KCG Recipe Tracker

Version 1.9.0 - Complete User Guide

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Overview

KCG Recipe Tracker is a comprehensive desktop application designed to help you organize, manage, and share your favorite recipes. Built with XOJO 2025r2 API 2.0, this powerful tool provides an intuitive interface for recipe management with advanced features including AI-powered cooking assistance.

🍳 Recipe Management

Add, edit, view, and organize your recipes with detailed information including ingredients, instructions, servings, and cooking methods.

🔍 Advanced Search

Find recipes quickly using text search and category filters to locate exactly what you're looking for.

📄 Export Options

Export recipes to PDF, HTML, or Word documents for easy sharing and printing.

🤖 AI Assistant

Get cooking advice, recipe suggestions, and answers to culinary questions with the integrated AI assistant.

💾 Backup & Restore

Secure your recipe collection with built-in backup and restore functionality.

🔄 Import/Export

Share individual recipes or entire collections with other users.

Getting Started

System Requirements

  • Windows 10/11 64-bit
  • macOS 10.14 or later
  • Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+ or equivalent)
  • Minimum 4GB RAM
  • 50MB available disk space

First Launch

  1. Launch KCG Recipe Tracker from your desktop or applications folder
  2. The application will automatically create a new database file on first run
  3. The main window will open showing an empty recipe list
  4. You're ready to start adding your first recipes!
💡 Pro Tip: The application automatically saves all changes, so you don't need to worry about manually saving your work.

Main Interface

Main Window Components

Search Bar

Located at the top of the window, use the search bar to find recipes by name. Simply type part of a recipe name to filter the list in real-time.

Category Filter

The dropdown menu next to the search bar allows you to filter recipes by category. Select "All Categories" to show all recipes, or choose a specific category to narrow down your view.

Recipe List

The main area displays all your recipes in a three-column layout:

  • ID: Hidden internal identifier
  • Recipe Name: The name of your recipe
  • Servings: Number of servings the recipe makes

Action Buttons

Add Recipe

Opens the recipe editor to create a new recipe

Edit Recipe

Modify the selected recipe (requires a recipe to be selected)

View Recipe

View recipe details in read-only mode

Delete Recipe

Permanently remove the selected recipe

Print Recipe

Send the selected recipe to your printer

Refresh

Clear filters and reload the complete recipe list

Export Buttons

Three export buttons allow you to save recipes in different formats:

  • PDF - Create a formatted PDF document
  • HTML - Generate a web page
  • Word - Export to Microsoft Word format
⚠️ Note: Export functions require a recipe to be selected from the list before they become active.

Adding Recipes

Creating a New Recipe

  1. Click the Add Recipe button on the main window
  2. The Recipe Editor window will open in "Add" mode
  3. Fill in the recipe details (see sections below)
  4. Click Save to store your recipe
  5. The new recipe will appear in your main recipe list
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Recipe Fields

Field Description Required
Recipe Name The title of your recipe Yes
Category Classification (Appetizer, Main Course, Dessert, etc.) No
Servings Number of people the recipe serves No
Time to Prepare Preparation time in minutes No
Difficulty Level 1-5 scale (1=Easy, 5=Very Hard) No
Cooking Method Primary cooking technique used No
Cuisine Type Regional or ethnic cuisine style No
Description Brief description or notes about the recipe Yes
Ingredients List of ingredients with quantities No
Instructions Step-by-step cooking instructions No

Managing Ingredients

The ingredient section uses a structured format to store ingredient information:

  1. Click Add Ingredient to add a new ingredient entry
  2. Fill in the ingredient name, quantity, and unit of measurement
  3. Use Remove Ingredient to delete selected ingredients
  4. Quantity is in decimal numbers, not fractions. (i.e. 0.5 = 1/2, 0.25 = 1/4, 0.33 = 1/3, and etc.)
  5. Ingredients are automatically formatted for display and export

Categories and Dropdown Management

You can add new categories, cooking methods, and cuisine types directly from the recipe editor:

  1. Select "Add Category" (or similar) from any dropdown menu. (Switch to a category and back to "Add Category" (or similar) to activate)
  2. Enter the name for the new category
  3. The new option will be added to the database and available for future recipes
💡 Pro Tip: Take advantage of the flexible ingredient system - you can add ingredients without quantities for items like "salt to taste" or "garnish as desired."

