clear confirmation and should explain the data consequences.

A “sample profile” or “local preview” label is demonstration data, not confirmation that a cloud account, payment, or synchronization is active.

11

Privacy and security

Your library is intended to be private to your account. Retracea should collect only the data required to provide the service and should not use your general browser history as an automatic capture source.

• Save only occurs after a deliberate user action.
• Import and restore require preview and confirmation.
• Sensitive credentials should never be placed in notes or tags.
• Public or shared features must clearly identify what becomes visible.
• Export gives you a portable copy of your own library.

For the current legal details, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

12

Troubleshooting

13

Frequently asked questions

14

Contact support

If this guide does not solve the problem, Contact us. Include the page you were using, what you expected, what happened, and the browser or app version. A screenshot is helpful when it does not expose private content.