Feature reference

Your complete guide to SPR Sidekick

Learn how to inspect rules, search complex pages, capture review context, and keep your everyday tools close to the work.

DownloadBrowse features

Feature catalogInspect. Search. Capture. Reuse.

Each entry lists what the feature does, how to open it, and its options when they matter.

SPR rule canvas with the Sidekick panel open alongside it

Overview

Feature groups

Sidekick combines SPR rule tools with page and productivity features. Rule-specific tools appear when a supported SPR rule canvas is open; other tools work across everyday pages where access is allowed.

Where each tool works is summarized in Availability. Details live with each feature below.

Inspect

Rule Preview and Rule Map for SPR canvases.

Search

Universal Search, Scroll Scope, Deep Search, Auto Load, and highlight controls.

Capture

Screen Capture, Quick Notes, Quick Canvas, and optional clipboard history.

Reuse

Workspace Links and Smart Snippets for saved links and reusable text.

Getting started

Set up Sidekick

Choose a default view

In Preferences → Default View Mode, pick Side Panel, Popup, or Floating Mode (labeled Floating).

Select Platform helpers

In Preferences → Platform, enable helpers you need: tab names, text selection, clipboard capture, or Smart Snippets.

Allow access

Grant page access so search, highlighting, screenshots, and rule tools can run on the current page.

Confirm

Finish setup. Change any choice later in Preferences.

First installation

The setup guide opens automatically. Reopen this feature reference anytime from Preferences → Other Settings → About.

Pin, refresh, version

Pin SPR Sidekick to the browser toolbar. After an update, refresh pages that were already open before using page-level tools. About shows product details and a link back to this guide.

Using Sidekick

Core workspace controls

Home

Main workspace entry for Rule Preview, Rule Map, Universal Search, and common utilities.

Open Sidekick home view

Active page

Sidekick keeps working with the page it was opened for, even when focus is in the extension UI.

Unavailable rule tools

Rule Preview and Rule Map stay visible but disabled until a supported SPR rule canvas is open and ready.

Ways to open

Ways to open Sidekick

Set the default in Preferences → Default View Mode: Side Panel, Popup, or Floating Mode (labeled Floating).

Side Panel

Docks Sidekick beside the page for longer sessions without covering the content you are inspecting.

Open Preferences → Default View Mode → Side Panel · ⌘⇧S / Alt⇧S

Floating Mode

Movable launcher on accessible pages. Expand into a resizable panel, pin, minimize, or switch to Popup / Side Panel.

Open Preferences → Default View Mode → Floating (requires page access)

Options Drag · Expand · Pin · Minimize · Disable from toolbar · Switch view · Floating menu size in Preferences → Interface

Sidekick Spotlight

Keyboard overlay to search tools, actions, and Workspace Links.

Open ⌘⇧K / Alt⇧K · Preferences → Interface → Sidekick Spotlight

Options Spotlight style: Max · Mini

Session memory

Sidekick remembers the active tool for the page you opened it on. Recent searches and traces can restore when you reopen Sidekick on that same page.

Rule tools

SPR rule canvas features

These tools require a supported SPR rule canvas and page access.

Rule Preview

Traces a backend execution path across the visible SPR rule canvas.

Open Home or Quick menu → Rule Preview

Options Native · Highlight · Animate · Focus mode · Step playback · Play

Enter a path such as 1,1,2,2,1, then Scan and Trace.
Native: blue connectors with subtle node emphasis. Highlight: stronger node-and-path treatment.
Result summary lists node names, identifiers, types, partial-path warnings, and unresolved steps.
Select a summary step to jump to its node. Recent traces restore on the same page.

Limits

Use the same rule version that produced the path. If conditions or actions changed after execution, the highlighted route may no longer match.

Rule Map

Compact overview of the loaded rule canvas with the current viewport marked.

Open Home or Quick menu → Rule Map

Options Refresh · Hover titles · Click to jump

Refresh after the canvas changes.
Hover a point for the node title; select to jump.
Viewport indicator updates while you navigate.

Universal Search

Search features

Universal Search scans the page and supported scrollable lists for dynamically rendered content that ordinary browser Find may miss.

Search features need page access. Deep Search also needs Node Coverage and a Deep Search URL Path under Preferences → Deep Search Settings.

