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Tabox User Guide

Welcome to Tabox! This guide will help you make the most of Tabox's features for managing and organizing your browser tabs.

Table of Contents

Adding Collections

Collections are snapshots of your open tabs that you can save and reopen later.

How to Add a Collection

  1. Enter a name in the search/add input box at the top
  2. Click the "Add Collection" button (or press Enter)
  3. Your current window's tabs will be saved as a collection

Window Selection Options

When you have multiple browser windows open, you'll see two toggle buttons:

  • Desktop Icon: Save only the current window as a collection
  • Collection Icon: Save all windows as a folder containing multiple collections

Note: The folder option is only available when you have 2 or more Chrome windows open.

What Gets Saved

  • All tabs in the current window (or selected windows)
  • Tab groups with their names and colors
  • Tab titles and URLs
  • The order of your tabs

Settings for Adding Collections

  • Include/Exclude Pinned Tabs: Choose whether to save pinned tabs in your collections

Adding Folders

Folders help you organize multiple collections together, especially useful when working with multiple browser windows.

How to Add a Folder

Option 1: Multi-Window Save

  1. Open multiple Chrome windows with different tab sets
  2. Enter a name in the input box
  3. Switch to "Collection Icon" mode (shows when 2+ windows are open)
  4. Click "Add Folder"
  5. Each window becomes a collection within the folder

Option 2: Create Empty Folder

  1. Click the "Create Folder" button (folder icon) in the toolbar
  2. Enter a folder name
  3. Choose a color for the folder
  4. Click "Create"
  5. Drag existing collections into the folder

Folder Features

  • Expand/collapse folders to hide or show collections
  • Drag and drop collections into and out of folders
  • Reorder collections within folders
  • Color-code folders for easy identification
  • Export entire folders with all collections

Opening Collections

Basic Opening

Click the Play button (▶) next to any collection to open all its tabs.

Opening Options

New Window vs Current Window

  • Toggle the "Open in new window" option in the toolbar
  • When enabled: Opens collections in a separate window
  • When disabled: Opens collections in the current window

Duplicate Tab Handling

  • Configure in Settings → "When opening collections"
  • Choose whether to skip or open tabs that already exist

Smart Tab Loading

  • Enable in Settings to improve performance
  • Delays loading of non-essential tabs until you switch to them
  • Media, auth, and development sites load immediately

Auto-Update Mode

When a collection is opened with Auto-Update enabled:

  • The Play button changes to a Focus button (⊙)
  • Click to switch to the collection's window
  • The collection automatically updates as you add/remove tabs

Managing Collections

Editing a Collection

  1. Click on a collection to expand it
  2. Edit the name: Click the name field to rename
  3. Change color: Click the color circle to pick a new color
  4. View/Edit tabs: See all tabs and groups in the expanded view
  5. Remove tabs: Click the X button next to any tab to remove it

Collection Menu Options

Click the three-dot menu (⋮) on any collection to access:

  • Update Collection: Replace with current window's tabs
  • Duplicate: Create a copy of the collection
  • Export: Download as a text file
  • Delete: Remove the collection (with confirmation)
  • Stop Tracking: Disable auto-update for this collection (if active)

Updating Collections

Manual Update

  1. Open the collection's menu (⋮)
  2. Select "Update"
  3. Current window tabs replace the collection contents

Auto-Update

  • Enable "Auto update collections" in Settings
  • Opens collection with automatic tracking
  • Changes in the window update the collection in real-time
  • Stop tracking via the collection menu or by closing the window

Organizing Collections

Drag and Drop

Reorder Collections

  • Drag the handle (⋮⋮) on the left side of any collection
  • Drop it in a new position within the Collections section

Move to Folders

  • Drag a collection over a folder
  • Drop it to move the collection into that folder

Move Out of Folders

  • Drag a collection from inside a folder
  • Drop it in the Collections section to move it to the root level

Reorder Folders

  • Drag folders by their handles
  • Reorder them within the Folders section

Move Between Folders

  • Drag a collection from one folder
  • Drop it onto another folder to move it

Collapsible Sections

  • Folders Section: Click the section header to collapse/expand all folders
  • Collections Section: Click to collapse/expand the collections list
  • Individual folders can be collapsed independently

View Modes

Tabox offers two viewing modes for your collections:

List View (Default)

  • Compact rows showing collection name, tab count, and timestamp
  • Click on a collection to expand and see all tabs
  • Easy to scan through many collections
  • Better for detailed information

Grid View

  • Card-based layout with visual tiles
  • Shows collection color prominently
  • Better for visual organization
  • Quick access to open and menu options

Switching Views

Click the view mode icon in the toolbar:

  • List icon: Switch to List View
  • Grid icon: Switch to Grid View

Your preference is saved and persists between sessions.

