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Scratchpad module · User guide

Collect code snippets, find them again and reuse them

Scratchpad is the place for code you need again and again: queries, templates, command lines, snippets from a project. Instead of keeping them in sticky notes, old tickets or your head, they sit in one place — searchable and copyable with one click.

The collection is shared: all staff members see all snippets. If you only want your own, switch the filter row to «Mine».

The overview with search, language filter and tags
The overview with search, language filter and tags
16 languages with syntax highlighting
One click code to the clipboard
Full text the search looks inside the code too
Tags you create them as you type

Creating a snippet

You find the module under Scratchpad in the FreeScout navigation. The button New opens a short form that asks for three things only: title, language and the code itself.

That is on purpose. A snippet usually comes up in the middle of other work, and a form with ten fields means you do not file it at all. Everything else — description, tags, links — you add later on the detail page, when you have time. Or never.

Finding it again

The search covers title, description and the code itself. That is the point that matters: you rarely remember the title you gave something six months ago, but you almost always remember a function name or a table column from the code.

On top of that you filter by language and by tag, and you switch between all snippets and your own.

Tags

You type tags in while editing. If the name does not exist yet, it is created and automatically gets one of eight colours.

There is deliberately no list that has to be maintained first. A tagging system you have to set up before using it does not get used.

Linking to a task or a customer

A snippet can be linked to exactly one task or project from the Activities module, and additionally to a customer.

That helps later with the question of what the code came out of — and you ask yourself that more often than you would think.

Supported languages

For syntax highlighting you can choose among PHP, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, SQL, JSON, HTML and XML, CSS, SCSS, Java and YAML, among others.

There is also a plain-text mode with no highlighting. It is more useful than it sounds: for configuration fragments, error messages, or anything that is not a language.

Worth knowing

There is no change history

Unlike the Vault, Scratchpad only stores the latest state of a snippet. If you might still need an older version, file it as its own snippet before you overwrite.

Everyone sees everything

There is no collection that is visible to one person only. The «Mine» filter shows you your own snippets but does not hide them from others. For credentials and anything confidential the Vault is therefore the right place, not Scratchpad.

Not getting anywhere with this? Support

Good to know

Frequent questions

Everything you should know about our modules, licences, updates and support before you buy.

Why does my purchased FreeScout module show an expiry date?

With your purchase you get the module plus twelve months of support, security updates and new features. The expiry date shown refers to those included services — not to your right to use the module at all.

What happens when my licence expires?

The module you have installed keeps working. Once the licence has expired, though, no new security or feature updates arrive and the included support can no longer be used.

You decide for yourself whether to renew the licence or to keep using the installed module without further updates, at your own responsibility.

Others promise lifetime updates. Why don’t you?

Technologies, security requirements and dependencies keep changing. What works reliably today can be outdated or unsupported tomorrow. Good software therefore needs continuous care, testing and development.

Rather than tie you to a permanent subscription, we leave you the choice: renew your licence, or keep using the installed module without further updates, at your own responsibility.

Do I need your LaStore module?

No, but the LaStore module connects your FreeScout instance with the modules you bought, and it brings several advantages:

  • installation with one click
  • automatic detection of available updates
  • easy updating right inside FreeScout
  • verification of the package signature
  • protection against module packages altered or tampered with unnoticed

Our modules do not use the normal update process, because it is not secure. The LaStore module verifies each of our modules before updating. An attacker therefore cannot deliver forged, dangerous updates. Without this module the verification is up to you, and it is a manual process.

without LaStorewith LaStore, autopilot offwith LaStore, autopilot on
learns about new versionsnoyes, dailyyes, daily
installsby hand from the portalat the press of a buttonovernight, without you
verifiedby you, via shasum -a 256yesyes
Do I really get the complete source code?

Yes. Our modules are provided under the AGPL-3.0 licence. The module as delivered contains the complete source code, which you can inspect and adapt within the terms of that licence.

On how many FreeScout instances may I use the module?

One licence covers one active FreeScout instance. Two free server moves are included on top of that.

If an old server is no longer in use, the system releases its activation automatically after 90 days. An instance that is unreachable or already deleted is therefore not counted against your licence for good.

Can I return a module I bought?

You have a 14-day right of return. It ends as soon as you activate the module — not already when the licence key is delivered to you.

So activate the module only once you have finally decided to use it. For consumers in the EEA, the statutory provisions on the right of withdrawal for digital content apply in addition.

Who issues my invoice?

Payment is handled by Paddle. Paddle acts as Merchant of Record and therefore as the seller. That is why Paddle appears as the issuer of the invoice, and possibly also as the payee on your card or bank statement.

Does a module need other FreeScout modules?

That depends on the product. Some modules work entirely on their own and offer additional features when other modules are present. Others have hard dependencies.

The slot finder, for example, strictly needs the Calendar module, because the available appointments are worked out from the calendars kept there.

Required and optional dependencies are stated on each product page.

What can I do if something doesn’t work?

We test our modules carefully. Even so, a feature may not behave as expected in a particular environment.

Every module comes with a detailed guide. If that does not get you any further, you can open a support ticket. Describe the problem briefly and the steps you have already taken — we are glad to help.

Pay securely, worldwideYour payment is handled securely by Paddle. You can pay from anywhere in the world, comfortably in your own currency — proper invoicing included.
Open, auditable, adaptableThanks to AGPL-3.0 you get the complete source code. You can audit the software, adapt it yourself and keep running it independently.
Two server moves includedYour FreeScout instance is moving? You can transfer your licence to a new server up to twice, free of charge, and keep using the module there.
Install once, stay current by itselfWith our LaStore module for FreeScout you install what you bought with a single click. Available updates are checked and installed automatically.

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