Does Redline upload my research?
No. The current Redline release has no Redline server, hosted API, account system, cloud synchronization, analytics, or telemetry. Saved research and generated exports are processed locally. Files you choose to share after export are outside Redline’s control.
Where is my data stored?
Vault records and settings are stored principally in the local IndexedDB database for the browser profile where Redline is installed. Domain notes, Library table/card preferences, and Local Export History use separate extension-page local storage. Data can change when you edit or import records and can be removed if you clear the relevant browser or extension data or uninstall the extension.
Do I need an account?
No. Redline 1.0.3 has no sign-in or Redline account feature.
Is the local vault encrypted?
Redline does not add documented application-level encryption to the vault. Access is governed by the protections of your browser profile, operating-system account, device, and any full-disk encryption you use. Protect exported files separately.
Does Redline save a complete offline copy of each page?
No. A Page save stores a structured source record. When you explicitly choose Preview capture and then Preserve capture, Source Witness additionally stores normalized readable text, block identities, capture metadata, and a SHA-256 digest locally. It excludes scripts, styles, forms, login state, third-party assets, and full network traffic, so it is not a pixel-perfect or replayable archive. A matching digest verifies only that the stored normalized text still matches that capture’s digest; it does not prove truth, authorship, capture time, completeness, immutability, or legal admissibility.
Why can a highlight stop appearing on the page?
Redline must locate the saved text in the current document. Rewritten pages, repeated text, dynamic routes, embedded viewers, or protected pages can prevent a confident match. The annotation record can still remain available in the library.
Why do I see both “Save changes” and “Save source”?
Save changes is the button in the sidebar’s Page tab, including on the first save. Save source is the immediate command in the browser’s right-click Redline menu. See Capture and annotations for all save routes.
Can I move Redline data between browsers or profiles?
Yes, for the IndexedDB vault records. In the original installation, use Library → Exports → Scope: All data → Format: JSON backup → Export. In the destination, use Library → Imports. The destination keeps its current settings, and domain notes, Local Export History, and table/card preferences are not transferred.
Can I import my existing browser bookmarks?
Yes. Export bookmarks as HTML from Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Brave, or another compatible Chrome-family browser. For Firefox, open its bookmark manager and choose Import and Backup → Backup to create a JSON file. Then use Library → Imports → Import browser bookmarks. Redline previews the file locally, imports HTTP and HTTPS links as Pages, and turns full folder paths into dossier names. Existing URLs and unsupported schemes are skipped. Neither browser-bookmark file is a substitute for a Redline All data JSON backup.
Does linking a page to a dossier also link its annotations?
No. Pages and annotations have independent dossier assignments and can each belong to more than one dossier. Open an annotation under Library → Annotations, select its Dossiers, and choose Save. Dossier tags also do not propagate to member records.
Can tags contain spaces?
No. Tag entry is token-based: a space, comma, Enter, or Tab commits or splits tags. Redline lowercases, deduplicates, and sorts them. Use a compact label such as primary-source for a multiword idea.
Does the Evidence audit decide whether a claim is true?
No. It applies deterministic checks to local claim and evidence records, such as no supporting passage, a single supporting source, an unreviewed contradiction, unavailable evidence, or an anchor that needs review. It does not score credibility, certainty, or truth. See the Evidence Compiler audit guide.
What does Global Search include?
Library → Search returns pages, annotations, dossiers, tags, domains, and claims from the saved local vault. The sidebar’s smaller Search tab displays page and annotation results only. Neither route searches unsaved live-web text.
What happens if I uninstall Redline or clear browser data?
The local vault—including source captures, claims, and evidence relations—can be deleted. Redline has no server-side copy. Create and safely store an All data JSON export before uninstalling, clearing data, resetting a profile, or making major browser changes. See the backup guide for the few browser-local preferences and history items that this file does not include.
Why does Redline request access to websites?
Website access lets Redline show its selection menu, capture page details and selected text, restore compatible highlights, and read local page metadata for citations. It does not grant Redline access to browser-internal protected pages, and Redline does not request cookie or browser-history permissions.
Are generated citations guaranteed to match a style guide?
No. Source metadata can be incomplete, and bibliography outputs described as APA-like, MLA-like, or Chicago-like are practical approximations. Review and correct metadata and formatting before formal use.
Is Redline open source?
No. Redline is proprietary. This public repository contains only the homepage, user documentation, issue templates, and support resources—not the application source code and not a license to the product.
How should I report a security or privacy issue?
Do not post sensitive details in a public issue. Follow the private reporting instructions on the support page. Never attach a vault export, browser profile, private URL, token, credential, or unredacted screenshot publicly.