Zenspire

Welcome to the Zenspire User Manual! This guide provides detailed instructions on how to use Zenspire to effectively organize and browse your images on macOS.

What is Zenspire?

Zenspire is a macOS application designed to help you manage your local image library using a combination of file system folders, virtual collections, favorites, and a quick save feature within its own managed environment.

Who Uses Zenspire?

Zenspire can be helpful for anyone who works with a growing local library of images, including designers, artists, photographers, developers, and anyone needing to organize visual reference material.

Core Principles

Understanding these principles helps explain Zenspire’s design:

Local First & Private

Zenspire operates locally on your Mac. It does not use cloud storage or require an account. Your data is managed within the app’s secure container.

• Managed Library: Zenspire provides an interface to create folders and organize images within its own dedicated library space.
• Native macOS Design: Built specifically for macOS for a familiar and responsive experience.

This documentation will guide you through the application’s features and usage.

Getting Started: Zenspire’s Library Location

Before you begin, it’s important to understand where Zenspire stores and manages your image library:

• Sandboxed Container: As a sandboxed macOS application, Zenspire operates within its own secure container provided by the operating system for safety and privacy. This container is located within your user Library folder (typically at ~/Library/Containers/com.bitbebop.Zenspire/, though the exact path is managed by macOS).
• Managed Library: Zenspire creates and manages its own folder structure inside this container. When you create folders using the [+] New > Folder command or import images (e.g., via drag-and-drop), these folders are created and the image files are copied into this managed space within the container.
• Interaction via Zenspire: You interact with this library primarily through the Zenspire application itself (creating folders, renaming, deleting, adding images). Direct access to the container folder via Finder is generally not required for normal operation.

Future Possibility: Custom Library Location

Future versions of Zenspire may introduce the ability to designate a custom, user-accessible folder (like a specific folder in your Documents or Pictures) as the library root. This would require explicit permission granted via a standard macOS open panel, allowing Zenspire controlled access to that specific location outside its default sandbox container.

Next Steps

Explore the key areas of Zenspire using these guides:

Interface Overview Learn the layout of the main window, sidebar, and grid.

Managing Folders Create and organize folders within Zenspire's library.

Using Collections Group images virtually without duplicating files.

Library Features Use Favorites and Quick Save for quick access.

Image Grid Interactions Select, drag, and manage images visually.

Settings Configure Zenspire's appearance and behavior.

Menu Bar Commands Access global commands from the top menu bar.