feat(extension): add page reference on send and improve browser onboarding

Author: waleedlatif1

apps/docs/content/docs/browser-extension/index.mdx

@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ description: Ask Sim about the page you’re reading, open team shortcuts, or us
 
 To ask about a passage, select the text on the page, right-click, and choose **Ask Sim about selection**. You can attach up to three snapshots to compare pages. A snapshot stays as it was when you captured it. Chrome settings pages, other extensions, and pages without readable text can’t be attached.
 
+In version 0.1.3 or later, open **+ → Reference current page on send** to include the active tab each time you send a message. The globe shows **Current page** while this is on. Sim reads the page at send time. If you attached a page or selection yourself, Sim uses those snapshots instead. Turn the setting off in the same menu.
+
+If Chrome needs access after you switch tabs, your message stays in the composer. Select **Request site access**. If Chrome hasn’t shared the site address with Sim, paste it into **Site address**. Check the site shown on **Allow access**, approve it in Chrome’s permission dialog, then send again. For one-time access, click the Sim toolbar icon on the active tab and retry. Open **+ → Site access** to remove a saved permission.
+
+To share a screenshot, drag the image file onto the open chat. It uploads to Sim and appears as an attachment you can remove before sending. If a website supplies only an image URL, paste the image itself or use the file picker.
+
 For faster access, press **Command + Shift + S** on macOS or **Alt + Shift + S** on Windows and Linux. If the shortcut is already assigned, choose another in Chrome’s **Extensions → Keyboard shortcuts**.
 
 ## Use Sim as your new tab
@@ -25,10 +31,10 @@ To turn it off, select **Restore previous new tab** at the bottom of the page an
 
 Share the chat extension’s install link with your team. In managed Chrome, an admin can [allow the extension for an organizational unit](https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6306504) so people can install it themselves. Allow Sim New Tab separately if people want it; force-installing it prevents them from turning it off themselves.
 
-If your organization has [Sim Links](/search/sim-links), try a memorable shortcut like `sim/handbook`. Type `sim`, press **Space**, and enter part of a link name for suggestions. Teams that already use an internal host named `sim` should keep that hostname conflict in mind: the chat extension routes those navigations to Sim.
+If your organization has [Sim Links](/search/sim-links), type `sim`, press **Space**, and enter part of a link name for suggestions. To open a shortcut by typing it directly, include the trailing slash, as in `sim/handbook/`. Teams that already use an internal host named `sim` should keep that hostname conflict in mind: the chat extension routes those navigations to Sim.
 
 ## Page access and privacy
 
-Sim reads a page or selection only when you ask. For repeat use on one site, choose **+ → Site access** to grant or revoke that site’s permission. Granting access doesn't start background capture. The page text goes to the hosted composer when attached and becomes part of the conversation when you send it.
+Sim reads a page or selection when you attach it, or when you send a message with **Reference current page** enabled. For repeat use on one site, choose **+ → Site access** to grant or revoke that site’s permission. Granting access doesn't start background capture. The page text goes to the hosted composer when attached and becomes part of the conversation when you send it.
 
 Sim New Tab loads Sim Home and does not read your other tabs or browsing history. See [Sim’s browser extension privacy disclosure](https://www.sim.ai/privacy#browser-extension).

apps/docs/content/docs/search/sim-links.mdx

@@ -15,15 +15,23 @@ Names ignore case and punctuation, so `sim/Team-Handbook` and `sim/teamhandbook`
 
 ## Open links from the address bar
 
-With the [Sim Chrome extension](/browser-extension), type `sim/handbook` in the address bar. To find a link, type `sim`, press **Space**, and start typing its name: matching links appear as you type, most opened first. Unlisted links aren't suggested.
+In Sim Cloud, open **Sim Links → Browser shortcuts** to install [Sim for Chrome](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sim/oanlcahddodnjpdoopcpjlcageejjpmg) in your work profile. Type `sim` in Chrome’s address bar, press **Space**, and enter part of a link name. Chrome shows matching links, most opened first. Unlisted links can still open by name.
+
+To open links as `sim/handbook`, copy the **Setup address** from that dialog and paste it into Chrome’s address bar once. This opens your Sim Links directory and lets Chrome remember the short host in that profile. If Chrome sends a shortcut to search, enter `sim/handbook/` with a trailing slash. Use **Copy link** in Sim to share an address that also works without the extension.
+
+If `sim` + **Space** sends link names to your search engine even when the address bar shows **Sim**, a Chrome site search may already use the `sim` shortcut. Enter `http://sim/handbook` to open the link directly. To restore suggestions, temporarily turn off the Sim extension, rename the old shortcut in `chrome://settings/searchEngines`, then turn Sim back on. If your organization manages the shortcut, ask your administrator to rename it.
 
