Tolstoy Compose Guides
New to Compose? Begin with Getting started. If you already know what you need, choose the task or feature below.
Getting started
Set up your first document, understand how saving works, and learn what stays available when you are offline.
Getting startedOpen Compose and start writing. Your working document is saved on your device, while Documents, Writing Tools and Shelf keep the rest of the writing process close by.Read guide Compose files and backupsCompose saves your active work on the device. A .compose file is a separate file you choose to keep, which makes it the right format for backups and for moving a Compose document.Read guide Local-first writingLocal-first means your working documents stay on your device instead of being stored in a Compose cloud account. Some optional features use the internet, but signing in or upgrading does not upload your document to Compose.Read guide Working offlineAfter Compose has loaded successfully on a device, the app can usually open there without a connection. Your documents are stored separately on the device, so offline access is not the same as a backup.Read guide Writing without AIThe current version of Compose has no AI writing, rewriting or summarising tools. Its writing features help you organise, research, review, recover and publish your own text without generating prose for you.Read guide
Write and structure
Format and move around your document. Then work with tables, images, charts, page layout and everyday editing tools.
FormattingCompose includes the formatting you need for ordinary structured writing: paragraphs, headings, emphasis, lists, quotes, code, alignment and links. Use real headings for structure rather than making ordinary text look like a heading.Read guide Find and replaceOpen Find to search the current document, move between matches and replace text. Match case and Whole word help narrow the results before you change anything.Read guide Commands and shortcutsPress Alt+/ to open Commands and search for an action by name. Press Mod+/ for the shortcut reference. Shortcuts are optional; every important action is still available from visible controls.Read guide Long documentsCompose keeps a long document in one continuous writing surface, then gives you tools for structure and navigation around it. Headings, Outline, internal links, Find, Shelf, Review and Versions become more useful as the document grows.Read guide TablesInsert a table when information is easier to compare in rows and columns. Compose lets you add or remove rows and columns, mark headers, merge or split cells, and keep the table editable in the document.Read guide ImagesCompose can place PNG, JPEG, GIF and WebP images in the document. Choose one of three document-width sizes, set the alignment, add useful alt text, and optionally add a caption or credit.Read guide ChartsCompose keeps charts as editable data rather than pasted pictures. Create a column, bar, line, area or pie chart, then enter values yourself or paste a table from a spreadsheet.Read guide Page layoutCompose keeps the editor as one continuous writing surface. Breaks tell the finished PDF or Word document where pages and sections should change without making you edit inside simulated paper pages.Read guide AppearanceAppearance settings let you make Compose comfortable to read and work in. App preferences control the interface, while document settings control fonts, spacing, line width and hyphenation for the current document.Read guide
Research and review
Keep notes and sources with the document, work through feedback, and return to an earlier draft when you need to.
Shelf and research notesShelf is a notes area for the current document. Keep research, links and ideas there, organise them as the project grows, then move useful material into the draft when you are ready.Read guide Citations and bibliographiesAdd a source once, then reuse it wherever you need a citation. Compose formats citations and the end list from the source details you save, with seven citation-style choices.Read guide Review comments and suggested editsReview keeps feedback attached to the text it concerns. Add a Note or Suggested edit, accept or reject proposed wording, resolve finished Notes, and keep the review history with the Compose document.Read guide Version historyCompose creates earlier versions as you work. Preview one before restoring it, and Compose first protects your current work with a safety version.Read guide
Finish and share
Design a PDF, continue editing in Microsoft Word, or choose the file format that suits the next step.
Professional PDFsCompose generates a PDF from your document and shows the exact pages in its preview. You can design and preview the PDF on Free; saving or sharing the finished PDF file requires Pro or Teams.Read guide Word and DOCXCompose can open DOCX files and export an editable DOCX for Microsoft Word. Common document structure carries across, but DOCX is for moving visible content between apps rather than preserving every Compose feature.Read guide File formatsUse .compose when you want to keep the full editable Compose document. DOCX, ODT, Markdown, HTML and plain text are useful for moving content elsewhere, while PDF is for finished visual output.Read guide