Universal Search

Search visible and dynamically loaded page content; open a result to return to it.

Open Home / Quick menu · ⌘⇧U / Alt⇧U

Options Keyword · Search · Cancel long runs · Restore recent results on the same page

Highlight all matches

Mark all available matches on the page, then clear highlights when finished.

Open Universal Search → Highlight all matches

Scroll Scope

Limit search to a page area you choose. Sidekick remembers that area for the site until you change or clear it.

Open Universal Search → Scroll Scope

Options Choose area · Change area · Clear area

Deep Search

Include supported unopened node details from platforms selected under Node Coverage.

Open Universal Search → Deep Search (after Preferences → Deep Search Settings)

Auto Load

Let Universal Search load additional supported content while scanning so you open or scroll fewer items manually.

Open Universal Search → Auto Load

Deep Search URL Path

Internal content path supplied by your team so Sidekick can locate supported unopened node details.

Open Preferences → Deep Search Settings

Options Path from your internal team · Masked by default · Confirm before reveal

Node CoverageDT — Dialogue TreeGW — Guided WorkflowsJF — Journey FacilitatorIVR — Voice IVR

Deep Search setup

Preferences → Deep Search Settings: choose at least one Node Coverage source and enter the Deep Search URL Path from your team. If either is missing, Sidekick prompts before running Deep Search.

Results

Page results come from the current page or a rendered list. Hidden node results come from unopened node details and show a source badge. Each result includes a context snippet. If Sidekick cannot open a hidden result directly, it explains the fallback. Recent results restore only for the page where the search ran.

Page helpers

Page helper features

Once enabled, helpers keep working as supported page content changes or loads without a full refresh.

Enable in Preferences → Platform. Helpers need page access; clipboard history and snippets stay local to this browser profile.

Text selection

Makes text easier to select on rule cards and Audit Log widgets.

Page-aware tab names

Show rule, dialogue tree, and reporting dashboard names as browser tab titles.

Epoch time converter

Show readable timestamps beside likely epoch values, including ones that appear after load.

Browser Find

Use browser find (⌘F / Ctrl+F) instead of page-specific search on supported pages.

Clipboard capture

Saves text when you copy on allowed pages into Clipboard Manager. Not monitored in the background. With capture on, Clipboard Manager’s Add current clipboard can also pull the system clipboard into history.

Limits

Up to 100 items · ~7 days · password, payment, and common credential fields excluded · turning capture off clears saved history

Smart Snippets

Type /shorthand and press Space or Tab to expand, or //shorthand to copy without inserting.

Open Enable in Preferences → Platform, then type in a supported field

Productivity tools

Productivity features

Notes, snippets, clipboard history, and link folder references stay in this browser profile. Capture and canvas overlays need page access.

Workspace Links

Browse and open links from a dedicated Sidekick folder in your Bookmarks Bar.

Open Quick menu · Spotlight · optional custom shortcut

Options Connect folder · Create folder · Open Bookmark Manager · Nested folders · Keyboard open

Sidekick displays only the connected folder.
Rename or reorganize links in Bookmark Manager; reconnect if the folder moves or is missing.
If bookmark access is removed, Sidekick asks again before showing links.

Clipboard Manager

Recently Copied Items — review and reuse text (and screenshots) Sidekick has saved locally.

Open Home or Quick menu · optional custom shortcut

Options Add current clipboard · Click item to copy again · Remove item · Clear

Add current clipboard (refresh control): reads the system clipboard and saves it into history as “Current Clipboard,” so you can retain text that was copied outside Sidekick’s page capture.
Requires Clipboard capture on (Preferences → Platform). Sensitive clipboard content is not saved.
With capture on and site access allowed, copies made on allowed pages are also saved automatically.
Turning Clipboard capture off clears Sidekick history; the system clipboard is unchanged.

Limits

Up to 100 items · ~7 days · duplicates skipped · filters likely passwords, credentials, payment details, and sensitive source addresses

Smart Snippets

Save reusable text and insert or copy it with a short /shorthand trigger.

