Documentation

1. Introduction

This documentation covers everything in Build Any Studio: the three workspaces, project tools like the Cover Designer and Compendium, AI-powered features, the Knowledge Store, publishing and export options, and more.

2. Workspaces

Build Any Studio is organised around three workspaces, each designed for a different type of creative work. Switch between them using the sidebar navigation. Additional project tools like the Cover Designer and Compendium are available within book projects.

2.1 Words

The Words workspace is the primary text editor in Build Any Studio. It provides a distraction-free writing environment with powerful formatting, AI assistance, and project management for multi-document works like novels.

Key Features:

• Rich Text Editing: Full formatting with fonts, colours, alignment, lists, tables, images, code blocks, and more
• Flow State: A distraction-free fullscreen writing mode that removes all UI chrome so you can focus entirely on your words
• Projects & Sheets: Organise long works into projects with multiple sheets (chapters, sections). Reorder sheets and manage them from the sidebar
• Auto-Save: Documents are automatically saved as you type, with save status shown in the toolbar
• AI Writing Assistant: Get inline suggestions for correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery. Rewrite, expand, or summarise selected text
• Templates: Start from a library of document templates, or generate custom templates with AI
• Photo Library: Browse and insert images directly from the built-in photo library
• Smart Pagination: Optional paginated view with configurable page sizes for print-ready documents
• Writing Stats: Track your word count, writing time, and streaks on the dashboard

Document types: Create standalone documents or novel projects. Novel projects group multiple sheets together and give access to the Book Project Bar with Cover Designer and Compendium.

2.2 Publisher

The Publisher workspace is a freeform visual canvas for creating designed layouts. Unlike the structured block editor in Pages, Publisher gives you complete control over positioning, layering, and styling on a multi-page canvas.

Canvas Elements:

Key Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Design: Place elements anywhere on the canvas with pixel-perfect control
• AI Layout Generation: Describe what you want and let AI generate multi-page layouts from text, uploaded content, or Words documents
• Variable Data: Connect a spreadsheet to create personalised batch exports with mail-merge fields, public submission forms, and print imposition
• Export: Export designs as PDF or PPTX. Publish directly to Build Any Flipbook for interactive online viewing
• Undo/Redo: Full history support with keyboard shortcuts

2.3 Pages

The Pages workspace is a block-based page builder for creating structured, responsive layouts. It's ideal for websites, email templates, and paginated documents where content flows in a defined structure.

Available Blocks:

Key Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Blocks: Add blocks from the sidebar panel and arrange them in your layout
• Book Mode: Convert your layout into a paginated document with configurable page sizes (A4, A5, Letter, US Trade, and more), orientation, margins, and page numbers
• Import from Words: Pull content from Words project sheets into your page layout
• Export: Export as HTML, PDF, or print. Publish to Build Any Flipbook for interactive online viewing

3. Project Tools

When working inside a novel project, the Book Project Bar gives you access to additional tools that sit alongside the three main workspaces.

3.1 Cover Designer

Design professional book covers with an interactive 3D preview. The Cover Designer is accessed from the Book Project Bar when working on a novel project.

3.2 Compendium

The Compendium is a world-building and book metadata tool for novel projects. It lives alongside your manuscript and helps you keep track of every detail in your story.

Sections:

• Characters: Create character profiles with descriptions, relationships, arcs, and notes
• Plot: Outline your story structure, key events, and plot threads
• World: Document settings, locations, rules, and world-building details
• Research: Store research notes, references, and source material
• Themes: Track the themes and motifs running through your work
• Contributors & Rights: Manage contributors and publishing rights for your project

Compendium entries can be generated with AI based on your manuscript content. You can also @mention compendium entries directly in the Words editor for quick reference while writing.

4. Document Editor (Words)

The Words editor is built on Tiptap and provides a comprehensive set of text formatting, media insertion, and document management tools through a two-row toolbar and menu bar.

The toolbar also includes a formatting row with quick access to bold, italic, underline, font selection, font size, text colour, highlight, alignment, lists, and more. Right-click selected text to access the AI context menu for quick rewrites, expansions, and summaries.

4.1 Text Formatting

The editor supports a wide range of text formatting options through the floating toolbar and keyboard shortcuts:

4.2 Media & Content

Insert rich media and structured content into your documents:

• Images: Upload or paste images directly into the editor. Supports resizing and wrapping.
• Tables: Insert and edit tables with headers, rows, and columns. Merge and split cells.
• Code Blocks: Syntax-highlighted code blocks with language selection powered by Lowlight.
• Links: Add hyperlinks to text with custom URL and open-in-new-tab options.

