Thanks for sharing this information! I'm having a problem though. The layer behavior described doesn't happen for me. Instead it will always remember which layer I was on when I exited the document. I tried to be thorough and watch the video twice to see if I was missing something. I tried this one 3 different version as well, with the last 2 being the latest release and latest beta. I even tried checking the settings to see if there was something specific to this. Did I just miss something easy? Or did they change this behavior?
I'm noticing this too. I think it was changed in the last few updates to the software. Now I guess we'll have to be more careful about the layer that's selected. Thanks for pointing this out!
Nothing against your attempt tp solve this problem, but it's a problem that shouldn't exist. There's no excuse for Remarkable not offering the ability to import real custom templates. This is a deal breaker for me. If I wanted to scribble my own templates, I'd stick with my Rocketbook pages.
You can import your own custom templates. This video isn’t doing that. It’s just copying pages. I’ve definitely seen another RU-vid video where the guy adds a template to the default ones provided by remarkable.
There are tools where you can import your own custom PNG templates, it unfortunately not yet supported by remarkable but the template is there. When you do a software update, you just have to add it back which takes less than 1-2 minutes, etc. It’s several tools that makes it easier than even he describes.
Because Remarkable is remarkably bad at listening to customer feedback. I have reached out to them a few times regarding templates and how they could function better. For example, their Cornell template is ridiculously small and should be scaled so you have more writing space in the notes column and less space in the recall column. The notes column also needs a smaller rule in the lines with the addition of 5-6 more lines. Their response is that I’m just not using it right. I FULLY regret the money I spent on this thing. It’s absurd.
Great idea! Thanks! I’m gravitating more and more to solutions that don’t require me to sit at the computer to create or to update. I haven’t thought of using layers, and thanks for the hint to use the top layer! You are awesome!
Thank you for sharing, that's a very cool workflow! With the just added function of "straight lines", which was not available at the time you made the video, it will become even more useful. Great stuff!👍
Yes, this is very convenient.... for new users: draw a line and hold at the end... then the line will straighten out...and you can also fine tune the angle and length of the line at the same time, while moving the pencil after the line has strightened out. (do not lift the pencil until finished)
Great video. I watched a couple more videos where I had to do some extra stuff, but watching your video and reading the comments gave me some good ideas. Thanks!
Very helpfull! I was looking for a solution to create simple but effective templates for everyday use and this just fits the bill! Simple and easy; in e few minutes up and running; thanks a lot!
Are you aware that by drawing a line and keeping the pencil on the screen the line will automatically straighten and you can then move it around. You can do it again and again and it would be very helpful in creating a neat template to use again and again.
Thank you, very helpful! I have created a few templates in Excel that I use everyday. I am strongly considering the Remarkable 2, BUT I want to be able to use the templates I have altready created as they have created positive habits that I don't want to undo. I can remake them, using the process in your video. But, I'd rather use what I have already created in Excel. I realize the R2 will not import an Excel file. But... I could export my Excel file to a PDF of course. To try to give you a visual of one of them... in the left column is the time beginning with 7:00AM, and then each row advances by 10 minutes, so the second line is 7:10AM, the third 7:20AM, etc. I print out a sheet each day, and in the second column is where I hand-write what I am doing and for which client. If I PDF my Excel file, and import it into the R2, will I be able to save it as a new template, putting the outline I have described into the template layer, and then write on the R2 in the notes layer?
The PDF trick will work, but what I would explore is making multiple copies of your template within the same PDF, one per page. That way you just have to scroll to the next page to start your next instance of the template. If you only have 1 template in the PDF, you'll need to duplicate the PDF every time you want a new instance of the template. Sadly there isn't an easy way to turn a PDF into a ReMarkable template directly. It's something that bothers me, and I hope they make that easier in the future.
I'm an EA and trying to find the best way to set up a template for my boss, this is a great workaround. Is there a way to save these to a specific folder or make a shortcut for him to click before a meeting? Learning the remarkable as I go. So glad I found your video.
