How to use a Digital Notebook
in GoodNotes
If you’d like to start taking paperless notes, note-taking apps like GoodNotes, Noteshelf, Notability, etc. are amazing tools. They have their paper templates that you can use to build your notebook.
In addition to that, you can use these app with custom digital notebooks, which are PDF files with hyperlinks between the pages for an easy navigation.
Designers usually offer a huge variety of templates: note-taking templates, planning templates and more!
In this article I’ll explain everything you need to know to use a custom digital notebook in GoodNotes.
Import a notebook into Goodnotes
The first thing you need to do is going to GoodNotes and import the notebook that you’d like to use.
- Tap on the “+” icon.
- Select “Import“.
- Find the notebook and click on it.
How to use hyperlinks in Goodnotes
In GoodNotes there are two different modes: editing mode and read only mode (you can switch between the two modes by clicking the pencil icon).
- In read only mode you’ll be able to navigate through the pages using the hyperlinks.
- In editing mode you can write and draw in your notebook and the hyperlinks are not clickable.
Notebook from JeyDesignShop.
You can access any page from the templates page by clicking on it (remember to switch to “read only” mode).
JDS Digital Notebooks
The JDS Digital Notebooks include 65 different templates and they are available in three different color modes (Neutrals, White and Dark mode) in both landscape and portrait versions.
Notebook from JeyDesignShop.
The tabs on the right side are linked to the index page, the templates page and the notebook sections.
How to use the notebook's templates
To use a template of your notebook, you just have to copy and paste the page where you need.
The pages can be duplicated as many times as you want, so that you can take unlimited notes. However, make sure you don’t delete the original pages or the hyperlinks will stop working!
Tip: you can use bookmarks to “mark” the original pages.
Copy and paste the templates
- Go to the template that you’d like to use.
- Tap on the three dots (see image below).
- Click “Copy page“.
- Navigate where you’d like to place the page.
- Tap the “+” icon.
- Click “Paste page“.
As you can see, when you add a page you have three options:
- Before: the page will be added before the current page.
- After: the page will be added after the current page. This is the default option.
- Last page: the new page will be at the end of the notebook.
Reuse the same template in the next page
If you’re using a template and you finish the space, you can add the same template after the current page.
- Tap the “+” icon.
- Click on “Current Template“.
Notebook from JeyDesignShop.
How to copy multiple pages
- If you want to copy different templates, you can do it without having to repeat the same process every time.
- Tap the four squares icon (see image below).
- Click “Select“.
- Select the pages that you need.
- Navigate where you’d like to place the page.
- Tap the “+” icon.
- Click “Paste page“.
Digital Stickers
Usually, designers include some digital stickers with their notebooks.
The JDS Digital Notebooks come with 300+ digital stickers in both individual PNG files and GoodNotes file.
- PNG files are images with a transparent background and you can use them with the drag & drop method.
Notebook from JeyDesignShop.
- The GoodNotes file can be opened in GoodNotes and contains all pre-cropped stickers so that you won’t have to import them everytime.
You can use the stickers by copying and pasting them with the lasso tool (make sure that “Images” is turned on).
Notebook from JeyDesignShop.
Digital notebooks are amazing, but it might be confusing if you’ve never used one before.
So I hope that this article was helpful! But if you have any question you can leave a comment or contact me on instagram (@_jeydesign).
Don’t forget to join the JDS VIP list if you’d like to receive digital planning goodies!