Editing & Viewing Recipes

Editing Existing Recipes

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click Edit Recipe
  3. The Recipe Editor opens in "Edit" mode
  4. Make your changes to any field
  5. Click Save to update the recipe

Viewing Recipes (Read-Only)

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click View Recipe
  3. The Recipe Editor opens in "View" mode
  4. All fields are read-only for reference
  5. No ingredient management buttons are shown
  6. Close the window when finished
⚠️ Important: Changes are saved immediately when you click the OK button. There is no undo function, so make sure your edits are correct before saving.

Search & Filter Functions

Text Search

The search functionality is designed to be fast and intuitive:

  • Enter any part of a recipe name in the search box
  • Results filter automatically as you type
  • Search is case-insensitive
  • Clear the search box to show all recipes

Category Filtering

Use the category dropdown to narrow your recipe list:

  • All Categories: Shows every recipe in your database
  • Specific Categories: Shows only recipes in that category
  • Category filter works in combination with text search

Combined Search

You can use both search and category filters simultaneously. For example:

  • Select "Dessert" from the category filter
  • Type "chocolate" in the search box
  • Results will show only dessert recipes containing "chocolate" in the name

Refresh Function

The Refresh button provides a quick way to:

  • Clear the search text field
  • Reset category filter to "All Categories"
  • Reload the complete recipe list
  • Refresh the display if data has changed
💡 Search Tips:
  • Try searching for main ingredients (e.g., "chicken", "pasta")
  • Use partial words if you can't remember the full recipe name
  • Combine category filters with ingredient searches for better results

Export & Print Options

Export to PDF

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click the PDF button
  3. Choose a location and filename for your PDF
  4. The PDF is generated with formatted recipe details
  5. On Windows, the built-in PDF viewer automatically opens
  6. On Mac/Linux, the system default PDF viewer opens

Export to HTML

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click the HTML button
  3. Choose a location and filename for your HTML file
  4. The HTML file includes embedded CSS styling
  5. Open the file in any web browser to view or print

Export to Word Document

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click the Word button
  3. Choose a location and filename for your .docx file
  4. The document is formatted with tables and sections
  5. Open in Microsoft Word or compatible software for editing

Direct Printing

  1. Select a recipe from the main list
  2. Click the Print Recipe button
  3. Your system's print dialog will appear
  4. Select your printer and print options
  5. The recipe is formatted for optimal printing

Export Format Details

All export formats include the following recipe information when available:

  • Recipe name (as document title)
  • Recipe details (servings, prep time, difficulty, etc.)
  • Description
  • Formatted ingredient list
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Footer with creation timestamp
💡 Export Tips:
  • PDF format is best for sharing and printing
  • HTML format works well for web publishing
  • Word format allows for easy editing and customization
  • Filenames are automatically cleaned of special characters

Backup & Restore

Creating Backups

Protect your recipe collection by creating regular backups:

  1. Go to File menu → Backup Save
  2. Choose a location for your backup file
  3. The default filename is "KCGRecipeTracker.sqlite"
  4. Your entire recipe database is copied to the backup location
  5. A confirmation message appears when the backup is complete

Restoring from Backup

  1. Go to File menu → Restore Load
  2. Select your backup SQLite file
  3. The current database is replaced with the backup
  4. A message appears confirming the restore
  5. Restart the application to see the restored data
⚠️ Critical Warning:
  • Restoring from backup will completely replace your current recipes
  • Any recipes added since the backup was created will be lost
  • Always create a current backup before restoring an older one
  • The application must be restarted after a restore operation

Individual Recipe Import/Export

Exporting a Single Recipe

  1. Select the recipe you want to export
  2. Go to File menu → Export a Recipe
  3. Choose a location and filename (SQLite format)
  4. The recipe and related data are exported to a standalone file

Importing a Recipe

  1. Go to File menu → Import a Recipe
  2. Select the exported recipe file (SQLite format)
  3. If a recipe with the same name exists, you'll be prompted to:
    • Import anyway (create duplicate)
    • Rename the imported recipe
    • Cancel the import
  4. The recipe is added to your collection
  5. The recipe list refreshes automatically

Backup Best Practices

💡 Recommended Backup Strategy:
  • Create backups before major updates or changes
  • Store backups in multiple locations (cloud storage, external drive)
  • Use descriptive filenames with dates (e.g., "Recipes_2025_01_15.sqlite")
  • Test restore procedures periodically to ensure backups work
  • Keep multiple backup versions for different time periods

AI Assistant

KCG Recipe Tracker includes an integrated AI assistant powered by the Groq API to help with cooking questions, recipe suggestions, and culinary advice.

