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Notes Inspector
The main function of this panel is to allow you to view and manage the comments of a layer. When you change your selection, it will be updated automatically to either show the correspondent comment data or allow you to add a new annotation.
It also makes all the plugin’s functionality available at hand. The general plugin-related actions are at the right top corner: updating the comments, change its visibility and access to the settings and export panels.
On the lower side of the inspector you’ll find the comment-specific actions: delete, copy, paste, keyword replacement list and add/edit actions.
Adding Notes
To add a note, first make sure that the Notes Inspector is visible by clicking in PluginsNotebookShow notes Inspector
Then select the layer you want to comment and fill in at least one of the title or comment fields. Once your annotation is ready, use the add button at the bottom right corner.
If you are using the lite version and have no access to the notes inspector, make sure that the layer you want to comment is selected and then use the command: PluginsNotebookAdd/Edit Comment
After clicking the command, a panel will appear to allow you to enter the title and/or comment data.
Deleting Notes
If you want to use the Notes Inspector to delete comments, make sure that it is visible and then use the trash button at the bottom left corner.
With one short click, it will remove the annotations from the layer or layers that are currently selected. By keeping the button pressed, you will delete all comments from the current artboard.
You can also delete comments without the inspector by using the following commands:
PluginsNotebookDeleteDelete Selected Comment(s)PluginsNotebookDeleteDelete All Comments from Current ArtboardPluginsNotebookDeleteDelete All Comments from Current Document
Editing Notes
To edit an annotation, keep the Notes Inspector visible and select the commented layer. The inspector will automatically update the title and comment data so that you can use those fields to edit the information.
Once the changes are done, use the edit button at the bottom right corner and the plugin will update the comment on the sidebar, making the necessary adjustments on its size and aligment.
If you are using the lite version and have no access to the notes inspector, make sure that the layer you want to edit the comment from is selected and then use the command: PluginsNotebookAdd/Edit Comment
Copy & Paste Functionality
To copy a layer’s comment, select the layer and then use the copy button on the inspector panel (second from the left at the bottom left corner).
Then select the layer you want to paste the comment to and press the third buttom from the left.
You can use this functionality withing the artboard, between artboards and/or documents. Additionally, you can use this functionality with the following commands: PluginsNotebookCopy CommentPluginsNotebookPaste Comment
Indicators Positioning
By default, indicators will be positioned automatically. Also, when you move a commented layer, the indicator will be relocated automatically.
If you want to change this behaviour, you can use the following command: PluginsNotebookIndicators RelocationRelocate Indicators Manually
When this setting is active you will always have to relocate indicators manually. If you want to reverse it, use the other command available within the same command menu group: PluginsNotebookIndicators RelocationRelocate Indicators Automatically
This option can also be change from the settings panel. Available using the button with a gear icon on the Notes Inspector or by using the command: PluginsNotebookShow Settings Panel
Whitin this panel, you can also change the offset and position of the indicator relative to the commented layer.
Reordering and Renumbering
You can reorder the comments in the sidebar by dragging them to the position you want. Afte droping them, they will be realigned and renumbered automatically. Just have to make sure that the selected comment is in the right position vertically, everything else will be handled automatically by the plugin.
Indicators over the design will also be renumbered acordingly. Also, When you delete a commented layer, its relative comment and indicator will be removed and the other ones reordered and realigned automatically.
Keyword Replacement
When adding a comment using the Notes Inspector, you can use the keyword replacement to get values from the selected layer. Place your cursor over the third bottom of the bottom left corner and a dropdown with the predefined values will appear:
After selecting one of the values, the keyword will appear in the comment field wrapped between double brackets. Just leave it there and the comment will show the desired value once added.
You could also type the keywords manually, just make sure that they are not misspelled and that they are correctly wrapped in double brackets. Here is a table of available values/keywords:
Value | keyword | Output Example |
---|---|---|
Layer Name | {{layerName}} | “Header group” |
X pos. | {{layerX}} | 112 |
Y pos. | {{layerY}} | 0 |
Layer Width | {{layerWidth}} | 1024px |
Layer Height | {{layerHeight}} | 150px |
Fill Color | {{layerColor}} | #203040 |
Border Color | {{borderColor}} | #F0F1F2 |
Border Width | {{borderWidth}} | #C8C9C0 |
Font Family | {{fontFamily}} | “Helvetica Neue” |
Font Weight | {{fontWeight}} | 400 |
Font Size | {{fontSize}} | 12px |
Font Alignment | {{fontAlignment}} | Left |
Line Height | {{lineHeight}} | 24px |
Font Color | {{fontColor}} | #E0E9E8 |
Sidebar Visibility
By clicking the button with an eye icon on the top right corner of the Notes Inspector, you will be able to toggle the visibility of the sidebar from the current arboard.
If you want to change the visibility of the sidebar from the entire document, keep the cursor over this icon without clicking it and a dropdown will appear with those options.
