I have always provided Goodnotes instructions with my planners and notebooks but it seems Noteshelf is becoming just as popular. So here are some instructions for you.
I am going to show you how to download your files from Dropbox and then how to use them in Noteshelf.
Looking for Goodnotes? All my notebooks come with a detailed pdf for Goodnotes. A blog post will be coming soon!
Let’s get started!
What tools do you need?
Digital Planners are compatible with both Apple and Android devices. So, the tools depend on which one you have.
- iPad Tablets
- A stylus to write, such as the Apple Pencil
- Note-Taking App: Goodnotes or Noteshelf App
- Digital Planner PDF
- Android Tablets
- Stylus to be able to write in your planner
- Note-Taking App: I recommend the Noteshelf App Digital Planner PDF
Choosing a note-taking app
GOODNOTES
NOTESHELF
- If you are using an Apple Device, I would recommend using the Goodnotes or Noteshelf Apps.
- For Android Tablets, I would recommend the Noteshelf App.
- Once you choose one, purchase it and make sure it is updated.
Shop for digital planners
Now it’s time for the fun part. Start shopping for digital planners and notebooks. You can shop for my collection at my Etsy Shop.
Download files from Dropbox (Part one)
- For these instructions I’m using the Safari browser.
- Select the file that you want to download. For example, let’s choose the Notebook Lined document.
- On the top right corner, you will see the following three buttons: Sign in, Sign up, and a downward arrow. Select the download icon.
- Then, from the drop-down menu, select Direct Download.
Download files from Dropbox (Part two)
- After clicking the Direct Download button from the previous step, a message will appear asking you if you want to download it.
- Confirm by selecting the Download Button.
- On the top bar menu of the Safari Browser click the Download Icon.
- The file that is downloading will appear. Once it finishes, click on the magnifying glass.
How to import into Noteshelf
- In the Files App, click on the file that you want to open.
- Once it opens, click the Share Icon on the top right corner.
- You might have to scroll and select Copy to Noteshelf.
- It will open in Noteshelf and start importing.
- If a message appears, click on Create New
- Once it finishes, you are ready to use your planner/notebook!
How to use the Noteshelf app
Note: The following instructions apply when the option Disable hyperlinks when writing is selected. You can find this option by going to the settings 
section of Noteshelf and selecting Advanced.
CLICK ON THE TABS
- For the tabs to work, you need to be in the Read-Only Mode in Noteshelf. Click the icon on the right side of the toolbar.
- This mode lets you navigate through your pages comfortably while blocking all other inputs, like the pen, highlighter, and eraser.
WRITE ON THE PLANNER
- If you are in Read-Only Mode, select the Edit button and choose a writing tool.
- If you are not in Read-Only Mode, just choose any of the following writing tools.
- The writing tools
are: pen, eraser, highlighter, and text.
What are digital stickers?
A Digital Sticker is simply a png file with an image and a transparent background that you can import individually to your planner and decorate it.Â
CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO OPTIONS
A Digital Sticker is simply a png file with an image and a transparent background that you can import individually to your planner and decorate it.
Another option is the Pre-cropped Digital Stickers for Noteshelf, which means that all the png stickers are imported and organized in a Noteshelf File for you. So, instead of having to import them one by one, they are already ready to use! This is not something I provide for Noteshelf. I do however provide the equivalent for Goodnotes.
In the next steps, you will learn how to download, import, and use the digital stickers choosing between two options, if available:
Option 1: PNG Digital Stickers
Option 2: Pre-Cropped Digital Stickers File
How to download stickers
- Select the digital stickers zip file from the options
On the top right corner, you will see the following three buttons: Sign In, Sign Up, and download. Select download.
- After clicking the Direct Download button from the previous step, a message will appear asking you if you want to download it.
- Confirm by selecting the Download Button.
- On the top bar menu of the Safari Browser click the Download Icon.
- The file that is downloading will appear. Once it finishes, click on the magnifying glass.
- Once you download the files from Dropbox following the previous steps, the sticker zip file will open in the Files App of your iPad in the Downloads Folder.
- Click on the Digital Sticker Zip file to unzip it and select the unzipped folder that appeared after it finishes the process.
- Now, you can choose your stickers by clicking the Select button on the top right corner and selecting the stickers that you want.
- Finally, click on the Share button and save the images on your Photo Album.
Option 1: PNG digital stickers
Download + Import: Remember to download the digital sticker Zip File following the previous steps and make sure you unzip it.
Then, import and save them to the Photo Album of your tablet.
STEP ONE: ADD PHOTO
- Tap on the plus icon in the top left menu and select the Photo option.
- Then, select the stickers that you want to import from the Photo Album and click done.
STEP TWO: EDIT IT
- Select the lasso tool and circle the sticker to reveal all the edit options.
- Now, you can copy, paste, delete, and resize each digital sticker.
Option 2: Pre-cropped digital stickers
STEP ONE: LASSO TOOL
- Tap on the lasso tool and select the sticker by creating a circle around it. The edit options will appear.
- Choose the copy option.
STEP TWO: PASTE IT
- Go to the page in your planner that you want your sticker.
- Tap the lasso tool and select paste.
How to delete covers
- Once you have opened the notebook in Noteshelf, open the page overview using the 4 squares icon on the top right.
- Press Edit and tap the covers you want to delete
- Once you have selected the covers you want to delete, click done.
- Then click “more…” at the bottom of the page.
- Click Move To Trash and confirm.
Tip: Never delete the contents page, stickers page, divider pages or additional styles pages. The links will stop working if you do.
How to duplicate a page
Click the 4 squares icon (top right) to get the page overview
- Click on the page you want to duplicate
- Click “duplicate” at the bottom of the page.
Finally click to confirm. This will insert the page after the original.
How to copy and paste a page
My notebooks come with many paper styles. The standard version has 8. The new premium version (coming to the shop this Summer has 42 paper styles and 42 templates).
First choose the style you want. Click it and it will take you to that page.
- Click the 4 squares in top right to open the overview.
- Click edit (top right)
- Navigate to the page you want to copy.
- Select it and click More… (bottom)
- Then CopyÂ
- Navigate in the notebook to where you want to add the page.
- Click the plus sign in top left to open the menu
- Click Insert from clipboard
Any other questions?
If you have any other questions about how to use Noteshelf, please contact me and I’ll add them to the post!
