Quick Add Menu
The Quick Add Menu lets you create any type of thing (character, item, location, chapter, note, or tag) without leaving whatever you're currently working on. Press Ctrl+N (or Cmd+N on Mac) from anywhere in Penpoint and the menu pops up, ready to go.
Step 1: Choose What to Create
The menu opens to a list of everything you can create. Six options are shown, each with a short description.
- Click an item, or use the arrow keys and press Enter
- Type a few letters to filter the list: searching for "loc" jumps straight to Location
- Press Escape to close without creating anything
Tip: The Ctrl+N shortcut works everywhere: in the character list, while editing a note, even inside Manuscript Mode (where you write your prose). You never have to go somewhere else first.
Step 2: Fill in the Details
After choosing what to create, a short form appears. The fields shown depend on what you're creating: characters ask for a name and importance level (Primary, Secondary, or Background; you can always change this later), chapters ask for a title and optional subtitle and notes, and so on.
You have two ways to finish, plus a back button to cancel:
- Create: saves the item and shows a confirmation. The menu stays open so you can create more.
- Create & Open: saves and immediately takes you to the full profile page for that new character, location, or item.
- The left-pointing arrow button in the top-left corner: returns to the list without creating anything.
Step 3: Confirmation
After a successful creation, a confirmation screen shows you what was just made. From here you can:
- Create Another: go back to the list to create something else
- Open [Type]: go directly to the new item's profile page (e.g. "Open Character")
- Done: close the menu and return to where you were
Tip: If your cursor was active inside a writing area when you pressed Ctrl+N, whether in Manuscript Mode (where you write your prose) or a notes box or formatted text area in Worldbuilding Mode (where you track characters, locations, and more), a Create + Mention button will also appear on the creation form (except for tags). This creates the item and inserts its name as a clickable reference link right where your cursor is, so you can keep writing without losing your place.