 Without the extension, add Sim as a Chrome site search shortcut to type `sim handbook` instead:
 
 1. Open Chrome **Settings → Search engine → Manage search engines and site search**.
 2. Next to **Site search**, select **Add**.
-3. Enter `Sim` as the name, `sim` as the shortcut, and `https://www.sim.ai/sim/%s` as the URL.
+3. Enter `Sim` as the name, `sim` as the shortcut, and `https://www.sim.ai/sim/%s` as the URL. On a self-hosted deployment, use your own Sim origin.
+
+Type `sim`, press **Space**, then type a link name and press **Enter**. For managed profiles without the extension, administrators can distribute the shortcut through Chrome’s [site search policy](https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/site-search-settings/) using `https://www.sim.ai/sim/{searchTerms}` as its URL template.
+
+### Show favorites in regular Chrome suggestions
 
-Type `sim`, press **Space**, then type a link name and press **Enter**. Chrome administrators can add the shortcut for everyone with the `SiteSearchSettings` policy.
+In Sim, choose **Copy link** for a favorite. In Chrome’s bookmark manager (`chrome://bookmarks`), add a bookmark with that URL and name it after the shortcut, such as `sim/handbook`. Chrome can suggest that bookmark when you type `sim/handb` or `handbook` in the address bar. Administrators can distribute selected team favorites through Chrome’s [managed bookmarks policy](https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/managed-bookmarks/).
 
 ## Create a link
 

apps/extension/DESIGN.md

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ other workspace resources or browser-control tools.
 - Required browser capabilities: side panel, scripting, active tab, context menus,
   and short-lived session storage for selection handoff. Required host access is
   limited to the configured Sim origin and to `http(s)://sim/*`, which exists only so
-  one static redirect rule can send a typed `sim/<name>` to the Sim link resolver.
+  one static redirect rule can send top-level navigations to that host to the Sim link resolver.
 - Other HTTP(S) origins are optional grants requested for the current site from a
   user gesture. Each grant can be revoked. Keeping the panel open is not a grant
   to read every subsequently selected tab.
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ other workspace resources or browser-control tools.
   configured Sim origin with the signed-in session to suggest matching Sim links,
   unless it contains a space (a search) or is longer than a link name can be. Page
   content is never sent, and unlisted links are never suggested.
-- No always-running page reader. Extraction is tied to an explicit attachment action.
+- Page extraction runs on an explicit attachment action or a user-initiated composer Send while Reference current page is enabled. The preference persists locally. Send-time captures are scoped to the request and conversation; navigation, denied access or timeout cancels the send.
 - Page bytes are not written to extension local/sync storage. Temporary context-menu
   handoff uses trusted-context session storage, expiration and navigation cleanup.
 - Sent snapshots become chat data and follow Sim's chat retention and deletion

apps/extension/README.md

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ SIM_EXTENSION_DEV=1 SIM_EXTENSION_ORIGIN=http://localhost:3000 bun run --cwd app
 ## Data and permissions
 
