Spectral Docs

Unified platform for editorial and publishing tools

Quick Start

1. Go to the Spectral Cloud portal in your browser
2. Create an account (email and password)
3. Add your Zotero API key in Settings > API Keys
4. Launch Preparo or Refero from the dashboard
5. You are automatically authenticated in each application via SSO

Overview

Spectral Cloud is the central hub that connects all Spectral Lab publishing tools. It provides:

• Single sign-on across all applications
• Secure API key storage for external services (Zotero)
• One-click access to Preparo (manuscript editor) and Refero (bibliography manager)
• Secure proxying of all external API requests

Dashboard

After signing in, the dashboard shows:

Application Launcher

Launch integrated applications with a single click:

Clicking an application opens it in a new window. Your session is transferred automatically — no need to log in again.

Getting Started Checklist

A checklist guides you through the initial setup:

1. Create an account — completed once you sign up
2. Configure your API keys — add your Zotero key in Settings
3. Create your first document — links to Preparo

The checklist updates in real time as you complete each step.

Authentication

Creating an Account

1. Click Sign Up on the login page
2. Enter your email, display name, and password
3. Confirm your password
4. Your account is created and you are signed in

Signing In

• Enter your email and password
• Check Remember me to keep your session active across browser restarts
• If you forget your password, click Forgot password? to receive a reset link by email

Single Sign-On (SSO)

When you launch Preparo or Refero from the dashboard, Spectral Cloud handles authentication automatically:

1. The portal generates a secure URL containing your session tokens
2. The application opens and detects the tokens
3. A session is established — you are instantly authenticated
4. Your Zotero API key is available to the application through the secure proxy

You never need to enter your credentials in Preparo or Refero separately.

API Key Management

Spectral Cloud stores your external API keys securely so that applications can use them without exposing them in the browser.

Adding a Zotero Key

1. Go to Settings > API Keys
2. Click Add a key next to Zotero
3. Obtain your key from zotero.org/settings/keys
4. Paste the key and save

Once validated, Spectral Cloud stores the key along with your Zotero username and user ID. The connection status is shown on the dashboard checklist.

Supported Services

Security Model

• API keys are encrypted server-side using pgcrypto before storage
• The client never sees the actual key after submission
• All external API requests go through Supabase Edge Functions that decrypt the key on the server
• Keys can be updated or deleted at any time from Settings

Settings

Access settings from the navigation bar.

Profile

• Display name — change the name shown in the dashboard greeting
• Email address — update your account email

API Keys

Manage your external service connections (see API Key Management above).

Preferences

Theme and language can also be toggled from the header bar at any time. Preferences are saved and persist across sessions.

Secure Proxies

All communication between the applications and external services passes through Spectral Cloud’s secure proxy layer.

How It Works

Application → Supabase Edge Function → External API
                    ↓
            Decrypts API key
            on the server

The browser sends a request with your Supabase JWT token. The Edge Function verifies your identity, retrieves and decrypts your API key from the database, then makes the request to the external service on your behalf. The response is forwarded back to the application.

Available Proxies

Mobile Support

The portal interface adapts to mobile devices:

• Navigation collapses into a hamburger menu
• Application cards stack vertically
• Settings panels adapt to smaller screens
• Full-screen mobile menu with navigation, applications, and account sections

Spectral Cloud — Spectral Lab