Notes

Arc Studio includes a built-in notes app to organize all your ideas for your script.

You can access your notes in the Notes sidebar on the left. The different kinds of notes are identified by the icon to the left of the note name (see below for more). If you click on a note, it will open on the right. The note is resizable, and you can make it full screen.

To create a new note, click the + at the top of the notes sidebar. This creates a general note that will be added to your notes list.

You can also create a new note by clicking the + at the top of any open note.

To delete a note, click the … more options menu at the top of the top of the open note, or to the right of the note name in the notes list. Then select Delete.

To pin a note to the top of your notes list, click the … more options menu at the top of the top of the open note, or to the right of the note name in the notes list. Then select Pin note.

You can create a note for each Beat of your story. This gives you a place to write more about that beat, including dialogue, jokes, and other things you want to include.

To create a Beat note, click on the note icon on the beat.

The name of the note will be Note on ‘[Beat title]’ and it will be listed in your notes list with the Beat icon (a cube:

You can access the Beat note by clicking the note icon on the beat, clicking the note in the notes list, or by clicking the note icon next to the beat in the Contents sidebar.

README notes open up automatically whenever you open the script with the note. You can use this as a reminder of where you left off in your last writing session, or what you plan on writing next.

To create a README note, click the ⋁ in the Notes sidebar next to the + and select Add a README note

You can also create notes for each Storyline, Character, and Location. To create the note, access your Script Elements in the Elements sidebar on the right. Then click the note icon for the Element you want to create a note on.

Notes on Storylines, Characters, and Locations can be identified by their unique icons:

You can create a template from one of your notes to use again or share with others. This can come in handy when using or sharing things like character or plot worksheets.

When the note is at the point you want to save it as a template:

You can organize your notes by using links. This lets you build an interconnected web of all your ideas. You can think of each note kind of like a Wikipedia page. If you hold down Ctrl [Command on a PC] and click on a link in a note, you go to that note.

To insert a link in a note, type [[. This will make a list of all your notes pop up. You can select one of your existing notes from the list, or create a new note with that name.

At the bottom of your note you’ll see “Backlinks.” This is a list of all your other notes that contain a link to the note that’s currently open. Click the > to get a preview of that note, or click on it to visit.

You can organize your notes in hierarchies with links, much like you would organize files in folders and subfolders. I walk through that process in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGklOtzPzJ0&t=453s

You can turn a highlighted section of a note into a new, linked note.

To start, make sure the section of the note that you’re selecting has a heading. This will become the title of the new note. It can be H1, H2, H3, or H4.

Next, highlight the selection of the note that you want to turn into a new note (including the heading). Then use the palette bar at the bottom and select Turn into Note.

You’ve created a new note!

You’ve also created a link from the original note to the new note. If you go back to the original note, you’ll see that the heading (which became the title of the new note) is now a link to the new note. Hold down Command (Control on PC) and click on the link to navigate to it.

You can turn a highlighted section of a note into a new Beat on the board.

To start, make sure the section of the note that you’re selecting has a heading. The heading will become the title of the new Beat. It can be H1, H2, H3, or H4.

Next, highlight the selection of the note that you want to turn into a Beat. The heading will become the title of the beat. The other text will become the body of a note on the beat. Then use the palette bar at the bottom and select Turn into Beat.