 - Required capabilities: `activeTab`, `scripting`, `sidePanel`, `storage`, `contextMenus`, `declarativeNetRequestWithHostAccess`, and access to the configured Sim origin and to `http(s)://sim/*`.
-- Typing `sim/<name>` in the address bar opens the organization's [Sim link](https://docs.sim.ai/search/sim-links). A single static redirect rule rewrites top-level navigations to `http(s)://sim/*` to `<Sim origin>/sim/*` with the path and query unchanged. The `sim` host permission exists only for that rule: every navigation to that host is redirected before it loads, and no other request is matched or observed. An organization that already serves an intranet host named `sim` should not install this build, since its links would be redirected to Sim.
+- Type `sim`, press Space, enter the name, and press Enter to open an organization's [Sim link](https://docs.sim.ai/search/sim-links). Chrome can treat bare `sim/<name>` as a search before the redirect rule runs. Typing `http://sim/<name>` once lets Chrome learn the short host in that profile. A trailing slash (`sim/<name>/`) also selects navigation without relying on that history. A single static redirect rule rewrites top-level navigations to `http(s)://sim/*` to `<Sim origin>/sim/*` with the path and query unchanged. The `sim` host permission exists only for that rule: every navigation to that host is redirected before it loads, and no other request is matched or observed. An organization that already serves an intranet host named `sim` should not install this build, since its links would be redirected to Sim.
 - The `sim` address-bar keyword (`sim`, then Space) lists matching Sim links while you type and opens what you enter through the same resolver. It is the extension's only network request: the background worker sends the text typed before the first `/` or `?`, and nothing else, unless that text contains a space (a search) or is longer than a link name can be, to `<Sim origin>/api/sim-links/suggestions` with the signed-in session, and the extension's content security policy allows connections to that origin alone. Unlisted links are never suggested.
 - Optional HTTP/HTTPS site access is requested only by a menu action naming that site. Chrome's `activeTab` access is temporary and does not follow arbitrary new sites.
 - Page capture runs on demand in Chrome's isolated world. It excludes editable fields, inputs, hidden elements, scripts, and embedded documents. It reads only the top frame. PDF viewers and canvas documents may have no accessible text.
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ SIM_EXTENSION_DEV=1 SIM_EXTENSION_ORIGIN=http://localhost:3000 bun run --cwd app
 - Captures and queued toolbar intents are scoped to the receiving conversation. Changing conversation, workspace, or account discards an unfinished handoff. Captured attachments remain explicit snapshots when the source tab changes.
 - The complete hosted document, including portaled source dialogs and menus, is blocked from session replay. Clipboard writing is delegated only to the configured Sim origin. Clipboard reading and microphone capture are not delegated; voice input remains available in the main app.
 
+With **Reference current page** enabled, a composer Send requests a single fresh snapshot for that conversation. The extension stores only the preference in local storage. A tab change does not read any content. Explicit snapshots take precedence; access denial, navigation and timeouts keep the draft unsent. When Chrome hides the active address, **Site access** lets the user enter a site and confirm its origin in Chrome’s permission dialog. The browser grants the selected scheme, host and port. Uploaded screenshot files stay in the hosted app’s normal attachment flow.
+
 ## Verification
 
 ```sh

apps/extension/new-tab/manifest.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "manifest_version": 3,
   "name": "Sim New Tab",
-  "version": "1.0.1",
+  "version": "1.0.2",
   "description": "Use Sim as your new tab. Start a conversation on your Sim Home and restore your previous new tab at any time.",
   "minimum_chrome_version": "120",
   "chrome_url_overrides": {

apps/extension/new-tab/new-tab.html

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   </head>
   <body>
     <main>
-      <iframe title="Sim Home" data-src="https://www.sim.ai/extension/new-tab" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-downloads"></iframe>
+      <iframe title="Sim Home" data-src="https://www.sim.ai/extension/new-tab" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" allow="clipboard-write https://www.sim.ai" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-downloads"></iframe>
       <p id="offline" role="status" hidden>You're offline. Sim Home will reconnect when you're back online.</p>
     </main>
     <footer>

apps/extension/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@sim/extension",
-  "version": "0.1.2",
+  "version": "0.1.3",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",

apps/extension/scripts/build.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
 import { build } from 'esbuild'
 import postcss from 'postcss'
 import loadPostcssConfig from 'postcss-load-config'
+import packageJson from '../package.json'
 
 const root = resolve(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '..')
 const origin = new URL(process.env.SIM_EXTENSION_ORIGIN ?? 'https://www.sim.ai')
@@ -89,8 +90,8 @@ for (const [size, file] of [
   await cp(resolve(root, '../sim/public/favicon', file), resolve(dist, `icon-${size}.png`))
 }
 /**
- * Chrome navigates a typed `sim/<name>` to `http://sim/<name>`; this rewrites it to the Sim link
- * resolver on the configured origin, keeping the rest of the path and query verbatim.
+ * Only requests to the short host reach this rule. Chrome can classify bare `sim/<name>` as a
+ * search before navigation. Preserve the path and query for actual short-host navigations.
  */
 const simLinkRules = [
   {
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ await writeFile(
     {
       manifest_version: 3,
       name: development ? 'Sim (Development)' : 'Sim',
-      version: '0.1.2',
+      version: packageJson.version,
       description:
         "Ask Sim about the page you are reading, and open your organization's sim/ links from the address bar.",
       minimum_chrome_version: '120',