> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.secrets.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.secrets.ai/lorebooks/managing-books.md).

# Managing Books Across Chats

PREMIUM and ULTIMATE feature. Choose, rename, switch, and separate lorebooks across private and group chats.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Available on PREMIUM and ULTIMATE.** Lorebooks are included for all subscribers on these [plans](/get-started/subscription-tiers-and-limits.md). On FREE, your companions use the [Memory System](/get-started/memory-system.md).
{% endhint %}

Use the **same book** for chats that should share continuity with a companion. Use **separate books** for alternate storylines, different relationships, or a fresh setting.

A **companion book** is associated with one companion in your account. Several of your chats with that companion can use it. Here, “shared” refers to those chats; choosing a book is not a publishing or other-user sharing action.

A [**Universe Book**](/lorebooks/universe-books.md) has no companion. It is a reusable starting point: each chat started from it receives a separate companion book. Editing the Universe afterward does not update those copies.

To save a Universe as a file or give someone an independent copy, use [Universe import and export](/lorebooks/import-and-export.md). Importing a file creates a new Universe in your account; it does not change which book a chat uses.

## Choose a chat's book in settings

1. Open the chat you want to change.
2. Open its edit/settings dialog using the chat's edit control.
3. Find **Which lorebook \[companion] reads**.
4. Select the book you want.
5. Select the dialog's **Save** button.

<figure><img src="https://3286776735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9ACKOAU4nFWSXPeE2B4s%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-18165175f0fe40e06fada7cf71a5d0a472bef143%2Fbook-picker.png?alt=media" alt="Fictional chat memory selector offering the Lantern Festival and Winter Voyage books, with the current book marked in use now"><figcaption><p>The selector shows the current book as “in use now.” A settings selection is applied when you save.</p></figcaption></figure>

Afterward, open the lorebook from that chat and check its name. Selecting another existing book **does not merge the two books or copy entries between them**.

### Switch from the open book

When you open a book from a chat, the dropdown beside its name also lets you choose which book that chat uses or select **Start a separate book**. Choosing a different book there applies the switch directly; it is not the settings dialog's pending selection.

Save any entry edits before switching. If you are browsing from the library, open the relevant chat to change its book selection.

## Start a separate book

In chat settings, select the **+** button beside the book selector:

1. Enter a distinct book name.
2. Select **Build book** to confirm the name in the form.
3. Select the settings dialog's **Save** button to apply your selection.
4. Open the new book and add its Premise and starting entries.

<figure><img src="https://3286776735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9ACKOAU4nFWSXPeE2B4s%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-49b68b4a6d4503ca141b2050f2663dcfb5160cd3%2Fnew-book.png?alt=media" alt="Name form for a separate fictional book, showing Asterfall First Snow and the Build book action"><figcaption><p>Give a separate storyline a distinct name. The new book starts empty.</p></figcaption></figure>

A separate book starts empty. It does not copy your current book's entries. If you need some common background, add those details to the new book yourself.

Switching books does not erase the chat's message history. For an alternate story that should also have a fresh conversation, **create a new chat and give it a separate book**.

### Start with a Universe's contents

While creating a chat, choose **Universe Book** under **Which lorebook \[companion] reads**, select the Universe, and finish creating the chat. This starts a new book from the Universe's current contents. It is different from **Start a separate book**, which starts empty.

To keep developing an existing copy, choose it under **\[companion]'s books**. Selecting the original Universe again makes another copy, even if you choose the same companion. See [starting a chat from a Universe](/lorebooks/universe-books.md#start-a-private-chat-from-a-universe).

## Name and rename books clearly

Names can be up to **60 characters**. Use names that distinguish the storyline or purpose:

* `Asterfall · Lantern Festival`
* `Asterfall · Winter Voyage`
* `Mira · First Meeting`

To rename an existing book, select its name in the open book header, edit the name, and finish editing with Enter or by leaving the name field. Renaming changes the book's label; it does not create a new book or change which chats use it.

## Choose a sharing pattern

| Your intention                                                             | Set up                                                            |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Continue one story across two chats with Mira                              | Choose the same Mira book for both.                               |
| Try a different first meeting with Mira                                    | Create a new chat with a separate Mira book.                      |
| Keep festival and winter stories independent                               | Use a different book for each story.                              |
| Bring Mira's established continuity into a group                           | Choose that same Mira book for Mira's group-chat membership.      |
| Give Ellis different continuity in the same group                          | Choose Ellis's book separately.                                   |
| Give different companions the same initial world, with independent stories | Start each from the same Universe. Each receives a separate copy. |

Editing a shared book changes it for every chat using it. If an entry is suitable for only one storyline, check the book selection before saving.

## Books in group chats

[Group Chats](/get-started/group-chats.md) require **ULTIMATE**. PREMIUM users can share and separate lorebooks across private chats.

Each companion in a group has their **own** book selection. There is no single group-wide book that replaces all members' books.

<figure><img src="https://3286776735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9ACKOAU4nFWSXPeE2B4s%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ec44a2537c98064907577b691ef4b52389ba9bfc%2Fgroup-books.png?alt=media" alt="Fictional group lorebook window with separate Mira and Ellis member tabs and Mira&#x27;s book selected"><figcaption><p>Use the companion tabs to choose whose book you are viewing.</p></figcaption></figure>

In the lorebook window, select a companion tab before reading or editing. A book switch made while viewing that member applies to that member. In group settings, use each member's book control to choose their continuity separately.

For example, Mira can use **Asterfall · Lantern Festival**, the same book as your private Mira chat, while Ellis uses **Ellis · Archive Mysteries**. An edit to Mira's book affects Mira's connected chats; it does not copy that entry into Ellis's book. Companions still participate in the group's visible conversation.

Some group members may use lorebooks while others still use the older memory system. Use [the group upgrade workflow](/lorebooks/upgrading-memory.md#upgrade-a-group-chat) for members you want to move.

When creating a group, the **Universe Book** option is available for each member. Even when several members choose the same Universe, each gets their own book. Subsequent edits stay in the relevant companion's book.

## Archive and restore books

In Lorebooks, open a book's **Book actions** menu and select **Archive**. Read the confirmation before continuing:

* **Companion book:** The dialog shows affected chats, including group chats. Archiving switches those chats, or the affected group members, back to legacy memory. The book's entries stay saved but are not copied into the older memory list.
* **Universe:** Archiving makes the original read-only and prevents new chats from starting from it. Existing companion books made from it are unchanged.

To restore a book, choose the appropriate **Companion books** or **Universes** tab, set the status filter to **Archived**, and select **Unarchive**. Unarchiving a companion book does not automatically reattach its previous chats; choose it again in the relevant chat's memory controls.

## Switch back to the older memory system

In an existing chat's memory settings, select **Switch back to legacy memory**, read the explanation, and **Save**.

The lorebook is kept, but its entries are **not copied into the older memory list**. For a group, this choice applies to the selected member. Other chats still using the book continue to use it.

To return later, use the chat's available upgrade/book-selection controls and choose the book you intend. Do not assume changes made in the two systems have been merged; review the book after switching.