I just started using Margin Note 4 and I think it’s great. However, before I can get started, I have a few questions about the app:
• 1. Would you recommend using one study set per subject (e.g., mathematics) or one notebook/mind map per subject so that everything is in one place?
• For example, should I create a separate notebook with one mind map for geometry and one for calculus… so that in the end, math is all together in one study set, or should I combine everything in one notebook and one mind map so that I have “math” in the middle of the mind map and the main topics branching off from it?
• 2. There are always two areas. The notebook on the left and the mind map on the right. If you want to edit a PDF file, what do you do first? Do you first highlight everything and take notes, etc., and then structure it into a mind map, or what is your workflow when you want to work through a topic?
• 3. Which of the two do you use to learn and improve your notes? When I have my notes on the left and convert them into a map, it’s harder to change the notes again because I now have this big square over them (see image). How do you find the balance between editing a topic and converting it into a good mind map, where you can then review things and improve them as needed?
• 4. Is there a way to have a document (a document that should look exactly the same in every class) that is linked to each class and that I can see in every notebook? Like a copy that appears in every class and is the same in every notebook after a change.
• 5. What is the best way to link things? For example, I have the topic of genetics and want to link it to proteins. What is the best way to do this?
Congratulations on starting with MarginNote 4! It’s a powerful tool, and your questions are excellent—they get to the very heart of how to structure knowledge effectively. Here are detailed answers and recommendations based on your questions.
1. Organizing Subjects: One Study Set vs. One Notebook/Mind Map
This is a foundational question. The short answer is: Use one Study Set per major subject (e.g., “Mathematics”) and then use Sub-Mind Maps within that Study Set to organize topics (e.g., “Geometry,” “Calculus”).
Here’s why and how:
- Study Set as a Container: A Study Set is a container for all the resources related to a single, coherent subject. It holds your PDF documents, multiple mind maps, and review cards. Keeping “Mathematics” in one Study Set keeps all your resources for that subject together and searchable in one place.
- Sub-Mind Maps for Topics: Instead of having one gigantic, overwhelming mind map for all of math, you should create Sub-Mind Maps. You can have a main “Mathematics Overview” mind map, and then create separate sub-maps for “Geometry,” “Calculus,” “Algebra,” etc.
- How to do it: In the mind map view, click the
...button in the top-right corner and look for an option like “New Sub-Mind Map” or “Structure Collapse to Sub-Mind Map.” This keeps your workspace clean and focused.
- How to do it: In the mind map view, click the
- Linking Across Maps: A key power of MarginNote is that you can link cards from your “Geometry” sub-map to cards in your “Calculus” sub-map, even though they are in different maps. This way, everything is together in the Math Study Set, but you avoid the clutter of a single massive map.
Your Workflow Should Be: One Study Set per subject → Multiple Sub-Mind Maps per topic → Use links to show relationships between topics.
2. Workflow: PDF Annotation vs. Mind Map Structuring
Your observation about the two areas (Document and Mind Map) is correct. The most effective workflow is a dynamic, back-and-forth process, not a linear one.
A recommended workflow is:
- Initial Read & Highlight: Read a section of the PDF first. Use the highlighter tools to mark key passages, concepts, and definitions. This creates “excerpt” cards that automatically appear in your mind map.
- Immediate Structuring: After highlighting a few key ideas, switch your focus to the mind map. Drag the new cards to organize them. Create a main idea card and make the excerpts its children. Add your own summary cards or link related ideas together.
- Iterate: Go back to the document, read the next section, highlight, and then return to the mind map to integrate the new cards. This constant interaction between reading (document) and synthesizing (mind map) is the core of active learning and greatly improves retention.
Don’t highlight the entire document first. You will end up with a pile of unstructured cards that can be overwhelming to organize later. Process the information in small chunks.
3. Balancing Note Editing and Mind Map Review
The “big square” you see is the excerpt card’s content. You are right, it can cover the original text. Here’s how to balance this:
- The Power of the Card Editor: Double-click on any card in the mind map. This opens the full Card Editor, where you can see and edit the excerpt (the original text), the title, and your comments/notes in a dedicated, uncluttered window.
- Use “Title Only” View: When your mind map gets large, you can simplify the view. In the mind map’s settings (the
...menu), enable “Show Title Only.” This will hide the excerpt content (the big square) and only show the card’s title, making the map much cleaner for review and high-level structuring. You can always click on the card to see its full content in the pop-up or editor. - Refine Titles: As you learn, go back and refine the titles of your cards to be clear, concise questions or concepts (e.g., “What is the Pythagorean Theorem?” instead of just “Pythagorean Theorem”). This turns your mind map into a powerful self-testing tool during review.
Balance Tip: Do detailed reading and note-taking in the Document and Card Editor. Use the Mind Map view for structuring, creating relationships, and high-level review.
4. Reusing a Document Across Multiple Classes (Linked Copy)
Yes, you can achieve this using the “Reference” function, not a simple copy.
- Add the Document to Multiple Study Sets: You can import the same PDF document into multiple different Study Sets (e.g., “Biology 101” and “Chemistry 101”).
- Use Referenced Cards: When you excerpt text in one Study Set, you can “Reference” that card into another Study Set’s mind map.
- How: Select the card, choose “Copy as Reference,” and then paste it into the mind map of your other Study Set.
- The Magic of Reference: A referenced card is a live link to the original. If you edit the excerpt or your notes in the original card (e.g., in your “Biology” set), the referenced card in your other Study Sets (e.g., “Chemistry”) will update automatically. This keeps the information consistent everywhere.
This is the best way to have a “single source of truth” that appears in multiple classes.
5. Best Way to Link Topics (e.g., Genetics to Proteins)
Linking is a superpower in MarginNote. For linking different concepts like Genetics and Proteins, the best method is Drag-and-Drop to Create a Link.
- Have Both Cards Visible: Make sure the “Genetics” card and the “Proteins” card are both visible in your mind map (they can be in different sub-maps, you can open a sub-map in a floating window).
- Drag and Drop: Simply click and hold the “Genetics” card, then drag it and drop it onto the “Proteins” card.
- Choose Link Type: A menu will appear. You can choose:
- “Link”: Creates a one-way link from Proteins to Genetics.
- “Bi-directional Link”: Creates a link that works both ways, which is ideal for showing a mutual relationship. This is probably what you want.
Once linked, you can click on the link line between the cards to add a label (e.g., “codes for”) to describe the relationship. Clicking on the linked card title inside another card’s note will instantly jump to it, making your knowledge base truly interconnected.
Enjoy exploring MarginNote 4! Start with one subject and this workflow, and you’ll gradually develop your own personalized system.