Frequently Asked Questions¶

Common questions about Opus.

General¶

What is Opus?¶

Opus is a modern editor designed for scholarly writing and academic presentations. It combines Markdown simplicity with features academics need: LaTeX equations, citation management, track changes, and professional export.

Is Opus free?¶

Yes, the Personal plan is free forever. It includes unlimited documents, full editing features, equations, citations, and export to PDF/Word/HTML. Paid plans add collaboration, storage, and team features.

Is Opus open source?¶

Yes. Opus is released under the MIT license. The source code is available on GitHub. You can self-host, modify, or contribute.

What makes Opus different from Google Docs or Word?¶

Opus is built specifically for academics:

Markdown-first - Plain text, portable, version-control friendly
LaTeX equations - Full math support that renders beautifully
Smart citations - Zotero, BibTeX, DOI integration
Track changes that export - CriticMarkup converts to Word track changes
Presentations included - Slides in the same Markdown format

Can I use Opus offline?¶

Offline mode is coming soon. Currently, Opus requires an internet connection. Your work saves continuously, so you won't lose progress.

Writing¶

What is Markdown?¶

Markdown is a simple way to format text using plain characters:

**bold** → bold
*italic* → italic
# Heading → Large heading
[link](url) → Clickable link

It's readable as-is and converts to formatted output.

Can I use LaTeX commands?¶

Yes! Opus supports LaTeX math notation:

Inline: $E = mc^2$
Display: $$\int_0^\infty e^{-x} dx = 1$$

Most LaTeX math commands work. We use KaTeX for rendering.

How do I add citations?¶

Connect your citation source (Zotero, BibTeX, etc.)
Type /cite or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + C
Search for your reference
Select to insert

Citations appear as [@author2024] and render properly on export.

How do I add images?¶

Drag and drop into the editor, or type /image. Images are automatically uploaded and managed.

Can I use Word or Google Docs files?¶

You can import Word documents:

Click Import on your dashboard
Select your .docx file
Opus converts to Markdown

Google Docs: Export to Word first, then import.

Collaboration¶

Can multiple people edit at once?¶

Yes. Opus supports real-time collaboration. Multiple people can edit simultaneously, seeing each other's cursors and changes instantly.

Click Share, enter email addresses, and choose a permission level (Viewer, Suggester, Editor). They'll receive an invitation.

What's the difference between Suggester and Editor?¶

Suggester - Can only make tracked changes (suggestions) and comments
Editor - Can make direct edits and accept/reject suggestions

Use Suggester for reviewers, Editor for co-authors.

Is my work private?¶

Yes. Documents are private by default. Only people you explicitly share with can access them. We don't use your content for training or any other purpose.

Export¶

What formats can I export to?¶

PDF (publication quality)
Word (.docx)
HTML (web)
LaTeX (.tex)
EPUB (e-book)
ODT (LibreOffice)
PowerPoint (.pptx) for presentations

Will my citations export correctly?¶

Yes. Citations export with proper formatting in your chosen style (APA, Chicago, IEEE, etc.). The bibliography is automatically generated.

Do track changes work in Word?¶

Yes! Opus track changes (CriticMarkup) convert to Word's native track changes. Open in Word and use the Review tab as normal.

Why does my PDF look different from the preview?¶

The preview is approximate. PDF export uses Pandoc for professional typesetting, which may have slightly different spacing or page breaks. Always check the final PDF.

Presentations¶

How do I create slides?¶

Create a new Presentation (not Manuscript). Separate slides with ---:

# Slide 1

Content here.

---

# Slide 2

More content.

Can I present directly from Opus?¶

Yes. Click Present to enter presentation mode. Press P for presenter view with notes and timer.

Can my audience follow along remotely?¶

Yes. Use Live Sync to share a link. When you advance slides, your audience sees it in real-time.

Account & Billing¶

How do I upgrade my plan?¶

Go to Settings > Subscription. Choose a plan and enter payment info. Your upgrade is immediate.

Is there a student discount?¶

Yes. Students with a .edu email get 50% off Pro plans. Just sign up with your university email.

What happens if I cancel?¶

Your documents remain accessible in read-only mode. You can export everything at any time. We never delete your work.

Can I get a refund?¶

Yes, within 30 days of your first payment. Contact support@opus.phd.

Technical¶

What browsers are supported?¶

Chrome (recommended)
Firefox
Safari
Edge

We recommend using the latest version.

Is there a desktop app?¶

Not currently. Opus is web-based. You can install it as a PWA (Progressive Web App) for an app-like experience.

Can I self-host Opus?¶

Yes. Opus is open source. See the GitHub repository for installation instructions. The Institution plan includes support for self-hosted deployments.

Where is my data stored?¶

On secure servers with encryption at rest. For self-hosted deployments, data stays on your servers.

Is there an API?¶

Yes, for Pro and Team plans. API documentation is available at api.opus.phd/docs.

Troubleshooting¶

My document won't load¶

Refresh the page
Clear browser cache
Try a different browser
Check your internet connection
Contact support if it persists

Export is failing¶

Check for very large images
Simplify complex equations
Try a different format
Export smaller sections
Contact support with error message

I forgot my password¶

Click "Forgot Password" on the login page. You'll receive a reset link via email. If you signed up with Google/GitHub, use that to log in instead.

Collaborator can't access document¶

Verify their email address
Check they accepted the invitation
Confirm their permission level
Ask them to sign in with correct account
Re-send the invitation

Getting Help¶

How do I contact support?¶

Email support@opus.phd. Pro and Team plans get priority response.

Is there a community forum?¶

Yes, join discussions on GitHub Discussions.

How do I report a bug?¶

File an issue on GitHub Issues or email support.

Can I request a feature?¶

Yes! Submit feature requests on GitHub or email us. We prioritize based on user feedback.