root
/
open-notebook
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
open-notebook/docs/user-guide/notes.md

9.6 KiB
Raw Permalink Blame History

Notes User Guide

Notes are the heart of your research workflow in Open Notebook. They provide a flexible system for capturing, organizing, and building upon your insights. This guide covers everything you need to know to get the most out of your note-taking experience.

Manual Note Creation

Creating Your First Note

The simplest way to create a note is manually:

  1. Access the Notes Panel: Inside any notebook page, you'll find a dedicated column for your notes
  2. Click "Add Note": Look for the "Add Note" button in the notes section
  3. Add Title and Content: Enter a descriptive title and write your note content
  4. Save: Your note is automatically saved and becomes part of your notebook

Best Practices for Manual Notes

  • Use descriptive titles: Make your notes easy to find later with clear, specific titles
  • Keep notes focused: Each note should cover a single concept or idea
  • Use consistent formatting: Develop a personal style for structuring your notes
  • Date important insights: Add timestamps for time-sensitive information

AI-Assisted Note Generation

Open Notebook provides powerful AI features to help you create more insightful notes with less effort.

Creating Notes from Source Insights

Transform research insights into permanent notes:

  1. Generate Source Insights: Use Transformations to analyze your sources
  2. Review the Insight: Read through the AI-generated insight to ensure it captures what you need
  3. Click "Save as Note": Convert the insight directly into a note with one click
  4. Edit and Enhance: Customize the note title and content as needed

Creating Notes from Chat Conversations

Capture valuable AI conversations as notes:

  1. Chat with the Assistant: Have a conversation about your research topic
  2. Identify Useful Responses: Look for AI messages that provide valuable insights
  3. Click "Save as Note": Use the "Save as Note" button on any AI message
  4. Review and Edit: The message becomes a note that you can modify and expand

Using Transformations for Note Enhancement

Transformations can help you create different types of notes:

  • Summary Notes: Create concise overviews of complex sources
  • Key Insights: Extract the most important points from your research
  • Reflective Questions: Generate thought-provoking questions about your content
  • Action Items: Identify next steps based on your research

Note Templates and Formatting

Suggested Note Templates

Research Summary Template

# [Source Title] - Summary

## Key Points
- Main argument 1
- Main argument 2
- Main argument 3

## Notable Quotes
> "Important quote here"

## My Thoughts
[Your analysis and reflection]

## Questions for Further Research
- Question 1
- Question 2

## Related Topics
- Topic 1
- Topic 2

Insight Development Template

# [Insight Title]

## Context
[What prompted this insight]

## Core Idea
[The main insight]

## Supporting Evidence
- Evidence 1
- Evidence 2

## Implications
[What this means for your research]

## Next Steps
[How to build on this insight]

Meeting/Interview Notes Template

# [Meeting/Interview Title]
**Date**: [Date]
**Participants**: [Names]

## Key Discussion Points
- Point 1
- Point 2

## Important Quotes
> "Quote 1"
> "Quote 2"

## Action Items
- [ ] Action 1
- [ ] Action 2

## Follow-up Questions
- Question 1
- Question 2

Formatting Tips

  • Use Markdown: Notes support full Markdown formatting
  • Structure with Headers: Use #, ##, ### for hierarchy
  • Emphasize Important Points: Use bold and italic text
  • Create Lists: Use bullet points and numbered lists
  • Include Quotes: Use > for blockquotes
  • Add Code: Use backticks for inline code or triple backticks for code blocks

Linking and Cross-Referencing

Current Capabilities

While Open Notebook is working on advanced linking features, you can currently:

  • Reference source materials in your notes
  • Mention related notes by title
  • Create thematic connections through consistent tagging and naming

Best Practices for Cross-Referencing

  1. Use Consistent Terminology: Develop a personal vocabulary for your research area
  2. Create Index Notes: Build master notes that link to related topics
  3. Reference Sources: Always note which sources contributed to your insights
  4. Build Concept Maps: Create notes that outline relationships between ideas

Future Linking Features

The roadmap includes:

  • Zettelkasten-style linking: Direct links between notes
  • Automatic relationship detection: AI-powered suggestions for related notes
  • Visual mind mapping: Canvas-like interface for note relationships

