Getting Started with Jinbocho¶

Welcome to Jinbocho, your family's home library management system. This guide will help you set up your account and start cataloging your books in minutes.

What is Jinbocho?¶

Jinbocho is a digital home library management system designed for families. It allows you to:

Catalog your physical books across multiple rooms and bookcases
Search and filter your library instantly
Track reading progress for books you own
Organize locations (rooms → bookcases → shelves)
Share with family members and invite them to collaborate
Export and backup your library data anytime

Whether you have 10 books or 10,000, Jinbocho helps you organize, find, and manage your collection.

System Requirements¶

Browser Requirements¶

Jinbocho works on any modern web browser: - Chrome (v90+) - Firefox (v88+) - Safari (v14+) - Edge (v90+)

Recommended: Latest version of any of the above for best performance.

Mobile Support¶

Jinbocho is fully responsive and works on: - iPhone/iPad (iOS 12+, Safari) - Android phones/tablets (Chrome, Firefox)

Best experience: Use the latest version of your browser and a stable internet connection.

Internet Connection¶

Jinbocho requires an active internet connection. There is currently no offline mode (coming soon).

Accessing Jinbocho¶

Visit the App¶

Open your browser and navigate to:

https://jinbocho.onrender.com

Or if your family has a custom domain, use that instead.

First Visit: Create an Account¶

When you visit Jinbocho for the first time, you'll see the login screen. Click "Don't have an account? Register" to create your family account.

Creating Your Family Account¶

Step 1: Fill in Account Details¶

You'll see a registration form with:

Field	Example	Notes
Family Name	"Smith Family"	Name of your household (visible to all members)
Your Name	"Alice"	Your personal name in the family
Email	"alice@example.com"	Used for login and password reset
Password	(hidden)	Minimum 8 characters, case-sensitive

Step 2: Create Your Account¶

Click "Register". The account is created instantly.

What happens next: - You become the Admin of your family (full access) - You can now invite other family members - Your library is empty (ready to add books)

Step 3: Log In¶

After registration, you may be asked to log in again: 1. Enter your email 2. Enter your password 3. Click "Login"

Success! You're now in your Jinbocho dashboard.

Your First Look Around¶

After logging in, you'll see the main dashboard with:

On desktop: - Logo/Home — click to return to dashboard - Search — find books by title, author, ISBN - Locations — manage rooms and bookcases - Settings — user preferences and family management

On mobile (bottom tab bar): - 🏠 Dashboard - 🔍 Search - 📍 Locations - ➕ Add Book - ⚙️ Settings

Dashboard Overview¶

Your empty library showing: - Books total: 0 (will increase as you add) - Rooms: 0 (create your first room in Settings) - Quick action: "Add Book" button

Adding Your First Book¶

Option 1: Scan ISBN (Fastest)¶

Click "Add Book" → "Scan ISBN"
Allow camera permission when prompted
Point your phone/camera at a book's barcode
The app automatically recognizes it and looks up metadata
Review title, author, cover image
Select where in your library the book goes (room → bookcase → shelf)
Click "Save"

Option 2: Manual Entry¶

If a barcode doesn't scan:

Click "Add Book" → "Enter Details Manually"
Type title, author, ISBN (optional), publisher, year
Upload a cover image if you like
Select location in your library
Click "Save"

Option 3: From Your Library Export¶

If you have a previous library backup (CSV or JSON):

Go to Settings → "Import Library" (admin only)
Upload your file
Review and confirm the import
Your books appear instantly

Organizing Your Library (First Setup)¶

Before you add many books, set up your locations:

Step 1: Create a Room¶

Go to Locations (or Settings → "Manage Locations")
Click "New Room"
Name it: "Living Room", "Bedroom", "Study", etc.
Click "Create"

Step 2: Create a Bookcase¶

Click on your new room
Click "New Bookcase"
Name it: "Main shelf", "Tall bookcase", etc.
Choose how many columns (sections) and rows (shelves)
Example: 2 columns × 5 shelves for a standard bookshelf
Click "Create"

Step 3: Start Adding Books¶

Now you can: 1. Add books using scan or manual entry 2. Assign each to a specific shelf 3. See your library fill up!

Inviting Family Members (Optional)¶

Only the family admin can invite members.

To Invite Someone¶

Go to Settings → "Manage Family"
Click "Invite User"
Enter their email
Choose their role:
Admin: Full access (manage users, locations, settings)
Editor: Can add/edit books and locations
Viewer: Read-only (browse books)
Click "Send Invite"

An email with an invitation link is sent to them. They click the link, set a password, and join your family library.

Tips for Success¶

📱 Mobile Barcode Scanning¶

Hold the book at eye level
Ensure good lighting
Keep the barcode centered in the frame
The scan happens automatically—no button to tap

🔍 Using Search¶

Search by book title, author, ISBN, or notes
Use filters to narrow down (room, reading status, language)
Bookmark frequent searches (future feature)

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Collaboration¶

Each family member sees the same library
You can see who added each book
Notes and reading status are personal (not shared by default)

📤 Backup Your Data¶

Go to Settings → "Export Library"
Download CSV or JSON anytime
Your data is yours—keep a backup offline

Common Questions¶

Q: Is my data safe?
A: All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS). Data is stored on secure cloud servers. See FAQ for more details.

Q: Can I use Jinbocho offline?
A: Not yet. Offline mode with sync is planned for 2026.

Q: Can I share my library with friends (not family)?
A: Currently family-only. Friend sharing is planned for a future release.

Q: How do I change my password?
A: Go to Settings → "Account" → "Change Password".

Q: How do I leave my family?
A: Go to Settings → "Leave Family". (Admin cannot leave unless transferring admin to another member.)

Next Steps¶

✅ You've created your account
📚 Next: Read Authentication & Accounts to understand login, passwords, and sessions
🎯 Then: Learn how to Manage Your Library

Happy cataloging! 📖

Need help? Visit Troubleshooting or check the FAQ.