The use of the computer to study and take notes is done more and more frequently, since thanks to the Internet it is an inexhaustible source of information. To take our notes we only need a good tool for notes and this is where QOwnNotes comes into play , an accessible notes application for plain text files, which can serve as an alternative to the famous Windows Notepad.
What it is and how it will be useful to us QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is an application for taking open source and cross-platform notes , with which we can create our own notes in plain text files, obtaining maximum freedom so that they are stored on our computer. These notes can be synchronized through desktop or mobile devices with applications such as deCloud or Nextcloud, as well as with ownCloud Notes to edit our notes on the web. They are also compatible with other types of software such as Dropbox, Syncthing, Seafile or BitTorrent Sync.
These notes can be enriched with the possibility of formatting them, adding images, links, tables and other useful elements. Added to this is the possibility of organizing our notes through folders and subfolders , which can be linked together to obtain a broader structure.
Main features it presents
Among the main features of QOwnNotes we can highlight:
- It allows the notes folder to be freely chosen, being able to use several note folders at the same time.
- We can use text files without importing them.
- Searching for substrings of notes is possible and the search results will be highlighted in the notes.
- The application allows to be used by means of customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- It has supports for scripts, as well as an online repository where you can install scripts within the application.
- Support for spell checking.
- It has notes encryption in AES 256 format, allowing you to use custom encryption methods through Keybase.io or PGP.
Simple text editor with very useful functions
When we run QOwnNotes the first time, it will ask us to select the Note folder, which is nothing more than the directory where all our notes will be stored. For this we will have four interface styles: Minimum, Full, Full vertical and Single column. In general, we will use the Full style, although if you prefer to have more space for notes you can choose the Minimum style.
Once the main menu appears, the interface seems quite complex. We will use the Note icon at the top of the toolbar or from the Note menu to create a new note.
At the top of the taskbar we will also find the Labels tab, which we can use to add a label to a note. To do this, we just have to type something in the “Search or create label” box and press Enter, and in this way a label will be assigned to the active note. Also, if we right-click on a label, we can manage or add a color to it. In this way, we can find an important note quickly thanks to the label.
Just below we have a panel that will contain all the notes that we are creating. From here we can use the “Search or create note” option to search for texts within your notes, as well as to create new notes.
In the center of the Central Panel we will find the Editor , which we can use to add headings, links, lists, create tables, format it with line breaks or use the toolbar at the top to format the text. Because this program supports AES 256 encryption, we can encrypt our notes. It also has a “Typewriter” mode, as well as “No distractions” mode that we can enable from the Window menu.
Where can I download QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is a program to edit text free , open source, cross – platform and can be downloaded from their official website . It is compatible with computers with Windows, Linux and Mac OS operating systems. The installation file has a weight of 36.5 MB and is currently available in its Version 20.4.10.
Alternatives to QOwnNotes
If QOwnNotes hasn’t convinced you as a text editor, you can choose to try some of these alternatives:
Notepad ++
It is the most advanced alternative to Notepad for Windows. It is an open source text editor that supports various programming languages with native support for Windows. With it we can edit plain text in a simple way. In addition, it can be used to edit programming codes, since it has support for the most popular ones such as Pascal, C, C ++, Ada, Java, Perl, etc.
Ghostwriter
It is an alternative text editor to Windows Notepad, with which we can easily create and edit texts. We can customize its appearance through themes, which we can even customize with our own and give it a unique look. Ghostwriter stands out for having an interesting feature such as the possibility of displaying and using HTML code in its interface, which will be very useful for both programmers and web designers.