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Version History

Overview

Version history works for:
- Sections - Your writing content
- Characters - Character profiles
- Locations - Location details

Each has independent version history, so you can restore one without affecting others.

Creating Snapshots

Automatic Snapshots

Verkilo creates snapshots automatically when you:
- Make significant edits
- Close a section after editing
- Switch between sections

Manual Snapshots

Create a snapshot intentionally:
1. Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S
2. Or click the Snapshot button in the Version History panel

Tip: Create manual snapshots before major revisions.

Viewing Version History

For Sections

  1. Open a section in the editor
  2. Click the clock icon in the inspector rail
  3. The Version History panel shows all snapshots

For Characters/Locations

  1. Open the character or location
  2. Click the Version History button
  3. View available snapshots

Version List

Each version shows:
- Timestamp - When the snapshot was created
- Type - Auto or manual
- Preview - First few words (for sections)

Versions are listed newest first.

Restoring a Version

  1. Open the Version History panel
  2. Find the version you want to restore
  3. Click Restore
  4. The content reverts to that version

Note: Restoring creates a new snapshot of the current state before reverting, so you can undo the restore if needed.

Version Count

The editor footer shows the version count for the current section:
- Displays as a number badge
- Click to open Version History panel

Best Practices

When to Create Snapshots

  • Before major rewrites
  • Before deleting large sections
  • At the end of a writing session
  • Before experimenting with structure

Naming Conventions

Currently, snapshots don't have custom names. Use the timestamp to identify versions.

Storage

Versions are stored in your project database. They don't significantly increase file size for text content.

Comparison (Future Feature)

Visual diff comparison between versions is planned for a future update.

Tips

  1. Snapshot before big changes - Easy to undo experiments
  2. Review after merges - Check content wasn't lost
  3. Use for deleted content - Recover accidentally removed text
  4. Before restructuring - Snapshot before moving sections
  5. Regular manual snapshots - Don't rely only on auto-snapshots

Limitations

  • Snapshots are per-item (section, character, location)
  • No project-wide snapshots (use external backup for that)
  • No named versions (identified by timestamp only)
  • Inline images are included in snapshots