Note Templates...?

ScatteredBoomer

I gave up on evernote.com recently. There is one feature they had that I made extensive use of: Template notes.

Specifically a folder of checklist items for packing for trips: A list for 'personal items', 'Computer items', Trip Specific etc. I could save these in templates, then copy blank (unfilled) checklists to a new dated 'trip' folder, put the notes in there, add or modify as needed for that specific trip, and then use them…all the while the 'source notes' remained unchanged in the templates folder.

I tried copying a note in Apple notes, but that didn't seem to accomplish what I needed. Any thoughts on how to recreate this in Apple notes?

That said, this ✱ Forever Notes concept is inspiring, and just what I have been looking for. Combining this with ClickUp for time tracking will be fantastic!

mettlerr

ScatteredBoomer What exactly did Apple notes not accomplish that you needed? Did you get any errors or an unexpected result?

If you make a Template folder, and store blank/unfilled checklist notes in there, and then copy from THOSE, that should do the same as a template function, in my opinion.

Of course copying a already filled in note, will NOT reset the checklist to unchecked or empty, so you will have to have a note with an empty/unfilled checklist to copy off from.

ScatteredBoomer

mettlerr

Yup: 'Doofus' status achieved! I did not notice the 'duplicate note' option - which works perfectly for my purposes.

Thanks for the response ;-)

tr4jan

mettlerr If you make a Template folder, and store blank/unfilled checklist notes in there, and then copy from THOSE, that should do the same as a template function, in my opinion.

Yes, but as we know, dealing with templates in Apple Notes is cumbersome as it is not part of the intended design.

Notes on macOS at least allows you to duplicate a (template) note, true, but doesn't store it as a date-current note, which I would have right at the top with this sorting to find it without much searching.

Notes on iOS make it even more difficult with templates, as you have to ‘manually’ create a new note and copy text from the template and paste it back into the target note. So, Apple could urgently do something about this. I generally don't like having to take any detours instead of a really patented, direct solution.

ScatteredBoomer Yup: 'Doofus' status achieved! I did not notice the 'duplicate note' option - which works perfectly for my purposes.

On MacOS.

iOS requires a more cumbersome procedure to use a template (see above).

DanKrungthep

tr4jan Notes on iOS make it even more difficult with templates, as you have to ‘manually’ create a new note and copy text from the template and paste it back into the target note

Probably could build a shortcut for that. For example: “New packing list” takes that note template and duplicates it.

tr4jan

DanKrungthep Probably could build a shortcut for that. For example: “New packing list” takes that note template and duplicates it.

Thank you for this thought. The problem with the timestamp, which I mentioned above, remains. My notes are sorted by time of modification for good reason. If I duplicate a note it is not sorted at the needed very top, but at the time the copied note was last modified. Thus utilising a shortcut for copying such a note instead of copying them manually does not provide any added value in my use case.

Arne

I use ProNotes for this and other functions.

tr4jan

Arne

Oh, that's an interesting recommendation... The app contains some really useful functions. Unfortunately, it only seems to be available for MacOS -so it's out for my areas of application.

tvillemw

I wonder how long some of these Mac-only solutions will be useful. I read where the next round of OS versions (iOS 19, etc.) will have a new UI, consistent across OS platforms. Even though I hardly ever use the Mac, I hope they don't useful remove Mac-only features.