Frequently Asked Questions

Data & Storage

Where is my data stored?

All your data is stored locally in your browser using IndexedDB. Your graphs, terms, relations, and settings never leave your computer unless you explicitly export or use cloud AI features.

• No account required: You don't need to sign up or log in
• No cloud storage: Data is not uploaded to any server
• Browser-specific: Data is stored per browser - switching browsers means starting fresh (unless you export/import)

Security

Is it safe to load files or URLs from external sources?

Termboard implements multiple security measures to protect you when loading external data:

• HTML sanitization: Content is stipped from HTML/JavaScript to prevent XSS attacks
• URL validation: Only HTTPS URLs are accepted (blocks javascript:, data:, and other dangerous protocols)
• Structure validation: Documents are validated for correct format before loading
• Size limits: Maximum 50,000 terms and 100,000 relations to prevent browser overload

Only Load Trusted Sources

While we implement several security measures, only load files or URLs from sources you trust. No security system is 100% foolproof. If you receive a Termboard file or link with with URL to the model from an unknown source, treat it with the same caution as any other downloaded file.

Is my data secure?

Yes. Your data security is ensured by:

• Local storage only: All data stays in your browser - nothing is sent to our servers
• No tracking: We don't collect analytics or usage data
• No accounts: No login credentials to protect or leak
• Your API keys: If you use Cloud AI, your API keys are stored only in your browser's local storage

How do I backup my work?

Several options for backing up:

1. Auto-save: Enable auto-save (toggle in top menu) to save to browser persistent storage automatically
2. Save: Saves quickly in browser persistent storage
3. Save to file: File > Save File > JSON saves a .json file you can store anywhere and contains all data
4. Save to excel file: File > Save File > Excel saves a to excel contains MOST BUT NOT all data
5. Backup: File > Backup Saves all models with complete data in a zip file. Unzip and use File > Load File > JSON to load a graph

Best Practice

Regularly export to file (use Backup menu item) and store in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) for off-site backup.

Can I recover deleted graphs?

If you haven't closed your browser tab, use Undo (Icon in the top menu) to recover deleted elements.

For recovering entire graphs:

• If you did not enable autosave: Refresh the page
• If you created a backup: unzip it and load the JSON

What happens if I clear my browser data?

Clearing browser data (cache, cookies, site data) will permanently delete all your Termboard graphs stored in that browser. Always export important work to files first.

Collaboration

Can I collaborate with others in real-time?

Currently, Termboard does not support real-time collaboration. However, you can collaborate by:

1. Sharing files: Export your graph and share via email or file sharing
2. Using version control: Save JSON exports in Git for team workflows
3. Using TermStorm: For workshop collaboration, use TermStorm and import results into Termboard

Can I share my graphs with others?

Yes, multiple ways:

Method	Best For
JSON file	Full editing capability
Excel export	Non-Termboard users, data integration
HTML export	Interactive viewing (no editing)
PDF export	Documentation, printing
Image export	Presentations, embedding
PowerPoint	Slide decks

Can multiple people edit the same graph?

Not simultaneously. For team workflows:

1. Designate a "master" version owner
2. Others export their changes
3. Owner merges using File > Import with Merge mode
4. Compare two models File > Compare to... to compare and apply individual changes

Performance & Limits

What's the maximum graph size?

Termboard can handle large graphs, but performance depends on your device:

Graph Size	Performance
Up to 500 terms	Smooth on all devices
500-2000 terms	Good on modern devices
2000-5000 terms	May need layout optimization
5000+ terms	Consider splitting into multiple graphs

Large Graph Tips

• Use the Cola layout for graphs under 200 terms
• Use Compact/Wide layouts for larger graphs
• Increase layout "Max run time" for better results
• Consider hiding relation names for clarity

Why is my graph loading slowly?

Common causes and solutions:

1. Too many elements: Split into multiple graphs or use filtering
2. Complex layout: Increase layout run time or use simpler layouts
3. Browser memory: Close other tabs, restart browser
4. Old browser: Update to latest Chrome/Edge. Other browsers work as well, but Chrome/Edge have best performance.