Open Home or Quick menu · Preferences → Platform to enable

Options Create · Edit · Delete · Enable/disable · / insert · // copy

/shorthand + Space or Tab inserts at the cursor in supported inputs and editors.
//shorthand + Space or Tab copies without inserting.
Skipped: password, hidden, file, button, checkbox, radio, range, color, read-only, disabled, and other sensitive fields.
Also works inside Code / JSON Viewer and Quick Canvas.

Limits

Up to 250 snippets · 2 MB local library · usage warning at 80% · shorthand ≤ 40 characters (letters, numbers, _ , -) · expansion ≤ 8,000 characters

Quick Notes

Persistent rich-text notepad beside your work.

Open Quick menu · ⌘⇧N / Alt⇧N

Options Bold · Italic · Underline · Lists · Links · Copy · Clear

Live word and character counts; automatic saving; safe pasted content.

Code / JSON

Large local editor over the page to format, minify, validate, search, copy, or clear JSON and code.

Open Home or Quick menu · optional custom shortcut

Options Wrap lines · Save draft · Discard · Escape to close · Opens over the current webpage

Quick Canvas

Freeform overlay for drawing, shapes, text, selection, move/edit, zoom, and pan.

Open Home or Quick menu

Options Undo · Clear · Save draft · Discard

Limits

Drafts removed by Preferences → Other Settings → Cache → Clear.

Screen Capture

Capture the visible page without Sidekick floating controls, then annotate with rectangles and arrows.

Open Home or Quick menu · optional custom shortcut

Options Undo · Clear · Copy · Download · Optional discard confirmation

Preferences

Preference sections

Open Preferences from the gear icon or Home. All settings are stored locally in the current browser profile.

Default View Mode

Choose how Sidekick opens: Side Panel, Popup, or Floating Mode (labeled Floating in Preferences).

Interface

Sidekick Spotlight and Spotlight style (Max / Mini), Graphite mode and Intensity (Solid / Soft / Sheer), Floating menu size, Quick menu and Quick menu position, Header logo.

Platform

Text selection, Page-aware tab names, Epoch time converter, Browser Find, Clipboard capture, and Smart Snippets.

Deep Search Settings

Node Coverage (DT, GW, JF, IVR) and Deep Search URL Path for unopened node details.

Shortcuts

View assigned shortcuts and open Chrome’s shortcut manager.

Open Preferences → Shortcuts → Manage Shortcuts

Workspace Links

Connect the Sidekick bookmarks folder and open Bookmark Manager to organize links.

Open Preferences → Workspace Links → Connect / Manage

Other Settings

Open side panel, Cache Clear, Site access, Screen Capture discard confirmations, About, and Hide info icons.

Cache → Clear

Clears clipboard history, screenshots, recent searches, viewer drafts, and temporary traces. Does not change preferences, Quick Notes, Smart Snippets, or Workspace Links.

About

Under Other Settings. Opens guide, product details, and feedback.

Keyboard shortcuts

Open Sidekick⌘ ⇧ SAlt ⇧ S

Sidekick Spotlight⌘ ⇧ KAlt ⇧ K

Universal Search⌘ ⇧ UAlt ⇧ U

Quick Notes⌘ ⇧ NAlt ⇧ N

Clipboard ManagerCustomCustom

Workspace LinksCustomCustom

Code / JSON ViewerCustomCustom

Screen CaptureCustomCustom

PreferencesCustomCustom

The first shortcut is macOS; other browsers use the Alt shortcut. Assign additional commands from Preferences → Shortcuts → Manage Shortcuts (opens chrome://extensions/shortcuts).

Access and privacy

Access, privacy, and data

Access when needed

Sidekick asks for page access after a user action. Access enables search, highlighting, screenshots, rule helpers, and optional clipboard capture. Manage it under Preferences → Other Settings → Site access.

Optional bookmarks access

Workspace Links requests bookmarks access only when you connect it, and shows only the dedicated Sidekick folder.

Local by design

Notes, snippets, preferences, recent clipboard items, and temporary working state stay in the current browser profile.

Review, not execution

Sidekick reads and highlights supported page content. It does not execute rule actions, click rule nodes, monitor network responses, or require a rule export.

Protected Deep Search path

The Deep Search URL Path is masked by default. Sidekick asks before revealing it.

Kept until you change or remove it

Preferences, Quick Notes, Smart Snippets, Workspace Links folder reference, optional custom header logo.

