Element References

Element references let you create links between your story content. Use the @ symbol to reference characters, locations, items, and other elements from anywhere in your project.

Quick Start

1. Type @ in any document
2. Start typing to search for an element
3. Select from the dropdown or press Enter
4. A styled link is inserted into your text

Why Use Element References?

Track Character Appearances

See everywhere a character is mentioned across your entire project. The Relationships Panel shows:

• References: Elements this document links to
• Backlinks: Other documents that reference this element

Navigate Your World

Click any element reference to jump directly to that character sheet, location page, or item entry. Build a web of interconnected worldbuilding.

Maintain Consistency

When you hover over an element reference, a tooltip shows key information about that element. Quickly verify character names, location details, or item properties without leaving your current document.

Using the @ Popup

Searching

The popup shows your most recent/relevant elements by default. Start typing to filter:

• Type @Elena to find characters named Elena
• Type @Tavern to find locations containing "Tavern"
• Results are ranked by relevance and recency

Keyboard Navigation

Key	Action
↑ ↓	Navigate through results
Enter	Select highlighted result
Escape	Close popup without selecting
Tab	Select and continue typing

Element Types

The popup shows icons indicating element type:

Icon	Element Type
📄	Document
📁	Folder
👤	Character
📍	Location
📦	Item
✨	Worldbuilding entry

Editing References

Change Display Text

By default, the element's name is shown. To use custom text:

1. Right-click the element reference
2. Select "Edit Display Text"
3. Enter your preferred text
4. Click Save or press Enter

Example: Change @Elena Blackwood to display as just Elena or the sorceress.

Remove a Reference

To remove an element reference:

1. Place your cursor at the end of the reference
2. Press Backspace to delete it as a single unit

Or:

1. Right-click the reference
2. Select "Remove Link" (keeps the text, removes the reference)

The Relationships Panel

The side panel shows all relationships for the current document:

References (Outgoing)

Elements that this document mentions. Click any reference to navigate to that element.

Backlinks (Incoming)

Other documents that reference the current element. Great for finding all scenes where a character appears.

Hover for Preview

Hover over any item in the Relationships Panel to see a preview tooltip with element details.

Tips & Best Practices

Create Elements First

Before writing a scene, create your characters and locations as worldbuilding entries. This makes them searchable via @ mentions.

Use Consistent Names

Keep element names consistent for easy searching:

• ✅ Elena Blackwood (full name)
• ✅ The Silver Spoon Tavern (with article if part of name)
• ❌ elena or Elena's tavern (informal variants)

Custom Display Text

Use display text to match your narrative voice:

• Reference: @Elena Blackwood
• Display: "the young sorceress" or "her mentor"

Track Mentions Across Scenes

Use backlinks to ensure consistency:

1. Open a character's page
2. Check the Relationships Panel
3. Review all scenes where they appear

Troubleshooting

Popup Not Appearing

• Ensure you're in a text editor (not a title field)
• Check that your project has created elements to reference
• Try refreshing the page if elements were just created

Element Not Found

• Check the element exists in your project tree
• Try searching by partial name
• Verify the element type (character vs. location)

Reference Not Clickable

• Ensure you're in read mode (not editing)
• Check that the target element still exists
• Try re-creating the reference if the element was moved