Traverse is a local-first outliner for macOS. It helps you create, organise, navigate, write, and export structured outlines while keeping your documents as portable OPML files on your Mac.
The main areas
- Library: The left sidebar lists the OPML outlines in your chosen library folder.
- Workspace: The centre of the app shows the selected outline in Writer, Column, or Outline view.
- Inspector: The right side lets you edit the selected node's note, attributes, links, and metadata.
Create an outline
- Choose a folder in the library sidebar.
- Click the new outline button or use the File menu.
- Choose the view that suits the work you are doing.
- In Column or Outline view, press Return for a sibling and Tab for a child. In Writer view, press Return for a sibling, Shift-Return for a child, and Tab or Shift-Tab to change indentation.
- Use notes and attributes when a node needs more detail than its title.
Choose a view
- Writer: Presents the outline as a continuous document while preserving its hierarchy. It is ideal for drafting and reading in a regular writing flow.
- Column Auto: Opens one path through a deep outline, one level per column.
- Column Manual: Lets you expand multiple branches at once, compare branches, and reveal filtered matches together.
- Outline: Shows a classic indented list and is often fastest for scanning and keyboard editing.
See Writer view for its editing commands, Typewriter mode, and writing workflows.
Use the toolbar
The toolbar gives quick access to view options, numbering, filters, Focus, node actions, export, and navigation history. Choose View > Show Keyboard Shortcuts to display a floating reference for the main structural commands in the active view.
Use the Inspector
The Inspector shows the selected node's fields. Depending on the document, this may include notes, task state, URL, mark, Type or Fountain elements, custom attributes, numbering omission, and created or modified dates.
Type, Markdown, and Fountain
The Pro Type attribute gives nodes semantic roles such as Heading, Body, Bullet, Numbered bullet, Blockquote, Code block, and Divider. Traverse styles those roles and uses them to produce structured Markdown Document export.
The Pro Fountain attribute gives nodes screenplay roles such as Scene Heading, Action, Character, Dialogue, Parenthetical, Transition, Section, Synopsis, and Note. Character-aware suggestions help keep names consistent, and Fountain export produces a clean plain-text screenplay.
Change a node's role by clicking its Type or Fountain icon or by using the Format menu. Traverse can also recognise familiar markers as you type. See Smart typing with Type and Fountain for the complete reference.
A document uses either Type or Fountain. An active Pro unlock is required to add either attribute, but outlines that already contain them remain fully usable.
Settings and defaults
Settings > Outline controls the attributes and default view used by new blank outlines. A Template can carry its own default view, which takes precedence when a new outline is created from that Template.
Settings > Writing includes options to check spelling while typing and correct spelling automatically. Other appearance settings control fonts, node details, and Column widths, including Dynamic widths that size each column for its content.
Use numbering
Generated numbering can be switched between None, Decimal, and APA. Numbering is not typed into your node titles. It can also use document prefixes such as Chapter, Section, Scene.
Free and Pro
Traverse Free includes unlimited library outlines, Writer, Column and Outline views, everyday built-in attributes, text search, and export. Pro adds Templates, Snippets, Markdown, plain-text and Fountain file import, direct external OPML editing, Type and Fountain, custom attributes, attribute filters, Focus mode, and Apple Intelligence generation.
Optional Apple Intelligence
If Traverse Pro is unlocked and Apple Intelligence is available on your Mac, blank outlines can show a Generate with AI option. This is optional and uses Apple's on-device Foundation Models framework where available.
The Film / Screenplay structure includes recognised story frameworks and can create either a normal story outline or a Fountain-formatted screenplay skeleton with headings, scene headings, and concise action.
