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+# Modal System Design
+
+**Date:** 2026-03-24
+**Version:** 4.0.0
+**Status:** Approved
+
+## Overview
+
+Replace the existing dialog implementations with a unified modal system that provides:
+- Glassmorphism backdrop matching app aesthetic
+- Full accessibility (ARIA, focus trap, keyboard navigation)
+- Smooth fade + scale animations
+- Consistent API via `ModalManager` class
+
+## Decisions Made
+
+| Decision | Choice | Rationale |
+|----------|--------|-----------|
+| Architecture | Unified `ModalManager` class | Cleaner, consistent behavior across all modals |
+| Backdrop style | Glassmorphism | Matches existing app design language |
+| Focus management | Focus first interactive element | Standard, predictable behavior |
+| Animation | Fade + scale (95% → 100%) | Modern, subtle effect |
+| Implementation | Custom (not native `<dialog>`) | Full control, no polyfill concerns |
+
+## Architecture
+
+### File Structure
+
+```
+src/
+├── utils/
+│   └── ModalManager.js    # Core modal logic (~150 lines)
+├── styles/
+│   └── modal.css          # Unified modal styles (~200 lines)
+└── index.html             # Updated dialog markup
+```
+
+### ModalManager Class
+
+```javascript
+class ModalManager {
+  constructor(element, options = {})
+  open()                    // Show modal with animation
+  close()                   // Hide modal with animation
+  destroy()                 // Cleanup event listeners
+  on(event, callback)       // Event subscription
+
+  // Internal
+  #createBackdrop()         // Create glassmorphism backdrop
+  #trapFocus()              // Manage focus within modal
+  #handleKeydown(e)         // Escape key handler
+  #getFocusableElements()   // Query focusable children
+}
+```
+
+### Events
+
+- `open` — Fired after open animation completes
+- `close` — Fired after close animation completes
+
+## CSS Design
+
+### Variables (from tokens.css)
+
+```css
+--z-modal: 200;
+--transition-normal: 200ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
+--shadow-xl: 0 20px 25px -5px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.1);
+--radius-lg: 0.5rem;
+```
+
+### Backdrop
+
+```css
+.modal-backdrop {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+  z-index: var(--z-modal);
+}
+```
+
+### Modal Container
+
+```css
+.modal {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  z-index: calc(var(--z-modal) + 1);
+  opacity: 0;
+  visibility: hidden;
+  transition: opacity var(--transition-normal),
+              visibility var(--transition-normal);
+}
+
+.modal.open {
+  opacity: 1;
+  visibility: visible;
+}
+```
+
+### Modal Content (with animation)
+
+```css
+.modal-content {
+  background: hsl(var(--background));
+  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-xl);
+  max-width: 90vw;
+  max-height: 90vh;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  transform: scale(0.95);
+  transition: transform var(--transition-normal);
+}
+
+.modal.open .modal-content {
+  transform: scale(1);
+}
+```
+
+## HTML Structure
+
+All dialogs convert to unified structure:
+
+```html
+<div id="export-dialog"
+     class="modal"
+     role="dialog"
+     aria-modal="true"
+     aria-labelledby="export-dialog-title">
+
+  <div class="modal-backdrop" data-close></div>
+
+  <div class="modal-content">
+    <div class="modal-header">
+      <h3 id="export-dialog-title">Export Options</h3>
+      <button class="modal-close" aria-label="Close">&times;</button>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="modal-body">
+      <!-- Dialog-specific content -->
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="modal-footer">
+      <button class="btn btn-secondary" data-close>Cancel</button>
+      <button class="btn btn-primary">Confirm</button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+```
+
+### Key Attributes
+
+- `role="dialog"` — Screen reader identification
+- `aria-modal="true"` — Prevents screen reader from accessing background
+- `aria-labelledby` — References the dialog title
+- `data-close` — Click handler for closing (backdrop, cancel buttons)
+
+## Accessibility Features
+
+1. **Focus trap** — Tab cycles within modal only
+2. **Focus first element** — Auto-focuses first input/button on open
+3. **Escape key** — Closes modal
+4. **Click outside** — Clicking backdrop closes modal
+5. **Focus restoration** — Returns focus to trigger element on close
+6. **ARIA attributes** — Proper screen reader support
+
+## Dialogs to Migrate
+
+| Dialog ID | Current Class | Complexity |
+|-----------|--------------|------------|
+| `find-dialog` | `.find-dialog` | Simple |
+| `export-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Complex (many sections) |
+| `print-preview-overlay` | `.export-dialog` | Medium |
+| `table-generator-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Simple |
+| `ascii-art-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Medium |
+| `universal-converter-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Complex |
+| `batch-dialog` | `.batch-dialog` | Complex |
+| `pdf-editor-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Complex |
+| `header-footer-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Medium |
+| `field-picker-dialog` | `.export-dialog` | Simple |
+
+## Migration Steps
+
+1. Create `src/utils/ModalManager.js`
+2. Create `src/styles/modal.css`
+3. Update `index.html` to include new stylesheet
+4. Convert each dialog HTML to new structure
+5. Initialize `ModalManager` instances in `renderer.js`
+6. Remove old CSS from `styles.css`
+7. Test all dialogs
+
+## Out of Scope
+
+- Modal nesting (stacked modals) — can be added later if needed
+- Animated backdrop (currently static blur)
+- Modal size variants (small/large/fullscreen) — can use inline styles