Frequently Asked Questions

Your file download email should arrive in your inbox within minutes of your purchase. However, in limited cases, it may take up to 2 hours for this email to arrive. This occurs when the payment option you've selected takes longer to process.

The email comes from the following address: hello(at)laurelstudio.co. If you don't see this email, we suggest first checking your spam or filtered folders in your inbox.

If you still don't see the download link in your inbox within 2 hours of placing your order, the message may have been blocked by your email provider or there may have been a system error. Please send us a message using the contact form below or send us an email by replying to your order confirmation email, and we will manually send you your download link.

Digital planning merges the open-ended creativity of paper with the convenience of the digital world. Your digital planner will be delivered to you as a file that can be imported into any PDF markup app. Essentially, you can think of it as the "next generation" paper planner - a digital version that has been created specifically for use on a tablet device within a PDF markup app such as GoodNotes or Noteshelf. 

To use a digital planners/notebook you will need:

     1.  Tablet device 
     2.  A stylus or Apple Pencil 
     3.  PDF markup/annotation app 

          (e.g. Goodnotes, Notability, Xodo, Noteshelf)

You CAN use these files on a PC in the Xodo app or on a Mac computer in the GoodNotes 5 app. However, I recommend using my digital planners and notebooks primary on a tablet device with a stylus. This will give you an experience that is most similar to pen and paper and really maximizes the benefits of using this type of planner. 

I do access my planner on both my iPhone and Mac computer as well, but I don't do the majority of my planning/notetaking on these devices.

If you want to test a planner out on your specific device/app of choice, you can receive a free planner sample through my Intro to Digital Planning email series.

Unfortunately these types of planners don't work in OneNote or Evernote since these programs don't preserve the internal linking or separate pages of PDFs.

For a windows computer or tablet, your best bet might be Xodo. However, I'd encourage you to test this out with a sample of the planner.

I have some additional info on app options and a link to grab a free download on this page: https://shop.laurelstudio.co/blogs/tips/choosing-a-pdf-markup-ap

No, these planners won't sync to your calendar or productivity app. The planner itself is a PDF file that you import into a PDF markup app (like GoodNotes 5 or Noteshelf). The app allows you to add notes, text and images. So it functions much more like a paper planner would in the sense that all content you add to a page is static and does not sync between pages or other digital toolsets/apps. 

Yes, you can use these files in any PDF markup app that supports internal document hyperlinks. 

My top suggestions for Android are:

• Noteshelf 
• Xodo 

For a windows computer or tablet, your best bet might be Xodo. However, I'd encourage you to test this out with a sample of the planner.

I have some additional info on app options and a link to grab a free download on this page: https://shop.laurelstudio.co/blogs/tips/choosing-a-pdf-markup-ap

You can use these files on a Mac computer and an iPhone in the GoodNotes 5 app. However, I recommend using my digital planners and notebooks primary on a tablet device with a stylus. This will give you an experience that is most similar to pen and paper and really maximizes the benefits of using this type of planner. 

I do refer back to my planner or add quick notes on both my iPhone and Mac computer as well, but I don't do the majority of my planning/note taking on these devices. With the GoodNotes 5 app, your notebooks/planners will sync across all Apple devices through your iCloud account. 

If you want to test a planner out on your specific device/app of choice, you can receive a free planner sample through my Intro to Digital Planning email series.

These files work well on most e-Ink tablets including the reMarkable 2, Boox and Supernote. 

Due to screen size/display differences, we create templates specifically optimized for use on e-Ink devices. You can shop those templates here: Planners & Notebooks for eInk Tablets

We formally test all e-Ink templates on the reMarkable 2 tablet, so if you do run into any compatibility issues with other tablets, just send us a message via the contact form below and we will be happy to work together on a resolution.

Based on testing of the first version of the Kindle Scribe tablet, we do not currently recommend using any of the Digital Planner or Notebook templates in our shop with a Kindle Scribe. We ran into multiple compatibility issues related to page handling and available features. We do hope future updates to the Scribe will make it compatible with our templates! 

On most e-ink devices you will trigger the hyperlinks on the page of your planner or notebook with your finger, not your pen/stylus. 

