> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/MatthewSabia1/Joip-Web-App-2/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Session Management

> Create, manage, and play multimedia JOIP sessions with Reddit content or custom uploads

Sessions are the core feature of JOIP - multimedia slideshows that combine images, videos, and AI-generated captions for an interactive viewing experience.

## Session Types

JOIP supports three types of sessions, each with different creation workflows:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Reddit Sessions" icon="reddit" iconType="duotone">
    AI-powered sessions using content from your favorite subreddits with automatically generated captions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Sessions" icon="images" iconType="duotone">
    Upload your own images and write custom captions for complete creative control
  </Card>

  <Card title="Imported Sessions" icon="download" iconType="duotone">
    Import existing JOIP galleries from Imgchest with preserved order and captions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Creating a Reddit Session

Reddit sessions automatically fetch media from subreddits and generate AI captions based on your chosen theme.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Sessions">
    From the sidebar, click **Sessions** to open your sessions library.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Session Type">
    Click the **Create Session** dropdown button and select **AI Generated Session**.

    <Note>
      This option uses Reddit content with AI-generated captions based on your selected theme.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Session Details">
    Fill in the basic information:

    * **Title**: Give your session a descriptive name
    * **Subreddits**: Enter one or more subreddit names (e.g., `celebs`, `goddess`, `nsfw`)
      * The system validates subreddits and removes invalid entries
      * URLs and `r/` prefixes are automatically cleaned
    * **Category** (optional): Organize your session into a category
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Caption Theme">
    Choose an AI caption style from the available themes:

    * **JOI / Edging**: Mommy/Goddess stroke commands with edge counts and denial
    * **Forced-Bi**: Manipulation and rationalization themes
    * **Bully / Simp**: Mean girl energy and out-of-league scenarios
    * **Pain / CBT**: Specific physical command themes
    * **Cuckold**: Bull and size comparison scenarios
    * **Custom Prompt**: Write your own AI instructions

    <Note>
      If you select "Custom Prompt", you'll need to provide detailed instructions for the AI caption generator.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Playback Speed">
    Use the **Speed Range** sliders to control timing:

    * **Min Interval**: Fastest slide duration (1-60 seconds)
    * **Max Interval**: Slowest slide duration (1-60 seconds)

    The player will randomize timing between these values for variety.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Transition Effect">
    Select how slides change:

    * **Fade**: Smooth crossfade (default)
    * **Slide**: Horizontal sliding motion
    * **Zoom**: Scale-in effect
    * **Flip**: 3D flip transition
    * **None**: Instant change with no animation
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Thumbnail (Optional)">
    Add a custom thumbnail or let the system auto-generate one from the first media item.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Privacy Options">
    * **Public**: Makes your session visible in the community feed
    * **Favorite**: Pin to your favorites tab for quick access
    * **Manual Mode**: Disables auto-advance (requires manual navigation)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Session">
    Click **Save Session**. The system will:

    1. Validate your subreddits
    2. Create the session in your library
    3. Begin fetching media in the background (up to 100 items)
    4. Pre-generate captions for the first few slides

    <Note>
      Session creation costs **25 credits** for premium AI caption generation.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Creating a Custom Session

Custom sessions let you upload your own images and write personalized captions.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start New Custom Session">
    Click **Create Session** → **Custom Session** from the Sessions page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Media Files">
    Upload images using any of these methods:

    * **Drag and drop** files anywhere in the editor
    * Click **Add Media** to browse files
    * **Paste from clipboard** (Ctrl/Cmd+V)

    <Warning>
      - Maximum **100 images** per session
      - **100MB** file size limit per image
      - Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WebP (GIFs not supported for AI captions)
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write Captions">
    For each slide:

    * Click the caption text area
    * Write your caption (no character limit, but \<500 recommended)
    * Use the **AI magic wand** button to generate contextual captions

    <Note>
      AI captions consider surrounding slides for narrative continuity.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Organize Slides">
    * **Drag and drop** slides to reorder (use the large grab handle)
    * **Duplicate** slides using the copy button
    * **Replace** media by clicking the image overlay
    * **Delete** slides using the trash icon
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Session Settings">
    Set title, timing, transitions, and privacy options (same as Reddit sessions).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate and Save">
    The system checks:

    * All slides have images attached
    * Captions are within recommended length

    Click **Save Session** to create your custom session.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Importing from Imgchest

Import existing JOIP galleries with preserved captions and ordering.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get Imgchest URL">
    Copy the full URL of an Imgchest gallery (e.g., `https://imgchest.com/p/abc123`)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Import">
    Click **Create Session** → **Import JOIP** from the Sessions page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste URL and Import">
    * Paste the Imgchest URL
    * Click **Import**
    * Wait for the system to fetch all images and captions
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review Imported Content">
    The session opens in the Manual Session Editor where you can:

