Paper Writing and reading
Blocks, edit mode, reading mode, templates and each page's menu.
Blocks
Each line of a page is a block. The / bar on an empty line shows every type:
| Block | What for |
|---|---|
| Text, headings | The basics. #, ## and ### at the start of a line also become headings. |
| List, numbered list | - or 1. at the start of a line. |
| Task | [ ] at the start of a line. Shows up in the Calendar if it has a date. |
| Quote and callout | To draw attention to a passage. |
| Code | Fixed-width text, with color by language. |
| Table | Columns with a type (text, number, date, checkbox, option) and a sum at the bottom. |
| Board | Columns with cards you drag around, like a Kanban. |
| Timeline | Steps with a start and an end on a timeline. |
| Chart | Bars, lines, area or pie, from a small table. |
| Image and file | Drag from your computer onto the page. |
Dragging a .md or .txt file into a page brings its text in as blocks. Other files become attachments.
The / bar understands block names in English, Portuguese and Spanish: /table, /tabela and /tabla all work.
Edit mode and reading mode
The Read button at the top of the page turns on reading mode. In it, no click changes the text: good for looking things up on your phone, presenting in a meeting or reviewing without fear. Tasks and boards are locked too.
- Ctrl Shift L switches between reading and editing.
- Paper remembers the choice for each page.
- To open everything in reading mode by default: Settings → Editor → Open pages in reading mode.
Templates
An empty page shows ready templates: meeting, project, task list, book reading, study and week plan. Click one to start with the structure in place.
Page menu
The three dots at the top of the page open the menu:
- Icon: pick an emoji that shows in the sidebar and above the title.
- Duplicate: creates a copy right below.
- Move: takes the page to another folder or into another page.
- Copy internal link: copies the
[[link]]to paste in another page. - Share: creates a public link. See Sharing.
Next to the edit date, the page shows how many words it has and how long it takes to read.
Download a page
The export button at the top of the page downloads just that page, as .md, PDF or Word.