Automatically limited or temporary

Clipboard history: 100 items / ~7 days. Recent searches, traces, overlay drafts, target-page state, and Floating Mode sessions are temporary or page-specific.

Removed by Cache → Clear

Clipboard history, screenshots, recent searches, viewer drafts, and temporary traces. Notes, snippets, Workspace Links, preferences, and site settings remain.

Common workflows

Feature combinations

Trace a rule execution

Supported rule canvas → Rule Preview → Scan → enter path → Native or Highlight → Trace → Step playback or summary jump.

Search a large page

Universal Search → optional Scroll Scope area → Deep Search / Auto Load if needed → keyword → review page and hidden-node results → Highlight all matches.

Configure Deep Search

Preferences → Deep Search Settings → Node Coverage (DT, GW, JF, IVR) → Deep Search URL Path → Universal Search → enable Deep Search.

Capture an issue

Screen Capture → annotate → copy or download.

Keep a system clipboard item

Clipboard Manager → Add current clipboard (refresh) → item appears under Recently Copied Items (Clipboard capture must be on).

Use a Smart Snippet

Smart Snippets → add shorthand + expansion → enable → /shorthand + Space/Tab to insert, or //shorthand to copy.

Set up Workspace Links

Workspace Links → connect bookmarks → existing or new Sidekick folder → organize in Bookmark Manager → open from Sidekick or Spotlight.

Availability

Where each feature works

Feature	Supported rule canvas	General web page	Works without page access
Rule Preview & Rule Map	Yes	—	—
Universal Search	Yes	Yes	—
Quick Notes & Workspace Links	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Snippets	Yes	Yes	Library only
Code / JSON, Canvas & Capture	Yes	Yes	Separate viewer where available

Browser-internal pages, extension stores, and other protected pages may block in-page tools. Sidekick explains the limitation and uses a separate viewer when a fallback exists.

Browser compatibility

Chrome provides the full Side Panel experience. Browsers without a reliable Side Panel—including some Arc configurations—default to Popup. Floating Mode requires page access. Protected addresses may block all in-page tools.

Terminology

Names used in Sidekick

DT: Dialogue Tree — Node Coverage / Deep Search source.
GW: Guided Workflows — Node Coverage / Deep Search source.
JF: Journey Facilitator — Node Coverage / Deep Search source.
IVR: Voice IVR — Node Coverage / Deep Search source.
Execution path: Ordered backend path (for example 1,1,2,2,1) used by Rule Preview.
Node Coverage: Platform sources Deep Search may include (DT, GW, JF, IVR).
Deep Search URL Path: Internal content path from your team for unopened node details.
Smart Snippets: Reusable text expansions inserted with /shorthand or copied with //shorthand.

Troubleshooting

Common checks

A rule tool is unavailable

Open a supported SPR rule canvas and wait for it to finish loading. Rule tools stay visible but disabled until a compatible canvas is detected.

Search or capture cannot access the page

Use the access action Sidekick shows, or review site access in Preferences. Protected browser pages cannot grant normal extension access.

The Side Panel did not open

Your browser may not support Chrome’s Side Panel reliably. Choose Popup or Floating Mode in Preferences → Default View Mode (option labeled Floating); Sidekick may offer this fallback automatically.

A recent trace or search disappeared

Temporary results are tied to the page where they were created and clean up when stale. Notes, snippets, and Workspace Links are unaffected.

Deep Search says setup is incomplete

Select at least one Node Coverage source and enter the Deep Search URL Path in Preferences → Deep Search Settings.

A Scroll Scope area is no longer available

The page structure may have changed. Choose the area again, or clear Scroll Scope to scan the full page.

Clipboard Manager cannot read the clipboard

Confirm Clipboard capture is enabled under Preferences → Platform. Use Add current clipboard to pull the system clipboard into history. Some browsers or protected pages block clipboard reading.

Smart Snippets does not insert text

Confirm Smart Snippets is enabled under Preferences → Platform, the shorthand exists, and you pressed Space or Tab. Password, sensitive, unsupported, read-only, and disabled fields are skipped.

Floating Mode is missing

Confirm Preferences → Default View Mode is set to Floating and the site has access. Protected browser pages cannot show Floating Mode.