Create a new note

This tutorial will walk you through creating and working with notes in Anara, where you can write, organize thoughts, and leverage AI-powered writing assistance.

Step 1: Create a new note

There are multiple ways to create a note:

Option A: From the left sidebar

1. Click the + icon in the left sidebar
2. Select New note
3. Your new note opens immediately in the editor

Option B: From the notes sidebar

1. Open the Notes sidebar from the left panel
2. Click the + button in the top-right corner
3. A new note is created and ready for editing

Step 2: Start writing

The note editor provides a rich writing environment:

1. Give your note a title by clicking on “Untitled Note”
2. Start typing in the main editor area
3. Use the formatting toolbar for basic formatting:
   • Bold, italic, underline text
   • Create headings (H1-H6)
   • Add bullet or numbered lists
   • Insert code blocks or quotes

Step 3: Use AI writing assistance

When you select any text, a floating menu appears with AI-powered options:

Edit with AI

1. Highlight text you want to improve
2. Click Edit with AI in the floating menu
3. Choose from predefined actions:
   • Improve: Enhance clarity and flow
   • Expand: Add more detail
   • Shorten: Make more concise
   • Paraphrase: Rewrite in different words
   • Custom prompt: Give specific instructions

Add citations

1. Select text that needs a citation
2. Click Cite in the floating menu
3. Search your library or the internet for sources
4. Select relevant citations to add

The AI used in the editor can be different from your chat AI. Configure it in settings for optimal performance.

Step 4: Organize and manage notes

In the Notes sidebar

• View all notes: See your complete note collection
• Sort by recent: Most recently edited notes appear first
• Search notes: Find specific content across all notes
• Quick preview: Click any note to preview without leaving your current work

Note management options

Click the menu (three dots) in the top-right of any note to:

• Rename the note
• Open in full view for distraction-free writing
• Delete notes you no longer need

Step 5: Connect notes to your research

Reference other documents

• Mention specific papers or files from your library
• Link to other notes for cross-referencing
• Include citations from your research

Use with chat

1. Open a note and start a chat
2. Select Edit mode in the chat
3. Ask AI to modify your note content:
   • “Convert this to a summary”
   • “Add an introduction paragraph”
   • “Reorganize into sections”

Advanced features

AI Autocomplete

Enable AI autocomplete for intelligent writing suggestions as you type.

Export options

Export your completed notes in various formats:

• Word (.docx) with proper formatting
• PDF for sharing or printing
• Markdown for technical documentation

Tips for effective note-taking

• Create templates: Start with a consistent structure for similar types of notes
• Use headings: Organize content with clear sections
• Link liberally: Connect related ideas across notes
• Review regularly: Revisit and refine notes to reinforce learning
• Tag systematically: Use consistent tags for easy retrieval

Next steps

Now that you can create notes, explore:

• Adding citations to your notes
• Using agents to enhance your writing
• Importing research to reference in notes