How to improve note taking on PDFs (Note2)

[Goetz]

Hello everyone,

I am happy with my Note2, but I'm not completely satisfied with the native pdf reader. It seems that I can't change font size without messing with the document's layout. Also, the document adapts to the Note's screen by leaving wide margins to the sides, but I'm unable to take notes outside the dashed margins line. Is there a workaround for that?
Is there a better app than the native one?

[EPW]

Originally Posted by Goetz

Hello everyone,

I am happy with my Note2, but I'm not completely satisfied with the native pdf reader. It seems that I can't change font size without messing with the document's layout. Also, the document adapts to the Note's screen by leaving wide margins to the sides, but I'm unable to take notes outside the dashed margins line. Is there a workaround for that?
Is there a better app than the native one?

Interestingly, I believe this could be solved if ONYX would reinstate the ability to link sidenotes to a page. I have the same problem. A lot of the documents I review simply so not leave enough space for me to take notes in the margins. I could use side notes, but they are the equivalent of having a notepad next to the book. I wish a turn of the page could turn the side note page as well. Then I would have a large enough canvas. I am interested in responses to your post!

[EPW]

Originally Posted by Goetz

Hello everyone,

I am happy with my Note2, but I'm not completely satisfied with the native pdf reader. It seems that I can't change font size without messing with the document's layout. Also, the document adapts to the Note's screen by leaving wide margins to the sides, but I'm unable to take notes outside the dashed margins line. Is there a workaround for that?
Is there a better app than the native one?

CLARIFICATION: In response to not being able to take notes outside the page dimensions. I understand it may not be feasible to expand the outer limit of a .pdf page (because it would entail changing the characteristics of the .pdf itself rather than simply allowing annotations, but I believe this could be solved if ONYX would reinstate the ability to link sidenotes to a page. I have the same problem. A lot of the documents I review simply do not leave enough space for me to take notes in the margins. I could use side notes, but they are the equivalent of having a completely separate notepad next to the .pdf. I wish a turn of the .pdf page could turn the side note page as well. Then I would have a large enough canvas. I am interested in responses to your post!

[lensmann]

Originally Posted by EPW

I believe this could be solved if ONYX would reinstate the ability to link sidenotes to a page. I have the same problem. A lot of the documents I review simply do not leave enough space for me to take notes in the margins. I could use side notes, but they are the equivalent of having a completely separate notepad next to the .pdf. I wish a turn of the .pdf page could turn the side note page as well. Then I would have a large enough canvas. I am interested in responses to your post!

There's a setting under 'Global Settings' which lets you associate a sidenote with a page. Have you tried that? I think it should do what you want.

[Stevem51]

Sometimes I print to PDF, send to the Note 2 and then mark it up. I find if I print in landscape then it leaves plenty of space on the right hand side to write notes in. Hope that helps a little.

[Stevem51]

Originally Posted by lensmann

There's a setting under 'Global Settings' which lets you associate a sidenote with a page. Have you tried that? I think it should do what you want.

I don't see that option on my Note 2. Any chance of a screenshot? Or are we using different readers.

[jsiebenbaum]

Originally Posted by Stevem51

I don't see that option on my Note 2. Any chance of a screenshot? Or are we using different readers.

I believe that option was removed in the current software version.

[lensmann]

Originally Posted by Stevem51

I don't see that option on my Note 2. Any chance of a screenshot? Or are we using different readers.

I checked this on a Max 2. I do have a Note 2, but I lent it to a colleague just before the lockdown and heaven only knows when I'll next see it. The functionality to associate a sidenote with a page disappeared in version 2.0 in the Max 2, but reappeared in version 2.2 and it's still there in 2.3. I assumed it had also come back on the Note 2, but I haven't been able to check. It would be very odd if they'd reinstated it on the Max 2, but not the Note 2. Anyway, the attached screenshot shows you what the option looks like on the Max 2.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by lensmann

Anyway, the attached screenshot shows you what the option looks like on the Max 2.

This line is missing on my Nova2 2.3.

[lensmann]

Ah, in that case I'm terribly sorry for having misled people. I'm also a lot less happy about having purchased a Note 2 (I lent it out within a couple of days of getting it so I've never really used it, and this makes me wish I'd never bought it). It makes so little sense that they'd withhold a feature from later models which they've included in an earlier model.

I've sent them an email asking them to bring the ability to associate sidenotes with pages to the Note 2 - given that the Max 2 already has it, it surely can't be that hard to port it across. Perhaps if more people ask for it, there's a chance they'll do it in a future firmware release.

[Markismus]

The Note Pro 2.3.1 has the option. However, it doesn't work as expected. It doesn't seem to work at all. If I turn the page the same note remains. I haven't tried creating multiple note pages and seeing whether it switches to the right note page when I turn pages. I'll check that.