# How to build an online editor in Bubble

- Tool: Bubble
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Time required: 25-30 min
- Compatibility: All Bubble plans
- Last updated: March 2026

## TL;DR

Building an online document editor in Bubble requires a Rich Text Editor plugin for formatting, auto-save workflows using custom states and timed triggers, document versioning through a Version Data Type, and basic collaboration features like commenting. This tutorial covers each component from setup through implementation.

## Overview: Setting Up an Online Editor in Bubble

This tutorial guides you through building an online document editor in Bubble with rich text formatting, auto-save, version history, and commenting. You will use a rich text editor plugin for the editing experience, implement automatic saving to prevent data loss, create a versioning system for document history, and add comment threads for collaboration.

## Before you start

- A Bubble account with an app
- A Rich Text Editor plugin installed (like the Bubble Rich Text Input or a third-party editor like TinyMCE or Quill)
- Basic understanding of Bubble workflows and Data Types
- Familiarity with custom states for temporary data storage

## Step-by-step guide

### 1. Create the Document Data Type and install a rich text editor

In the Data tab, create a Document Data Type with fields: title (text), content (text — stores HTML from the rich text editor), owner (User), last_saved (date), is_published (yes/no), and folder (text, optional for organization). Go to the Plugins tab and install a Rich Text Editor plugin — Bubble's built-in Rich Text Input element works for basic formatting, or install TinyMCE or Quill for advanced features like tables, code blocks, and image embedding. Create a 'document' page (type: Document) with the rich text editor element and a title input at the top.

**Expected result:** A Document Data Type created and a rich text editor element placed on the document page.

### 2. Implement auto-save using a timed workflow

On the document page, create a custom state called has_unsaved_changes (yes/no, default no). Whenever the rich text editor's content changes, set has_unsaved_changes to yes and display a subtle 'Unsaved changes' indicator. Create a 'Do when condition is true' event with the condition: has_unsaved_changes is yes. Set it to run every time the condition becomes true. In this workflow, add a pause of 2 seconds (debounce), then check if has_unsaved_changes is still yes. If so, use Make changes to Current Page's Document: content = Rich Text Editor's value, last_saved = Current Date/Time. Then set has_unsaved_changes to no and update the indicator to 'Saved'.

> Pro tip: The 2-second pause acts as a debounce — it prevents saving on every keystroke by waiting for the user to stop typing.

**Expected result:** Documents auto-save 2 seconds after the user stops typing, with visual feedback showing save status.

### 3. Build document versioning for history and recovery

Create a Document_Version Data Type with fields: document (Document), content (text), version_number (number), saved_by (User), and saved_at (date). Modify the auto-save workflow: before saving, create a new Document_Version record with the current content, incrementing the version number. Add a 'Version History' button on the document page that opens a Popup showing a Repeating Group of Document_Versions sorted by version_number descending. Each row shows the version number, saved_by user, and saved_at date. Add a 'Restore' button that copies that version's content back to the document and the editor.

**Expected result:** Every save creates a version record, and users can browse and restore previous versions.

### 4. Add commenting for collaboration

Create a Comment Data Type with fields: document (Document), author (User), text (text), created_at (date), and is_resolved (yes/no). On the document page, add a Comments sidebar with a Repeating Group showing all Comments for the current document sorted by created_at. Add a Multiline Input and 'Add Comment' button at the bottom. The workflow creates a new Comment linked to the document. Each comment shows the author name, timestamp, text, and a 'Resolve' checkbox. Use conditional formatting to grey out resolved comments.

**Expected result:** Team members can leave comments on documents and mark them as resolved.

### 5. Create a document list and management dashboard

Create a 'documents' page showing all documents the user has access to. Add a Repeating Group of Documents where owner = Current User, sorted by last_saved descending. Each row shows the title, last saved time, and published status. Add a 'New Document' button that creates a Document record with a default title and navigates to the editor page. Add right-click or dropdown menus with options: Rename, Duplicate, Delete, and Share (adds another user to an editors list field). Implement a search input to filter documents by title.

