Thread by @joeyharris

A thread showing how to install and use @RoamResearch’s Progressive Web App (images are from iOS). This should work similarly on Android. #roam

1. In your mobile browser (in this case, Safari), go to the Roam Research homepage and sign in. Select your your graph from the bottom of the following screen (or create one if you’re new to Roam).

2. After selecting your graph, you should see Roam’s Quick Capture screen. This is designed to allow you to quickly capture a note, create a TODO or upload a file or image to a [[Quick Capture]] page. All such notes are synced to your graph. I prefer to use my full graph.

3. Click on “Install Full Site” in the upper right corner of the Quick Install page.

4. This should bring you to a very familiar looking Daily Note Page in your graph.

5. Click on the waiting block and you will see a full iOS keyboard as well as a menu of icons.

6. The first icon is a self-explanatory undo typing command

7. Followed by a redo typing command in case you didn’t mean to undo.

8. The next icon is an outdent block command

9. And the fourth menu icon is an equally useful indent block command, indenting the currently selected block under the one above it.

10. The fifth icon adds a set of double brackets [[]] in order to create a new page. You can also use #tags as usual to creat pages or type a page name in the search box at the top of the page, all as usual.

11. The 6th icon creates a block reference. It searches for any text typed looking for blocks containing the search text and when one is selected, creates a reference to that block.

12. The up arrow icon moves the currently selected block up in the outline (note the new positions of the 1st two blocks in the image)

13. The down arrow moves the currently selected block down in the outline (note the restored order of the 1st two blocks in the image)

14. The todo icon creates a standard TODO block

15. The final icon on the far right allows you to upload any file or image. It works with your photos, your file system, and iCloud, in the case of iOS. You can also take a photo or video on the spot.

16. As it uses the system keyboard, you can use voice input to enter items for an almost hands free experience. This could probably be made completely hands free using Accessibility.

17. Clicking on the icon in the upper left of your screen opens the sidebar giving you access to your other graphs, graph view, shortcuts, etc. exactly the same as usual.

18. The calendar icon at the top to the right of the Find or Create Page search box invokes a calendar chooser allowing you to jump to any DNP. It will be created if it doesn’t already exist.

19. Clicking on the three dots lets you access graph Settings, update to the latest version of Roam, import and export into and out of your graph, and Install Roam on your phone or tablet as a Progressive Web App with its own icon on the Desktop.

20. Finally, the question mark icon at the top right of your screen gives full access to Roam’s onboarding and Help responses including videos and full explanations of Roam’s basic features.

21. Once you Install Roam on your Home screen, you’ll have an icon (name it whatever you want) which will from henceforth open to your full graph in seconds where you can quick capture directly to your graph. C&P links, text, use voice input, add todos, write ✍🏾, add images, etc.

22. With a few limitations (you can’t select multiple blocks at a time, for example) and with practice, you can use Roam quite effectively on your phone or tablet until the forthcoming true app arrives.