Desktop App Installation & Usage

Get started with the Scrapalot Desktop application - a native desktop version that runs completely offline on your computer.

Overview

Scrapalot Desktop is a standalone application that provides:

• True Offline Mode: Works without internet connection (after initial setup)
• Local Database: All your data stored privately on your computer
• No Login Required: Automatic authentication for convenience
• Native Performance: Optimized desktop experience
• Your Documents: Complete control over your data location

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Windows:

• Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• 4 GB RAM
• 2 GB free disk space

macOS:

• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• 4 GB RAM
• 2 GB free disk space

Linux:

• Ubuntu 20.04 or equivalent
• 4 GB RAM
• 2 GB free disk space

Recommended for AI Features

• 8 GB RAM or more: For better performance with local AI models
• 10 GB free disk space: If you plan to download local AI models
• SSD Storage: Faster document processing and search

Download & Installation

Windows

1. Download the installer: Scrapalot-Setup-1.0.0-x64.exe
2. Run the installer by double-clicking the file
3. Follow the installation wizard:
   • Choose installation location (default recommended)
   • Select whether to create desktop shortcut
   • Click "Install"
4. Launch Scrapalot from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut

Installation Location: C:\Program Files\Scrapalot\

Your Data: C:\Users\{YourName}\.scrapalot\

macOS

1. Download the disk image: Scrapalot-1.0.0-x64.dmg
2. Open the DMG file
3. Drag Scrapalot icon to the Applications folder
4. Launch from Applications or Launchpad
5. First launch: Right-click → Open (to bypass Gatekeeper if needed)

Installation Location: /Applications/Scrapalot.app

Your Data: ~/. scrapalot/ (in your home folder)

Linux

1. Download the AppImage: Scrapalot-1.0.0-x86_64.AppImage
2. Make executable:

   chmod +x Scrapalot-1.0.0-x86_64.AppImage

3. Run the application:

   ./Scrapalot-1.0.0-x86_64.AppImage

4. Optional: Move to /opt/ or ~/Applications/ for permanent installation

Your Data: ~/.scrapalot/ (hidden folder in your home directory)

First Launch

Automatic Setup

When you first launch Scrapalot Desktop, it automatically:

1. Creates Your Database: Sets up a private local database
2. Generates Security Key: Creates a unique desktop authentication key
3. Creates User Account: Auto-creates a local user account
4. Launches Application: Opens directly to the dashboard (no login screen!)

No configuration needed - everything just works!

Initial Setup Time

• First launch: 10-20 seconds (database initialization)
• Subsequent launches: 2-5 seconds

Understanding Your Data

Data Directory Location

All your Scrapalot data is stored locally in the .scrapalot folder:

Windows: C:\Users\{YourName}\.scrapalot\macOS: /Users/{YourName}/.scrapalot/Linux: /home/{YourName}/.scrapalot/

What's Stored

.scrapalot/
├── scrapalot.db       # Your database (documents, conversations, settings)
├── data/              # Uploaded document files
├── models/            # Downloaded AI models (if you use local AI)
├── cache/             # Search index and embeddings cache
└── logs/              # Application logs (for troubleshooting)

Data Size

Typical usage:

• Fresh install: ~50 MB
• With 100 documents: ~500 MB - 2 GB (depends on document sizes)
• With local AI model: +2-8 GB per model

Managing space: You can safely delete old documents from the app - their files will be removed from the data/ folder.

Using Scrapalot Desktop

Key Differences from Web Version

Feature	Desktop App	Web Version
Login	✓ Automatic (no password)	⊗ Requires login
Offline	✓ Works offline	⊗ Needs internet
Database	✓ Local SQLite	⊗ Remote PostgreSQL
Data Privacy	✓ 100% on your computer	~ Stored on server
Updates	Manual download	Automatic
Collaboration	⊗ Single user	✓ Multi-user

Navigation

The desktop app has the same interface as the web version:

• Left Sidebar: Access your document collections (knowledge stacks)
• Main Chat: Ask questions and get AI responses
• Right Panel: View sources and citations
• Top Bar: Settings, model selection, and app controls

Uploading Documents

1. Click on a collection in the left sidebar
2. Click the "Upload" button or drag-and-drop files
3. Watch real-time progress as documents are processed
4. Start asking questions once processing completes

Supported formats: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Text, Markdown, and more

Choosing AI Models

Cloud AI (requires internet):

• OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-3.5)
• Anthropic (Claude)
• Google (Gemini)

Local AI (works offline):

• Download models from the app
• Run completely on your computer
• No data leaves your device
• Requires more RAM and disk space

