# Write and publish documents (https://docs.commonplot.co/en/user/documents/)

Documents are what you produce in commonplot: research notes, reports, or articles. Every document belongs to a notebook. Write one from scratch, or have AI draft it from the notebook's sources.

![A research document AI wrote from the notebook's sources](https://docs.commonplot.co/images/en/document.jpg/)

## Create a document [#create-a-document]

- In the notebook's resources rail, choose **Add** → **New document**.
- Or ask in the AI rail, for example:

```text
Using this notebook's resources, write a research brief with the main conclusions, disagreements, and citations.
```

- Or in the **Studio** tab, choose **Research document** → **Write document**.

## Edit [#edit]

Type "/" for the command menu to insert:

- Headings (H1–H3), bulleted, numbered, and to-do lists
- Quotes, code blocks, and dividers
- Tables (merge cells, header row)
- Images (PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, HEIC, up to 10 MB)

Select text to make it bold, italic, underlined, struck through, inline code, or a link. The handle beside each block duplicates it, moves it up or down, or turns it into another block type. **Outline** lists every heading so you can jump between them.

## Autosave [#autosave]

Documents save automatically, and the status next to the title shows states such as **Saving…** or **Couldn't save**. Changes made offline sync when you reconnect; keep the tab open until then.

Use **Download a copy** whenever you want a local file.

## Edit with AI [#edit-with-ai]

When you ask in the AI rail, the AI can edit the open document, for example to:

- Rewrite a section
- Add a summary or conclusion
- Add new sections from the notebook's resources
- Make citations consistent

While AI edits, the document shows **AI · Editing**. A version is saved before every AI edit.

## Version history [#version-history]

Open **Version history** from the document toolbar to see versions kept as you edit and the version before each AI edit. Choose one and select **Restore this version** to go back to it.

## Share a document [#share-a-document]

Choose **Share** above the document and pick **Who can read**:

![The Who can read options in Share](https://docs.commonplot.co/images/en/share-options.png/)

| Option | Who can see it |
| --- | --- |
| Only you | Only you can open it (the default) |
| Anyone with the link | Readable with the link, never searchable |
| Public | On your profile and open to search engines |

Set a username in **Settings → Profile** before sharing. A shared document's address is:

```text
commonplot.co/{username}/{url-slug}
```

You can set the URL, description, and document language. A published URL stays fixed so links already shared keep working.

Before publishing, a document needs at least 80 characters, a specific title, valid links and images, and its latest changes saved.

## Delete a document [#delete-a-document]

Deleting is permanent: it removes the document and its version history. To stop sharing, set **Who can read** back to **Only you** instead.