**Expected result:** A dashboard listing all user documents with create, search, rename, duplicate, and delete functionality.

## Complete code example

File: `Workflow summary`

```text
ONLINE EDITOR WORKFLOW SUMMARY
===============================

DATA TYPES:
  Document: title, content (HTML), owner (User),
    last_saved (date), is_published, folder
  Document_Version: document, content, version_number,
    saved_by (User), saved_at (date)
  Comment: document, author (User), text,
    created_at (date), is_resolved

PAGE: document (type: Document)
  Elements:
    - Title Input (bound to Document title)
    - Rich Text Editor (loaded with Document content)
    - Save indicator ('Saved' / 'Unsaved changes')
    - Version History button → opens popup
    - Comments sidebar with add/resolve

AUTO-SAVE WORKFLOW:
  Custom state: has_unsaved_changes (yes/no)
  On editor content change:
    → Set has_unsaved_changes = yes
    → Show 'Unsaved changes'
  Do when has_unsaved_changes = yes:
    → Pause 2 seconds (debounce)
    → Only when still has_unsaved_changes:
      1. Create Document_Version (snapshot)
      2. Make changes to Document
         → content = editor value
         → last_saved = now
      3. Set has_unsaved_changes = no
      4. Show 'Saved'

VERSION HISTORY:
  Popup with RG of Document_Versions
    Sorted by version_number desc
    Columns: version #, saved_by, saved_at
    Restore button:
      → Make changes to Document (content = version content)
      → Set editor value to restored content

COMMENTS:
  Sidebar RG of Comments (sorted by created_at)
    Each comment: author, timestamp, text, resolve checkbox
  Add Comment workflow:
    Create Comment → document, author, text, now
  Resolve workflow:
    Make changes to Comment → is_resolved = yes
```

## Common mistakes

- **Saving on every keystroke without debouncing** — Each save triggers a database write consuming workload units — saving on every keystroke wastes resources and can cause lag Fix: Add a 2-second pause (debounce) after the content changes before saving, so saves only happen when the user stops typing
- **Not creating version snapshots before overwriting content** — Without versioning, users cannot recover accidentally deleted text or compare changes over time Fix: Create a Document_Version record with the current content before every save operation
- **Storing the editor content in a custom state instead of saving to the database** — Custom states reset on page reload — if the user's browser crashes or they navigate away, all unsaved work is lost Fix: Use auto-save to persist content to the database regularly, using custom states only for the unsaved changes indicator

## Best practices

- Implement auto-save with a 2-second debounce to balance responsiveness and efficiency
- Create version snapshots on every save for complete document history
- Show clear visual indicators for save status (Saving, Saved, Unsaved changes)
- Use Privacy Rules to restrict document access to the owner and explicitly shared users
- Limit version history retention to the last 50-100 versions to manage database size
- Add keyboard shortcuts for common actions (Ctrl+S for manual save) using custom JavaScript

## Frequently asked questions

### Which rich text editor plugin works best in Bubble?

Bubble's built-in Rich Text Input handles basic formatting. For advanced features like tables, code blocks, and image embedding, TinyMCE or Quill plugins are popular choices.

### Can multiple users edit the same document simultaneously?

Bubble does not natively support real-time collaborative editing like Google Docs. You can implement basic collaboration with comments and version history, but true simultaneous editing requires external tools.

### How do I prevent version history from growing too large?

Schedule a backend workflow that deletes Document_Versions older than 30 days or keeps only the most recent 50 versions per document.

### Can I export documents as PDF?

Use a PDF generation plugin or API service (like PDFShift or html2pdf) that converts the HTML content to a downloadable PDF file.

### How do I share documents with other users?

Add an editors field (list of Users) to the Document Data Type. Create Privacy Rules that allow access to users in the editors list. Add a sharing interface that searches for users by email and adds them.

### Can RapidDev build a custom document editor in Bubble?

Yes. RapidDev can build full-featured document editors with advanced formatting, auto-save, versioning, collaboration, PDF export, and role-based access control.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/bubble-tutorial/set-up-an-online-editor-in-bubble
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