To change models: Settings → Model Selection → Choose provider and model

Window Controls

Desktop-Specific Features

The app includes native desktop features:

• Minimize to Tray: Click the minimize button to send app to system tray
• Always on Top: Pin the window to stay on top of other apps
• Custom Shortcuts: Use keyboard shortcuts for common actions
• Native Menus: Right-click menus for copy/paste/select

System Tray

When minimized to tray, you can:

• Click the tray icon to restore the window
• Right-click for quick actions:
  • Show/Hide window
  • Quit application
  • Open data folder

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Viewing Logs

If you encounter issues:

1. Open Data Folder: Help menu → Open Data Folder
2. Navigate to logs/ subfolder
3. View the latest log file for error details

Or use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+L (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+L (macOS)

Clearing Cache

To free up space or fix corrupted index:

1. Settings → Advanced → Clear Cache
2. Confirm the action
3. Wait for reindexing (automatic)

Warning: This will remove the search index but not your documents. Reindexing may take a few minutes.

Resetting the App

If you experience persistent issues:

1. Quit Scrapalot completely
2. Rename the .scrapalot folder (for backup):
   • Windows: Rename to .scrapalot.backup
   • macOS/Linux: mv ~/.scrapalot ~/.scrapalot.backup
3. Launch Scrapalot again (creates fresh setup)

Warning: This removes all your data. Only do this as a last resort.

Checking for Updates

The desktop app doesn't auto-update. To update:

1. Help → About Scrapalot → Check for Updates
2. If an update is available, you'll see a download link
3. Download the new installer
4. Install over the existing version (your data is preserved)

Updating the Application

Manual Updates

1. Download the latest version from the website
2. Install the new version:
   • Windows: Run new installer (overwrites old version)
   • macOS: Drag new app to Applications (replace old one)
   • Linux: Replace old AppImage with new one
3. Launch: Your data and settings are preserved

Your data is safe: The .scrapalot folder is separate from the application and won't be affected by updates.

Uninstalling

Windows

1. Settings → Apps → Scrapalot → Uninstall
2. Choose whether to delete your data:
   • Keep data: Future reinstalls will restore your documents
   • Delete data: Removes everything (cannot be undone)

macOS

1. Move Scrapalot.app to Trash
2. To remove data (optional): Delete ~/.scrapalot folder

Linux

1. Delete the AppImage file
2. To remove data (optional): Delete ~/.scrapalot folder

Privacy & Security

Data Privacy

• 100% Local: All data stays on your computer
• No Cloud Sync: Nothing is sent to external servers (unless you use cloud AI)
• No Tracking: No usage analytics or telemetry
• No Account: No email, password, or personal info required

When Data Leaves Your Computer

The only time data leaves your device:

• Cloud AI Usage: When you ask questions using OpenAI/Anthropic/Google models
• Web Search: If you enable Deep Research with web search
• Updates: When checking for app updates

Using Local AI: If you use downloaded local models, absolutely no data leaves your computer.

Security Features

• Encrypted Storage: Database files use SQLite encryption (optional)
• Isolated Process: App runs in sandboxed environment
• Secure Keys: Desktop authentication keys stored in encrypted format
• File Permissions: Data directory restricted to your user account

Best Practices

For Optimal Performance

1. Regular Cleanup: Delete old conversations and unused documents
2. Monitor Disk Space: Keep at least 2 GB free for caching
3. Backup Your Data: Occasionally copy .scrapalot folder to external drive
4. Use Local AI for Privacy: Download models for complete offline usage
5. Restart Periodically: Close and reopen the app weekly for best performance

Backup Strategy

To backup your Scrapalot data:

1. Quit the application completely
2. Copy the entire .scrapalot folder to backup location
3. Restore: Simply replace the folder if needed

Recommended: Set up automatic backups using your system's backup tool (Time Machine, Windows Backup, etc.)

Getting Help

Resources

• User Guide: Built-in help documentation
• FAQ: Common questions and answers
• Community: GitHub discussions and issues
• Support: Email support for licensed users

Reporting Issues

If you encounter bugs:

1. Collect logs: Help → Open Logs Directory
2. Note steps: Write down what you were doing when the issue occurred
3. Report: File an issue on GitHub or email support
4. Include: Log files, screenshots, system info

What's Next?

After installation, you're ready to:

1. Upload Your First Documents: Learn how to add documents
2. Ask Questions: Start chatting with your AI assistant
3. Organize Collections: Create knowledge stacks for different topics
4. Configure AI Models: Choose the best AI model for your needs

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Enjoy Scrapalot Desktop! Your private, local, AI-powered knowledge assistant.