Getting Started
How do I set up my first scan?
- Open Printventory
- Go to Settings > Application Settings
- Set your STL Home directory (the main folder containing your models)
- The app will automatically scan and generate thumbnails
- Initial scan can take time depending on collection size
Can I scan multiple drives or folders?
Yes! You can set multiple scan paths. The app supports:
- Local drives (C:\, D:\, etc.)
- External drives
- Network shares (UNC paths like \\server\share) in Docker or Server Mode
How do I rescan for new models?
- Right-click in the main window and select "Scan for new files"
- Or go to Tools > Scan for new files
- You can also configure your STL Home under settings, which will automatically scan when you open the app
- The app will only scan for new/changed files, not rebuild everything
AI Tagging
What is AI Tagging?
AI Tagging uses artificial intelligence to automatically analyze your 3D models and suggest relevant tags (e.g., "miniature", "functional", "dragon", "terrain") to help organize your collection.
What AI services are supported?
1. Puter (Recommended - FREE)
- Setup: Go to Settings > AI Config > Select "Puter"
- Cost: Free, unlimited
- Models: GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and others
- Signup: Visit developer.puter.com
- Best for: Most users who want free AI tagging
2. Google Gemini
- Setup:
- Get API key from Google AI Studio
- Settings > AI Config > Select "Gemini"
- Model: Use
gemini-2.5-flash (NOT gemini-1.5-flash)
- Cost: Free tier available with rate limits
- Note: Rate limits are strict (may limit bulk tagging)
3. OpenAI
- Setup: Provide your OpenAI API key
- Cost: Paid (based on usage)
- Models: GPT-4o, GPT-3.5-turbo
How do I use AI Tagging?
- Single model: Right-click model > "AI Tag"
- Multiple models: Select models in multi-edit mode > AI Tag
- Review suggested tags (select/deselect as needed)
- Click Apply
AI Tagging Tips
- Review tags before applying: AI sometimes generates overly generic tags
- Rate limits: Gemini has strict rate limits. Use Puter for bulk tagging
- Batch tagging: When rate limited, tags are queued and applied when limit resets
- Tag cleanup: Use Metadata Manager (Tools menu) to merge/rename/delete tags
Can I use Gemini Code Assist?
Yes! If you use VS Code, Google offers generous free Gemini usage through the "Gemini Code Assist" extension.
File Management & Organization
How do I add tags to models?
- Manual: Click a model > Edit Tags field > Type and press Enter
- AI: Right-click > AI Tag
- Multi-edit: Select multiple models > Edit tags for all at once
How do I manage Designers?
- Add from URL: Paste a Thangs, Printables, or MakerWorld URL to auto-populate designer and parent model
- Manual entry: Type designer name in the Designer field
- Merge duplicates: Tools > Metadata Manager > Select "Designers" > Rename duplicate entries to merge
What is the Metadata Manager?
Tools > Metadata Manager lets you:
- Rename tags, designers, parent models, etc.
- Delete unused metadata
- Merge duplicates (e.g., rename "TechJeeper" to "Tech Jeeper" to combine them)
- Bulk operations: Clean up your metadata across thousands of models
Can I add custom images/thumbnails?
Yes! Right-click a model and:
- Change picture: Upload your own image
- Cycle images: For 3MF files with multiple embedded images
- Future versions will support pulling images from model sites (Thangs, Printables, MakerWorld)
How do I remove models from the database?
- Option 1: Right-click model > "Remove from database"
- Option 2: Delete the physical file, then Tools > Purge Database to remove orphaned entries
What is "Purge Database"?
Tools > Purge Database removes all thumbnails and model entries, then rescans your directories from scratch. Use this when:
- You've moved/reorganized many files
- Thumbnails appear corrupted
- You want to start fresh
Warning: This will reset all manually added tags, designers, and notes unless you've backed up the database first!
I have my models sorted in separate folders already, how can I sort by models within a folder?
You can click the parent directory on the model detail panel. Then, you can use select all to select the models and set properties like designer or parent models easily.
Docker & Server Mode
What's the difference between Desktop and Server Mode?
- Desktop Mode: Windows/Mac/Linux app with GUI
- Server Mode: Web-based UI accessible via browser (runs on port 5000)
- Docker Mode: Containerized server mode for NAS/headless systems
How do I set up Docker mode?
See the official README for docker-compose examples.
Common docker-compose.yml snippet:
volumes:
# IMPORTANT: Use lowercase 'printventory'
- printventory-data:/root/.config/printventory
# Mount your model directories
- /path/to/models:/mnt/models
Server Mode known issues
- Backup/Restore menu: Available in File menu (different from desktop)
- STL Home scanning: Uses timer-based periodic scans instead of manual triggers
- UNC paths: Experimental support for network shares
Can I access Printventory from my phone/tablet?
- Docker/Server Mode: Yes! Access via browser at
http://your-server-ip:5000
- Desktop Mode: Use remote desktop apps (RDP, VNC, TeamViewer, etc.)
Backup & Database
Where is my data stored?
- Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Printventory (usually C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Printventory)
- macOS:
~/.config/Printventory
- Linux:
~/.config/Printventory
- Docker: Defined in your volume mount (e.g.,
/root/.config/printventory)
What's in the database?
