Documentation

Complete guide to using SummaryForge for generating comprehensive ebook summaries.

Getting Started

1. Create an Account

Sign up for a free account at SummaryForge. New users receive 3 free study packs to try the service - no credit card required.

2. Upload Your Book

Go to the Dashboard and upload a PDF or EPUB file, paste a URL, or search for a book.

3. Get Your Study Pack

In just a few minutes, you'll receive a complete study pack with summary, flashcards, and quiz - all in multiple formats (PDF, EPUB, audio, and more).

4. Upgrade When Ready

After using your free study packs, choose a plan that fits your needs on the Pricing page.

Input Methods

📁 File Upload

Upload PDF or EPUB files directly from your device. Supported formats:

  • PDF (.pdf) - up to 50MB
  • EPUB (.epub) - up to 50MB

🔗 URL Input

Paste a URL to an online ebook or article. We'll fetch and process the content automatically.

Supported: Direct PDF links, Google Books previews, Project Gutenberg, and most public ebook URLs.

🔍 Book Search

Search for books by title, author, or ISBN. We'll find publicly available versions and generate summaries.

Output Formats

Every summary includes all of the following formats in a single .tgz archive:

📝 Markdown (.md)

Clean, formatted text with headings, lists, and emphasis. Perfect for note-taking apps.

📄 PDF (.pdf)

Professional document format, ready to print or share.

📚 EPUB (.epub)

Ebook format compatible with most e-readers and reading apps.

📃 Plain Text (.txt)

Simple text format for maximum compatibility.

🎧 Audio (.mp3)

Text-to-speech audio version for listening on the go.

🎴 Flashcards (.pdf)

Printable flashcards for active recall and studying.

Credits System

How Credits Work

Each summary generation costs 2 credits. Study tools (quizzes, flashcards, mindmaps) cost 1 credit each. Credits are deducted only when generation is successful.

Smart Caching

If someone has already generated a summary for the same book, you get instant access without using a credit. This makes SummaryForge incredibly cost-effective for popular books.

Credit History

View your complete credit history on the Credits page, including purchases, usage, and remaining balance.

Group Sharing

Create Study Groups

Create groups on the Groups page to collaborate with classmates or colleagues.

Share Summaries

When you generate a summary, you can share it with your groups. All group members get access without using their own credits.

Manage Members

Group creators can add or remove members at any time. Members can leave groups whenever they want.

Troubleshooting

Summary generation failed

Common causes:

  • File too large (over 50MB) or corrupted
  • URL not accessible or requires authentication
  • Unsupported file format
  • Temporary server issue - try again in a few minutes

Can't download summary

Ensure you're logged in and have access to the summary. Check your browser's download settings and ensure pop-ups are not blocked.

Group sharing not working

Verify that you're a member of the group and the summary was shared with that specific group. Group creators must explicitly share summaries.

Need More Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Visit our Help Center or contact support.