Welcome to the Defter Notes App documentation!
This guide will introduce you to the app's basic components, their functionalities, and how to navigate and interact with them effectively.
Handbook
Introducing: Wormholes
Wormholes allows you to create meaningful connections, transforming your workspace into an interconnected web.
Gestures & Controls
Defter Notes offers fluidity with its key feature: free-moving items and multitasking gestures.
PDFs as Stacks
A stack is basically a collection of pages. this pages can be pages you create within defter notes. but also they can be pages of a PDF. So when you import a pdf to defter notes, it will be opened in a stack. this allows you the editing capabilities of a stack.
Apple Pencil tools
Defter Notes integrates seamlessly with the Apple Pencil. With realistic handwriting capabilities, you can emulate the feel of pen and paper, allowing for fluid, natural writing that feels intuitive and immersive.
Handwriting Tools
Sketching diagrams, annotating texts, or brainstorming ideas, these Apple Pencil tools allows you to capture your thoughts with unparalleled clarity and expressiveness.
Circular Menu
The Circular Menu is a central hub for accessing essential tools mainlly related to your Apple Pencil.
It offers a quick way to interact with various drawing and annotation tools, as well as color options and resizing controls.
Pen
Use this tool for precise and fine writing. This tool is sensitive to Apple Pencil's pressure, which will give a natural variety in thickness as a slight reminder of ink flow while handwriting.
Pencil
This tool has a bit of grit and texture which makes it realistic! I'd sensitive to apple Pencil's tilt angle which makes it ideal for sketching and drawing.
Marker
The marker tool provides a thick, flat, brush like stroke with slight transparency. When used with lighter colors it acts exactly as a highlighter, and when layered it can give realistic coloring effects.
Eraser
This dynamic eraser responds to the tilt angle of the pencil and the zoom level of the canvas, making it easy to erase with precision.
There are two options for a pixel eraser and stroke eraser.
Mini Map
The mini map offers an overview of your canvas, helping you navigate large documents easily.
Minimize & Move
Tap the middle of the Circular Menu to minimize it for a less obstructive view.
Hold the center and drag to move the menu anywhere on the canvas. It will snap to corners for convenience.
Color & Size
A color wheel with eight favorite colors is available for quick access. Select your preferred color for drawing and highlighting. Each writing tool will remember its last selected color.
The circular slider in the center of the menu allows you to adjust the size of the currently selected writing tool. Simply slide it to resize the tool to your liking. Each writing tool will remember its last selected size.
Lasso
-
Use the lasso tool to select and manipulate handwritten elements on the canvas. After selecting you can move, delete, copy or duplicate.
-
This can also be utilized as a tool for selection of items: hold and drag items with pencil with the lasso. This means you can use the Apple Pencil instead of your finger while tapping for example on PDF hyperlinks.
Scribble
Apple´s Scribble function automatically transforms your handwriting to text. This function is available only on textboxes with input from Apple Pencil.
Gestures
&Controls
Defter Notes offers fluidity with its key user experience feature: free-moving items. Explore these core gestures so that you can get to use the tools more efficiently and intuitively.
Tap
A single quick tap works on items with navigation properties. These elements are: Spaces icons, Top Menu, Wormholes and Hyperlinks in PDFs.
Tap functions also work with the Apple Pencil in Lasso mode.
Double Tap
Double tapping on any item will open up an edit menu for that item. Some of these options are same for most items, such as export or duplicate. Some items have extra editing properties and their editing menu will look different.
For each items editing properties please see: Editing.
Hold to Drag & Drop
Whenever you create an item it can be freely moved around by holding for a second and dragging to the location you choose to drop it.
This works simultaneously with Tap gesture too, meaning while you're holding an item, you can tap to a Space icon or a Wormhole and you can transport the item this way.
Undo & Redo
Tap with two fingers to undo and tap with three fingers to redo.
We choose to add these functions as gestures instead of buttons because they are used very often and very intuitively.
Rotate & Zoom
By performing a gesture to rotate the space, you can view content from various angles, facilitating better organization, visualization, and navigation.
Whether adjusting the orientation for optimal readability or exploring different perspectives, the 360° rotation feature empowers you to customize the workspace to suit your preferences and workflow requirements.
Stacks
for PDFs & Pages
A stack is basically a collection of pages. These pages can be ones you create within Defter Notes, or they can be pages from a PDF. When you import a PDF to Defter Notes, it opens in a stack, giving you all the editing capabilities that stacks offer.
Multiple PDFs
Academic research, study materials, or collecting references for your next project management.
Import & Export
Double tap, share from a file or paste with universal control, there are many ways to import a PDF and open it as a Stack in Defter Notes.
Settings & Gestures
Learn more about Gestures specific to Stacks and start using them more efficiently.
FAQ
We answered the most frequently asked questions, specific to Stacks and using PDFs in Defter Notes.
Gestures for Stacks
Hold & drag from the bar:
Take a Page out of a Stack
This allows you to extract pages onto your canvas, simply for deleting that page or for things like placing pages side by side. It can some in handy if you need to spread out pages of a pdf.
Hold & drag on the bar:
Place a Page into a Stack
This allows you to insert pages, for example a page with your notes into the source material.
