Extend Note ① | Basic Operations: Freely Open Up Note Space Between the Lines¶

💡Extend Note — Expanding Your PDF Note Space:

The extend note feature lets you insert an expandable note area anywhere in a PDF — to add explanations, record your thoughts, attach related materials, or raise questions — without changing the original layout.

Whether you're working through a long passage, organizing knowledge that spans pages, or extending notes on key content, you can expand right beside the original text and update it at any time, keeping reading and note-taking tightly connected.

💡If you've already mastered the basics of the extend note, you can skip this page and continue to the use-case article: Extend Note ② | Use Cases: Managing Reading Notes in Layers

1 What Is an Extend Note¶

An extend note has three display modes:

Embedded (Normal): the default mode of an extend note. Visually it blends seamlessly with the textbook, making it ideal for fleshing out textbook knowledge points in class, adding explanatory annotations, and so on.
Margin: creates a separate comment area at the edge of the page so it doesn't interfere with your main reading — like sticky notes placed alongside the book. Ideal for preserving a paper's layout or quickly adding comments.
Collapsed: once collapsed, the extend note shrinks to a single line so it doesn't interfere with your main reading; tap it to view when needed. For example, in a theorem proof where some steps aren't fully detailed, you can use an extend note to fill them in without disrupting the main proof framework.

2 Creating an Extend Note (Using Normal Mode as an Example)¶

2.1 Creating an Extend Note Within the Document View¶

Extend note tool

Tap to select the extend note tool in the toolbar (shown by the icon above). There are three ways to create an extend note:

Tap in a blank area to create an extend note. You can also enable double-tap to create an extend note via the hand tool (shown in the second image in this section).

💡Use this to add a new note location in the PDF.

Ideal for adding insights beside the original text, summarizing key points, jotting down ideas, or attaching supplementary materials. It doesn't depend on a selection in the original text, giving it the greatest flexibility.

In a text area, select text to create a text excerpt extend note.

💡Use this to expand on an explanation or extend content based on the document's text.

Ideal for term definitions, concept clarification, translating example sentences, explaining formulas or arguments, and similar scenarios — it clearly links the selected content with your supplementary notes.

In a non-text area, drag to select and create a rectangular excerpt extend note.

💡Use this to add linked notes to non-text areas such as images, charts, formula screenshots, and tables.

Ideal for adding explanations beside visual material, breaking down its structure, marking key points, or adding further information.

2.2 Creating an Extend Note in the `margin comment area`¶

In the top-right corner of the document, tap ...(Document - More
Switch the extend note to Margin mode, and the margin comment area will open automatically

Now when you create an extend note, it expands by default in the margin comment area (as shown below)

3 Editing an Extend Note¶

3.1 Editing Extend Note Content¶

After creating an extend note, you can edit its content
You can write with Apple Pencil (tap the T key to switch to typing in full-text mode)

- In handwriting mode, tap a blank spot inside the extend note to convert it to full-text mode (same as the T key), paste content, insert a local text box or image (take a photo, insert from your photo library), or cancel the extend note

Tap the three dots on the right side of the extend note to bring up the menu bar

💡The card pop-up menu contains three categories of tools — the Basic, Advanced, and Favorites bars — used mainly to edit, manage, and extend card functions. For a full description of the buttons, see: The Card Pop-up Menu Bar and Its Customization

Basic bar: performs simple operations on the card. Among these, Collapse is a function closely tied to the extend note.

💡Once Collapse is enabled, the selected extend note collapses into a dashed line — useful for simplifying the PDF page, hiding details, and maintaining reading continuity. Ideal for keeping the page tidy while working with extend notes or expanded paragraph content.

Advanced bar: performs more complex operations on the card, including speech, Research (search in MN's built-in browser), and Export
Favorites bar: frequently used functions from Basic and Advanced can be gathered together in Favorites, so you don't have to switch back and forth.

3.2 Changing the Extend Note Style¶

Expanding an Extend Note¶

When an extend note is collapsed, tap the Expand extend note button to expand it.

Tap the Auto-expand button to turn the extend note's auto-expand on or off.

Auto-expand

In the extend note's handwriting mode, tap the Auto-expand button; the button turns blue, and the extend note expands in Normal mode within the PDF.

In the extend note's handwriting mode, tap the Auto-expand button; the button turns gray, and the extend note appears in Collapsed mode within the PDF.

3.2.2 Moving an Extend Note Up or Down¶

Long-press and drag the small arrow in the top-right corner of the extend note / the three dots on the right to move the extend note up or down

3.2.3 Adjusting the Height of an Extend Note¶

Drag the horizontal line in the bottom-right corner to adjust the extend note's height.

3.3 Switching How an Extend Note Is Displayed¶

3.3.1 The Three Extend Note Styles¶

Normal (embedded in the document)
Tap the Document - More button
Check the box to set it to Normal mode
After you create an extend note, it expands in Normal mode within the PDF
Margin
Tap the Document - More button and check the box to set it to Margin mode; the margin comment area opens automatically
After you create an extend note, it expands in the margin comment area
Collapsed
Tap the Document - More button and check the box to set it to Collapsed mode
After you create an extend note and enter content, tap on the document, and the extend note appears in Collapsed mode