Metadata
Every Scribe project carries a structured metadata block that travels with the manuscript, feeds title pages and running headers through shortcodes, and is written into exported EPUB files.
Project type
At the top of Project Settings you choose a project type:
- General — articles, short pieces.
- Long-form — reports, theses, and other multi-chapter works.
- Publishing — books and formal publications.
Free projects use General. Long-form and Publishing — and the advanced fields they unlock — require Plus or Pro.
Basic info (all plans)
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Title | The main title of the work. |
| Author | A structured name (family / middle / given) with an East-Asian or Western ordering toggle. |
| Publish date | The work's publication date. |
Advanced fields (Plus and Pro)
When the project type is Long-form or Publishing, these additional fields unlock:
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Optional subtitle. |
| Language | Free text, e.g. "English", "中文". |
| Edition | E.g. "Second Edition", "Revised Edition". |
| Publisher | Publisher name. |
| Imprint | Imprint / brand under the publisher. |
| Impression | Print run, e.g. "First Printing, 2025". |
| Contributors | Additional people, each with a role: translator, editor, illustrator, designer, photographer, or custom. |
| Copyright | The copyright notice text. |
| ISBN | One or more ISBNs, each tagged E-book / Paperback / Hardcover / Custom. Mark one as the Default Preview format. |
| Synopsis | A short description included in EPUB book information. |
| Keywords | Comma-separated tags included in EPUB book information. |
Plus and Pro projects can also set an optional E-book Cover. Cover images support JPG / PNG and can be embedded during EPUB export.
Editing metadata
Open Project Settings from the gear button in the left sidebar's action bar. Fields above your plan are shown locked.
Shortcodes — reuse metadata in the manuscript
Instead of retyping metadata, insert a shortcode from the editor toolbar. It appears as a small pill in the text and displays the current project value in preview and export.
The picker groups available shortcodes by date, author, book information, and document counts. Choose the item you need; you do not need to type its saved form manually.
They are ideal for title pages, copyright pages, and running headers. If the referenced field is empty, the shortcode displays nothing.
Where metadata flows
- EPUB export includes the title, author, language, synopsis, keywords, publisher, contributors, and the ISBN marked as Default Preview. It can also include the selected E-book Cover.
- PDF and Word exports read content after shortcodes are resolved; do not treat project metadata as the only source for PDF / Word file properties.
- Anywhere you place a shortcode — title pages, copyright pages, running headers — pulls live from these fields.