Sorting & Filtering

Sorting Collections

Use the sort dropdown in the toolbar to organize by:

Sort By Date (Default)

  • Most recently updated collections appear first
  • Great for finding what you worked on recently

Sort By Name

  • Alphabetical order (A-Z or Z-A)
  • Find collections by name quickly

Sort By Color

  • Groups collections by their color
  • Useful for color-coded organization systems

Sort Direction

  • Click the arrow icon to toggle ascending/descending order

Filtering Collections

Click the filter icon to access:

Recently Opened Filter

  • Shows only collections opened in the last 3 hours
  • Indicated by a dot next to the collection name

Color Filter

  • Filter by specific color
  • Only shows collections matching the selected color

Search

  • Type in the search box to filter by:
    • Collection names
    • Tab titles
    • Tab URLs

Active Filters

  • Filter icon shows blue when filters are active
  • Empty folders are hidden when filters are applied
  • Clear filters to see all collections

Import & Export

Exporting Collections

Export Single Collection

  1. Open the collection menu (⋮)
  2. Select "Export"
  3. A .txt file downloads with the collection data

Export All Data

  1. Open Settings (gear icon)
  2. Go to "Backup & Restore" section
  3. Click "Export all collections & folders"
  4. Downloads a complete backup of all your data

Importing Collections

Import a File

  1. Click the "Import file" button in the toolbar
  2. Select a .txt file containing:
    • A single collection
    • Multiple collections
    • A folder with collections
    • A full Tabox export
  3. The data is imported and added to your collections

Import Features

  • Automatically detects the import format
  • Prevents name conflicts by adding numbers (e.g., "Work Tabs (1)")
  • Preserves folder structure for full exports
  • New collections are highlighted after import

Sharing Use Cases

  • Share project tabs with teammates
  • Backup important collections locally
  • Transfer collections between browsers/devices
  • Distribute curated link collections

Google Drive Sync

Keep your collections synchronized across all your devices using Google Drive.

Enabling Sync

  1. Click on the user avatar in the top-left corner
  2. Sign in with your Google account
  3. Grant Tabox permission to access Google Drive
  4. Your collections will automatically sync

How Sync Works

  • Automatic syncing when you add, edit, or delete collections
  • Conflict resolution prefers the most recent version
  • Cloud storage in your Google Drive's app data folder
  • Sync status shown in the footer with last sync time

Sync Features

  • Real-time sync across all devices
  • Backup and recovery through Google Drive
  • Sync debug tools available in Settings
  • Offline support with local storage

Disabling Sync

  1. Click on the user avatar
  2. Click to disable sync
  3. Your local data remains intact
  4. Collections stop syncing to the cloud

Sync Debug & Recovery

Access advanced sync tools in Settings → Backup & Restore:

  • View sync history
  • Force sync from cloud
  • Recover from backup
  • Resolve sync conflicts

Auto-Update Feature

Auto-update keeps collections synchronized with their browser windows in real-time.

How Auto-Update Works

  1. Enable "Auto update collections" in Settings
  2. Open a collection (it becomes "active")
  3. The collection tracks changes to its window:
    • New tabs added → Added to collection
    • Tabs closed → Removed from collection
    • Tabs reordered → Order updated
    • Groups changed → Groups updated

Active Collection Indicators

  • Blue border around active collections
  • Focus button (⊙) instead of Play button
  • Auto-tracking badge in the collection

Auto-Update Settings

Enable Auto Update

  • Master switch for the feature
  • Found in Settings → "Auto update collections"

Auto Update New Collections

  • Automatically start tracking newly created collections
  • Links new collections to the current window

Manual Update Linking

  • When you click "Update" on a collection
  • Choose whether it should become active

Stopping Auto-Update

Option 1: Stop Tracking

  1. Open the collection menu (⋮)
  2. Select "Stop Tracking"

Option 2: Close the Window

  • Closing the tracked window automatically stops tracking

Option 3: Disable Feature

  • Turn off "Auto update collections" in Settings
  • Stops tracking for all collections

Use Cases

  • Keep project tabs updated as you work
  • Maintain "daily workspace" collections automatically
  • Track research as you discover new sources

Keyboard Shortcuts

Tabox supports keyboard shortcuts for quick access to your collections.

Available Shortcuts

  • Ctrl+Shift+1 (Cmd+Shift+1 on Mac): Open first collection
  • Ctrl+Shift+2 (Cmd+Shift+2 on Mac): Open second collection
  • Ctrl+Shift+3 (Cmd+Shift+3 on Mac): Open third collection
  • Ctrl+Shift+4 (Cmd+Shift+4 on Mac): Open fourth collection

Customizing Shortcuts

  1. Go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts in your browser
  2. Find Tabox in the list
  3. Click the pencil icon to edit shortcuts
  4. Set your preferred key combinations

Tips

  • Assign shortcuts to your most-used collections
  • Use with pinned collections for fastest access
  • Shortcuts work even when Tabox popup is closed

Settings

Access settings by clicking the gear icon in the top-right corner.