4.3 Document Management

• Auto-Save: Documents are automatically saved as you type. The save status is shown in the editor toolbar.
• Document Library: Access all your documents from the library panel. Search, filter, and organise your work.
• Version History: View and restore previous versions of your documents.
• Knowledge Store Upload: Send your document content directly to the Knowledge Store for AI context retrieval.

5. AI Features

AI features are available across all workspaces. They run on a pay-as-you-go credits system (500 free credits on signup, then top up as needed). Every AI action consumes credits from your balance.

5.1 Writing Assistant

The Writing Assistant is a panel in the Words editor that analyses your writing and provides suggestions across four dimensions: correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery.

• Inline suggestions that appear as you write
• Rewrite, expand, or summarise selected text
• Generate new content based on prompts
• Context-aware improvements based on the full document

You can also right-click selected text to access the AI context menu for quick rewrites, expansions, and summaries without opening the full panel.

5.2 AI Chat

Chat with AI about your documents, knowledge base, and creative projects. AI Chat integrates with the Knowledge Store to automatically retrieve relevant context when answering questions.

• Ask questions about your document content
• Retrieve context from Knowledge Store documents automatically
• Generate content ideas and get clarification
• Use org-scoped AI assistants for team-specific workflows

5.3 Agent Tags

Agent Tags are inline AI markers ({@agent:...}) that you add directly into your document content. They tag specific sections for AI processing, such as generating summaries, expanding text, or pulling in context from the Knowledge Store. Manage your agent tags from the Agent Tags panel in the AI Assistant menu.

5.4 Canvas AI (Publisher)

The Publisher workspace includes its own set of AI tools for visual design:

• AI Layout Generation: Describe what you want and AI generates multi-page layouts from text descriptions, uploaded content, or Words documents
• AI Image Editing: Edit images directly on the canvas with AI-powered tools
• Design Suggestions: Get AI colour palette and layout suggestions for your design
• AI Image Search: Search for and insert images from AI-powered image sources

5.5 AI Credits

All AI features run on a pay-as-you-go credits system. Your credit balance is visible on the dashboard and in the billing settings.

• 500 free credits included when you sign up
• Top up anytime from Settings > Billing
• Team workspaces share a pooled credit balance across all members

6. Knowledge Store

The Knowledge Store is a document vault and AI context retrieval system powered by vector search. Upload documents, organise them with tags and taxonomy, and let AI Chat automatically pull relevant context when you ask questions.

Tabs:

• Upload documents directly from the Words editor via the File menu
• AI Chat retrieves relevant Knowledge Store context automatically when you ask questions
• Content Requests tab for managing document request workflows

7. Publishing & Export

Export your work in a range of formats depending on the workspace. All workspaces support publishing to Build Any Flipbook for interactive online viewing.

7.1 Export Formats

Words PDF export includes multiple templates (Default, Novel, Article, Report) and a wide range of page sizes. Publisher PDF export supports batch exports when using Variable Data.

7.2 Flipbook Publishing

Publish your documents directly to Build Any Flipbook for interactive online viewing. Readers can flip through pages, search text, and share your work via a unique URL.

• One-click publish from any workspace via the File menu
• Publish individual sheets or entire projects
• Progress tracking with real-time status updates during publishing
• Published flipbooks include AI-powered features: chat, summaries, key points, glossary, table of contents, and text-to-speech

7.3 Variable Data & Forms

The Publisher workspace supports variable data (mail merge) for creating personalised documents at scale. Connect a data source and generate unique versions of your design for each record.

• Spreadsheet View: Enter or import data in a built-in spreadsheet editor
• Schema Extraction: Automatically detect merge fields from your canvas design
• Public Forms: Generate a public submission form that collects data and merges it into your template
• Batch Export: Export all records as individual PDFs in one go
• Print Imposition: Arrange multiple records on a single sheet for professional printing

8. Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts are available in the Words editor:

9. Technical Specifications

9.1 Supported Browsers

Build Any Studio is optimised for modern web browsers:

• Google Chrome (version 90+)
• Mozilla Firefox (version 88+)
• Microsoft Edge (version 90+)
• Safari (version 14+)

9.2 Device Compatibility

The platform uses a fluid responsive design system and works across:

10. Accessibility Features

Build Any Studio is designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring all users can effectively interact with the platform.

• Screen Reader Compatibility: Full support for NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver
• Keyboard Navigation: Complete keyboard accessibility for all features
• Dark & Light Modes: Theme switching with high contrast support
• Focus Indicators: Clear visual focus states for keyboard users
• Fluid Responsive Design: Adapts to all screen sizes with CSS clamp() scaling

11. Troubleshooting

Common issues and their solutions:

12. Access Information

Build Any Studio is accessible at: