Emberforge release notes

What changed in each version, newest first.

Emberforge 1.8.14 2026-10-30

Safer saving

A chapter is now written in full to the disk before it replaces the old file, so a power cut or a crash while saving can no longer leave it empty. The same goes for what cloud sync brings in.
Closing Emberforge right after typing a chapter title, a picture caption or a note, or right after an AI Editor result, now saves it before the window closes.
If a chapter’s file is missing or another program has it open, an export, a PDF preview or an index now stops and names the chapter, instead of going on without its text.
When you leave a picture out of an import, the italic paragraph under it that was taken as its caption stays in the text.

Emberforge 1.8.13

Pangram reports in AI detection

The AI detection bar has a new Import Pangram report button. Check a chapter on pangram.com, download the result as a PDF and import it: the chapter shows the report’s highlights, and it is saved like any other check.
A report is used only when its text is the chapter’s text. If the two differ, nothing changes and you see where they first differ.
Human-written passages are now highlighted in green, and passages the detector is less sure about are paler. This also applies to Pangram checks run from Emberforge.

Emberforge 1.8.12

Import and replace a manuscript

A book’s ⋯ menu on the bookshelf has a new Import and replace manuscript… command: bring in a new draft of the whole manuscript (Word, OpenDocument, Markdown or text) and keep the book itself.
Before anything changes you see the current and new manuscripts side by side (title, author, words, chapters and dates), with a warning when they look very different, then the usual chapter review.
You can archive a copy of the book as it was and save a Word backup of the current manuscript, then check the book details. Details found in the new file can be used with one click.
The book keeps its cover, details, export settings and spelling words. Its old chapters, pictures, notes and AI results go to the Recycle Bin together.

Emberforge 1.8.11

AI detection keeps the rest of the chapter

Checking a selection for AI-generated text now updates only the highlights in that selection. The highlights elsewhere in the chapter stay, also after you close and reopen it.
Each highlight keeps the name of the detector that found it, when you check parts of a chapter with different detectors.

Emberforge 1.8.10

The PDF and EPUB export settings now have a Copyright page section, the same as in Book details. Changes made there are saved to the book when you export.
E-books: ISBNs appear on the copyright page only when the book has an e-book ISBN, unless you choose to show them. You can add an e-book ISBN right there.
E-books: the Publisher Control Number can also go on the title page.
E-books: every picture now has a text alternative for screen readers: its description, else its caption, else “image”.
The copyright page warns when an LCCN has the wrong number of digits.
The copyright page now shows www.xn3tech.com/emberforge under “Created and Typeset with Emberforge”.

Emberforge 1.8.9

Safer sync and saving, and PDF fonts for more languages

Cloud sync: if Google Drive fails while a book's cloud copy is being read, the sync now stops and tries again later. Before, it could upload the book a second time and undo chapters added on another computer.
Cloud sync: removing a Part on one computer no longer takes its chapters out of the book when the other computer reordered chapters at the same time.
Cloud sync: a font added, or a book deleted, while another computer was syncing is no longer lost or brought back.
Renaming a chapter can no longer leave it empty if the book's details can't be saved at that moment.
Bold, italic and strikethrough right next to punctuation (as in “Wait...” followed directly by a word), in Chinese and Japanese text, or ending in a no-break space pasted from Word now stay formatted instead of turning into asterisks.
Text in angle brackets, such as <jane@example.com>, keeps its brackets, and a chapter title ending in “#” keeps it.
PDF: the four built-in fonts now print accented letters for Central European, Turkish, Baltic and Vietnamese text, and EB Garamond and Literata also Greek and Cyrillic. The ⁂ scene break now prints in every font. If the chosen font can't print some characters, the export now tells you which.
Word export: a note left on a removed chapter no longer makes Word report the file as damaged.

Emberforge 1.8.8

Book details that stay

Details that another program or an AI agent adds to a book's book.json, for the book or for a chapter, are now kept when Emberforge saves it, instead of being removed.
A book whose book.json was saved in another text format (such as UTF-16, the default of Windows PowerShell 5.1) now opens, and is saved back in the standard format (UTF-8).
Cloud sync: chapters reordered on one computer now keep that order when the book was also changed on the other one. If both computers reordered them, the order changed last wins.

