Getting Started

This page covers what you need and how to switch Collaborator on. When it is running, see Opening Collaborator for the window layout and Running a Workflow for your first workflow.

What you need

  1. StoryCAD on Windows or macOS. Collaborator is part of StoryCAD, not a replacement for it.
  2. An open story outline. Collaborator works on the outline you have open.
  3. A working network connection. Workflows run against a service, so they need one.

StoryCAD Collaborator is an additional paid feature with a free trial. There is nothing separate to download or install.

Turn it on

  1. Open StoryCAD and open or create an outline.
  2. Click Collaborator on the toolbar.
  3. You are offered a subscription or a free trial. Choose Subscribe, or Restore purchases if you have paid before.
  4. Collaborator opens in its own Story Collaborator window.

The dialog shows the trial length and current price for your store. This manual does not discuss pricing.

StoryCAD toolbar; the Collaborator button is the highlighted chain icon

The prompt is the same on both platforms; only the store behind it differs, the Microsoft Store on Windows and the App Store on Mac.

Preferences that affect the manual

StoryCAD can open the production or beta user manual from Help, depending on your build and the Use beta documentation preference. Collaborator’s own Help points at the same manual. Use the beta manual while features are still landing; switch when your host or release notes say the production manual is current.

Check that it works

  1. Open an outline that has at least a short Story Idea on the Overview.
  2. Launch Collaborator.
  3. Select a simple workflow such as Premise (the list may show a longer ideation label).
  4. When suggestions appear, you are set. See Reviewing Suggestions before you accept anything you care about.

If the window never opens, restart StoryCAD. For StoryCAD help in general, see Getting Help.

Next