Simply tap with your finger on the area of the page that is hyperlinked, and this should trigger the link to take you to the destination page. You can see additional details on this page: Getting Started with eInk Tablets

Typically, the first couple pages of your planner/notebook template will include some tips and details around the location of the hyperlinks on the page. 

Feel free to send us a message if you need help with a specific template.

For most eInk tablets, you'll upload the template PDF file you receive from our shop to a desktop/web portal. This portal will upload the file to your device.

You can see a demonstration of this here: Getting Started with Digital Templates on eInk Tablets

Device Instructions:

      reMarkable 2: https://support.remarkable.com/s/article/Importing-files

      Supernote: https://support.supernote.com/en_US/Tools-Features/epub-and-pdf-documents

      Boox: https://onyxboox.medium.com/the-complete-guide-of-transferring-files-to-boox-eb01f099f65e

If your device is not listed above, we recommend searching (PDF upload instructions [your device])

We currently test every file on the reMarkable 2, and we cannot guarantee compatibility on all devices. If you find your file is not compatible with your specific device, please send us a message by replying to your order confirmation or send a message via the form below. We will offer a refund if you aren't able to get the file to work on your end.

Have you checked to make sure you have toggled off editing mode in your app?

In GoodNotes, there are two modes: editing (which allows you to add text, images, handwriting) and reading (which collapses the editing mode and allows the hyperlinks to function).

Just tap the pencil icon in the upper right corner of your app to toggle between reading and editing mode. When you are in editing mode, the full tool menu will be displayed and when you switch to reading mode that menu will collapse. Once the menu is collapsed, the hyperlinks should work just by tapping on them.

First, ensure you are importing the correct file. In the case of the sticker book, confirm you are importing the file labeled "sticker book". It is a special GoodNotes file, not the standard .zip file containing all of the sticker PNG image files.

Second, make sure you are following the import instructions on this page.

If the import instructions are leading to an error, try the following:

1. Try importing the file into GoodNotes directly from the Google Drive folder or portal where your files were provided, do not rename the file or save it to your local drive/iPad first.

2. Force close Goodnotes by swiping up to close it from your multitasking view (support.apple.com/en-us/HT201330). Reopen GoodNotes and try to import the file again.

3. Check to make sure your GoodNotes app is updated to the latest version

If none of the above steps are working, please send us a message through our contact form below, we are happy to help with additional troubleshooting!

The new calendar scheduling shortcut is available for iPads only. You'll want to ensure you purchased the version of the planner that includes the shortcut integration (Note: if you accidentally chose the wrong version of the planner, just email us by replying to your order confirmation email, we are happy to swap it out for your preferred version).

In your file downloads, you'll see a PDF titled "Planner Download Guide" this PDF includes all the steps to download and install the new iOS shortcut. Once the shortcut is installed, the links in the planner will automatically work directly with the shortcut when tapped.

You can see a video demo of the shortcut install in this video: Link your digital planner to your calendar

Watch the video demo to see how you should expect the shortcut to function. If you're running into issues, try the steps below:

1. Ensure your iPad is updated to the latest software version. You can check this in your iPad settings "General > Software Update"

2. Make sure you followed the entire setup process, including selecting the specific app you're using your planner in during the "configure" step (see install demo video here)

3. Make sure your calendar is connected to your iPad correctly, you can see this demonstrated in the video linked above

4. If the shortcut seems to open twice and rotates through multiple screens, this may be due to your multitasking settings. To change this, open the "Multitasking & Gestures" options in your iPad settings. Make sure "Split View & Slide Over" is selected not "Stage Manager"

The shortcuts in the planner communicate directly with your built-in iPad calendar to prompt a "quick create" window to appear over your planner. So if the events are not scheduling to the correct calendar, this is likely an issue with the way your calendar is set up on your iPad.

At the end of this video I demonstrate how to make sure your calendar is selected and set as your default calendar.

If you use multiple calendars, you can always scroll down in the calendar "create event" window to change the calendar. 

If you're new to using a calendar on your iPad, you may find the Apple user guide helpful: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/create-and-edit-events-in-calendar-ipad99d9847f/ipados

We're happy to help troubleshoot, just send us a contact via the form below!