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Understanding the Dashboard

Understanding the Dashboard

The plotTree dashboard is where you’ll spend most of your time. It’s organized into three main areas: a left sidebar for navigation, a main content area for your work, and a right sidebar for AI assistance.

Dashboard Layout

Three-Panel Design

┌─────────────┬──────────────────────┬─────────────┐
│    Left     │   Main Content      │    Right    │
│   Sidebar   │                     │   Sidebar   │
│             │                     │             │
│ Navigation  │   Your Story Work   │ AI Chat     │
│             │                     │ (Optional)  │
└─────────────┴──────────────────────┴─────────────┘
  • Left Sidebar: Project selection and navigation
  • Main Content: Where you work on your story
  • Right Sidebar: AI assistants (toggle with chat icon in header)

Top Header

The header contains:

  • Menu Toggle (mobile): Opens/closes left sidebar on small screens
  • plotTree Logo: Quick link back to marketing/home page
  • Breadcrumbs: Shows your current location (Project > Section > Page)
  • AI Chat Toggle: Opens/closes right sidebar with AI assistants

Project Switcher (Top)

At the very top of the left sidebar:

  • Shows your currently selected project
  • Click to open a dropdown listing all your projects
  • Quick search to find projects by name
  • ”+” button to create new projects

No project selected? The main content area will prompt you to create or select a project.

This Project Section

Appears only when you have a project selected. These are your main working areas:

Overview

  • Project summary and quick stats
  • Recent activity and progress indicators
  • Quick links to common actions

Settings

  • Edit project metadata (title, description, theme)
  • Configure framework, genre, format
  • Set word count targets
  • Adjust feature flags (like auto-generating vault objects)
  • Upload or generate cover image

Timeline

  • Visual representation of your entire story
  • Framework structure (sections, milestones, transitions)
  • Scene placement and distribution
  • Click any point to see vault object states

Story Vault

  • Browse all characters, locations, and items
  • View and edit vault object details
  • See state evolution across scenes
  • Manage pending vault objects

My Library Section

Quick access to your recent work:

Recent Projects

  • Shows your 5 most recently updated projects
  • Roman numeral labels (I, II, III, IV, V)
  • Click any project to switch to it
  • Active project is highlighted

Create Project

  • Quick button to create a new project
  • Disabled if you’ve hit your project limit

All Projects

Configuration Section (Bottom)

Subscription Alert (if inactive)

  • Shows when trial expires or subscription needed
  • Links to pricing page

API Keys (Optional - Power Users)

  • Connect your own OpenRouter API key to avoid platform margin
  • Alternative to using credits
  • View provider status and manage keys

User Menu (Bottom)

Click your avatar or name for:

Main Content Area

This is where your actual work happens. The content changes based on what you select from the left sidebar:

Project Overview

  • Dashboard view of your current project
  • Progress indicators
  • Recent work

Settings Page

  • Forms for editing project configuration
  • Image upload/generation tools
  • Framework and genre selectors

Timeline View

  • Interactive visual timeline
  • Framework structure overlay
  • Scene placement interface
  • State snapshot explorer

Story Vault Page

  • Tables or cards of vault objects
  • Detail views for editing
  • Pending objects manager

Scene Pages

  • Scene planning forms
  • Content editor
  • Generation controls
  • State assignment

Toggle with the chat icon in the header. The right sidebar contains AI chat with two specialized assistants.

Two Tabs

General Tab

  • Cross-project writing support
  • Help brainstorming story ideas
  • Guidance on choosing genres, frameworks, and settings
  • Can create new projects through conversation
  • General storytelling advice

Project Tab (when project is selected)

  • Project-specific guidance
  • Full access to your vault and scenes
  • Can create scenes, vault objects, and execute workflows
  • Understands your current project context

Thread Management

Each tab has its own conversation threads:

  • Click the thread dropdown to see all conversations
  • Create new threads for different topics
  • Rename threads to stay organized
  • Delete old threads you no longer need
  • Each thread maintains conversation history and context

Mobile Navigation

On smaller screens:

  • Left sidebar becomes a slide-out menu
  • Toggle with the menu button (top-left)
  • Main content takes full width
  • Right sidebar overlays when opened

Use the breadcrumb trail in the header to:

  • See where you are in the app
  • Click any level to navigate up
  • Understand the hierarchy of your current view

Common Workflows

Starting Your Day

  1. Open the plotTree dashboard
  2. Select your current project (or it loads automatically)
  3. Check Overview for progress
  4. Navigate to Timeline or Scenes to continue work

Creating Scenes

  1. Select your project
  2. Go to Timeline to see framework structure
  3. Click where you want to add a scene
  4. Fill in planning details (purpose, conflict, resolution)
  5. Save as Draft status

Using AI Assistants

  1. Click chat icon in header to open right sidebar
  2. Select Project Assistant for story-specific help
  3. Ask questions or request actions
  4. Execute tools through conversation
  5. Review and approve AI suggestions

Managing Vault Objects

  1. Navigate to Story Vault from left sidebar
  2. Browse existing characters/locations/items
  3. Click any object to edit details
  4. View state evolution across scenes
  5. Manage pending objects from automatic detection

Next Steps

Now that you understand the dashboard layout:

  • Start working on your story: Navigate to Timeline or Scenes
  • Explore the Timeline: Understand the visual story mapping
  • Learn about Scenes: Master the scene workflow
  • Use the Story Vault: Track your narrative elements

The dashboard is designed to get out of your way. Spend a few minutes clicking around, and it’ll become second nature.

Quick Tips

  • The left sidebar remembers which sections you had expanded/collapsed
  • The “My Library” section shows your 5 most recent projects for quick switching
  • Use the Project Switcher at the top for a full searchable project list
  • The right sidebar chat is optional - use it when helpful, ignore it when not
  • Each chat tab (General/Project) maintains separate conversation threads
  • Breadcrumbs are clickable for quick navigation back up the hierarchy