# Ideas

Save notes, links, files, and source material in Ideas before you prepare a post.

Ideas stores notes, links, documents, and source material for future posts. You can create a post from a saved idea without a Board or AI.

## Capture an idea

1. Open **Ideas**.
2. Select **Capture idea**.
3. Enter **Your idea**, a **Link (optional)**, or both.
4. Add a **Title (optional)** if you need one. Otherwise, Beacon uses the first line or the link.
5. Select **Save idea**.

Beacon opens the saved item. No board or publishing account is required.

## Import a file

1. Open **More capture options** beside **Capture idea**.
2. Select **Import a file**, or press **U**.
3. Choose a supported file.
4. Confirm its source and usage rights.
5. Save the source.

Use **Media** for files that you want to attach directly to posts.

## Create a post

1. Open a saved idea, or open its item menu.
2. Save any changes to the idea.
3. Select **Create post**.
4. Review the copy in Compose and choose a publishing account.
5. Save a post draft, schedule it, or publish it now.

A saved note starts the post copy. Imported source text stays beside the draft for reference. A link without notes starts with empty copy. **Ideas and sources for this draft** shows the material Beacon saved when you started the draft. Later edits to the idea do not change that material.

AI is optional. Select **Use draft with AI** in Compose when you want help developing the post.

## Reuse an idea

The saved item remains available after you create a post. Its **Linked posts** section shows saved posts that use it and their current status. A working draft appears there after you save it as a post.

Select **Open linked post** to return to a post. Select **Create post** again to use the same idea for another post.

## Find saved material

Use **Search ideas** to search titles and saved text. Use **All items**, **Boards**, or **Trash** to change the view.

You can add one item to several Boards without copying its content. You can also duplicate items, move them to Trash, or restore them.