You never need to open these files to use automations. Knowing where they live helps when you back up your work or move a project.
Drafts
Canvas drafts, including card positions and document cards, are kept in ThinkForge's own data folder, Documents\Think Forge in an installed copy. They're shared by all projects, which is why the Automations tab looks the same whichever project is open.
The Shared Library
Publish to Library writes the automation to Documents\Think Forge\Automations\Library. Every project sees the same library.
Placements
A placement on the Tools page, the Ribbon, a project folder, or Power Strip is saved inside its project, in the hidden .fire\automations folder, so it stays with the project.
A placement refers to your saved Tools rather than copying them. It only works while those Tools still exist in ThinkForge.
Back up or move automations
- Don't edit these files by hand. The canvas checks an automation before publishing it. A hand-edited file skips those checks and can stop working.
- Placements use your live Tools. Editing a Tool changes future runs, and deleting a Tool makes that step fail.
- Saved inputs are computer-specific. File and folder inputs are stored as full paths, so they may not work after you move the project to another computer.
- Back up the project and ThinkForge's data folder. A project alone does not contain the shared drafts, automation library, or reusable Tools.