Emberforge 1.8.7

More time on the startup screen

The startup screen now stays for five seconds after the update check has answered, so you can read the result. Click Continue (or press Enter) to go to your books sooner.

Emberforge 1.8.6

Safer editing with AI agents

Chapters with formatting Emberforge can't keep, such as links, tables or footnotes added by an AI assistant, now show a notice, and a copy of the chapter as it was is kept before the first save changes them. Replace all in book leaves such chapters as they are.
Opening a chapter or pressing Ctrl+S no longer rewrites a chapter you haven't changed.
If a chapter can't be saved and no copy can be kept in the book folder either, your last edits are kept in Emberforge's own data folder, and a notice says where.
Chapters another program saved in an older text format, such as Windows “ANSI” or the Unicode format of Notepad and Windows PowerShell, now show correctly everywhere: in the editor, word counts, search, spell check and exports, even when only part of a chapter is in the older format. When you open the book, Emberforge converts the chapters whose format it can be sure of to the standard format (UTF-8); the others are converted the next time you edit them, and Emberforge tells you to check them first, because a few letters may show wrong. Each original file is kept in the book's .versions folder first. Older Japanese, Chinese and Korean formats are not supported.
Book details no longer undo changes an AI assistant or another computer makes while the window is open. The window shows those changes right away, and asks which version to keep when you changed the same detail too.
The AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md guides in your bookshelf now tell AI agents about all of this, and how to read and save chapter files so their text stays intact.

Emberforge 1.8.5

A startup screen, and settings that belong to each bookshelf

A new startup screen: a book opens and the Emberforge mark rises from it, with the version, and the update check if it is turned on. Turn it off in Settings → General → Show the startup screen.
Each bookshelf now keeps its own settings and added fonts in a folder next to it, named after it with .config at the end (for example Book_Editor.config). With cloud sync on, your added fonts travel to your other computers too. Your settings and fonts are moved there the first time you start this version; if the old settings can't be read, Emberforge tells you and leaves them where they are.
Change… next to your bookshelf's folder (and in Settings → General) lists the bookshelves you opened before and lets you choose another folder. Before switching, Emberforge tells you whether that bookshelf's own settings or the default settings will be used, and from then on it opens that bookshelf until you change it again. Your license and this computer's settings, such as Offline mode, stay as they are. Cloud sync works with one bookshelf per Google account.
While cloud sync is set up, a small animation shows your books being locked and sent to the cloud, with how many are done so far. With animation effects turned off in Windows (Settings → Accessibility → Visual effects), the picture stays still and only the count changes.
The AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md guides in your bookshelf now tell AI agents to keep out of Emberforge's own settings and program files.
The privacy policy now says where your settings are kept and how to remove everything Emberforge saves on your computer.

Emberforge 1.8.4

Better search, AI toolbars, and safe editing with AI agents

Find: type what you are looking for, then click Search or press Enter. The search starts from what is on the screen and scrolls the page to each match; the up and down arrows move between matches. With Whole book, it moves on to the next chapter that has a match.
Search matches are outlined, so AI detection highlights and spelling underlines stay visible underneath.
The AI provider, Rephrase and the AI Editor now share one toolbar, and AI detection has its own. Fold either one away with the AI tools and AI detection buttons at the right end of the toolbar.
The passages an AI detector flags stay highlighted after you close Emberforge, switch chapters or sync with another computer. A highlighted passage you rewrite loses its highlight; Clear detections removes them for good.
Working on your books with an AI agent such as Claude Code: your library folder now has an AGENTS.md (and a CLAUDE.md) that tells the agent how to edit your books safely.
Emberforge never saves over a change another program made to the chapter you have open. It asks which version to keep and puts the other one in the book's .versions folder; text replaced by a change from outside is kept there too.
Notes, backup copies and instruction files left in a book folder are no longer added as chapters. Chapter files added to a book's chapters folder while Emberforge was closed join the book when you open it. Sticky notes changed by another program are merged with yours, and a damaged notes or data file is left as it is, with a message, instead of being emptied.
Cloud sync: a file changed while a sync is running is no longer overwritten; a chapter file deleted by another program is brought back instead of being deleted on your other computers; a book whose book.json cannot be read is skipped instead of being downloaded again as a copy; and when the same picture or AI check result changed on two computers, the one changed last is kept.

