dossier · How-to
How do I…?
Short, practical guides for dossier — one question, one answer. Everything here works with the current version of dossier for macOS.
Set up
- How do I set up my first project?Point dossier at a folder, drop files into the INBOX, and file your first document.
- How do I connect Claude (Anthropic)?Use an Anthropic API key for high-quality proposals and the assistant.
- How do I connect OpenAI?Use an OpenAI API key (the platform kind, not ChatGPT) as dossier's AI provider.
- How do I run fully local with Ollama?Use a local model so no document text ever leaves your Mac — no key, no cost.
Everyday filing
- How do I write my convention?Describe your filing rules in plain language in CONVENTION.md — dossier applies them to every proposal.
- How do I file a whole backlog at once?Auto-file everything in the INBOX in one run — only high-confidence matches are filed, the rest wait for review.
- How do I make scanned PDFs searchable?Image-only PDFs get a text layer via Apple Vision OCR — on your Mac, not in a cloud.
Power features
- How do I search across everything?Full-text search covers filenames, AI summaries, your notes, and the complete extracted text.
- How do I group files with paperclips?Clips collect related documents across folders — without moving a single file.
- How do I use the AI Assistant?A chat that can actually touch your archive — search, inspect, clip, and navigate to files.