> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.peanutsapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Helpers

> Custom micro-apps that Peanuts creates to track exactly what you need

## What are Helpers?

Helpers are custom micro-apps that Peanuts creates based on your description. Unlike traditional apps that force you to adapt to their structure, Helpers adapt to you.

Each Helper is tailored to your specific use case with:

* **Custom fields** — The exact data points you need
* **Smart widgets** — Visualizations that make sense for your data
* **AI understanding** — Natural language input and queries
* **Automation** — Rules, reminders, and integrations

## How Helpers Work

<Steps>
  <Step title="You describe what you need">
    "I want to track my daily medications and symptoms"
  </Step>

  <Step title="AI generates a Helper">
    Peanuts creates fields for medication name, dosage, time taken, symptoms, severity, and notes
  </Step>

  <Step title="You add entries">
    Log via text, voice, or quick-entry forms. AI structures your input automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Helper learns your patterns">
    Over time, Peanuts learns your defaults, common entries, and patterns
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The Shoebox: Your Universal Capture

One special Helper deserves attention: the **[Shoebox](/core-concepts/shoebox)**.

The Shoebox is a system Helper that:

* **Cannot be deleted** — It's always available
* **Catches unmatched content** — Anything that doesn't fit elsewhere goes here
* **Receives AI outputs** — Generated documents and images appear here
* **Suggests organization** — Peanuts proposes moves and new Helpers based on patterns

## Helper Templates

Helpers are built on templates that define their core behavior:

| Template                            | Best For               | Key Features                         |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| [Tracker](/templates/tracker)       | Numbers & metrics      | Charts, trends, calculations         |
| [Form](/templates/form)             | Quick data capture     | Fast entry, structured fields        |
| [Checklist](/templates/checklist)   | Tasks & to-dos         | Completion tracking, recurring items |
| [List](/templates/list)             | Collections            | Catalog items, search, filter        |
| [Schedule](/templates/schedule)     | Events & time          | Calendar view, reminders             |
| [Habit](/templates/habit)           | Daily routines         | Streaks, completion rates            |
| [Plan](/templates/plan)             | AI-generated plans     | Goals, milestones, progress          |
| [Visualizer](/templates/visualizer) | Catalogs with images   | Grid view, virtual try-on            |
| [Dashboard](/templates/dashboard)   | Cross-helper analytics | Aggregate data, correlations         |

## The HelperAppPage

When you open a Helper, you see the unified **HelperAppPage** view:

* **Header** — Themed gradient with Helper name and icon
* **Quick Settings Bar** — Period selector (D/W/M/6M/Y), Reminders icon, Calendar Sync icon
* **Entry list** — Your logged entries with sorting and filtering
* **Input bar** — Add entries or ask questions
* **FABs** — Floating action buttons for Add and Show All

### Quick Settings Bar

The bar below the header provides quick access:

| Icon                | Function                         | Indicator            |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| **Period selector** | Filter by Day/Week/Month/6M/Year | Shows current period |
| **Bell** 🔔         | Helper-level reminders           | Dot when active      |
| **Calendar** 📅     | Calendar sync settings           | Dot when synced      |

When reminders or calendar sync are active, a small theme-colored dot appears on the icon.

## Helper Features

### Fields

Each Helper has custom fields that define what data you capture:

* **Text** — Names, descriptions, notes
* **Number** — Amounts, quantities, ratings
* **Currency** — Money with your preferred symbol
* **Date/Time** — When things happened
* **Select** — Dropdown choices
* **Multi-select** — Multiple tags/categories
* **Boolean** — Yes/no toggles
* **Location** — Places with maps
* **Image** — Photos and attachments

### Widgets

Widgets display your data in meaningful ways:

* **Summary cards** — Key metrics at a glance
* **Charts** — Line, bar, pie visualizations
* **Recent entries** — Quick access to latest data
* **Streaks** — Consistency tracking
* **Totals** — Sums, averages, counts

### Smart Features

* **Auto-fill** — Peanuts suggests values based on patterns
* **Natural language** — Add entries by typing or speaking naturally
* **Smart routing** — [Log Anything](/features/log-anything) automatically routes to the right Helper
* **Pattern detection** — Discover trends and correlations
* **Affinity learning** — System learns your vocabulary and preferences

## Managing Helpers

### Edit a Helper

1. Open the Helper
2. Access settings via the drawer or menu
3. Modify fields, widgets, or settings
4. Save changes

### Entry-Level Reminders

Set reminders on individual entries for follow-ups:

1. When adding an entry, tap the Reminder row
2. Choose a preset (1 hour, tomorrow, 3 days, next week) or custom time
3. Get notified at that time with a link to the entry

Learn more about [Entry Reminders](/features/entry-reminders).

### Archive a Helper

Archiving hides a Helper without deleting data:

1. Open Helper settings
2. Tap **Archive Helper**
3. Find archived Helpers in Settings → Archived

### Delete a Helper

<Warning>
  Deleting a Helper permanently removes all its entries. This cannot be undone.
</Warning>

1. Open Helper settings
2. Tap **Delete Helper**
3. Confirm deletion

## Sharing Helpers

You can share Helpers with others:

* **View-only** — Others can see entries but not add
* **Collaborative** — Multiple people can add entries
* **Public link** — Anyone with the link can view

See [Sharing & Collaboration](/core-concepts/sharing) for details.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Shoebox" icon="inbox" href="/core-concepts/shoebox">
    The universal capture surface
  </Card>

  <Card title="Entry Reminders" icon="bell" href="/features/entry-reminders">
    Per-entry notifications
  </Card>

  <Card title="Unified Input" icon="message-lines" href="/features/unified-input">
    The home screen experience
  </Card>

  <Card title="Templates" icon="table-layout" href="/templates/overview">
    All available Helper templates
  </Card>
</CardGroup>