Workspaces and pages
How workspaces, folders and pages map to directories and files.
Node organizes notes in three levels, and each one is a real item on disk.
| In Node | On disk | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace | A top-level directory in data/pages/ | Has an optional description and icon. |
| Folder | A directory inside a workspace or another folder | Can be nested as deep as you like. |
| Page | A .md or .mdx file | Holds the document. Pages never contain other items. |
The sidebar lists folders before pages, then sorts by name. Numbers sort naturally, so "Note 2" comes before "Note 10".
Creating things
- Workspace: the + button beside Workspaces in the sidebar, then New workspace. Choose a name, an optional description and one of twelve icons.
- Page or folder: the same + menu, the + on a row in the tree, or a row's menu. New items are created where you are: in the folder or workspace on screen, or beside the page you have open.
New items are named "Untitled". If that name is taken, Node uses "Untitled (2)", "Untitled (3)" and so on.
Names are file names
A page's title is the name of its file, so renaming a page renames the file.
- Characters that file systems reject (
\ / : * ? " < > |) are replaced with-. - A name cannot start with a dot, end with a dot or space, or be longer than 200 characters.
- Two items in the same folder cannot share a name. Node adds a number rather than overwriting.
Actions on an item
Open a row's … menu, or right-click it in the sidebar.
| Action | Applies to | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| New page / New folder | Workspaces, folders | Creates an item inside. |
| Rename | All | Renames the file or directory. In the sidebar this happens inline. |
| Duplicate | All | Copies the item as "Name copy". Folders and workspaces are copied with everything inside. |
| Favorite | Pages | Pins the page to Favorites in the sidebar and on Home. |
| Move | Pages, folders | Moves the item to another workspace or folder. A folder cannot move into itself. |
| Copy link | Pages | Copies the page's URL. |
| Copy path | All | Copies the path inside data/pages/. |
| Workspace settings | Workspaces | Edits the name, description and icon. |
| Add to Calendar | Pages | Opens a new event linked to the page. |
| Export Markdown / MDX | Pages | Downloads the page. See Import and export. |
| Delete | All | Removes the file or directory from disk. |
Delete is permanent
Deleting removes the file from disk straight away. Deleting a folder or workspace removes everything inside it. Node has no trash, so use Git or a backup if you need a way back.
Links follow renames
A page's address is built from its file path, so the address changes when you rename or move the page. Node updates everything it controls: favorites, the recent list, and any task or event linked to the page. If the page is open, the URL in the address bar is updated without interrupting your typing.
A link you copied earlier and pasted somewhere else will point at the old path and stop working.
Favorites and recents
- Favorites are the pages you starred. They appear in the sidebar and on Home.
- Recent lists the last twelve pages you opened. Opening a folder does not count.
Both lists, along with each workspace's icon and description, are stored in your browser rather than in the files.
Opening a workspace or folder
Selecting a workspace or folder shows an overview: its name, its contents in sidebar order, and the pages most recently updated inside it.
Changes made outside Node
Node re-reads the tree whenever its browser tab regains focus, so files you add, rename or delete in another program show up on their own. To force it, choose Reload from disk from the Workspaces + menu, Settings, or the command palette.
Node ignores hidden files and folders (names starting with a dot), anything that is not .md or .mdx, and the top-level assets folder where images are kept.