Connect evidence on the project map
Notes linked to a project appear on the canvas automatically; connect them with labeled lines to record how your ideas fit together.
Applies to Web · Mac · iPhone app · the map and memos are visible only to you
The Project map (Evidence Thread) lays out a project’s notes like cards so you can record relationships as lines: “this result supports that hypothesis”, “this step depends on that prep”. Notes linked to the project appear automatically, and you can add memos, shapes and images that only you can see.
Open the project map
- In the Project tree, switch the view to Project map. You can also choose Open project map from a project’s menu.
- Pick a project in the Project lens on the left, which shows each project’s note, memo and link counts. Expand map folds the lens away.
No projects yet? Create a project and link sources first. The map and the Materials hierarchy use the same set of sources.
Add items to the map
Use the Record Tools above the canvas.
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Add a note to the map… | Adds another note that isn’t one of the project’s sources. |
| Add memo | A memo card only you can see, with a Title, The point to remember, Details, a sticky-note color and Pin as important. Writing [[Note title]] in the details links the memo to that note automatically. |
| Shape Tools | Places a shape in the middle of the view. You can change its label, shape, fill and border color, thickness and layer. |
| Add Image | PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, APNG, BMP or ICO. You can also drop an image file onto the canvas, and add alt text. |
| Connector Tool | Click a start node, then a target node, to connect them. Press Esc to cancel. |
You can also drag from a node’s edge handle to another node. Undo and redo map changes with ⌘Z and ⇧⌘Z (Undo map change / Redo map change).
Style your connections
As the legend says, dashed lines are automatic [[note]] links; solid lines are relationships you created. Select a line to change:
- Link label — e.g. evidence, dependency, contradiction
- Line style: Solid · Dashed · Dotted / Arrowheads: None · → · ← · ↔ / Thickness / color
- Reset style and Delete link (you can undo a deletion)
Automatic links can only be restyled. To remove one, delete the [[Note title]] from the memo.
Nodes and the view
- Double-click a node to open the note, or to edit a memo.
- Node size: Small · Default · Large presets, drag a corner handle, or press Alt+arrow keys.
- With a node selected from the keyboard, the arrow keys move it.
- Map controls at the bottom left: Zoom in · Zoom out · Fit the whole map. The minimap is at the bottom right.
- Drag the Adjust canvas height handle up or down to resize the canvas. With the handle selected, arrow keys change it by 40px, and Shift+arrow keys by 10px.