Tholi
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USER GUIDE

How to use Tholi

Start with one item, then browse, organize, ask, and keep the result.

BEFORE YOU START

Five concepts to know first.

Canvas

The two-dimensional space that holds your current work.

Window

A webpage, file, or result placed on the canvas.

Group

A task boundary you create, name, and color.

Use space

Separates work, personal, and other website sessions.

Workspace

Saves the windows, groups, and layout for one task.

STEP ONE

Put your first webpage or file on the canvas.

  1. 01
    Create a web window

    Choose New window, then enter a URL or search.

  2. 02
    Open a local file

    Open or drop only the files needed for this task; Tholi does not read unrelated paths.

  3. 03
    Place it with intent

    Drag the title area and keep related material close together.

When complete: the canvas has at least one content window you can browse and move.

STEP TWO

Move through the space instead of switching tabs.

Pan the canvas

Drag empty space to move the whole view.

Zoom the canvas

CtrlWheel.

Scroll content

Place the pointer inside a webpage or file window and scroll.

Focus a window

Double-click a window or use the focus action.

See all

Bring every window in the current workspace back into view.

Move a window

Drag its title area; the workspace keeps the new position.

STEP THREE

Select, group, and move together.

  1. 01
    Select related windows

    Hold Shift and drag from empty canvas space.

  2. 02
    Arrange, then group

    Use the floating action bar, name the group, and choose a color.

  3. 03
    Move the group

    Drag the group panel to move the complete task scene.

STEP FOUR

Keep conclusions beside their sources.

SourcesWeb · files · data

Keep the material you read and compared.

ResultsNotes · AI findings

Place them near the sources so position restores context.

A note is not detached from the work. Its position tells you which sources it belongs to, which group contains it, and what should happen next.

FIRST-TIME SETUP

Connect your AI service and send your first question.

These steps take place in the Windows desktop app and were written for v0.3.4. The website canvas is an interactive demo; do not enter an API key here.

Before starting, have your provider’s API key ready and confirm that your account has model access and any required quota. Browsing, arranging content, and organizing workspaces remain available without remote AI. Get the desktop app →

  1. 01
    Open the Tholi AI connection settings

    In the desktop app, open Plugin Center and find Tholi AI. Turn it on if it is disabled, then click its card to configure it. With no connections, the add form opens directly. Otherwise, choose Add connection.

  2. 02
    Choose your service platform and entry

    Under Service platform, choose the provider that issued your API key. If Region / service appears, choose the entry that matches the key. Built-in platforms supply their address automatically; the question-mark icon beside the platform shows it.

  3. 03
    Enter your API key and save

    Choose the platform and service entry first, then paste the API key and click Save. Switching platform or entry clears a newly entered key. Saving a connection does not confirm that a model can answer. If the model list is unavailable, use the troubleshooting steps below.

  4. 04
    Choose a model in the conversation

    Close Plugin Center and open Tholi AI. Use the model picker in the input area to select your new connection and a model. Choose a model your provider has made available to your account; appearing in a catalog does not establish account access.

  5. 05
    Send your first question

    Start a new conversation, check that no unwanted webpages or files are attached, and send the example below. After receiving a normal reply, follow Ask with multiple sources to analyze selected material. This first question calls your chosen service and is subject to its pricing.

What goes in each field?

Service platform

Choose the platform that issued your API key and the matching regional entry. A key from one service cannot be used with an unrelated service.

API Key

A credential created in your provider’s API console to authorize requests. It is not your login password or a chat website address.

API base URL

Built-in platforms normally supply this. For a custom connection, use the API base URL provided by the service, not its chat website or a guessed endpoint path. Use HTTPS for remote services; HTTP is allowed for local services.

Model

Choose it in the conversation after saving the connection. When adding one manually, enter the full model ID supplied by the provider, not a name you invent.

What about a custom API or local Ollama?

Custom API: choose Custom under Service platform, enter the provider’s API base URL and key, and select the matching protocol from its documentation. The name is optional; a model name alone does not tell you the protocol.

Ollama: start the local service and prepare a model first, then choose Ollama and check its API base URL. The key can be left empty for local Ollama.

Keep your key private:Enter it only in the desktop connection form, not in a conversation, screenshot, or support email.

STEP FIVE

Select the sources for this question.

  1. 01
    Select sources

    Select the webpages, open files, or other canvas content needed for this question.

  2. 02
    Start the analysis

    Open Tholi AI from the selection bar and state the task clearly.

  3. 03
    Return the result to the canvas

    Pin the result beside its sources and task group.

Note: selected text, your question, and required context are sent only when you actively use the AI service you chose.

CONNECTION HELP

If your first request fails, start with the error.

I cannot find Tholi AI, or it is still disabled

Return to Plugin Center and check that Tholi AI is enabled. Configuring a connection and enabling the feature are separate actions; entering a key alone does not replace enabling the feature.

The connection was saved, but the model list is empty or failed to load

Find the connection under Plugin Center → Tholi AI, then open More actions → Models and use the Refresh list icon. If the service does not return a list, use Add model manually with its official model ID. Turn on the display switch for a hidden model. Adding an ID does not grant your account access.

The key is invalid or lacks access

Check that the key belongs to the selected platform and regional entry, has no accidental whitespace, and has not been revoked by the provider. Open Edit connection and use Replace key to enter it again. If it still fails, check API permissions in the provider’s console.

The service address cannot be reached

Check your network and the provider’s service status. Custom connections need the API address; a local Ollama service must already be running. Check the address against the provider’s documentation. Replacing keys repeatedly will not fix a network problem.

A model is listed, but sending a question fails

Read the error and check account access to that model, available quota, and request limits. For a custom connection, also check that the protocol matches the address. Wait before retrying a rate-limited request. For support, include the app version, platform, model name, and an error screenshot with sensitive information hidden.

Still stuck? Contact support with an issue report →

STEP SIX

Use contexts for sessions and spaces for tasks.

Use space

Work and personal website sessions

Keep cookies, site storage, and sign-ins separate.

Workspace

Research, analysis, travel, and other tasks

Save windows, groups, notes, and their spatial layout.

One use space can serve many workspaces. Returning to a workspace restores the scene for that task.

COMMON ACTIONS

Give frequent actions to the keyboard.

Window actionsOpen, recover, and inspect
New windowCtrlT
Close windowCtrlW
Reopen windowCtrlShiftT
ReloadCtrlR
Add bookmarkCtrlD
Find in pageCtrlF
Canvas actionsNavigate and focus the workspace
Command paletteCtrlK
See allCtrl1
Focus hovered windowCtrl2

The website demo runs inside a regular browser tab, so the browser may claim some combinations first. The desktop application is the source of truth.

Need help? Read the FAQ →