Emberforge 1.8.3

License improvements

Improvements to how activation keys and the free trial work together.

Emberforge 1.8.2

Your license at a glance

Entering an activation key now confirms it with the date your full version runs until. For a renewal, it also says when the new year starts.
New Settings → License: your license and your activation keys at a glance, on a timeline.
Settings → Cloud sync shows in a small picture how end-to-end encryption keeps your books locked from this computer to your other computers, and makes clear that your other computers use the same sync password you chose when you set up cloud sync.

Emberforge 1.8.1

Cloud sync setup: progress and clearer problems

Setting up cloud sync now shows how far the first upload has got: which book, how many files and how much has been sent. Settings → Cloud sync and the indicator on the bookshelf show it too.
You no longer have to wait for the first upload to finish: choose Continue in the background and keep writing.
If Google Drive stops answering, Emberforge says so after a time limit instead of waiting indefinitely, and offers to try again or turn cloud sync off. Your books on the computer are never affected.
Emberforge keeps a small cloud sync log (timings and problems, no book content) in its data folder, to help find the cause if sync does not finish.

Emberforge 1.8.0

Cloud sync, spell check, print-ready PDFs and more

Full version and trial: write on more than one computer. Turn on Settings → Cloud sync, sign in to your Google account and choose a sync password; your books are backed up to your own Google Drive and kept in step on every computer where you turn it on.
End-to-end encrypted: every chapter, picture and note is encrypted on your computer before it is sent. Google stores only data it cannot read, and nothing passes through XN3 Technologies. Emberforge can use only its own private folder in your Drive.
Chapters you change are sent about a minute after you stop typing, and everything syncs every few minutes, when you leave a book and when you close Emberforge. If the same chapter was changed on two computers, you see both versions side by side and choose which to keep, or keep both.
Opening a book that is open on another computer shows a warning first.
A recovery key, saved at setup, unlocks your cloud library if you forget the password. Choose whether each computer remembers the password or asks for it at every start.
Cloud sync is also a secure backup: if the books on a computer are lost, turn on cloud sync there with your sync password or recovery key and Emberforge restores them from your Google Drive.
An indicator on the bookshelf and in the book bar shows that your bookshelf is encrypted and synced, with a dot while changes are waiting to sync.
Cloud sync is off unless you turn it on, and Emberforge works fully without it. The privacy policy explains what is stored where.
Full version and trial: print-ready PDFs. Choose PDF/X-1a:2001 (what IngramSpark asks for, and KDP accepts), PDF/X-3:2002 for color pictures, PDF/A-2b for archiving, or a standard PDF, in the new PDF type setting.
Pictures in black and white for print: automatic levels and a print correction (printing darkens midtones and shadows), with brightness and contrast for the whole book and for each picture, and a before and after preview. Pictures far sharper than needed are reduced to 300 ppi.
The PDF preview shows the book as printed, in two-page spreads with page 1 on the right as in an open book, or one page at a time. It is for viewing only: there is no printing or saving from the preview.
Spell check, in every edition and entirely offline: a misspelled word is underlined a moment after you finish it, and right-clicking it shows suggestions. The Spelling panel (F7) checks a chapter or the whole book word by word, with Change, Skip, Ignore, Ignore all and Add to dictionary. Each book has its own dictionary, which syncs with cloud sync. US, UK, Canadian or Australian English, from the book’s language.
Offline mode (Settings → Offline mode): choose No AI, No cloud sync, or Offline for both, and your book content is never sent to AI services or to cloud sync. An indicator beside the cloud badge shows a crossed-out robot, a crossed-out cloud or a paused cloud; click it to change the mode. Cloud sync can be paused, and then resumes when you switch back, or turned off.
Full version and trial: more EPUB options. Pictures are sized for e-readers, and the Export dialog shows the e-book’s file size. The copyright page can go at the end, so store previews such as Amazon’s Look Inside show more of the story. Chapters can open with a drop cap or small capitals, and scene breaks can be * * *, ⁂, ❦, a short line or a blank space.
EPUB files now pass EPUBCheck, the validator that Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play and other stores use. Earlier versions gave two parts of the book’s details the same ID, which some stores reject; export the e-book again before uploading it.
Picture descriptions: before an EPUB export, Emberforge lists pictures that have no caption and lets you describe them, so readers who use a screen reader or read-aloud know what they show.
Book details has the book’s language, which sets the spelling for spell check and goes into e-books (hyphenation and read-aloud), and, in the full version, the series name and number, which stores use to group a series.
License terms: the full version is an annual license for one person on up to 5 computers, with a full refund within 14 days. Read them in Help → License terms or on our website; the installer asks you to accept them.

