Getting Started with Eidos Files

An Eidos File (.eidos file) is a self-contained, lightweight, and capable local structured document. You can back it up, copy it across drives, or send it to friends just like a standard document, and open it locally in milliseconds without an internet connection.

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1. Core Elements of a File

An .eidos file is composed of several intuitive building blocks:

Element	Description	Example
Table	A dedicated collection of records representing one type of entity	Tasks, Customers, Books
Field	The columns of your table, defining properties and data formats	Title (Text), Priority (Select), Due Date (Date)
Record	A single row in a table representing a specific item	A specific task, a customer contact, a book
View	A distinct saved layout and filter preset for the same table	Table Grid, Kanban Board, Card Gallery, Calendar

Edits in One View Update Everywhere

All views (Grid, Kanban, Gallery, etc.) are different lenses focusing on the exact same underlying records. If you drag a card from “In Progress” to “Done” in a Kanban board, switching back to the Grid view will immediately reflect the new status. There are never duplicated or out-of-sync copies.

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2. Create Your First Table

When opening an .eidos file, you can use the default table or click the + button in the table tab bar:

1. Name Your Table: Give it a clear, descriptive name (e.g. Tasks). A best practice is to keep each table focused on a single type of entity rather than mixing customers and receipts together.
2. Choose the Record Label Field:
   • Every table designates one primary column as its “Record Label Field” (usually the first column).
   • This serves as the display title for records when viewing them as cards on a Kanban board or linking them across tables.
   • Choose a field that humans immediately recognize, such as Task Name, Full Name, or Book Title, rather than an internal ID or timestamp.

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3. Entering Data & Adding Custom Columns

Quick Record Entry

• Click Add record at the bottom of the table, or press ⌘ + Enter on macOS (Ctrl + Enter on Windows/Linux) to insert a new row below and immediately start typing.
• Navigate seamlessly with keyboard shortcuts: press Tab to move to the next cell, and Enter to save.

Add Custom Fields

Click the + button on the far right of the table header:

• Enter a column name (such as “Priority”).
• Select a field type (such as Select).
• Add preset options (e.g. “High”, “Medium”, “Low”) and pick distinct colors.
• Optionally configure a Default Option: every newly created record will automatically be assigned this default value.

For an exhaustive guide on all field options, see Tables and Fields.

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4. One-Click Switch: From Table to Kanban Board

Once you have entered some records, you can create tailored views for your workflow:

1. Click the + button in the view bar.
2. Select Kanban as the view type.
3. Select which single-select field to group columns by (e.g. “Status” or “Priority”).
4. Click create, and your spreadsheet instantly transforms into an interactive card board!
5. Drag and drop cards across columns to update their status properties in real time.

For advanced filtering, sorting, and gallery layouts, see Views and Querying.

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5. Instant Local Saving & Portability

• Automatic Persistence: Eidos Lite saves your changes continuously. Every keystroke and drag operation is written directly to the .eidos file on your drive, so you never have to remember to click “Save”.
• Completely Portable: When you close Eidos Lite, you can copy the .eidos file to a USB thumb drive or send it via email; it remains an entirely self-contained database with all your tables, fields, and views intact.