Traverse is local-first. Its library is a folder on your Mac, and each outline is stored as an OPML file inside that folder or one of its subfolders.
The default library
By default, Traverse creates its library in the app's Application Support area. This keeps Traverse documents together without mixing them into a general folder such as Documents or Desktop.
Choosing a custom library folder
You can choose a different folder in Settings > Library. This is useful if you want your Traverse outlines in a project folder, an external folder, or a folder that syncs through a service such as iCloud Drive.
For the cleanest experience, choose a dedicated Traverse library folder. If you choose a broad folder that already contains unrelated OPML files, those OPML files may appear in the Traverse library because OPML is Traverse's document format.
Subfolders
Traverse lists OPML documents in the selected library folder and its subfolders. You can create folders in the library sidebar to organise related outlines.
Moving the library
When you change library location, Traverse copies existing OPML outlines and their subfolder structure into the new location, then reads OPML files from the selected folder.
Importing outlines
Traverse Free can import OPML from other outliners, iThoughts files, and Tree files. Imported outlines are written as new OPML documents in your Traverse library.
Traverse Pro can also turn Markdown, plain-text, and Fountain files into editable Traverse outlines:
- Markdown: Headings and indented lists become hierarchy, and recognised document structures become Type values.
- Plain text: Each non-empty line becomes a node, with leading indentation retained as parent-child structure.
- Fountain: Screenplay elements are converted into Fountain-aware nodes and hierarchy.
Paste text as nodes
You can also paste multiple lines directly into an outline. Traverse creates separate nodes and respects leading spaces or tabs as hierarchy. This is useful when the source does not need to become a separate imported document.
Opening OPML files directly
You can open compatible OPML files directly with Traverse. Traverse Free opens external OPML files read-only. Traverse Pro allows direct editing and saves changes back to the original file.
Deleting outlines
Deleting an outline from the library removes that OPML document from the Traverse library. If your OPML files are stored in a synced folder, deletion and recovery may also depend on that sync provider's behaviour.
Portability
Because Traverse uses OPML, your outlines remain portable. Traverse-specific metadata may be included in library documents so the app can preserve IDs, attributes, numbering settings, default view, tree state, and other document behaviour.
If an imported or existing outline already contains Type, Fountain, or custom attributes, those fields remain available even when Pro is not active. Pro is required to add Type or Fountain to another outline or to add and edit custom attribute definitions.