I think so! Here's a guide on organizing notebooks into folders: support.remarkable.com/s/article/Organizing-folders A guess: You might create a folder called "Templates". Inside that folder, you might have a notebook per template (for instance: "Meeting Notes", "Pro Con Lists", "2x2s", etc.). It's a little clunky but might do the trick!
Hi Ben, Thanks for a very informative reMArkable video. Do you have a web page? I want to learn more. I need a 5-page continuous 8mm line with LH margin as a writer, so I can do block thought. The 'line' templates I have brought are only one page. Any help is appreciated.
Hi! I'm afraid I'm not much use there. If you're using a PDF for the template, you might duplicate the page in PDF editing software (like Adobe Acrobat or even Preview if you're on Mac) and then add that to the Remarkable. Someone with InDesign skills could make you something custom. Not sure beyond that. Good luck!
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Could you please explain how to make a template that is adaptable to the content? I can make a template with your excellent instructions. The template has a few headings but the content I write below each heading varies in size each time. Can the template be made to account for the size of the content? Like in a Word document? Thank you.
I'm afraid I don't have the answer to this one. Though one thing you could try is editing the template layer directly whenever your content is about to go out-of-bounds. The selection tool could enable you to move the template elements (e.g., headings). It's not ideal or automatic, but it might help you in those moments.
Instead of doing multiple pages, I recommend extending your template downward on a single page. The scrolling is infinite! support.remarkable.com/s/article/How-to-use-continuous-pages
Those are great questions! I suppose you could have two pages in a template. You would just alter my process above to select and duplicate both pages instead of only one. (And remembering to "erase all" on both pages as well.) Alternatively, you could just make one looooong single-page template by scrolling down on your first page and placing page-2 content on a lower part of the first page (this uses the new "continuous pages" feature support.remarkable.com/s/article/Navigating-our-new-pages-beta-3-0). To have multiple templates to choose from the easy way, I would probably create a folder for my templates and then make one notebook per template. To use a different template, you'd have to switch notebooks. That might get annoying, but it'd at least work cleanly. An alternative would be to put each of your templates all in a row at the beginning of your notebook. Then when when you're ready fill one out, you'd open the page select screen, scroll all the way to the top, select the template you want, and duplicate it. You'd probably also want to move it to the end of the notebook from there as well. (Or instead of scrolling to the beginning you could just scroll back until you find the last time you used the template you want.) Sorry this is so complicated! If I can clear anything up, just let me know!
Why is no-one using the straight line function on ReMarkable? After hand drawing a line - you just hold the tip on the page and the line snaps straight. You can make a perfect template this way
nice demonstration. Layers are best and you hit all my fav highlights. I make my top layer a problem, then a layer for my solution, then a student layer. I hide my solution while having a student solve. When next student has questions about the same problem, my workflow is slightly different. I delete the student layer, and add a new student layer. The erase all on current layer works great, too.
You would think it loads up on the top-most layer... I never figured it was the first layer on the bottom. NOW my custom templates will work! You can also duplicate the pages with the clean notes for MANY pages, that way you always have a clean page going forward.
Why not just make a document in Word or Excel. Export it to PDF, then import it to the tablet. Add handwritten annotations to the template form. Save. Win.
Hey that's a great idea! Just make sure to duplicate the template enough times within the same PDF, or I guess plan to make a copy of the PDF for each instance of the template. Wanna give it a shot and report back?
I’ve done both. You can move and copy Notebook pages as in this video anywhere. PDF pages can only be duplicated or moved within that PDF file. If you need to move the templates between files, the PDF method is very limiting. But if you want hyperlinks or don’t need to move templates between files, use PDFs and your pages can be pixel perfect with links between pages.
Hi, thank you. The template I will make is just a header containing the name of the notebook and a field to add a date. Will it continue if I swipe to add pages or must I do the copying and duplicating you were demonstrating? I mostly use one notebook for work and call it "daily notes", though occasionally use two more that have different names. When I fill a page, I swipe and add a new one. I'd like that header to be at the top of every page so I don't forget which notebook I'm in and start adding notes to the wrong notebook. Does that make sense? Thank you again.