You can also manage the visibility of the sidebar by using the following commands:
PluginsNotebookSidebar VisibilityToggle Currrent SidebarPluginsNotebookSidebar VisibilityShow All Comments from DocumentPluginsNotebookSidebar VisibilityHide All Comments from Document
Plugin Styles
There are several styles that can be applied to the sidebar. The default style is light, and it can be change to dark, blue, orange, purple, yellow or a customized one.
To change it you can either use the selector within the settings panel or use one of this commands:
PluginsNotebookSidebar StyleDarkPluginsNotebookSidebar StyleBluePluginsNotebookSidebar StyleOrangePluginsNotebookSidebar StylePurplePluginsNotebookSidebar StyleYellowPluginsNotebookSidebar StyleCustom
Exporting the annotations
Since all the annotations are built using regular sketch layers and are part of the original artboard, whenever the notes are visible, they will be included in the final exported document.
If you use the export panel, you will be able to select which comments to include in the export process and what format should be used for the final document.
You can access the export panel by using the button with a window and an arrow at the top right corner of the Notes inspector or use the following command:
PluginsNotebookExportShow Export Panel
There are also a few predefined configurations that will allow you to quickly export your annotated document in different formats. They can be accessed by using this commands:
PluginsNotebookExportExport Everything to PDFPluginsNotebookExportExport Commented Artboards to PDFPluginsNotebookExportExport All Comments to TXT FilePluginsNotebookExportExport All Comments to JSON File
Settings Panel
Users of the premium version have access to the Settings Panel, which allows to customize every aspect of the plugin and configure the settings available:
Indicators Color & Shape
By default, all indicators will be green and with an oval shape. This can be easily changed by using the settings panel.
If you wish to change the color, use the first selector of this panel to indicate that you want to use a “Custom” theme and then use the correspondant input to change the indicator color. You should use an hexadecimal value or use the color picker by clicking the square with the color sample.
To change the shape of the indicator, use the selector located a few rows below, in the group “Indicators Layout”.
This selector will allow you to choose between this shapes: oval, rectangle, rounded rectangle, comment shape and custom shape. By default they look like this:
If you choose “custom shape”, remember that afterwards you wont be able to change the size, color or shape of the indicator using the panel and that you will have to change the indicator symbol manually. To do so, head to the Symbols Page and locate the symbol “[nb] indicator”, then make the desired changes and update the comments.
Sidebar Components
The components that form the sidebar are: Header, Project, Date, Author, Screen Name and Comments. You can choose to hide everything but the comments.
To selecct which component you want to make visible, use the inspector panel and towards the lower part you will find a set of check boxes that will allow you to select the ones you want to use on the sidebar.
Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
You can asign your own keyboard shortcuts to any command in the plugin. To do so, go to the Apple Menu at the top left corner of your screen and follow this path: (Apple Menu)System PreferencesKeyboardShortcuts Tab
Once you are in the correct tab of this panel, you will see a list on the right. From that list select the item "App Shortcuts". When selected, this item will show a list of the current custom shortcuts by app on the right panel.
Below the right panel, near the bottom left corner you will see a plus icon. Click it and you will be presented with a menu to choose the application, the menu command title and the desired shortcut. Then follow this steps:
- Click Application selector, an choose Sketch from the menu (if it doesn't appear, click "other" and locate it)
- In the field "Menu Title" enter the command you want to asssign a shortcut. Example: if you want to assign a shortcut for the command "Plugins > Notebook > Delete > Delete All Comments from Current Artboard", you will have to enter in this field the last bit of the command: "Delete All Comments from Current Artboard".
- Then click in the field "Shortcut" and press the letter combination that you want to assign to this command.
Once all fields are filled in, click add and you will be able to use the shortcut while using Sketch.
This is not a plugin functionality but rather a Mac OS one, so this feature can be used with any command in any program. i.e. you can assign shortcuts to any sketch command on the top bar, be it a native functionallity or another one from a plugin.
[notebook] 3.0
Communicating design made easy: Sketch plugin to manage functional documentation, specs and annotations.
