First‐Setup - Life-Experimentalist/NovelSynth GitHub Wiki

First Setup Guide

🎯 Welcome to NovelSynth!

This guide will help you get NovelSynth up and running with your first AI enhancement.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • ✅ Installed NovelSynth browser extension
  • ✅ A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge)
  • ✅ An API key from a supported AI provider

🔑 Step 1: Get Your API Key

Recommended: Google Gemini (Free Tier Available)

  1. Visit Google AI Studio: Go to makersuite.google.com
  2. Sign in: Use your Google account
  3. Create API Key: Click "Get API Key" → "Create API Key"
  4. Copy Key: Save the API key securely

Alternative: OpenAI

  1. Visit OpenAI: Go to platform.openai.com
  2. Sign up/Login: Create account or sign in
  3. API Keys: Navigate to API Keys section
  4. Create Key: Generate a new API key
  5. Add Credits: Add billing information for usage

⚙️ Step 2: Configure NovelSynth

  1. Open Extension: Click the NovelSynth icon in your browser toolbar
  2. Settings Tab: Click on the "Settings" or gear icon
  3. AI Provider Setup:
    • Select "Google Gemini" or "OpenAI"
    • Paste your API key
    • Click "Test Connection" to verify
  4. Save Settings: Click "Save" to store your configuration

🎮 Step 3: Your First Enhancement

Try It On Any Website

  1. Visit a Content Site: Go to any website with text content

    • Example sites: Medium articles, blog posts, news articles
    • For fiction: Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.net, Wattpad

  2. Select Text: Highlight a paragraph or section of text

  3. Activate NovelSynth:

    • Use the floating panel (bottom-right corner)
    • OR click the extension icon and choose a feature

  4. Choose Enhancement Type:

    • Enhance: Improve grammar and style
    • Summarize: Create a concise summary
    • Analyze: Get insights about the content

  5. View Results: The enhanced content will appear in a popup

🛠️ Step 4: Customize Your Experience

Adjust Settings

  • Default AI Provider: Choose your preferred AI service
  • Feature Preferences: Enable/disable specific features
  • Content Types: Configure behavior for different sites

Edit Prompts

  • Custom Instructions: Modify how AI processes your content
  • Style Preferences: Set your preferred writing style
  • Language Options: Configure for different languages

🎯 Quick Tips for Best Results

Content Selection

  • Longer Text: Works better with paragraphs than single sentences
  • Clean Text: Avoid selecting UI elements or mixed content
  • Context Matters: Select complete thoughts or sections

Feature Usage

  • Enhancement: Best for draft text or unclear writing
  • Summarization: Ideal for long articles or chapters
  • Analysis: Great for understanding themes and structure

Performance Tips

  • API Limits: Be mindful of your API usage limits
  • Text Length: Very long texts may be truncated
  • Internet Connection: Ensure stable connection for best results

❗ Troubleshooting Common Issues

API Key Problems

  • Invalid Key: Double-check the key was copied correctly
  • Expired Key: Generate a new key if the old one stopped working
  • Quota Exceeded: Check your API provider's usage dashboard

Extension Issues

  • Not Loading: Try refreshing the page or restarting the browser
  • No Response: Check your internet connection and API key
  • Permissions: Ensure the extension has permission to access the current site

Content Issues

  • No Text Selected: Make sure text is highlighted before activation
  • Poor Results: Try selecting more context or adjusting prompts
  • Language Issues: Ensure the AI provider supports your content language

🎉 You're Ready!

Congratulations! You've successfully set up NovelSynth. Here are some next steps:

  • Explore Features: Try different enhancement types
  • Visit Fiction Sites: Test on your favorite reading sites
  • Customize Prompts: Tailor the AI responses to your preferences
  • Join Community: Share feedback and get tips from other users

🔗 Next Steps

Need Help? Visit our FAQ