Hi Joanne! Your situation makes complete sense to me! If you want the notebook name on every page, and you're using the method above, then I'm afraid the answer is yes to the copying/duplicating. One option: You could change the official / stock template for each notebook so they're all different (e.g., large grid for "daily notes", small grid for another notebook, lined for yet another). That way you get a visual cue about which notebook you're in without needing to deal with this custom template stuff. It's just an idea, but it might save you the friction of the copying/duplicating. Another option: If you're handy with Microsoft Word or Google Docs, create a new document and set it up exactly how you want the template to look (heading at the top, etc.). Then, create a buuunch of pages. Maybe 365 for the whole year? Then export it to a PDF and upload it to your Remarkable. Then you can take notes in the PDF, as if you were "annotating" some reading material (but it's really your custom template).
can you convert your notes layer content to text still using this? Or, if my custom template layer is converted to text (assuming I can do that) can I still write then convert to text the notes layer?
I don't know if it's the most efficient way, but I looked at some documentation, and it looks like there's a way to do it with the selection tool: 1 Open the document with the handwritten notes you’d like to convert. 2 Tap the selection tool and select your handwritten notes with your Marker. 3 Tap the handwriting conversion button. 4 Place the text cursor by tapping the display with your Marker. 5 Tap the paste button to paste the converted text. You can edit this text with the on-screen keyboard, with Type Folio, or in the mobile and desktop apps with a Connect subscription. I think that should work? Worth a try!
I am new to Remarkable 2. I have been trying to find a way to make a custom template and found your video. It is excellent. You designed a simple process and it works great. Thank you.
This is a helpful workaround, but it's not a template strictly speaking. Wishing Remarkable would make creating actual templates easier so you don't have those extra couple of steps.
Great question! I like to change the template over time. So instead of making 1000 copies of a blank template, I assume that I didn't get it right on my first try and will want to adjust it in the future. So I copy with text, erase text, and if I want to adjust the template as well, those adjustments are carried forward into future copies of that template. But you don't have to do that! I'm just being particular about making the template a living thing, rather than something I build once and then never adjust.
He! Nice video, very helpful. I'm wondering though.. Wouldn't it be easier to first make a copy of the empty template before adding the notes layer? That way, you'd have two blank copies: one to keep as a backup and one to add notes to. This way, there’s no need to erase anything later. Or am I missing something? Thank you!
@@HiredThought Yes.. works perfectly. You just copy a notebook with an empty Notes layer, not with a filled Notes layer. BTW: I had some trouble with the layer that is active once you open a document. In your software version it is the one "above" the template layer, in my version it always is the one you last worked in. So that too makes things quite easy, as you basically always stay in the Notes layer.
Useful tip that got me thinking... I bet I could do this with PDFs. I used Word to create a daily task and journal template that works for me, saved it as a PDF, then discovered I could do the same thing. The PDF template is called Background by default and my notes are Layer 1 by default. Same process only you are dealing with one less layer. I would not have thought of this without this video so thank you.
I'm a little confused. If you create your own and pull it in why do you need another layer? If you write on it and erase you wont erase anything. Maybe I am just not picking up what you're laying down....
Yeah love this. I’m going to do it this way. Thank you. Really don’t know why Remarkable won’t give us a shapes tool. The device would be perfect if they did.
Use an old fashioned plastic shape template or a ruler on top of the screen and draw your shapes on a page. Then lasso select and cut and paste them where you need them. You might not want to do this every time, but it’s great for shapes on your drawn templates as shown in this video!
Thank you! This is a great way to quickly get to know and use the rM. You can also use this method it test run any custom templates before getting into the more complicated routes.
One way is to create the initial template, then duplicate it before you write anything. Keep the first one without any notes and just duplicate that one each time without having to erase old notes first.
Waste of time and video. I was expecting that whatever was drawn as a custom template would have come out with professional clean drawn lines that be like the default ones
