Full-screen TUI¶

The TUI is a research cockpit: search several databases at once, read papers in a live preview, rate and annotate them, keep a library, check your alerts and export — all from one screen, with keyboard or mouse.

Launching¶

pip install "lixplore-cli[tui]"          # adds Textual (Python 3.9+)

lixplore --tui                           # open the TUI
lixplore -P -q "CRISPR" -m 50 -i         # run a CLI search, then browse it in the TUI

Without Textual installed, these commands open the older Rich-based TUI instead. lixplore --check-tui reports what is installed and how to fix it.

Layout¶

┌ ◆ Lixplore  [ search box ]   ● PubMed ● EuropePMC ● arXiv ○ Crossref ○ DOAJ │ ● Dedupe  20 [Search] ┐
├──────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Search    ^F │ results table                                │ preview of the highlighted paper        │
│ Library   ^L │                                              │ title, authors, journal, links,         │
│ Alerts    ^N │                                              │ your rating / tags / notes, abstract    │
│ Stats     ^T │                                              │                                         │
│ RECENT       │ status: 36 results · 2 selected · sorted by… │                                         │
├──────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ footer: the keys available right now                                                                  │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Top bar: type a query and press Enter. Click a database chip (or focus it and press Space) to switch it on or off. The number is the maximum results per database.
Sidebar: switch views (or Ctrl+F / Ctrl+L / Ctrl+N / Ctrl+T), or pick a recent search to run it again. Esc always takes you back.
Preview: follows the cursor. It is hidden on narrow terminals (under 130 columns); press Enter to read a paper full-screen instead.

The footer always shows the keys that work in the current place.

Searching¶

Queries go to each database as written, so boolean syntax works:

(semaglutide OR tirzepatide) AND obesity NOT diabetes
"graph neural network" AND drug

Results appear as each database answers. With Dedupe on, the same paper found in several databases is merged at the end. If a database fails to answer, a notification says which one.

Working with results¶

Key	Action
`↑` `↓`, mouse	Move; the preview updates
`Enter`	Read the paper full-screen (`Esc` to return)
`o`	Open the paper in your browser
`1`–`5`	Rate instantly
`a`	Annotate: rating, read status, priority, tags and a new note on one form (`Ctrl+S` saves)
`Space`	Select / unselect, then move down
`A` / `x`	Select all shown / clear selection
`e`	Export the selected, shown or all results (CSV, Excel, BibTeX, RIS, EndNote, JSON, XML)
`f`	Filter the table as you type (`Enter` keeps it, `Esc` leaves)
`s`	Sort: relevance → newest → oldest → title → source
`/`	Start a new search

Rated papers show their stars in the first column; selected papers show ●.

Library (Ctrl+L)¶

Every paper you have rated, tagged or annotated, newest change first. Filter by ★ 4 and up, Unread, Reading, High priority or With notes, or type to search titles, tags and notes. Rating, annotating, reading and opening work the same as in results.

Annotations are stored in ~/.lixplore_annotations.json and are shared with the CLI annotation flags.

Alerts (Ctrl+N)¶

Lists the searches from the .env in the folder you started Lixplore in (create one with lixplore --alerts init). Press Enter on an alert to see papers added in the last 7 days for it. See Paper Alerts for scheduled delivery by email, Telegram and more.

Stats (Ctrl+T)¶

Charts for the current search (papers per database and per year) and for your library (ratings, read status, tags).

Everywhere¶

Key	Action
`Esc`	Back from anywhere: closes a pop-up, clears the filter, leaves a text box, or returns to the previous view
`Ctrl+F` `Ctrl+L` `Ctrl+N` `Ctrl+T`	Search · Library · Alerts · Stats
`F1`–`F4`	Same, if your terminal doesn't use these keys itself (xfce4-terminal opens its own help on `F1`)
`Ctrl+P`	Command palette, including theme switching (your choice is remembered)
`?`	Help
`q`	Quit

Troubleshooting¶

Colours look wrong or boxes appear: use a terminal with true colour and a font with box-drawing characters (most modern terminals). On a raw Linux console (TERM=linux), use the CLI instead.
lixplore --tui opens the old menu: Textual is missing or Python is older than 3.9. Run lixplore --check-tui.
Mouse doesn't work inside tmux: enable it with set -g mouse on.