General Settings

Dark Mode

  • Toggle between light and dark themes
  • Adapts to your system preference by default
  • Persists across sessions

Tab Counter Badge

  • Show/hide a badge on the extension icon
  • Displays the number of tabs in your current window
  • Useful for tab management awareness

When Adding a Collection

Pinned Tabs

  • Choose to include or exclude pinned tabs
  • Default: Include pinned tabs

When Opening Collections

Duplicate Tab Handling

  • "Do not open": Skips tabs already open in the browser
  • "Open anyway": Opens duplicates regardless
  • Checks by exact URL match

Smart Tab Loading

  • Improves performance with large collections
  • Delays loading of background tabs
  • Automatically loads important sites (media, auth, dev tools)
  • Tabs load instantly when you switch to them

When Editing Collections

Duplicate Tab Detection

  • Choose whether to prevent duplicate tabs within a collection
  • "Do not add": Prevents adding existing tabs
  • "Add anyway": Allows duplicate URLs

Duplicate Group Handling

  • "Append tabs": Merges with existing groups of same name/color
  • "Add as new group": Creates separate groups even with same name

Auto Update Collections

Enable Auto Update

  • Master toggle for automatic collection tracking
  • When enabled, collections stay in sync with their windows

Auto Update New Collections

  • Automatically track new collections when created
  • Links collection to the current window

Manual Update Linking

  • Control whether clicking "Update" activates tracking
  • Useful for explicit control over active collections

Backup & Restore

Export All Data

  • Download complete backup of collections and folders
  • Includes all metadata and folder structure
  • Useful for migration or archival

Sync Debug & Recovery (when logged in)

  • View sync logs and history
  • Force sync from cloud
  • Recover from previous backups
  • Resolve sync conflicts

Privacy & Security

Privacy is a core principle of Tabox. We believe your browsing data should remain yours and yours alone.

Your Data Stays Private

Local Storage First

  • All your collections are stored locally on your device
  • No data is sent to Tabox servers
  • You maintain complete control over your information

Your Google Drive, Your Data

  • When you enable sync, data goes directly to YOUR Google Drive
  • Uses your personal Google Drive's App Data folder
  • Tabox has zero access to your stored collections
  • Only you can access your synced data

No Tracking, No Analytics

  • We don't track your browsing habits
  • No collection of personal information
  • No third-party analytics or tracking scripts
  • Extension operates entirely offline (except for optional sync)

What Permissions Are Used For

Tabox requires certain browser permissions to function:

  • Tabs: To read and save your open tabs
  • Tab Groups: To preserve tab group information
  • Storage: To save collections locally on your device
  • Identity (optional): Only when you enable Google Drive sync
  • Google Drive API (optional): Only to access your own App Data folder

Data Security

Encryption

  • Data synced to Google Drive uses Google's encryption
  • Communication with Google APIs uses secure HTTPS
  • No data passes through Tabox servers

Open Source

  • Tabox code is publicly available on GitHub
  • You can verify exactly what the extension does
  • Community audited for security and privacy

Your Privacy Rights

You have complete control over your data:

  • Export: Download all your collections anytime
  • Delete: Remove collections locally and from sync
  • Disable Sync: Stop syncing while keeping local data
  • Uninstall: All local data is removed with the extension

For more information, visit our Privacy Policy.

Tips & Best Practices

Organization Strategies

  1. Use Colors: Color-code by project, category, or priority
  2. Create Folders: Group related collections (e.g., "Work Projects", "Research Topics")
  3. Naming Conventions: Use clear, descriptive names
  4. Regular Cleanup: Delete or archive old collections

Performance Tips

  1. Enable Smart Tab Loading: Improves opening large collections
  2. Use Folders: Collapse folders when not needed
  3. Export Old Collections: Archive collections you rarely use
  4. Regular Exports: Back up important collections locally

Workflow Suggestions

Daily Work

  • Create a "Daily Workspace" collection with auto-update
  • Use keyboard shortcuts for frequent collections

Research Projects

  • Create a folder per project
  • Use color coding for different phases
  • Export collections when sharing with colleagues

Tab Management

  • Save current tabs before closing the browser
  • Use "Recently Opened" filter to find recent work
  • Create collections before major context switches

Troubleshooting

Collections Not Syncing

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Verify you're logged in (check the avatar)
  3. Use Sync Debug in Settings to view logs
  4. Try force sync from the debug panel

Missing Collections

  1. Check if filters are active (click filter icon)
  2. Look in the Folders section
  3. Try searching by name
  4. Check Sync Debug for recovery options

Performance Issues

  1. Enable Smart Tab Loading
  2. Collapse unused folders
  3. Reduce number of open collections
  4. Export and remove old collections

Import Errors

  • Ensure file is a .txt file
  • Verify file contains valid JSON
  • Try importing a single collection first
  • Check browser console for detailed errors

Getting Help

Version Information

This guide is for Tabox version 4.0.

For updates and release notes, visit the Tabox GitHub repository.