- Model metadata (designer, tags, notes, parent model, etc.)
- Rendered thumbnails (cached images)
- NOT the actual STL/3MF files (those stay in your original folders)
How do I backup my database?
Recommended method:
- Tools > Backup Database
- Choose save location
- Creates a
.backup file you can restore later
Manual method:
- Copy the entire
Printventory folder from AppData/Local or .config
How do I restore from backup?
- Tools > Restore Database
- Select your
.backup file
- Restart the app
What should I backup before uninstalling?
Critical: Create a backup before uninstalling! Uninstalling may delete:
- Your database
- All thumbnails
- Tags, designers, notes
Your actual model files are safe (they're never moved/deleted by Printventory).
Can I sync my database across multiple computers?
Experimental: You can store the database on a network share or cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive), but:
- Warning: Syncing databases is risky and can cause corruption
- Better option: Use Docker/Server mode on a NAS and access from multiple devices
- Alternative: Export/import backups between computers
Troubleshooting
Filters/Sort not working (V1.0)
Known bug in V1.0: Changing sort order disables active filters.
- Fix: Upgrade to latest beta (1.26+)
- Workaround: Re-apply filters after sorting
Max file size setting
If large models aren't being scanned:
- Settings > Application Settings > Max File Size
- Increase the limit to include larger STL/3MF files
"Failed to commit changes to dconf" error (Docker)
This is a harmless warning related to Electron trying to use dconf on headless systems. It can be ignored.
"Invalid ELF header" database error (Linux)
Fix: Reinstall the latest Linux build. This was fixed in version 1.24.1+
Multi-edit mode issues
If metadata isn't saving in multi-edit:
- Try single-edit mode first
- Update to latest beta
- Backup database and report bug in Discord #beta-issues
Duplicate models appearing
This can happen after:
- Moving files between scans
- Renaming directories
- Fix: Right-click > "Remove from database" on duplicates, or purge and rescan
Can't set STL Home (Docker mode)
Ensure:
- Your mount path exists (e.g.,
/mnt/models)
- Volume is correctly mapped in docker-compose.yml
- Path uses UNC format for network shares
Gemini API "404 status code" error
Fix: Change model from gemini-1.5-flash to gemini-2.5-flash
Printventory won't start after update
- Check if Windows SmartScreen blocked it (click "More info" > "Run anyway")
- Try running as Administrator
- Reinstall (your database should be preserved)
- If issues persist, restore from backup and report to Discord
Feature Requests & Support
Where can I get help?
- Discord: Join the Printventory Discord for real-time support
- GitHub: TechJeeper/Printventory
- Bug reports: Use #tech-support channel in Discord
How do I report a bug?
- Join the Discord server
- Post in #tech-support with:
- Version number (shown in About menu)
- Platform (Windows/Mac/Linux/Docker)
- Steps to reproduce
- Screenshots if applicable
Can I contribute?
Yes! The project welcomes:
- Beta testers
- Bug reports
- Feature suggestions
- Documentation improvements
- Code contributions (check GitHub)
Is there a roadmap?
The developer (@TechJeeper) actively works on:
- Stability first: Fixing bugs before adding features
- User requests: Community-driven feature prioritization
- Cross-platform parity: Ensuring all platforms work equally well
Tips & Best Practices
Organization Tips
- Use consistent designer names: "TechJeeper" not "Tech Jeeper" or "techjeeper"
- Tag early and often: Easier to tag 10 models than 1,000 later
- Use Parent Model field: Link multi-part models to their source
- Notes field: Great for HueForge filament lists, print settings, etc.
Backup Strategy
- Before major updates: Always backup
- After big tagging sessions: Backup when you've added lots of metadata
- Weekly backups: If you use Printventory daily
- Test restores: Verify your backups work!
Workflow Suggestions
- Download models to a staging folder
- Scan staging folder in Printventory
- Tag and organize within Printventory
- Move to permanent storage (optional)
- Rescan to update paths
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does this work with Thingiverse/Printables/MakerWorld?
A: Printventory doesn't download files it inventories the models you've downloaded.
Q: Can I print directly from Printventory?
A: You can right-click > "Open" or "Open with Slicer" to send models to your slicer app.
Q: Will this organize my files automatically?
A: No, Printventory creates a virtual organization layer without moving files. You can still manually organize files if desired.
Q: Can I share my database with others?
A: Technically yes (share the .backup file), but it won't include the actual model files, only metadata and thumbnails. You can also export your collection as JSON format from the Backup menu.
Q: Does this replace Makerworld/Printables libraries?
A: No, it complements them. Use those for downloading; use Printventory for local organization.
Q: Is my data private?
A: Yes! Everything is local except:
- AI tagging (sends model metadata to AI service, not the actual files)
Q: What happens if I delete a model file?
A: The database entry remains until you purge. When you re-scan it will ask if you want to remove the modeles from your library.
Credits
Developer: @TechJeeper
Community: Printventory Discord Beta Testers
Built with: Electron, JavaScript, SQLite
Last Updated: January 2026
This FAQ is community-maintained. Join the Discord for the latest information!