NotebookLM Pro Tree

A Chrome extension that transforms Google's NotebookLM from a simple list into a robust Project Management Dashboard.

Stop scrolling through endless flat lists. Organize your sources into nested trees, manage complex projects with advanced tasks, multi-window workflows, and focus with Zen Mode.

Critical Warnings ⚠️

Uninstalling Deletes Data: This extension uses Local Storage for privacy and speed. If you remove/uninstall the extension, your folders and tasks will be deleted instantly by Chrome.

Solution: Always use the Export button to save a backup JSON file before reinstalling or moving to a new computer.

Google Updates & Reliability: This extension works by "reading" the NotebookLM website. If Google updates their website, this extension may break.

Disclaimer: As this is a free, open-source project maintained in my spare time, I cannot guarantee immediate fixes if Google changes their code. Use this tool as a helpful enhancement, but keep your important data backed up.

Project Status & Disclaimer 🚧

Please Read: I am a Construction Project Manager, not a professional software developer. I built this tool because I needed it for my own daily workflow.

"Works on My Machine": This update (v17.9) is stable for my personal use, but it has not been battle-tested on every possible browser configuration.

Experimental Features: The multi-window system and DOM observers are complex. You may encounter bugs I haven't seen.

Feedback: If you find a bug, please open an issue on GitHub!

New in v17.9: The Productivity Suite 🚀

Transformed NotebookLM into a multi-window workspace. This update (consolidating v17.6–v17.9) brings major workflow improvements:

Pop-out Notes: Open any note in a floating window for side-by-side reference while you write. The pop-outs preserve formatting (read-only) and sync with your Light/Dark theme.

Smart Tasks & Quick Capture: Select text in any note to instantly see a "Create Task" button. This creates a task linked directly to that source note.

Advanced Task Management: Organize tasks into Custom Sections (collapsible groups), add Due Dates with quick-select options, and include rich Descriptions.

Graceful Stability: A new self-healing engine that disables specific broken features individually instead of crashing the whole extension if Google updates their code.

Features

Productivity & Workflow 📋

• Multi-Window Workflow — Click the "Pop-out" icon on any note in the Studio panel to open it in a separate window. Perfect for dual-monitor setups.
• Integrated Task Manager — A complete project management tool built right into the interface:
• Sections: Group tasks by phase (e.g., "Research," "Drafting," "Review").
• Smart Links: Tasks created from notes include a "Link" icon that filters your view to the original source.
• Priorities: Flag tasks (Red/Yellow/Blue) and sort by Priority or Due Date.
• "Zen Mode" — Toggle the UI to hide the AI chat and sidebars for a distraction-free reading/writing studio.

Organization 📂

• Nested Folders — Create deep structures for Sources, Notes, and Generated Artifacts (Audio Overviews, FAQs, etc.).
• Pinning — Keep critical contracts or specs pinned to the top of your lists.
• Color Coding — Assign colors to folders for visual organization.
• Bulk Select — Master checkboxes to select/deselect all sources in a folder or the entire notebook instantly.

Deep Search 🔍

• Content Indexing — Search the actual text inside your notes, not just the titles.

> Note: Indexing happens passively when you open a note.

• Smart Compression — Uses LZ-String compression to store up to 5MB of search index data locally without impacting performance.

Reliability 🛡️

• Local-First Architecture — Zero network latency. All data lives on your device.
• Graceful Degradation — If a feature fails due to a website update, the rest of the extension keeps working.
• Styled Dialogs — Smooth, themed confirmation dialogs (no more jarring browser popups).

> Note: Each notebook has its own independent data. Tasks and Folders created in "Project A" won't clutter "Project B."

Installation

Load Unpacked (Developer Mode)

• Download or clone this repository.
• Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions.
• Enable Developer mode (toggle in top right).
• Click Load unpacked.
• Select the folder containing these extension files.
• Navigate to NotebookLM and start organizing!

Usage

Once installed, you'll see a new "Project Dashboard" interface injected into NotebookLM:

• Quick Capture: Highlight text in any note -> click the floating + button to turn it into a task.
• Pop-out: Hover over a note in the Studio panel -> click the New Window icon.
• Task Details: Click the Description icon on a task to add notes or context.
• Bulk Actions: Use the folder checkboxes to toggle multiple sources for the AI context window.
• Export/Import: Use these buttons to backup your structure or move it to a new computer.

Storage & Data Guide 💾

Where Your Data Lives

Because v17.9 prioritizes speed and privacy, your data lives on your device:

• Local Storage: Folders, Tasks, Settings, and Search Index.
• No Auto-Sync: Folders do not sync automatically between computers.
• Moving Data: To move your setup to a laptop, use the Export button to get a JSON file, then Import on the new machine.

> Warning: If you clear Chrome's "Site Data" or "Cookies," you will lose your folders. Export backups regularly.

Privacy & Security

This extension is Local-First:

• All data is stored in your browser's local storage.
• No analytics or usage data is sent to the developer.
• Open Source: You can inspect the code to verify no data leaves your machine.

See PRIVACY_POLICY.md for details.

Known Limitations

• Pop-out Editing: Pop-out windows are currently Read-Only. You must use the main window to edit text.
• Underlining: Underlining content in a note is not persistent (this is a Google NotebookLM issue, not the extension).
• Incognito: The extension's memory system is disabled in Incognito mode.

Contributing

Found a bug or have a feature request? Open an issue or submit a PR.

Author

Benju66

License

GPLv3 License

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Note: This ensures that any improvements made to this project must be shared back with the community.

--- Tranlated By Open Ai Tx | Last indexed: 2026-04-25 ---