Emberforge 1.7.9

Page sizes for Word and OpenDocument

Full version and trial: export Word and OpenDocument files in other page sizes: A4, US Legal, Executive, B5, A5, or the book sizes 6 × 9, 5.5 × 8.5 and 5 × 8 in. Margins and pictures fit the page. Basic mode uses US Letter.
Word files now include their page size and margins, so they open the same way in Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs.
The free trial reminder, About and the trial-ended message link to the comparison of Basic mode and the full version on our website.

Emberforge 1.7.8

Clearer library settings

Settings → General explains that other programs you trust, such as an AI assistant, can read and edit the chapters in your library folder, and that Emberforge picks up their changes.
The online user’s manual has a publishing checklist, a glossary, more about the optional AI tools, and how to move to another computer.

Emberforge 1.7.7

User’s manual

The Emberforge user’s manual is online, with screenshots and illustrations of page layout, margins and bindings. Open it from Help → User’s manual (F1) or Settings → About.
About now shows what Basic mode includes and what the full version adds.
The privacy policy now also covers downloading Emberforge from our website.

Emberforge 1.7.6

E-books (EPUB)

Full version and trial: export your book as an EPUB e-book for Kindle (upload it to KDP as your manuscript), Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play and other stores: cover, title and copyright pages, a contents page, chapters and parts, subheadings, pictures with captions, and the reader’s table of contents.
The contents can also list subheadings under their chapters, such as the dates in a diary.
Text size and fonts are left to the reader’s settings, as e-book stores expect.

Emberforge 1.7.5

Diaries and journals

Books whose entries start with a line that is only a date (diaries, journals, logs) can turn those dates into subheadings, so every entry is an obvious section: bold and centered in the PDF, and never left alone at the bottom of a page. Emberforge suggests it when it recognizes such a book, both when importing and when opening it; it is also in the book’s More menu (Diary dates → subheadings).
Optionally, the day line that repeats a date right under it (such as “Tuesday.”) is removed. You can see every line before anything changes, and the previous text of each changed chapter is kept in the book folder (in .backups).
PDF running heads can show the current subheading, such as the diary date at the top of each page.
New PDF trim size: 8.5 × 11 in (US Letter), with a choice of binding: perfect bound, spiral (coil or wire-o) or 3-ring binder. For spiral and 3-ring, the automatic gutter keeps text clear of the punched holes (at least 0.75″ and 1″ total inside margin), the margin diagram shows the holes, and one click sets margins suited to the larger page.
After a book-wide change (diary dates, scene breaks), the chapter open in the editor now shows the new text right away.

Emberforge 1.7.4

Pictures in Word imports

Importing a Word (.docx) manuscript now brings in its pictures, where they appear in the text. Choose to import all pictures, preview and choose each one, or import none.
A picture’s caption (Word’s Caption style, as added with Insert Caption) becomes the picture’s caption in Emberforge, and a picture’s size and text wrapping are kept.
An italic line right under a picture can become its caption too (on by default; untick it in the import review to keep that line in the text).
Long picture captions now wrap and show in full under the picture in the editor.
If pictures are in a section set to “Skip” (such as opening pages before the first chapter), the import review says so and offers to import that section as front matter.
Importing with “No pictures” keeps those italic lines in the text.

Emberforge 1.7.3

License management

License management features.
The privacy policy has been updated to match.

Emberforge 1.7.2

Buy the full version from the app

“Buy the full version” now opens the secure Stripe checkout.
Copyright page: the copyright holder can also be the author alone (without co-authors).
Basic mode: a banner at the top of the editing page says so, with links to what is included and to the full version. PDF exports use the standard title page and running heads.