Organization and Tagging

Organizational Strategies

By Research Phase

  • Collection Notes: Initial gathering of information
  • Analysis Notes: Deeper examination of sources
  • Synthesis Notes: Combining insights from multiple sources
  • Conclusion Notes: Final thoughts and outcomes

By Content Type

  • Source Summaries: Notes derived from external sources
  • Personal Insights: Your original thoughts and analysis
  • Questions: Areas needing further research
  • Action Items: Tasks and next steps

By Topic or Theme

  • Project-Specific Notes: Organize by current research project
  • Concept Notes: Group by theoretical frameworks or key concepts
  • Method Notes: Organize by research methodology or approach

Naming Conventions

Develop consistent naming patterns:

  • Date-based: 2024-01-15-Meeting-Notes
  • Topic-based: Climate-Change-Policy-Summary
  • Source-based: Smith-2023-Key-Insights
  • Type-based: Action-Items-Q1-2024

Using the Search Function

Open Notebook provides powerful search capabilities:

  1. Full-Text Search: Find notes containing specific words or phrases
  2. Vector Search: Discover semantically related content
  3. Combined Search: Use both methods for comprehensive results

Export and Sharing Options

Current Export Capabilities

While Open Notebook continues to develop export features, you can currently:

  • Copy Note Content: Select and copy text from individual notes
  • Search and Review: Use the search function to find and review notes across notebooks
  • Reference in Chat: Notes become part of your knowledge base for AI conversations

Sharing Through the Platform

  • Notebook Collaboration: Share entire notebooks with collaborators
  • Context Sharing: Include notes in AI chat contexts
  • Citation References: Notes can be referenced in AI-generated responses

Best Practices for Export Preparation

  1. Consistent Formatting: Use standard Markdown formatting for easy conversion
  2. Complete Citations: Include full source information in your notes
  3. Clear Structure: Organize notes with clear headings and sections
  4. Regular Reviews: Keep notes updated and relevant

Advanced Note-Taking Strategies

The Progressive Summarization Method

  1. Initial Capture: Create a comprehensive note from your source
  2. First Pass: Highlight the most important points
  3. Second Pass: Bold the most critical insights
  4. Third Pass: Create a short summary at the top

The Cornell Note Method

Structure your notes with:

  • Main Content: Primary information and insights
  • Key Points: Bullet points of essential information
  • Summary: Brief overview at the bottom

The Zettelkasten Approach

While full Zettelkasten features are coming, you can start:

  • Atomic Notes: One idea per note
  • Unique Titles: Distinctive, searchable titles
  • Conceptual Connections: Link ideas through references
  • Regular Review: Revisit and update notes regularly

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Note Organization Problems

Issue: Too many notes, hard to find information Solution:

  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Create index notes for major topics
  • Regularly review and archive old notes

AI-Generated Notes Need Improvement

Issue: AI notes don't capture what you need Solution:

  • Customize your transformation prompts
  • Edit AI-generated notes after creation
  • Provide more specific context to the AI

Missing Context in Notes

Issue: Notes make sense now but not later Solution:

  • Always include source information
  • Add context about why the note was created
  • Use the suggested templates for structure

Future Note Features

The Open Notebook roadmap includes exciting developments:

Canvas-Like Interface

  • Visual Note Arrangement: Organize notes spatially
  • AI Collaboration: Work with AI directly on note content
  • Mind Mapping: Create visual connections between ideas

Enhanced Linking

  • Automatic Suggestions: AI-powered recommendations for related notes
  • Bidirectional Links: See connections from both sides
  • Link Strength: Understand the relationship between connected notes

Smart Organization

  • Auto-Tagging: AI-generated tags based on content
  • Similarity Detection: Find related notes automatically
  • Trend Analysis: Identify patterns in your note-taking

Getting Help

If you need assistance with notes:

  1. Check the Documentation: Review this guide and other docs
  2. Community Discussions: Join the GitHub Discussions
  3. Feature Requests: Suggest new note features in the discussions
  4. Report Issues: Use GitHub Issues for bugs or problems

Remember, effective note-taking is a skill that develops over time. Experiment with different approaches and find what works best for your research style and goals.