RedString Support & Guide

Welcome to RedString! This guide will help you understand the core features and how to make the most of your visual investigation tool.

Getting Started

Logging In: Access RedString by signing in with your Google account. This keeps your boards secure and accessible.

The Canvas: Your main workspace is an infinite canvas. You can pan around by clicking and dragging on an empty area of the canvas (or using two fingers on touch devices). Zoom in and out using your mouse wheel (or pinch-to-zoom on touch devices). The header provides zoom and reset view controls.

The Sidebar: Located on the left, the sidebar is your primary tool for adding new information elements to your board.

Working with Information Elements

Elements are the building blocks of your investigation.

Adding Elements: Click an element type in the sidebar (e.g., Image, Person) to add it to the center of your current view, or drag it directly onto the canvas. Available types include:

• Image: Embed images directly.
• Link: Link to external web pages.
• Document: Reference external documents or files.
• Person: Represent individuals, add photos, and classify them (e.g., Suspect).
• Organization: Map groups or companies, add logos, and classify them (e.g., Corporation).
• Theory: Formulate hypotheses and assign likelihoods.
• Note: Jot down quick thoughts or miscellaneous information.

Positioning Elements: Click and drag any element to move it around the canvas.

Editing Elements: Double-click an element or click its edit icon (pencil) to modify its details. You can update its Label, Description, and any type-specific data (like URLs for Links, classifications for Persons/Organizations, or likelihoods for Theories). Click 'Save' to apply changes or 'Cancel'.

Deleting Elements: Select an element by clicking on it. A 'Delete' button will appear in its footer. Alternatively, press the Delete or Backspace key while an element is selected.

Making Connections

Visually link elements to map relationships.

Starting a Connection: Click the 'Connect' icon (looks like a cable) on an element card. A dropdown will appear allowing you to choose the connection type: 'Confirmed', 'Unsubstantiated', or 'Disinformation'.

Completing a Connection: After selecting a type, your cursor will change. Click on another element on the canvas to create the link.

Viewing/Editing Connection Details: Click directly on a connection line or its label. A dialog will appear allowing you to add 'Evidence Notes' (details or context about the link) and set the 'Degrees of Separation' (0 for direct, up to 4+ for distant).

Cancelling a Connection: If you start drawing a connection and want to cancel, click on an empty area of the canvas or press the 'Escape' key.

Organizing Your Board

Keep complex investigations manageable.

Layers: Access the Layer Manager via the 'Layers' icon in the sidebar. Here you can:

• Add new layers.
• Rename existing layers.
• Delete layers (this will also delete all elements on that layer).
• Toggle the visibility of layers (hide/show).
• Set the 'Active Layer': New elements you add will be placed on the currently active layer.

Element Type Filtering: Use the 'Toggle Visibility' (eye icon) tool in the sidebar to show or hide entire categories of elements (e.g., hide all 'Note' elements to focus on 'Person' and 'Organization' elements).

AI-Powered Insights (Pro Feature)

Draw Inference: Access the 'Draw Inference' tool (sparkles icon) from the sidebar. RedString's AI will analyze your current board (elements and existing connections) and suggest potential new connections.

Each suggestion includes an explanation and a confidence score. You can directly 'Make Connection' from a suggestion to add it to your board.

Managing Your Boards

Saving Your Work: Click the 'Save' button in the header. If it's a new board, it will be saved to your account. Subsequent saves update the existing board. You can rename your board by clicking on its name in the header.

My Boards Dialog: Access your saved boards by clicking your user avatar in the header and selecting 'My Boards'. From this dialog, you can:

• Load an existing board onto the canvas.
• Rename your saved boards.
• Delete boards you no longer need.

New Board: Create a blank canvas by selecting 'New Board' from the user avatar menu. If your current board has unsaved changes, you'll be prompted.

Known Bugs

• Currently on mobile, editing information cards (fields, save/cancel buttons) is not working correctly. This is a high-priority issue and is actively being worked on.

We hope this guide helps you uncover the connections! For further assistance or to report issues, please refer to our community channels or contact support (details to be provided).