Emberforge 1.7.1

Small improvements

Small reliability improvements and fixes.

Emberforge 1.7.0

Free trial and Basic mode, and more copyright-page options

A 15-day free trial with every feature starts when Emberforge is first installed; reinstalling or updating does not restart it. A friendly reminder at start-up shows the days left.
After the trial, Emberforge keeps working in Basic mode and you never lose access to your work. Basic mode keeps 5 books on the bookshelf (the rest wait in the Archive), offers automatic PDF margins, three trim sizes, standard page numbers and the bundled fonts, and leaves out AI features, notes, new pictures, draft watermarks, Publisher Control Numbers and custom captions.
The full version is activated with a key: About → “Enter activation key”. Keys are checked on your computer; nothing is sent anywhere. A reminder appears 30 days before a key ends.
About shows whether you are using the free trial (with the days left), Basic mode or the full version (and until when).
The privacy policy describes buying the full version.
Copyright page: a “Created and Typeset with Emberforge” line at the bottom (on by default), show or hide the subtitle and the edition, a configurable rights statement, and the copyright holder can be the author, the publisher or a name you enter.
Updating now says clearly that Emberforge will restart (“Update and restart”).
Draft watermarks always start off when you open the PDF export.
Fixed: clicking a book in the Archive restored it without saying so. Archived books can now only be viewed and restored with the Restore button.

Emberforge 1.6.3

Quicker access to About and Settings

Click the Emberforge logo at the top left of the bookshelf to open Settings on the About tab (version, update check, release notes and privacy policy).

Emberforge 1.6.2

Choose where each update comes from

Update server by location: the United States and its territories use our US server (Virginia); everywhere else uses our European server (Frankfurt). Change it in Settings → Updates → Update server.
When an update is offered, you can choose to download it from our server in Europe (Frankfurt) or in the United States, wherever you are. The release notes shown come from the server you choose.
“Always update from …” in the update prompt makes your choice the default (also in Settings → Updates → Update server).
The privacy policy describes this choice and where release notes are read from.

Emberforge 1.6.1

European update server, what’s new after updates, and a privacy policy

Users in the EU, the EEA, Switzerland and the UK now get updates from our server in Frankfurt, Germany. Emberforge decides this on your computer from the Windows region (or time zone); you can also choose the server in Settings → Updates.
If the European server can’t be reached, Emberforge tells you and asks before using the US server. You can choose to always use the US server in that case, or never.
After an update, Emberforge shows the version you are now using and what changed (every version you skipped included), with a “Got it” button.
A privacy policy (GDPR and CCPA): About → Privacy policy, Help → Privacy policy…, Settings, and online next to the release notes. A short privacy notice is shown once on the bookshelf.
Settings → AI providers, AI detectors and Updates explain what is sent where.
Update checks can now be turned off: Settings → Updates → “Never”. “Check for updates now” still works.

Emberforge 1.6.0

Pinned books, release notes and tidier panels

Pin books to the top of the bookshelf: use the pin on a book’s cover or “Pin to top” in its ⋯ menu. Pinned books come first, in the order you pinned them.
The Notes / AI Editor panel now opens by itself only for a chapter with open notes or an AI Editor review, and starts collapsed otherwise. Opening or closing it by hand is remembered for that chapter.
A chapter with an AI Editor review or an AI detection check in progress shows a spinning round arrow on its tab, even after you move to another chapter.
An AI detection check that finishes after you leave its chapter is now kept in the chapter’s check history.
Release notes: About → Release notes (also Help → Release notes…) shows what changed in this version, and earlier versions from the update server.
The update prompt shows the release notes of the new version.
Front and back matter tabs are tinted to match each color scheme instead of tan (Parchment, Ember and Lamplight keep their warm tones).
US English throughout, including the spell checker. The “Harbour” scheme is now “Harbor”.

Emberforge 1.5.2

Update test release

A test release for the automatic update mechanism; no changes to the app.

Emberforge 1.5.1

Update fixes and update settings

Fixed: installed copies of 1.4.0 and 1.5.0 never checked for updates. Those copies need 1.5.1 installed once by hand.
Settings → Updates: “Check for updates now”, when the last check ran and what it found, and when the last successful check was.
Choose how often to check: every start-up (default), once a day, once a week or once a month.
Help → Update settings… opens the same page.

