An Association is a simple list of related files. Almost all windows can have their own Association. Different files with the same title share the same Association.

Creating an Association...

You begin work on a new Outline detailing the major plot events for a new chapter. For inspiration, you load an image and play some music. You create new characters pertaining to your work. Finally, you begin work on the new Chapter.

This is where an Association becomes important. From the Chapter's 'File' menu, select 'Association'. Liquid Story Binder will ask you if wish to create a new Association. Agree, and a new Association, with the exact same title as its parent Chapter, will be created.

At first, the Association will be empty. From the Association's 'Association' menu, click 'Add Currently Opened Files'. Every opened window will be added to the list, allowing you to quickly access these same files again later. Save the Association.

To add more files, select 'New Items...' from the 'Items' menu.

Backups

For every Chapter file, Liquid Story Binder XE creates a Backup file.  In many ways, this Backup file resembles a Builder.  Entries, exact copies of the Chapter, are created, given a title, and added to the Backup.  An entry is created for each version or daily change.  Listed at the top of the Backup listing are entries for a 'Session Backup' and 'Previous Save Backup'.  A session entry is created, just prior to saving, each time XE is closed and then re-opened.  An entry is also created every time you say 'No' to saving.  This entry is entitled a 'Negative Option Backup'.

To view the Chapter's backup repository, choose 'Backups...' from the Chapter's 'File' menu.

Create a new, title-specific, Chapter backup entry, based on the contents of the entire document or just the selection, using the 'Backup Chapter...' and 'Backup Chapter Selection...' menu items.

Please note, users can disable this feature by selecting 'Disable Automatic Backups' from the 'Preferences' menu.

Builders

Builder's are the most flexible of the XE file types. Builders combine multiple rich text documents sorted into a single file with titles, descriptions and color indexing.

Builders are perfect for organizing complicated storylines with alternating scenes and are a great place to save reference material.  Use a Builder to organize scenes, store clippings, hold research, or use a Builder as a discard bin for worthy paragraphs.

To create a new Builder, choose 'New Builder...' from the 'Create' menu. Enter an appropriate title, and press 'OK'.

Enter ideas by selecting a row, and simply typing in the chosen text. Add detail to each item by adding descriptors. For each entry, a title, description, and color may be assigned.

Chapters

Chapters are the backbone of Liquid Story Binder -- the text and sentences that make up the pages of your manuscript. Chapters are saved in Rich Text Format.

Checklists

Quickly create a to do list using a Checklist.  Use the two edit boxes below the main Checklist display to edit item titles and descriptions.  Simply double-click any item to check it off.

Dossiers

Dossiers organize people, places and things.  Use title adjectives with descriptions and a portrait.

Galleries

Galleries allow you to quickly sort and preview images.  Click an image thumbnail to view the entire image.

Listings

Listings sort files in collapsible tree format, perfect for large, complicated projects.  Add files under parent headings, or even parent files.  Files can be listed more than once.
There is no limit to Listing's structure.  Press the ENTER key to add headers and line captions.

Notes

Use a simple Note window to save your reference notes.

Outlines

Outlines provide the perfect working environment for brainstorming and plot development.  Create a expandable tree of thoughts for each and every chapter.

Planners

Planners turn a simple list of ideas into Chapters.  Think of Planners as a table of contents with subtitles.  Click any item, and the Planner will create a chapter based on the item chosen.  Planners combine Chapter titles and notes into a single list.  Notes are indented while existing Chapter titles remain to the left.

Sequences

A list of horizontal columns with titles and descriptions.  Use a Sequence to organize a series of events.

Storyboards

Storyboards combine text and images to form a visual reference board.  Each Storyboard cell can contain a single image, title, caption, and color index.

Timelines

Liquid Story Binder allows you to quickly arrange ideas along multiple colored timelines, using individual text-based cards.