Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

If this does not resolve the issue, you may be running into a GoodNotes bug. Every once in awhile GoodNotes errors out when importing files. But force closing the app and reopening it always seems to resolve the issue.

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

If that still isn't working:
- make sure you have saved the file to your iPad first rather than importing directly from the drive folder to rule out any connection problems
- 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.