Overview
Cleve’s writing system is designed for serious content creators who need a reliable, distraction-free environment for long-form writing. Built on TipTap, the editor combines rich formatting capabilities with powerful features like auto-save, offline support, and document linking.Rich Text Editor
Supported Formatting
The editor supports all essential formatting options:- Text Styling: Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, code
- Headings: H1 through H6 for document structure
- Lists: Ordered (numbered) and unordered (bulleted) lists
- Links: Inline hyperlinks with keyboard shortcuts
- Code Blocks: Syntax-highlighted code with language detection
- Quotes: Blockquotes for citations and emphasis
- Horizontal Rules: Visual separators between sections
Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting
| Action | macOS | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Cmd + B | Ctrl + B |
| Italic | Cmd + I | Ctrl + I |
| Underline | Cmd + U | Ctrl + U |
| Code | Cmd + E | Ctrl + E |
| Link | Cmd + K | Ctrl + K |
| Heading 1 | Cmd + Alt + 1 | Ctrl + Alt + 1 |
| Heading 2 | Cmd + Alt + 2 | Ctrl + Alt + 2 |
Auto-Save System
Never lose your work again. Cleve’s intelligent auto-save system ensures your content is always protected.How It Works
- Automatic Saving: Changes save automatically after 750ms of inactivity
- Local Persistence: Writes to IndexedDB in your browser for offline access
- Cloud Sync: Syncs to the server when connection is available
- Visual Feedback: Saving indicator shows save status (Saving… → Saved)
Manual Save
While auto-save handles most scenarios, you can force a save anytime:Offline Mode
Cleve works even without an internet connection.Offline Capabilities
- ✅ Create new writings locally
- ✅ Edit existing writings that were previously loaded
- ✅ Auto-save to IndexedDB for persistence
- ✅ View writings from local cache
- ⏸️ Sync paused until connection returns
Background Sync
When your connection returns:- Cleve detects the network is back
- Queued changes upload automatically
- Conflicts are resolved (last-write-wins with timestamps)
- You’re notified when sync completes
Offline changes are stored in your browser’s IndexedDB. Clearing browser data will delete offline drafts.
Document Linking
Create bidirectional links between your writings to build a connected knowledge graph.Creating Links
- Type
[[in the editor - A suggestion menu appears with your other writings
- Select a writing to create a link
- The link appears inline: [[Writing Title]]
Backlinks
When you link to another document:- The linked document automatically tracks the backlink
- View all documents linking to the current one in the metadata panel
- Build a web of interconnected ideas
Use Cases
- Reference related research in your current writing
- Connect series of articles or chapter-based content
- Build a personal wiki with cross-referenced notes
Word & Character Counter
Track your writing progress with real-time statistics.Displayed Metrics
- Word Count: Total words in the document
- Character Count: Total characters (with and without spaces)
- Reading Time: Estimated time to read (based on 200 WPM)
Where to Find It
The counter displays in the editor footer and updates instantly as you type.Title Extraction
The first heading (H1) in your document automatically becomes the document title.Zen Mode
Enter a distraction-free fullscreen writing environment.Activating Zen Mode
What Zen Mode Does
- Hides all panels: AI chat, ideas, categories—everything disappears
- Fullscreen editor: Your writing fills the entire screen
- Minimal UI: Only the editor and essential controls remain
- Focus timer (optional): Track your focused writing time
Exiting Zen Mode
PressEscape or Cmd/Ctrl + \ again to return to normal workspace.
Writing Timer
Track how long you’ve been writing during a session.Starting the Timer
- Click the Timer icon in the toolbar
- The timer starts counting up from 00:00:00
- It appears as an overlay in the corner
Use Cases
- Pomodoro technique: Write for focused 25-minute sprints
- Daily writing goals: Track time spent writing each day
- Flow state tracking: See how long you can maintain focus
Public vs. Private Writings
Control who can see your content.Privacy Settings
- Private (default): Only you can see the writing
- Public: Anyone with the link can view (but not edit)
Making a Writing Public
- Open the writing
- Click the Share button in the toolbar
- Toggle “Make Public”
- Copy the public URL to share
Access Control
- Public writings are read-only for viewers
- Only the author can edit public writings
- Public writings are indexed by search engines (optional setting)
Version History
See how your writing has evolved over time.Viewing History
- Click the History button in the toolbar
- Browse previous versions by timestamp
- Preview changes with a diff view
- Restore an older version if needed
What’s Tracked
- Every auto-save creates a version snapshot
- Timestamps for each version
- Change diffs showing what was added or removed
Version history is available on Pro and Max plans. Free and Starter plans keep the last 7 days only.
Draft Recovery
Accidentally closed your browser mid-edit? No problem.How Draft Recovery Works
- Every change saves to IndexedDB locally
- If you close the browser, drafts persist
- When you return, Cleve offers to restore unsaved changes
- Accept the prompt to recover your work
- Browser crashes
- Accidental tab closures
- Computer shutdowns
- Network interruptions
Advanced Features
Content Blocks
Structure your writing with reusable content blocks:- Callout Boxes: Highlight important information
- Image Embeds: Drag-and-drop images directly into the editor
- Embedded Media: YouTube videos, tweets, and more
- Tables: Create data tables with formatting
Collaborative Editing
When multiple users edit the same writing:- Live cursors show where collaborators are typing
- Conflict resolution prevents overwrites
- User avatars indicate who’s currently editing
Export Options
Export your writings in multiple formats:- Markdown (.md): Plain text with Markdown syntax
- HTML: Formatted web-ready output
- PDF: Print-ready document
- Plain Text (.txt): Stripped of all formatting
Best Practices
Organizing Your Writings
- Use categories to group related content
- Add descriptive titles with H1 headings
- Link related writings to build connections
- Tag important concepts for easier searching
Writing Workflow Tips
- Start in zen mode to focus without distractions
- Use ideas panel to capture thoughts before writing
- Set writing timers for accountability
- Reference AI chat when you need inspiration
- Review version history to track progress over time
Performance Optimization
- Long documents (10,000+ words): Consider splitting into multiple writings
- Images: Optimize before uploading (Cleve auto-compresses to 1MB max)
- Clear old drafts: Periodically clean up IndexedDB for faster performance
Troubleshooting
Auto-Save Not Working
- Check browser console for errors
- Ensure IndexedDB is enabled in your browser
- Verify you’re not in incognito/private mode
- Clear browser cache and reload
Content Not Syncing
- Check your internet connection
- Look for the sync status indicator
- Force a manual save with
Cmd/Ctrl + S - Refresh the page to trigger sync
Editor Lag or Slow Performance
- Check document length (split very long docs)
- Close unused browser tabs
- Disable browser extensions that inject scripts
- Update to the latest browser version
Related Documentation
AI Chat
Use AI to help write, edit, and improve your content.
Document Linking
Build a connected knowledge graph with bidirectional links.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Complete reference of all writing shortcuts.
Offline Mode
Learn how offline sync and draft recovery work.