Source: Love Mac | Software download link: Stela for Mac
Stela for Mac is a modern, lightweight writing and note-taking app designed specifically for macOS. With its minimalist interface design, smooth Markdown support, and deep integration with native system features, it provides users with a distraction-free, efficient text creation environment. This guide will walk you through its core interface, complete workflow, and practical tips in detail.
I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace
Stela’s interface follows the design philosophy of “content first” and is mainly divided into three core areas.
1.1 Sidebar (Navigation Area)
Located on the left side of the window, it is shown or hidden by default with the shortcut ⌘Cmd + 1. It includes the following sections:
- Library: Manage all documents and notes by folder structure.
- Favorites: Quickly access documents marked as favorites.
- Tags: Organize content across folders through the tag system.
- Recent: Display recently opened or edited files in chronological order.
1.2 Editor Area (Main Workspace)
The blank area in the center of the window is the core zone for writing and editing. It offers two core views:
- Editor View: Displays plain text and Markdown syntax with syntax highlighting.
- Preview View: Renders Markdown into formatted text in real time. Switch by clicking the “eye” icon in the toolbar or pressing ⌘Cmd + E.
The editing area supports full-screen and focus modes, accessible via the “View” menu or corresponding shortcuts to maximize your writing space.
1.3 Inspector
Located on the right side of the window, shown or hidden by default with the shortcut ⌘Cmd + 3. It provides metadata management for the current document:
- Document Properties: Title, creation/modification dates, word count statistics.
- Tag Management: Add or remove tags for the current document.
- Export Settings: Quickly adjust preview options for export formats.
II. Complete Workflow: From Creation to Export
Below is the standard workflow for completing a project from scratch and exporting it.
2.1 Creating a New Project (Document)
Step 1: Launch the software and create
After opening Stela, perform any of the following actions:
- Click the menu bar “File” > “New”.
- Use the shortcut ⌘Cmd + N.
- In the “Library” in the sidebar, right-click the target folder and select “New Document”.
Step 2: Save and Name
After entering content for the first time, it is recommended to save immediately:
- Press ⌘Cmd + S.
- In the save dialog that appears, choose a location (it is recommended to use a folder already created in the sidebar) and enter a file name.
- Stela documents are saved by default in
.mdor.txtformat.
2.2 Editing and Formatting Documents
Step 3: Write Using Markdown
Enter text directly in the editing area and use Markdown syntax for formatting:
- Headings: Enter
# Level 1 Heading,## Level 2 Heading. - Bold: Select the text and press ⌘Cmd + B, or enter
**bold text**. - Lists: Enter
-or*followed by a space to create an unordered list; enter1.followed by a space to create an ordered list. - Live Preview: Press ⌘Cmd + E at any time to switch between editing and preview views and check the rendering result.
Step 4: Organize Document Structure
- In the sidebar, drag and drop documents to move their positions.
- In the inspector, add relevant tags to documents for cross-folder searching.
- Drag important documents into the “Favorites” column for quick access.
2.3 Final Export Document
Step 5: Choose Export Format and Configuration
- Make sure the target document is in an active state.
- Click the menu bar “File” > “Export”, or use the shortcut ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + E.
- In the pop-up submenu, choose the export format: PDF, HTML, or Plain Text.
Step 6: Complete the Export
- The system will bring up a save dialog, allowing you to choose the storage path and final file name for the exported file.
- For PDF export, you can pre-configure options such as page margins and whether to include headers in the “Export Settings” area of the inspector.
- Click “Save” to finish.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
3.1 Efficient Navigation Tips
- Quick Open: Press ⌘Cmd + O, enter keywords from the file name, and quickly locate and open documents without using the mouse.
- Reveal in Finder: Right-click a document in the sidebar and choose “Reveal in Finder” to quickly locate the file’s position on disk.
3.2 Focus and Typesetting Enhancements
- Typewriter Mode: Enable it in the “View” menu to keep the current editing line always centered on the screen, reducing eye movement.
- Custom Themes: Via “Stela > Preferences > Appearance,” you can switch the font, font size, and color theme of the editor area to protect your eyesight or match your personal preferences.
3.3 Data Sync and Backup
- Stela’s documents are saved as regular files on your Mac, so you can conveniently use any cloud storage service such as iCloud Drive or Dropbox to sync folders and work across devices.
- Regularly use the “File > Copy to…” feature to manually back up important project sets.
IV. Common Issues and Solutions
Issue 1: Markdown preview displays incorrectly (e.g., images not showing, formatting messed up).
Solution: First, check whether the image path is a relative path and whether the image file is located in the document’s folder or its subfolders. Make sure you are using the correct Markdown syntax. Try closing and reopening the preview view (⌘Cmd + E).
Issue 2: The sidebar or inspector panel unexpectedly disappears.
Solution: Use the standard shortcuts ⌘Cmd + 1 to toggle the sidebar and ⌘Cmd + 3 to toggle the inspector. You can also check in the “View” menu whether the corresponding panel is checked.
Issue 3: When saving, a “file is locked” or “no permission” message appears.
Solution: This is usually because the file is being used by another program, or you currently don’t have write permission for the folder. Please close any other software that may be accessing the file in the background (such as Terminal or another editor), and make sure the document is not saved in a system-protected directory (folders like “Desktop” or “Documents” are usually fine). Try “Save As” to a different location.
Problem 4: Want to recover unsaved changes or accidentally deleted content.
Solution: Stela relies on macOS’s autosave and versioning features. For files that have been saved, you can right-click the file in Finder and select “Browse All Versions” to restore to a previous historical version. For new unsaved documents, please use the save shortcut promptly (⌘Cmd + S).
V. Stela for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Overview
| Function Category | Action Description | Shortcut (Mac) |
|---|---|---|
| File Operations | New Document | ⌘Cmd + N |
| Open Document | ⌘Cmd + O | |
| Save Document | ⌘Cmd + S | |
| Export Document | ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + E | |
| Editing Operations | Undo | ⌘Cmd + Z |
| Redo | ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + Z | |
| Find | ⌘Cmd + F | |
| View Switching | Toggle Edit/Preview Mode | ⌘Cmd + E |
| Toggle Sidebar | ⌘Cmd + 1 | |
| Toggle Inspector | ⌘Cmd + 3 | |
| Text Formatting | Bold | ⌘Cmd + B |
| Italic | ⌘Cmd + I | |
| Insert Link | ⌘Cmd + K | |
| Window Management | Enter/Exit Full Screen | ^Ctrl + ⌘Cmd + F |
Through this guide, you should be able to fully master the core features and workflow of Stela for Mac. Its clean design is intended to keep you focused on the creative work itself, rather than the tool. Keep exploring through hands-on use to develop the efficient writing habits that work best for you.