Features | |
---|---|
Add, Edit, Delete and Reset Comments | Included |
Automatic Indicator Repositioning | Included |
Comment Reorder and Renumbering | Included |
Copy & Paste Comments | Not Included |
Batch Sidebar Visibility | Not Included |
Customizable Sidebar Styles | Not Included |
Notes Inspector | Not Included |
Sidebar Style Presets | Not Included |
Keyword Replacement | Not Included |
Updates (Plugin Fixes) | Not Included |
Upgrades (Future Features) | Not Included |
Settings Panel | Not Included |
Fully Customizable Sidebar | Not Included |
PDF, JSON & TXT Export | Not Included |
Personal Support | Not Included |
Lifetime Updates & Upgrades | Not Included |
Features | |
---|---|
Add, Edit, Delete and Reset Comments | Included |
Automatic Indicator Repositioning | Included |
Comment Reorder and Renumbering | Included |
Copy & Paste Comments | Included |
Batch Sidebar Visibility | Included |
Customizable Sidebar Styles | Included |
Notes Inspector | Included |
Sidebar Style Presets | Included |
Keyword Replacement | Included |
Updates (Plugin Fixes) | Included |
Upgrades (Future Features) | Not Included |
Settings Panel | Not Included |
Fully Customizable Sidebar | Not Included |
PDF, JSON & TXT Export | Not Included |
Personal Support | Not Included |
Lifetime Updates & Upgrades | Not Included |
Features | [notebook] premium All features, upgrades, updates 39.99€/year Buy Notebook Premium |
---|---|
Add, Edit, Delete and Reset Comments | Included |
Automatic Indicator Repositioning | Included |
Comment Reorder and Renumbering | Included |
Copy & Paste Comments | Included |
Batch Sidebar Visibility | Included |
Customizable Sidebar Styles | Included |
Notes Inspector | Included |
Sidebar Style Presets | Included |
Keyword Replacement | Included |
Updates (Plugin Fixes) | Included |
Upgrades (Future Features) | Included |
Settings Panel | Included |
Fully Customizable Sidebar | Included |
PDF, JSON & TXT Export | Included |
Personal Support | Included |
Lifetime Updates & Upgrades | Included |
Industry-leading companies already using Sketch Notebook to annotate their designs
Custom Builds & Developments
We can work together in a customised version of Notebook (or any kind of plugin) tailored to your specific needs. Drop us a line and we will discuss how we can improve your workflow and productivity.
If you’re creating design docs in Sketch, you need this.
Notebook plugin for Sketch is the perfect way to create sidebar comments.
A handy tool for easily managing sidebar comments.
Notebook plugin lets you annotate your Sketch files. Looks helpful.
Explore the features
Discover how to improve your communication workflow with Sketch Notebook Plugin
Add, Edit, Delete and Reset Comments
Manage all kind of notes in your sketch files. Delete them by selecting the commented layer or the comment itself. Notes are deleted automatically when the commented layer is removed.
DemoAutomatic Indicator Repositioning
Comment indicators will be automatically relocated every time you change your sketch file.
DemoComment Reorder and Renumbering
Comments will reorder, realign and renumber automatically when you change them.
DemoCopy & Paste Comments
Easily copy paste comments betwen layers and documents.
DemoBatch Sidebar Visibility
Easily toggle the visibility of the comments, by artboard, page or document.
DemoCustomizable Sidebar Styles
Customize the look & feel of your comments by editing its shared styles.
DemoNotes Inspector
Native notes inspector that it's updated automatically when changing the selected layer.
DemoSidebar Style Presets
Beside the customizable styles, you can also use one of the 3 presets available: dark, bright and yellow.
DemoKeyword Replacement
Easily get values from the selected layer: its name, x & y position, width, height, fill color, border color and width, font family, font weight, font size, line height, and font color.
DemoUpdates (Plugin Fixes)
Get plugin updates every time the Sketch API changes.
Upgrades (Future Features)
Get the latest [notebook] features.
Settings Panel
Change the preferences of your comments with ease using the settings panel: style selection, sidebar layout (width, margins and paddings) & indicator dimensions, offset and position.
DemoFully Customizable Sidebar
Build your sidebar as you want by selecting which modules you want to include. From a plain sidebar to one with a header, metadata, screen name and comments.
DemoPDF, JSON & TXT Export
Easily export your comments in PDF and JSON format.
DemoPersonal Support
Get personal support by us anytime you need help or counseling with anything related with the plugin.
Lifetime Updates & Upgrades
false
If you want to dive deeper into the features, check the plugin's help module.
FAQs
Can I purchase multiple licenses?
Yes. They also have a variable discount depending on the volume. Follow this link for further information: Volume Licensing
Can I include the notes in my exported document?
Sure. The annotations are made with native Sketch layers. Just make sure that the notes are visible when you are exporting and they will appear in the final doc.
How do I manage my Notebook Premium subscription?
Use the login button at the top of the page to access the Owl Tools dashboard. From there you can manage everything related to your subsccription.
Can I get a trial version of the plugin?
No, but if the plugin doesn't fit your needs drop us a line and we'll discuss a refund for your purchase.
Can I get the plugin for free if I'm a student?
Contact us on info (at) owl.tools using your student email account and you'll get a version with basic features.
How can I upgrade from my previous Notebook Plugin version?
If you downloaded the plugin recently, contact us on info (at) owl.tools and we'll send you a redemption code. Remember that free upgrades are only available to premium users.
Is it possible to develop a custom version of this plugin?
Yes. Contact us on info (at) owl.tools and lets discuss how we can work together to improve your productivity: corporate styles, advanced features, workflow integrations... You can also make inquiries about new plugin developments.
What can I do if the plugin stops working after an Sketch update?
Don't panic. We usually release an update around the same date as Sketch does. You should receive an email with a download link shortly after that happens. If not, please make sure that you don't have any filter blocking our emails and that they're not sent directly to the spam folder or trash bin.
Why I didn't receive any link after my purchase?
Make sure that you are checking the email account that you entered when downloading the plugin and that there isn't any filter or proxy blocking our communications. If you don't get it please email us and we'll solve the issue for you.
Where can I read the EULA, Terms of Service and Privacy Policy?
You can find links to these documents at the footer.