One of our core promises is "No Sign-ups." But that creates a challenge: how do you save your work? How do you avoid re-typing your company details or your regular clients every single time?
The answer is **Browser Local Storage**. We've built a "sticky" experience that gives you the convenience of an account, with the privacy of a local-first app.
What is Local Storage?
Think of Local Storage as a small, private storage locker that your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) keeps just for you, on your own computer. When a website (like `smoothledger.com`) saves something to Local Storage, it's saving it in that locker.
Crucially: We (the SmoothLedger servers) **cannot** see what's in your locker. Only you and the website, running on your computer, can access it.
How to Use the Save Features
We've built three powerful save features that all use this private, secure method.
1. Auto-Save "My Details"
In the sidebar, under "Auto-Save," you'll find a toggle for "Save My Details."
- What it does: When this is ON, we automatically save your "From" (Your Company) details every time you change them.
- The benefit: The next time you visit, your company name and address will be pre-filled, saving you time.
2. Save & Load Clients
Tired of re-typing the same client info?
- To Save: Fill out the "Bill To" or "Prepared For" box, then click the "Save Client" icon. We use the first line as the client's name.
- To Load: Simply select the client from the "Load a client..." dropdown. Their details will instantly fill the "To" box.
3. Save & Load Full Documents
This is the most powerful feature.
- To Save: Once your document is perfect, make sure it has a unique ID (like "INV-001") and click the "Save Current Invoice" button.
- To Load: Use the "Load Invoice" dropdown to find your saved document. Selecting it will restore *everything*—the client, the items, the notes, and even your style settings (like colors and fonts).
The Future: The Cloud Dashboard
The only downside to Local Storage is that it's "local"—it's stuck on one browser on one computer. This is why we're building the **SmoothLedger Dashboard**, an optional, premium product for users who want to securely save their data in the cloud and access it from any device. Stay tuned!