Emberforge 1.5.0

New layout, sticky notes and color schemes

Writing-desk bookshelf: the book you worked on last is shown large, with words, chapters, words written today, open notes and “Continue writing”.
Notebook-style chapter tabs on the right edge of the page, with part dividers that collapse and markers for notes and AI Editor reviews.
A left panel with Notes and AI Editor tabs; it collapses to a thin strip.
Sticky notes: select text and choose Note (Ctrl+Alt+M). Notes have colors, can be resolved, reopened and deleted, and follow their passage as you edit.
Notes can be included in draft PDFs (as comments), Word and OpenDocument (as comments), Markdown and text. They are never included in a final PDF.
AI Editor feedback is kept until you delete it or run a new review; each finding can be applied, resolved or reopened.
Twelve color schemes plus a custom scheme built from four colors (Settings → General).

Emberforge 1.4.0

Automatic updates

The app checks for a newer version a few seconds after it starts. If the update server can’t be reached it says nothing.
When a newer version exists you can update now (download, verify, install and restart) or another time.
If no check succeeds for six months, you are reminded once to connect to the internet, then at most every six months.
Help → Check for updates… checks at any time.

Emberforge 1.3.3

New icon

New “Blueprint” icon: an open book in white lines on a blueprint grid, with an atom in front.

Emberforge 1.3.2

Scene-break fix

Find & fix scene breaks now finds the escaped breaks saved by books imported before 1.2, and says so when a book has none.

Emberforge 1.3.1

Fixes

Editing no longer stops after an AI check with several highlights on screen.
Editing inside a detection highlight removes the highlight only from the words you change.
Custom front and back matter pages can be untitled.
Larger PDF page previews that describe what each page shows.
The scene-break format for Word, ODT, Markdown and text exports is a compact drop-down.

Emberforge 1.3.0

Pictures, OpenDocument and AI Editor improvements

Pictures in chapters: text wrapping, resizing, rotation, flips and captions, with size, dpi and file size shown. Caption style is set per book.
Page breaks (Ctrl+Enter) and intentional blank lines.
Paragraph indent options for the first paragraph and after breaks (Settings → General).
AI Editor reviews keep running and are kept when you switch chapters or books, and are saved with the book.
AI Editor provider and model drop-downs; a default AI provider in Settings.
The AI Editor, AI detection and Rephrase can each be hidden.
Import of .odt and .doc (Word 97–2003); export to OpenDocument (.odt).
An Export button on every book on the bookshelf.
Live previews for page numbers, running heads and draft marking in the PDF settings.

Emberforge 1.2.0

Publishing tools

Publisher Control Number formats: date-based, self-incrementing or fixed, optionally kept while nothing has changed.
Copyright page: optional title line, co-authors and credits for editors, illustrators and others.
Scene breaks: escaped breaks are fixed on import; exports can write either style; Find & fix scene breaks converts existing books.
Title page and half-title designs with live previews, and a separate display font.
Custom fonts: add .ttf/.otf files or use installed Windows fonts.
AI index for PDF exports, with page numbers computed from the real pages.
A better gutter for print PDFs, with a live two-page diagram.

Emberforge 1.1.0

Print PDF, covers and AI checks

Print-ready PDF export: trim sizes, mirrored margins and gutter, embedded fonts, contents, page numbers, running heads and draft watermarks.
Book details with a copyright page editor (ISBNs, LCCN, edition, fiction statement).
Cover images on the bookshelf.
More AI providers (OpenRouter, DeepSeek) and AI detectors (Pangram, Originality.AI, GPTZero, Copyleaks).
The AI Editor: an expert review plus spelling, grammar and AI-sounding-prose checks, with findings underlined in the text.

Emberforge 1.0.0

First release

Bookshelf with books, front matter, chapters, back matter and parts.
Chapter editor with formatting, scene breaks, smart punctuation, spell check, find & replace, word counts and autosave.
Import of .docx, .md and .txt with chapter detection; export to .docx, .md and .txt with Publisher Control Numbers.
Rephrase with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini or xAI Grok, and AI-detection checks with Pangram.