Accessing the AI Assistant

  1. Click the Ask AI button from the main window or recipe editor
  2. The AI Conversation window opens with the title "KCG Recipe Tracker - AI"
  3. Type your question in the green message field at the bottom
  4. Press Enter to send your message
  5. The AI responds with helpful information in the conversation area
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AI Assistant Features

🤖 Cooking Questions

Ask about cooking techniques, ingredient substitutions, and food preparation tips

🔍 Recipe Suggestions

Get recipe ideas based on available ingredients or dietary preferences

📚 Culinary Knowledge

Learn about cooking methods, food safety, and culinary traditions

💬 Interactive Conversation

Maintain context throughout your conversation for follow-up questions

Sample Questions to Ask the AI

  • "What can I make with chicken, rice, and vegetables?"
  • "How do I substitute eggs in baking recipes?"
  • "What's the best way to cook salmon?"
  • "How long should I marinate chicken?"
  • "What spices go well with lamb?"
  • "How do I make a gluten-free pizza crust?"
  • "What's the difference between baking and roasting?"

AI Assistant Controls

Control Function
Message Text Field Type your questions and messages here
Enter Key Send your message to the AI
Shift + Enter Add a line break without sending
Conversation History Review previous questions and answers
⚠️ Important Notes:
  • The AI assistant requires an internet connection to function
  • AI responses are generated by external services and may not always be 100% accurate
  • The AI does not have access to your personal recipe database
  • Always use your best judgment when following AI cooking advice
💡 AI Tips:
  • Be specific in your questions for better responses
  • Ask follow-up questions to get more detailed information
  • Use the AI to learn about unfamiliar ingredients or techniques
  • The conversation maintains context, so you can refer to previous messages

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Recipe List Not Loading

  1. Click the Refresh button
  2. Check if any filters are applied (clear search and set category to "All")
  3. Restart the application
  4. If problem persists, check database file permissions

Cannot Save Recipe

  1. Ensure the recipe name field is not empty
  2. Check that the database file is not read-only
  3. Verify sufficient disk space is available
  4. Try closing and reopening the recipe editor

Export Functions Not Working

  1. Ensure a recipe is selected in the main list
  2. Check write permissions for the export location
  3. Verify sufficient disk space
  4. Try exporting to a different location

AI Assistant Not Responding

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Restart the AI conversation window

Database Corruption

If you encounter database errors:

  1. Close the application immediately
  2. Locate your most recent backup file
  3. Use File → Restore Load to restore from backup
  4. Restart the application

Performance Tips

  • Keep your recipe database under 10,000 recipes for optimal performance
  • Regularly backup and occasionally restore to maintain database efficiency
  • Close unused windows when working with large recipe collections
  • Ensure adequate system memory (4GB+ recommended)

File Locations

Operating System Database Location
Windows %AppData%\KCG Recipe Tracker\
macOS ~/Library/Application Support/KCG Recipe Tracker/
Linux ~/.local/share/KCG Recipe Tracker/

Getting Help

If you continue to experience issues:

  • Check the Help → About menu for version information
  • Review the License Agreement for usage terms
  • Contact KCG Software support with specific error messages
  • Include your operating system and application version in support requests

Advanced Features

Database Schema

KCG Recipe Tracker uses SQLite database format with the following structure:

  • Recipes Table: Main recipe data storage
  • Categories Table: Recipe categorization
  • Cooking Methods Table: Available cooking techniques
  • Cuisine Types Table: Ethnic and regional cuisines

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Search Recipes Click the search box
Add New Recipe Click Add Recipe button
AI Assistant Message Enter (send), Shift+Enter (new line)

Customization Options

  • Add custom categories through the recipe editor
  • Create new cooking methods and cuisine types
  • Flexible ingredient entry system
  • Configurable AI assistant models

Data Import/Export Formats

  • Native Format: SQLite database files (.sqlite)
  • Export Formats: PDF, HTML, Microsoft Word (.docx)
  • Print Format: Optimized for standard paper sizes

Appendix

Version History

  • Version 1.9.0: Current release with AI assistant integration
  • Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux

Credits

  • Developer: KCG Software
  • Database Engine: SQLite

Legal Information

KCG Recipe Tracker is proprietary software. Please review the License Agreement (Help → License Agreement) for complete terms and conditions.

💡 Final Tips for Success:
  • Start small - add a few favorite recipes to learn the interface
  • Use consistent naming conventions for categories
  • Take advantage of the AI assistant for cooking tips
  • Regular backups will protect your recipe collection
  • Export recipes to share with family and friends

🎉 Thank You for Using KCG Recipe Tracker!

We hope this guide helps you make the most of your recipe management experience. Happy cooking!