# Note Box

```{figure} ../../_static/images/tetrad-interface/box-by-box/note-box.png
:name: tetrad-note-box-screenshot
:alt: Note Box in the Tetrad interface.

Note Box in the Tetrad interface sidebar and a note node on the workbench.
```

## Purpose

The **Note** box lets you create **note nodes** that you can place on the workbench.  
Each note has:

- A **title**, which appears as the label of the node on the workbench.
- A longer **text body**, which you can view and edit by **double-clicking** the node.

Notes are useful for visually annotating a workbench layout—for example, marking groups of nodes,
recording a short reminder next to a graph, or labeling different regions of a workflow.

## Typical workflow

1. **Create a note**
   - In the Note box, click **New** to create a note object.
   - Give the note a **descriptive title**; this title will appear on the note node in the workbench.

2. **Place the note on the workbench**
   - Drag the note from the Note box list onto the workbench, or use the available controls
     (depending on your version) to add it to the main view.
   - Position the note node wherever you like by dragging it around the workbench.

3. **Edit the note text**
   - **Double-click** the note node on the workbench to open its text editor.
   - Type or edit the contents of the note.
   - Close the editor; the text is stored with the note, but only the **title** remains visible
     on the workbench.

4. **Reposition and organize**
   - Move note nodes around the workbench to group them near relevant graphs, models, or other objects.
   - Use multiple notes to mark different regions, phases of analysis, or TODO items.

5. **Save with the project**
   - Notes (and their positions on the workbench) are stored in the Tetrad project file.
   - When you reopen the project, the notes reappear where you placed them.

## Key controls

- **Toolbar**
  - **New** – create a new note.
  - **Rename / Delete** – change the note’s title or remove the note from the project.

- **Note list**
  - Shows all note objects defined in the project.
  - Selecting a note in the list highlights or focuses the corresponding note node on the workbench
    (depending on your version).

- **Workbench interaction**
  - Drag a note from the list to the workbench to place its node.
  - Drag the note node to reposition it.
  - Double-click the node to edit its text.

## Common patterns & tips

- Use notes to **label regions** of the workbench:
  - “Data preprocessing”
  - “Search results for fire data”
  - “Candidate adjustment sets”
- Keep note titles short and descriptive; the **title** is what remains visible on the workbench.
- Use the full text (visible on double-click) for a brief explanation, comment, or reminder.

## Related pages

- `Tetrad Interface → Overview` – high-level tour of the GUI.
- Other boxes that commonly appear alongside **Note** in the workbench:
  - *Graph*, *Data*, *Parametric Model*, *Instantiated Model*, etc., which you may want to annotate
    with nearby notes.