    * Edit captions
    * Reorder slides
    * Replace images
    * Adjust settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Imported sessions are treated as manual sessions and can be fully edited like custom sessions.
</Note>

## Playing Sessions

Once created, sessions can be played with an interactive media player.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Start Playback">
    From your Sessions library:

    1. Find your session in the grid
    2. Click the **Play** button
    3. The session opens in fullscreen player mode

    Or use the quick-play button directly from session cards.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Player Controls">
    The session player includes:

    **Navigation**

    * Arrow keys: Previous/Next slide
    * Spacebar: Play/Pause auto-advance
    * F: Toggle fullscreen
    * Escape: Exit player

    **Display Panels**

    * **Media Panel**: Shows current image/video (resizable)
    * **Caption Panel**: Displays AI-generated or custom captions (resizable)
    * **Progress Dots**: Visual indicator for sessions ≤10 slides

    **Advanced Features**

    * **Preloading**: Next 3 images load in background for smooth transitions
    * **GIF Optimization**: Reuses previous caption to maintain sync
    * **Random Timing**: Varies between min/max interval for unpredictability
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Caption Generation">
    For Reddit sessions, captions are generated on-demand:

    1. **Cache Check**: Looks for cached caption (24-hour expiration)
    2. **API Request**: Generates new caption using selected theme
    3. **Fallback**: Uses themed caption if API fails
    4. **Storage**: Saves to IndexedDB for offline access

    <Note>
      The server pre-warms captions for the first few slides to reduce initial load time.
    </Note>

    **Regenerate Captions**

    * Click the **regenerate** button on any slide
    * Creates a new AI caption with different wording
    * Invalidates the cache for that slide
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Managing Sessions

### Sessions Library

Your Sessions page has three tabs:

* **All Sessions**: Complete library with search
* **Favorites**: Sessions marked as favorites
* **Shared**: Sessions you've shared with others

**Search and Filter**

* Search by title or subreddit
* Filter by category
* Sort by date created or name

### Session Actions

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Edit" icon="pencil">
    * Reddit sessions: Modify subreddits, theme, timing, settings
    * Custom/Imported: Full slide editor with caption editing
    * Auto-routes to appropriate editor based on session type
  </Card>

  <Card title="Share" icon="share">
    * Generate unique share code (UUID-based)
    * Toggle public/private access
    * Copy shareable link: `/shared/{shareCode}`
    * Shared sessions have public preview pages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Refresh Media" icon="refresh">
    * Reddit sessions only
    * Fetches new media from subreddits
    * Replaces old content with fresh posts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delete" icon="trash">
    * Permanently removes session and all media
    * For manual sessions: Deletes entire storage folder
    * Cannot be undone
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Session Badges

Sessions display visual badges indicating their type:

* **Subreddit Badges** (blue): Reddit-based sessions show source subreddit
* **Custom Session** (purple): Manually created with uploads
* **Imported** (gray): Imported from Imgchest
* **AI Generated** (gold): Reddit session with AI captions

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Choosing Subreddits">
    * Use 2-5 subreddits for variety without dilution
    * Mix popular and niche subreddits
    * Test subreddit validity before creating (system auto-validates)
    * Remove banned or invalid subreddits when prompted
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Caption Themes">
    * Match theme to subreddit content for best results
    * Custom prompts need detailed instructions (100-500 characters)
    * Test different themes on the same content for variety
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Timing Settings">
    * Use 3-10 seconds for fast-paced sessions
    * Use 5-15 seconds for story-driven content
    * Set wider ranges (3-30) for unpredictability
    * Manual mode gives complete control (disable auto-advance)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Custom Session Captions">
    * Keep captions under 500 characters for readability
    * Use AI generation for consistency in tone
    * Build narrative flow across slides
    * Test playback to ensure caption timing works
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Session creation fails">
    **Check these common issues:**

    * Invalid subreddit names (must exist and be accessible)
    * Empty subreddit list after validation
    * Insufficient credits (25 required for session creation)
    * File size exceeds 100MB (custom sessions)
    * Too many files (max 100 images)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Missing captions in player">
    * Captions generate on-demand (may take 2-3 seconds)
    * Check for API key errors in session settings
    * Verify internet connection for AI caption requests
    * Try regenerating caption with the refresh button
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Import fails from Imgchest">
    * Verify URL is correct and accessible
    * Check that gallery is public (not private)
    * Ensure Imgchest API key is configured
    * Try again if network timeout occurred
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Slides missing images">
    * For Reddit: Media URLs may have expired (refresh media)
    * For Custom: Files may not have uploaded (check file size)
    * For Imported: Source images may be deleted from Imgchest
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related Features

* [Smart Captions](/features/smart-captions) - Generate standalone captioned images
* [Community](/features/community) - Share and discover sessions
* [Media Vault](/features/media-vault) - Manage your uploaded media