Does the layout algorithm timeout?

Layout calculations stop after the configured time (default: 30 seconds). For large graphs:

1. Increase "Max run time" in the layout dialog
2. Set "Randomize" to No and run again to continue refining
3. Consider manual arrangement for critical sections

Offline & Technical

Does Termboard work offline?

Partially. Core functionality works offline:

• Creating and editing graphs
• Saving to browser storage
• Exporting to files

Features requiring internet:

• Cloud AI (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq)
• Loading external examples
• OWL imports from URLs

Local AI (WebLLM) works offline after initial model download.

Which browsers are supported?

Browser	Support
Chrome/Chromium 90+	Full support
Microsoft Edge 90+	Full support
Firefox 90+	Full support (no WebGPU/Local AI)
Safari 15+	Full supported
Brave	Full support

Local AI

Local AI (WebLLM) requires WebGPU, which is only available in Chrome, Chromium, and Edge.

Can I run Termboard locally?

Termboard is a web application hosted at termboard.com. There's no standalone desktop version, but you can:

1. Use it offline after initial load (see above)
2. Install as a PWA in Chrome/Edge (browser menu > Install)

Pricing & Licensing

Is Termboard really free?

Yes, currently it is completely free. There are no:

• Subscription fees
• Premium features
• Usage limits
• Ads

Are there any hidden costs?

The only potential costs are for Cloud AI features:

• Google Gemini: Free tier (15 requests/minute)
• Groq: Free tier available
• OpenAI/Anthropic: Pay-as-you-go API costs

Local AI (WebLLM) is completely free - runs in your browser.

Can I use Termboard commercially?

Yes. Termboard is currently free for:

• Personal use
• Commercial use
• Educational use
• Enterprise use

No license fees or attribution required.

Import & Export

What formats can I import?

Format	Use Case
JSON	Termboard native format
Excel	Spreadsheet data
OWL	Ontologies from Protégé, etc.
JSON-LD	Linked data (experimental)
TermStorm	Workshop outputs

What formats can I export?

Format	Use Case
JSON	Full data with positions
Excel	Spreadsheet integration
JSON-LD	Semantic web (experimental)
PDF/HTML	Documentation
PowerPoint	Presentations
PNG/JPG/SVG	Images

How do I import from other tools?

Source Tool	How to Import
Draw.io/Visio	Export as image, recreate structure
Protégé	Export OWL, import in Termboard
Excel glossaries	Use Excel import with column mapping
Other ontology tools	Export OWL or JSON-LD

AI Features

Do I need an API key to use AI features?

Not necessarily:

• Local AI (WebLLM): No API key, runs in browser
• Clipboard mode: Copy prompts to external AI tools
• Cloud AI: Requires API key from provider

Is my data sent to AI providers?

Only when using Cloud AI:

• Term names and descriptions are sent to the AI provider
• Your API key is stored locally in your browser
• Check each provider's privacy policy

Local AI processes everything in your browser - no data sent anywhere.

Which AI provider should I use?

Provider	Best For
Local AI	Privacy, offline, free
Google Gemini	Free tier, good quality
Groq	Fast inference
Anthropic Claude	Complex reasoning
OpenAI	Familiar, reliable

See AI Integration Guide for detailed comparison.

Troubleshooting

My graph won't save

1. Check browser storage isn't full (clear other site data)
2. Try exporting to file as backup
3. Disable browser extensions that might interfere
4. Try incognito/private mode

The layout looks wrong

1. Try a different layout type
2. Increase "Max run time"
3. Use "Randomize: Yes" for fresh start
4. Manually adjust key terms, then re-run with "Randomize: No"

AI features aren't working

For Cloud AI:

1. Check API key is correct
2. Verify with "Test Connection"
3. Check you have API credits/quota

For Local AI:

1. Use Chrome or Edge browser
2. Check WebGPU is enabled (chrome://gpu)
3. Try a smaller model size

Where can I get help?

• Documentation: You're reading it!
• Video tutorials: Help > Video Tutorials
• Report issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions