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Macro uses CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) technology for real-time collaborative editing. Multiple people can edit the same document simultaneously without conflicts or lost changes.

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How It Works

Live Sync

Changes sync in real-time as you type. No “save” button needed - edits appear instantly for all collaborators.

Conflict-Free

CRDT technology automatically merges concurrent edits. Two people can edit the same paragraph without conflicts.

Offline Support

Keep editing offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect, merged with others’ edits.

Full History

Every change is tracked. Undo/redo works across all collaborators with proper conflict resolution.

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Real-Time Features

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Live Cursors

See where collaborators are working in real-time:
Live cursors showing collaborators
  • Colored cursors show each person’s position
  • Name labels appear above cursors
  • Selection highlights show what text they’ve selected
  • Typing indicators appear when someone is actively typing
Hover over a cursor to see the collaborator’s full name and when they joined the session.

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Presence Awareness

Know who’s actively working on a document:
Collaborators currently viewing or editing the document.
  • Green indicator next to avatar
  • Cursor visible in real-time
  • Last activity: “typing now”

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Live Updates

Content updates in real-time across all surfaces:
  • Text changes appear character-by-character
  • Formatting updates (bold, italic, links) sync instantly
  • Block additions/deletions (headings, lists, images) sync immediately
  • @mentions and references resolve in real-time
  • Cursor position preserved even as others edit around you
  • New messages appear instantly
  • Typing indicators show who’s composing
  • Read receipts update in real-time
  • Reactions and emoji responses sync immediately
  • Thread updates notify participants
  • Status changes (complete/incomplete) sync instantly
  • Due date and assignee updates appear immediately
  • Comments and activity appear in real-time
  • Checklist items can be edited concurrently
  • Elements move and resize in real-time
  • Multiple people can drag different objects simultaneously
  • Color and style changes sync instantly
  • Connector lines update as connected elements move

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Collaborative Editing

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Concurrent Editing

Multiple people can edit the same document at the same time:
1

Open Same Document

All collaborators open the same document. You’ll see their avatars in the top-right.
2

Edit Anywhere

Each person can edit different sections - or even the same section. CRDT merges changes automatically.
3

See Live Updates

Changes appear in real-time. Your cursor position is preserved even as others insert text above you.
4

No Conflicts

If two people edit the same word simultaneously, CRDT intelligently merges both changes. No “locked” sections or “refresh to see latest” warnings.
Example: Alice types “The quick brown fox” while Bob types “jumped over” in the same paragraph. Result: “The quick brown fox jumped over” - both edits preserved.

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Undo & Redo

Macro’s collaborative undo works across all users:
ActionBehavior
Cmd+Z (your changes)Undo your own edits, even if others edited after you
Cmd+Shift+Z (your changes)Redo your own edits
Others’ changesOthers’ edits stay intact when you undo
Undo stackEach user has independent undo/redo history
Press Cmd+Z to undo your recent changes. Only your edits are undone - collaborators’ changes remain.The undo system is CRDT-aware:
  • Tracks your edits separately from others
  • Preserves others’ concurrent changes
  • Works even after going offline and reconnecting

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Version History

Every change is saved in document history:
1

Open History

Press Cmd+H (Ctrl+H on Windows/Linux) to open version history panel.
2

Browse Versions

Scroll through timeline of changes:
  • Who made the change
  • When it was made
  • What changed (diff view)
3

Preview Version

Click any version to preview the document at that point in time.
4

Restore or Branch

From preview:
  • Restore: Revert document to this version (creates new edit)
  • Branch: Create new document from this version
  • Compare: See diff between versions
Restoring a version doesn’t delete history. It creates a new edit that reverts to the old state. You can still access all versions via history.

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Collaboration Workflows

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Document Co-Authoring

Best for: Meeting notes, brainstorming, documentation
  1. Share document in channel: Let's draft this together @doc-link
  2. Everyone opens document simultaneously
  3. Assign sections: “Alice, take intro. Bob, handle methodology.”
  4. Edit in real-time - no need to coordinate who edits when
  5. Use comments for questions: Highlight text → Cmd+Opt+M

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Channel Collaboration

Team Channels

Use for: Ongoing project communication
  • Post updates and documents
  • @mention for attention: @alice check this out
  • Thread replies to keep context
  • Pin important messages/docs
  • All members see history in real-time

Direct Messages

Use for: 1-on-1 or small group chat
  • Quick questions and coordination
  • Share drafts for quick review
  • Real-time typing indicators
  • Works same as channels, just fewer people

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Canvas Collaboration

Multiple people can work on the same canvas:
  • Each person can drag/create different elements
  • See others’ cursors moving elements in real-time
  • Embedded @links update automatically
  • Changes sync instantly - no refresh needed
  • Selection highlights show what others are editing
  • Use canvas as virtual whiteboard
  • Everyone can add sticky notes simultaneously
  • Group and organize ideas together
  • Works great for remote brainstorming
  • Export to PDF when done: Cmd+P

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@Mentions and References

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@Mention People

Bring people into context: 
@john Can you review this section?

