AnnexHub – Getting Started (Tutorial)

A hands-on walkthrough ("your first hour with AnnexHub"). Whitepaper format, PDF-ready. Screenshots are captured according to the shot list at the end.

Goal of this Tutorial

By the end your Annex environment is set up: license activated, one suite app installed, your own brand kit created, first assets organized in the library, and a new document started from a template – the foundation for working with all apps of the suite.

Step 1: First Launch and Overview

Launch AnnexHub. On first launch, an onboarding sheet walks you through the basics. The main window follows the suite's three-column layout: the sidebar with eleven areas on the left, content in the middle, and the inspector with status messages and quick help on the right.

Step 2: Activate a License

Switch to the Licenses area (View ▸ Licenses, ⌘2) and redeem your license key online. Each component's status is shown as a card. Without an internet connection, use offline activation: generate an .annex-request file, then read in and apply the offline token.

Step 3: Install a Suite App

Open the Apps area (⌘1). You see all ten suite apps with installation status and version. Install an app from the downloaded archive (.zip or .dmg) into /Applications – or update an already installed app. Open installed apps directly from the list.

Step 4: Create a Brand Kit

In the Brand Kits area, create a new brand kit: define the color palette with color roles (using the harmony generators if needed), set up a font whitelist, and add paragraph and character styles. The brand kit then takes effect suite-wide – for example for titles in AnnexMotion or assets in AnnexCode.

Step 5: Organize Assets in the Library

Switch to the Library (⌘4) and add your first assets – for example a logo and two images. Assign tags and link the assets to a client or project. Filters and free-text search let you find them again in every app.

Step 6: Use Central Search

Open Search and enter a term. Search queries the local version index, which the apps fill when saving. Filter by approval status and sort by modification date, title, or version count.

Step 7: New Document from Template

Open "New Document" and pick a template from the catalog – grouped by the other nine apps, with a preview and format hint. AnnexHub creates a real file in the target app's format and launches it directly.

Step 8: Check for Updates and Review Settings

Trigger the update check for all suite apps via AnnexHub ▸ Check for Updates…. In Settings (⌘,), review the theme, diagnostics and privacy options, and the server URL (default http://localhost:8080/v1, adjustable e.g. for a server installation on the LAN).

Result & Next Steps

Your suite is set up: licensed, installed, branded, and filled with first assets. Next, take a look at device management in Licenses (view activated Macs, deactivate remotely), the Plugin Store (⌘5), the Tutorials area (⌘6) with manuals and quick tutorials for all apps, and – for teams – the Teams area with asset and version sync.

All details are in the manual (docs/manuals/en/AnnexHub.md).

Shot List (for Screenshot Capture)