Notes and Sticky Notes
Note boxes are rectangular text containers for specifications and legends. Sticky notes are informal annotation notes with a colored background.
Scapiera provides two distinct annotation tools for different purposes. The Note Box is a rectangular text container sized to your content — ideal for construction specifications, plant schedules, legends, and any formal annotation that will appear on a printed plan. The Sticky Note is a quick note on an informal amber background, best suited for design-stage reminders, client questions, and team comments that you intend to remove before final delivery. Both tools are bidirectional: you can click and drag on the canvas to place them, or type exact coordinates and dimensions in the tool sidebar.
Sticky Note
The Sticky Note tool places an informal colored note on the canvas. Click to place, type the text. Sticky notes have a colored background (like a physical sticky note). Use them for informal design comments or reminders.
Draw the note box on the canvas
Click on the canvas to set the top-left corner of the box, then drag to define its width. Release the mouse when the box is the right width. The Height field is optional to set manually — the box grows automatically to accommodate the text you type.
Type your content and confirm
A text cursor appears inside the box. Type your specification, legend entry, or schedule content. When finished, press Cmd+Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows) to confirm and commit the note box to the plan. Press Escape to cancel without saving.
Open the Sticky Note tool
Select the Sticky Note tool from the Annotations panel in the Inspector. Unlike the Note Box, the Sticky Note requires only a single click — no drag needed. The tool sidebar shows a Position coordinate field if you prefer to place it precisely.
Place and write the sticky note
Click anywhere on the canvas to drop the sticky note at that position. The note appears immediately with a colored background and an active text cursor. Type your comment — for example a client question, a design reminder, or a team message. Press Cmd+Enter to confirm.
Edit a placed sticky note in the Inspector
Select a placed sticky note to open the Inspector panel on the right. You can edit its Text and adjust its Width and Height. If a sticky note is attached to an object, the Inspector also shows an attachment row with a control to detach it.
Reposition or resize after placement
Select any placed note box or sticky note with the selection tool and drag it to a new position. In the Inspector you can set the Width and Height directly; for note boxes you can also adjust the Corner Radius. While you are typing inside a note box, its height grows to fit the text you enter.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd+Enter | Confirm text |
| Escape | Cancel |
Use Note Boxes for any annotation that will appear in the final printed plan — specifications, legends, plant schedules, and general notes. Use Sticky Notes for working comments that stay out of the formal record; remove them before exporting or sharing deliverables.
Sticky notes are visible in both 2D and 3D views. If you are presenting a 3D walkthrough to a client, hide any sticky notes you don't want them to see by toggling their layer off in the Layers panel before switching to 3D.
Pressing Escape while writing a note cancels the entire note — your typed text will not be saved. Always use Cmd+Enter to confirm before moving on.
Frequently Asked Questions
I typed my note but it disappeared. What happened?
You most likely pressed Escape instead of Cmd+Enter. Escape cancels the note without saving it. Always press Cmd+Enter (or Ctrl+Enter on Windows) to commit the text. If you accidentally cancel, simply re-activate the tool and place the note again.
Can I edit a sticky note after placing it?
Yes. Select the sticky note on the canvas and open the Inspector panel on the right to edit its Text, Width, and Height. To change the wording in place, double-click the note on the canvas and type your changes.
Why does my note box height keep changing as I type?
This is intentional. The note box height is content-driven: it grows to fit however much text you enter. You only need to set the width when drawing — the height takes care of itself. If you want a taller box at a specific width, add blank lines at the bottom of your text.
What is the difference between a Note Box and the Text tool?
The Text tool places a single line or paragraph of plain text directly on the plan without a visible border or background. The Note Box wraps text in a bordered rectangle with a light background fill, making it stand out as a formal annotation — ideal for specifications and legends where the box border is part of the visual hierarchy.
Can I include a note box or sticky note in a PDF export?
Yes. Both note boxes and sticky notes are drawn elements on the canvas and are included in PDF and image exports by default. If you want to exclude sticky notes from a delivery export, move them to a dedicated layer (for example, 'Working Notes') and hide or exclude that layer when exporting.