@alice @bob Let's discuss the timeline

cc: @sarah for visibility
What happens:
  • Mentioned person gets notification
  • Notification links directly to that spot in document
  • They can reply inline or in comments
  • Creates bidirectional reference (they can see where they were mentioned)

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@Mention Content

Link to other documents, tasks, or files: 
See the full proposal: @q4-proposal

Action item: @task-update-website  

Refer to diagram: @architecture-diagram

Source: @meeting-notes-2024-03-15
Benefits:
  • Live links that update if target changes
  • Bidirectional - target document shows “Mentioned in…”
  • Permissions automatically granted (Viewer by default)
  • Works in docs, channels, emails, tasks
Type @ and start typing to search all content. Works anywhere in the editor.

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Comments and Discussions

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Inline Comments

Add comments to specific parts of a document:
1

Select Text

Highlight the text you want to comment on.
2

Add Comment

Press Cmd+Opt+M (Ctrl+Alt+M on Windows/Linux) or click the comment icon.
3

Write Comment

Type your comment. You can:
  • @mention people for attention
  • Include @links to other content
  • Format with markdown
  • Add emoji reactions
4

Collaborate

Others see comment in real-time. They can:
  • Reply to comment (threaded)
  • Resolve comment (checkmark)
  • React with emoji
  • Edit the document to address comment

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Comment Threads

Comments can have threaded replies:
  • Original comment anchored to specific text
  • Replies appear indented below
  • Resolve when addressed (doesn’t delete, just marks done)
  • Re-open if more discussion needed
  • Notifications sent to thread participants when new replies added
Hover over any commented text to see the comment thread. Click to expand full conversation.

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Offline Collaboration

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How Offline Works

You lose internet connection while editing.What happens:
  • Document remains open and editable
  • Your changes are saved locally
  • You see a “Working offline” indicator
  • Others’ cursors disappear (you can’t see their new changes)

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Conflict Resolution

CRDT handles conflicts automatically: 
You (offline):  Edit paragraph 1
Alice (online): Edit paragraph 3

After sync:
Both edits preserved in their respective paragraphs. ✓
While CRDT prevents data loss, same-section offline edits may produce unexpected results. Check version history after reconnecting if multiple people edited the same area.

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Best Practices

Communicate Intent

Use comments or channel messages to coordinate:
  • “I’m editing the intro now”
  • “Alice, can you review section 3?”
  • Reduces overlapping edits in same area

Use @Mentions

@mention people for visibility:
  • Brings them into context
  • Auto-grants access
  • Creates notification
  • Builds reference trail

Resolve Comments

Mark comments resolved when addressed:
  • Keeps document clean
  • Shows progress
  • Comments remain in history
  • Can re-open if needed

Review Version History

Check history after collaboration sessions:
  • See what changed
  • Verify no unintended edits
  • Restore if needed
  • Understand contribution

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For Large Teams

1

Assign Sections

Divide document into sections, assign owners. Reduces overlapping edits.
2

Use Comments for Discussion

Don’t edit directly if uncertain - add comment to discuss first.
3

Designate a Lead

One person responsible for final edits and resolving conflicts.
4

Regular Syncs

If multiple offline editors, sync frequently to catch conflicts early.

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Collaboration Settings

Customize collaboration behavior:
Settings > Collaboration > Presence
  • Show/hide collaborator cursors
  • Show/hide name labels
  • Cursor color assignment (auto or manual)
  • Idle timeout (when cursor disappears)
Settings > Notifications > Collaboration
  • Notify when someone @mentions you
  • Notify when someone edits a doc you’re in
  • Notify when someone comments
  • Notify when collaborators join/leave
Settings > Documents > Auto-Save
  • Auto-save interval (default: instant)
  • Local backup frequency
  • Offline storage limits
  • Sync on window blur/close

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Troubleshooting

Possible causes:
  • They’re viewing but not editing (cursors only show when active)
  • You have cursors hidden in settings
  • Connection issue (check “Working offline” indicator)
  • They’re viewing an older version (version history mode)
Fix: Check presence list (top-right avatars) to see who’s actually in the document.
Check:
  • Internet connection (look for “Working offline”)
  • Whether others have refreshed (unlikely needed, but possible)
  • Browser console for errors
Fix:
  • Wait a few seconds (large changes take time)
  • Refresh page (edits are saved, will sync on reload)
  • Check version history to see if changes were recorded
Check version history:
  1. Press Cmd+H
  2. Find your edits in timeline
  3. See if someone edited after you
If your edits are missing:
  • They may have been in offline mode and overwritten your changes
  • Restore from version history
  • Contact support if changes are completely lost (very rare)
Normal behavior: CRDT merges changes, but results may look odd if same text edited.To resolve:
  1. Review version history to see both sets of changes
  2. Manually edit to desired state
  3. Use comments to discuss with collaborator
Prevention: Coordinate edits in channel before going offline.

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Technical Details

Macro uses Loro CRDT for collaboration:
  • CRDT = Conflict-free Replicated Data Type
  • Eventual consistency: All clients converge to same state
  • Commutative operations: Order of edits doesn’t matter
  • Causality tracking: Preserves intent even with concurrent edits
  • Compact representation: Efficient network usage
For developers: See the Lexical Editor for implementation details and CRDT integration.

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