Hold & drag within the bar:
Rearrange a Page in a Stack
This helps for merging multiple pdfs, editing and revising.
Swipe on Stack Bar
Quick swipe on the Stacks bar allows you to navigate quickly within the PDF.
Navigate to previous & next pages
Tapping the left portion of a Page will take you to the previous page and similarly tapping on the right portion of a page takes you to the next page in the Stack.
Double tap on Page to open the settings menu
Double tap on the Stack page will open up the edit menu on the Side bar. Here you can see the options available for your page and stack. For more about these settings and editing capabilities see the Handbooks Settings section.
Add a Stack
Creating a Stack in Defter Notes is as easy as creating any other item. Drag and drop the Stack icon from the side menu on to your Space. This crates the container for your Stack. From here you can drag and drop pages into the Stack or alternatively you can pick the PDF you'd like to open as Stack.
Share to Defter Notes
When you're reviewing any PDF, you can simply share it to Defter Notes using Apples share sheet. Your file will appear in your Tray in Defter Notes.
Double Tap to Export
Use this space to promote the business, its products or its services. Help people become familiar with the business and its offerings, creating a sense of connection and trust. Focus on what makes the business unique and how users can benefit from choosing it.
Import & Export
FAQ / Stacks
Does it support Hyperlinks
Yes, if your PDF is optimized with working hyperlinks, tapping on the hyperlinked areas will work as expected. As an alternative to tapping with your finger you can use the Apple Pencil in Lasso mode for a more precise touch.
How do I navigate pages
For navigating pages of a Stack you can use the bar on the stack, this will allow you to quickly move between pages. Alternatively for flipping pages one by one you can use the tap gesture on left or right sides of a Stack. Tap once on the pages left and you'll move to the previous page, and tapping right on the page on a stack will move you to the next page.
How to turn an attachment to a Stack
Double tap your attached PDF to see its edit menu on the side bar. Here you'll see the icon for exporting. Tap this icon and your PDF will be opened as a Stack. Alternatively, you can create a new Stack by drag and dropping a new Stack from the side menu. Drag and drop your attached PDF on this Stack and your file will be transformed into a Defter Notes Stack.
How to duplicate a Stack
Duplicating a Stack is not available on the current version. This function is on our backlog for upcoming updates.
How to delete a Stack
Deleting a Stack works the same was as deleting any other item on Defter Notes. Touching and holding a Stack for a few seconds will transform the side menu, showing you the Archive and the Trash icons. Keep holding the Stack and drag it on the Trash icon. This will move the Stack to the Trash, and if you wish to delete it completely, you can open Trash menu from the Settings. You can learn more about it in the App Handbook.
Apple
features
Defter Notes is exclusively designed for iPad and Apple Pencil. It also supports other Apple technologies and integrations with continious updates.
Scribble support
Defter Notes supports Apple's Scribble feature for handwriting recognition. This can be used inside textboxes. Make sure you turn on Scribble under settings for your Apple Pencil.
Universal copy / paste
Universal copy allows you to copy and paste content between Apple devices and other applications. You can simply copy an image on your iPhone, and in Defter Notes drag the attachment icon and use the paste button.
iCloud backup
Turn on Auto Backup to iCloud under Defter Notes' settings menu. Here you can also choose intervals of backups and the amount of copies you want to keep.
Share to Defter Notes
This quick share function can be used to send any file to Defter Notes without the need of opening the app. When you launch Defter Notes, your file will be waiting for you in the Archive Tray.
Infinite spatial thinking meets
handwriting & visual notes.
Introducing: Wormholes
Imagine having a tool that connects the dots between your thoughts, projects, and research. Defter Notes' Wormholes allows you to create meaningful connections, transforming your workspace into an interconnected web. Wormholes are versatile and they can be used in many ways, so it depends on how you want to incorporate this feature in your spaces.
Connecting the dots for visualizing concepts
Visual mind maps can be utilized for unstructured idea jamming, encouraging free-flowing brainstorming. Because Wormholes allow for web-like connections, they are ideal for creating such mind maps, generating creative ideas, solving challenges, and exploring innovative solutions.
Extracting passages from PDF materials for reference keeping
Whether you're studying a textbook, academic article, or research paper, Wormholes streamline the process of information extraction, empowering you to distill complex concepts into digestible snippets that are easily accessible for review and referance.
You can do so with your own handwriting and manually linking a wormhole to the source. You can also use this neat Defter Notes trick for automatically creating a Wormhole with a textbox from a PDF. Follow these steps to seamlessly extract essential passages form your reading materials, allowing you to capture key insights, arguments, or examples with precision and efficiency.
Bookmark or outline without loosing the big picture
Similarly, Wormholes can be used to outline a PDF, creating quick jump points for sections or pages of your reading materials. They can be used as bookmarks for topics you wish to revisit, or simply as reminders for a later review.
Interactively test your knowledge
Another way to make use of Wormholes is linking them and jumping between them as you would with flashcards. This is particularly valuable for traditional exam preparation, concept reinforcement, and self-assessmet, offering a dynamic approach to learning that promotes engagement.
Link key concepts, definitions, or questions to a Wormholes, converting your notes into an interactive study session. Quiz yourself by deftly jumping back to the source, shifting the way you review and reinforce your knowledge.