Discover the various methods of creating notes, and how they appear differently based on the view you are in. This guide provides detailed instructions for adding notes using the menu, the note tool, and the notes panel.
Key Insights
- You can create an empty note or convert text into a note using the menu option. For an empty note, you select 'Notes > New Note' with no text selected, and to convert text, you select some text and choose 'Notes > Convert to Note'.
- The appearance of the note depends on the view you are in. In the Galley or Story views, the notes appear inside colored brackets, while in the Layout view, a marker indicates the note's location.
- The Note tool, which is located at the top left of the screen, can also be used to add a note. After selecting the tool, click in the text where you want to add the note and start typing.
- Another method is using the Notes Panel in the Layout view. After clicking in the text where you want to add a note, go to 'Window > Notes' or press Command–F10 (Mac) or Control–F10 (Windows), then click the 'New Note' button at the bottom right of the panel and start typing.
- When using the 'Type' tool, you can temporarily use the Note tool by holding 'Option–Shift' (Mac) or 'Alt–Shift' (Windows) and clicking where you want to add a note.
- Images are provided to guide users on how to add notes in different views and using different tools.
This exercise is excerpted from past InCopy training materials and is compatible with InCopy updates through 2021. To learn current skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and graphic design, check out our graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
InCopy vs Word
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Layout-Aware
InCopy shows real fonts, sizes, and copy fit; Word doesn't.
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Paragraph Styles
Editor sees the actual styled output, not Word's approximation.
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Live Sync
Changes appear in InDesign instantly, no copy-paste round trip.
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Editorial Tools
Track changes, notes, and copy fit — built for editors.
Adding Notes
The following are several ways to create notes. Use whichever you find easiest.
Adding a Note: Using the Menu
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You can either create a note that starts off empty or you can convert some text on the page into a note as follows:
To create an empty note: With no text selected, go to Notes > New Note. To convert text into a note: Select some text and choose Notes > Convert to Note. -
The note will appear differently based on which view you are in. Follow the appropriate directions below.
If You Are in the Galley or Story Views:
The notes will look as shown below. Just enter your note inside the colored brackets.
If You Are in Layout View:
After inserting a new note, the Notes panel will open for you to type in the note. A marker
will appear in the text indicating the location of the note.
Adding a Note: Using the Note Tool
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As shown below, select the Note tool
located at the top left of the screen.
Click in the text where you want to add a note.
Start typing the note.
Adding a Note: Using the Notes Panel
Switch to Layout view using the tab at the top of the window.
Click in the text where you’d like to leave a note.
Go to Window > Notes or press Command–F10 (Mac) or Control–F10 (Windows).
At the bottom right of the panel, click the New Note button
.
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Start typing the note.
Temporarily Using the Note Tool
When you are using the Type tool
and want to create a note, you can hold Option–Shift (Mac) or ALT–Shift (Windows) and click where you want to add a note.
