> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tropy.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tropy.org/before-you-begin.md).

# Before you begin

- [Tropy Basics](https://docs.tropy.org/before-you-begin/before-you-begin.md): Tropy is free open-source software that allows you to organize and describe photographs of research material.
- [Who owns the rights to the archival materials I use?](https://docs.tropy.org/before-you-begin/rights.md)
- [What is metadata and how do I use it?](https://docs.tropy.org/before-you-begin/metadata.md)