Using the Puddin Writing Environment: Browser and Word

Puddin gives you two ways to complete your assignment: the browser-based writing editor and the Microsoft Word add-in. Both environments record your writing process in exactly the same way. Choose the one that works best for you — your teacher sees the same authorship evidence regardless of which you use.

Browser Editor
Microsoft Word Add-in

The browser-based writing editor

The browser editor runs directly in your web browser — no downloads or installations required. Open your assignment from your Puddin dashboard and it launches immediately.

Editor layout

The editor is divided into two main areas:

Instructions panel (left) — Displays the assignment instructions set by your teacher. You can collapse this panel if you need more writing space.
Writing area (right) — The main document area where you write your assignment.

Formatting tools

The toolbar above the writing area includes the formatting options available for your assignment:

Tool	Function
Bold / Italic / Underline	Standard inline text formatting.
Headings	Paragraph styles: Normal, Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3.
Lists	Bulleted and numbered lists.
Alignment	Left, centre, right, and justify.
Undo / Redo	Step backwards or forwards through your edits.

Your teacher may restrict available formatting options for some assignments. If a tool appears greyed out, it has been disabled for that task.

Word count

Your live word count is displayed at the bottom of the writing area and updates as you type. If your teacher has set a word count limit, the counter changes colour when you approach or exceed the limit — amber for near, red for over.

Autosave

Puddin saves your work automatically every 60 seconds and whenever you pause typing for more than 5 seconds. You do not need to manually save. The Last saved timestamp at the top of the editor updates after each save.

You can safely close the browser tab and return to your assignment later — your work is saved and your session can be resumed from where you left off. Your writing record continues seamlessly across multiple sessions.

If your session is interrupted

If your browser crashes, your internet connection drops, or you close the tab accidentally, your work up to the last autosave is preserved. When you reopen the assignment:

Go to your Puddin dashboard and click the assignment.
Click Resume Writing to continue from your last saved point.
Puddin resumes recording your writing process as a continuation of your existing session record.

If you lose connectivity for an extended period and cannot reconnect, work typed during that offline period may not be saved. Puddin requires an internet connection to save and record your writing. If you experience repeated connectivity issues, consider using the Microsoft Word add-in, which can queue saves and sync when connectivity is restored.

The Microsoft Word add-in

The Puddin Word add-in integrates directly into Microsoft Word, letting you write in the familiar Word environment while Puddin records your writing process in the background.

Install the add-in

Open Word and go to Add-ins

In Microsoft Word, click Insert in the top menu bar, then select Get Add-ins (or Office Add-ins on some versions).

Search for Puddin

In the Office Add-ins store, search for Puddin. Click Add on the Puddin Writing Environment add-in, then click Continue to confirm.

The Puddin panel opens in the Word sidebar. Click Sign In and enter your Puddin credentials (or use your institutional SSO). The panel will display your available assignments once you’re logged in.

The Word add-in is supported on Word for Windows (version 2016 or later) and Word for Mac (version 2019 or later). It is not available for Word on iOS or Android. If you are on an older version, use the browser editor instead.

Start writing in Word

From the Puddin sidebar in Word, click Open Assignment next to the task you want to work on. A new document opens, pre-configured for your assignment. The Puddin sidebar shows the assignment instructions and your word count.Write as you normally would in Word. Puddin records your writing activity through the add-in. The sidebar shows a Recording indicator while your session is active.

Formatting in Word

All standard Word formatting tools are available. Use Word’s built-in toolbar and ribbon as normal. Formatting changes are recorded as part of your writing history.

Autosave in Word

The add-in saves your work and syncs your writing record to Puddin automatically. The sync status is shown in the Puddin sidebar — a green tick means your work is saved and synced; a spinning indicator means a sync is in progress.

Keep the Puddin sidebar open while writing. If you close it, recording pauses. Reopen it from Insert → Add-ins → Puddin to resume.

If your session is interrupted in Word

If Word crashes or you close the document without submitting:

Reopen Microsoft Word.
Your document should reopen automatically (Word’s autorecover feature). If it doesn’t, find the file in your recent documents.
Open the Puddin sidebar (Insert → Add-ins → Puddin) and sign in if prompted.
Click Resume Session in the sidebar. Puddin re-establishes the recording connection and resumes from where you left off.

If you write in Word without the Puddin sidebar open and connected, that writing will not be recorded. Always confirm the Recording indicator is active in the sidebar before you begin writing.

Submit from Word

When you are ready to submit, click Submit Assignment in the Puddin sidebar. Your document is uploaded to Puddin and your authorship record is sealed. See Submitting Your Work for the full submission process.

Recording in the background

In both environments, Puddin records your writing activity silently in the background. You don’t need to do anything to start or manage recording — it begins when you open the assignment and continues until you submit or close the session. Recording captures:

Every character you type and delete
Any text you paste in, along with the pasted content
Your writing speed and pauses
The start and end time of each session

Recording does not capture your screen, your camera, other browser tabs, applications running on your computer, or anything outside the Puddin writing area.

Your writing process record is used by your teacher to verify that you wrote your own assignment. It is private to your teacher and designated course reviewers — it is not shared outside your institution.

Overview

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Student Workflows

Integrations

Support

Using the Puddin Writing Environment: Browser and Word

The browser-based writing editor

Editor layout

Formatting tools

Word count

Autosave

If your session is interrupted

The Microsoft Word add-in

Install the add-in

Start writing in Word

Formatting in Word

Autosave in Word

If your session is interrupted in Word

Submit from Word

Recording in the background

​The browser-based writing editor

​Editor layout

​Formatting tools

​Word count

​Autosave

​If your session is interrupted

​The Microsoft Word add-in

​Install the add-in

​Start writing in Word

​Formatting in Word

​Autosave in Word

​If your session is interrupted in Word

​Submit from Word

​Recording in the background

The browser-based writing editor

Editor layout

Formatting tools

Word count

Autosave

If your session is interrupted

The Microsoft Word add-in

Install the add-in

Start writing in Word

Formatting in Word

Autosave in Word

If your session is interrupted in Word

Submit from Word

Recording in the background