Sidenotes in the Story Editor

 

Sidenotes are a powerful tool that lets you add production notes, instructions, and references directly inside your stories. Notes appear in a dedicated column next to the content and are connected to their position in the manuscript with visual connector lines for quick navigation.

 

What Are Sidenotes

Sidenotes are small icons inserted into a story’s text. When you click a sidenote icon, a matching note box appears in a column next to the editor. The icon and the note box are linked, making it easy to see exactly where the note belongs in the manuscript.

 

When to Use Sidenotes

Use sidenotes for:

• Production notes: Instructions for camera, server, graphics, sound, and more

• Technical notes: Setup requirements or technical constraints

• Function references: Asset-linked notes (only when an Asset Package is enabled)

• General notes: Information that should not be read aloud but is important for production

 

Creating Sidenotes

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Recommended)

• Place the cursor where you want the sidenote in the manuscript

• Press F9

• A small icon is inserted into the text

• Focus automatically moves to the note box in the sidenote column

• Type your note text

 

Method 2: Toolbar

• Place the cursor where you want the sidenote

• Click the Sidenote button in the toolbar

• The icon is inserted and the note box appears

• Type your note text

 

Sidenote Types

Sidenotes can be color-coded to indicate different categories.

 

Available Types

• Normal: General notes without a specific category

• Input (Cam): Notes for camera operators and video inputs

• Server: Server-related instructions

• Graphic: Graphics instructions

• Sound: Audio instructions

• Light: Lighting instructions

• Props: Props and set instructions

• Instruction: Important instructions or warnings

 

How to Change Type

• Click the sidenote icon in the manuscript or the note box

• A color palette appears under the note box

• Click the desired category color

• Both the icon and note box update to the selected color

 

Editing Sidenotes

 

Editing Content

• Click the note box in the sidenote column

• The box becomes editable if you have write access

• Edit the text as needed

• Changes are saved automatically

 

Highlighting the Pair

 

When you click either the sidenote icon or the note box:

• Both elements become active visually

• The connector line becomes more prominent

• The color palette appears automatically

 

Removing a Sidenote

 

Option 1: Remove from the palette

• Click the sidenote icon in the text

• Click Remove in the palette to delete both the icon and the note

 

Option 2: Remove with keyboard

• Place the cursor on the sidenote icon in the manuscript

• Press Delete or Backspace

• Both the icon and its note are removed

 

Color Coding

When the Palette Appears

The color palette opens automatically when:

• You create a new sidenote

• You click an existing sidenote (icon or note box)

• You edit the content of a note box

 

Palette Features

The palette includes:

• A color button for each available sidenote type

• A Normal option to remove category coloring

• A Remove option to delete the sidenote

 

Why Color Coding Helps

Color coding makes it easier to:

• Scan quickly for specific note types

• Filter notes during printing

• Organize complex productions

 

Copying and Moving

Copying Sidenotes

• Select a sidenote icon

• The icon and the linked note box are highlighted

• Press Ctrl + C (or Cmd + C on Mac)

• Move the cursor to the new position

• Press Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V on Mac)

Important: Both the icon and the note content are copied together.

 

Cutting Sidenotes

• Select a sidenote icon

• Press Ctrl + X (or Cmd + X on Mac)

• The icon and note are removed from the current position

• Paste in a new location using Ctrl + V (or Cmd + V on Mac)

 

Multi-Selection

To select multiple sidenotes:

• Click the first sidenote

• Hold Ctrl (or Cmd)

• Click additional sidenotes

• Copy or cut them as a group

 

Sidenotes in Print

Including Sidenotes in PDF

When printing a rundown or script:

• Open the print dialog (Cmd or Ctrl + P)

• Under Options, enable Sidenotes to include them

• Disable Sidenotes to hide them

 

Filtering Sidenotes During Print

For rundown printing, you can filter which sidenote types to include:

• Open the print dialog and find Filters

• Under Sidenotes, you will see all available categories

• Uncheck the types you do not want in the PDF

• Only checked types are included

 

Example workflow:

• Enable only Input and Graphic

• Disable all other sidenote types

 

Print Layout

• Sidenotes appear as badges next to the manuscript text

• They use the same colors as in the editor

• Note text is formatted cleanly in the PDF output

 

Function Notes

Function Notes are a special sidenote type used when an Asset Package is enabled. They allow you to link assets directly to notes.

 

Creating a Function Note

 

Method 1: Keyboard shortcut

• Place the cursor in the manuscript

• Press Shift + F9

• A function note icon is inserted

 

Method 2: Toolbar

• Click the Function button (only visible when an Asset Package is enabled)

• A function note icon is inserted

 

Linking an Asset

• Click the function note icon or the note box

• An asset menu appears under the color palette

• Select an asset from the list

• The asset name appears in the note box

• The icon and note box show that an asset is linked

 

Function Note Behavior

• Not editable when an asset is linked

• Displays asset name and metadata

• Can be color-coded like regular sidenotes

• Can be copied and moved

• Uses a dedicated UI marker to distinguish it from standard sidenotes

 

Tips and Best Practices

Keyboard Shortcut Summary

• F9: Create a sidenote

• Shift + F9: Create a function note (requires Asset Package)

• Ctrl or Cmd + C: Copy selected sidenote

• Ctrl or Cmd + X: Cut selected sidenote

• Ctrl or Cmd + V: Paste sidenote

• Delete or Backspace: Delete selected sidenote

 

Best Practices

• Use consistent color coding across projects

• Keep notes short and easy to read during production

• Place sidenotes exactly where the information is relevant

• Always verify print filters before generating a PDF

• Use clear asset naming so function notes are easy to identify

 

Visibility and Filters

In the rundown view, you can:

• Show or hide all sidenotes using the toggle button

• Filter sidenotes by type in the sidebar

• See sidenote counts per story

 

 

 

Troubleshooting

Sidenote Does Not Appear

• Confirm the sidenote column is visible

• Refresh the view so note layout updates

 

Cannot Edit a Sidenote

• Confirm you have write access

• If it is a function note with a linked asset, it is not editable

 

Connector Line Is Missing

• Connector lines are generated automatically

• Scroll slightly to force a UI refresh

 

Summary

Sidenotes are an essential tool for organizing production notes in Rundown2. With color coding, copy and paste support, and print filtering, they provide a flexible and powerful way to communicate production-critical information to your team.

 

 

Quick Start

 

• Place the cursor in the manuscript

• Press F9

• Type your note

• Optionally select a category color from the palette