6. Note-taking#
Zim is a GUI application for taking notes on the desktop. You can use it to create and maintain a personal or laboratory notebook on your computer.
6.1. Features of Zim#
Using Zim, you can:
- Create digital notebooks
— add pages, and organize them using an index page.
- Take notes quickly
— using a WYSIWYG interface [1].
- Insert images
— files, symbols, screenshots, equations and more [2].
- Export notes
— to formats like HTML, LaTeX, and Markdown.
—
With the help of plugins, you can add even more functionality.
6.2. Installing Zim#
Zim is available in the distribution repositories.
You can install it using Software Manager (Fig. 96).
![../_images/zim-software-manager.png](../_images/zim-software-manager.png)
Fig. 96 Installing Zim using Software Manager#
6.3. Creating a notebook#
Open Zim by clicking on its icon in applications menu (Fig. 97). You can use the search bar to locate it quickly.
![../_images/zim-applications-menu.png](../_images/zim-applications-menu.png)
Fig. 97 Opening Zim from applications menu#
When you open the program for the first time, you will notice an Add Notebook dialog (Fig. 98).
Here, you can set a name for this notebook and select a directory to save notebooks.
![../_images/zim-add-notebook.png](../_images/zim-add-notebook.png)
Fig. 98 Add notebook#
You can accept the defaults.
Click on the OK button to proceed.
This will open the main window of the program (Fig. 99).
![../_images/zim-home.png](../_images/zim-home.png)
Fig. 99 Main window of Zim#
6.4. Taking notes#
The Home page is the main page of a notebook.
You can start typing your notes here. Zim saves changes automatically.
6.4.1. Basic text formatting#
Formatting text in Zim is similar to that of word processor programs.
You can use the Format menu bar entry and select the desired option (Fig. 100).
![../_images/zim-format.png](../_images/zim-format.png)
Fig. 100 Options for formatting text#
Keyboard shortcuts#
Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to apply formatting to your text.
For example:
Bold : Ctrl + b
Italic or Emphasis : Ctrl + i
Superscript : Ctrl + Shift + p
Subscript : Ctrl + Shift + b
For headings, use:
Heading 1: Ctrl + 1
Heading 2: Ctrl + 2
Heading 3: Ctrl + 3
Heading 4: Ctrl + 4
Heading 5: Ctrl + 5
6.4.2. Inserting images#
To insert an image, you can select the following option from the menu bar:
In the dialog that opens, browse to the directory containing your image and then select the image (Fig. 101).
![../_images/zim-insert-image.png](../_images/zim-insert-image.png)
Fig. 101 Insert image. Check Attach image first option#
Check the Attach image first option. This will copy the image to your notebook directory.
Click on the Open button to insert the image (Fig. 102).
![../_images/zim-inserted-image.png](../_images/zim-inserted-image.png)
Fig. 102 Image inserted into current page#
Resizing an image#
If you would like to resize the image, right-click on the image and select Edit Properties (Fig. 103).
![../_images/zim-image-edit-properties.png](../_images/zim-image-edit-properties.png)
Fig. 103 Edit image properties#
In the dialog window that opens, change either the Width or the Height of the image to the desired size and click on the OK button (Fig. 104).
![../_images/zim-image-resize.png](../_images/zim-image-resize.png)
Fig. 104 Change the width or height of the image#
The image will now be resized (Fig. 105).
![../_images/zim-image-resized.png](../_images/zim-image-resized.png)
Fig. 105 Resized image#
6.4.3. Adding more pages#
To add more pages, select the following option from the menu bar (Fig. 106):
Note
You can also right-click on a page in the Index view and select the New Page Here option.
![../_images/zim-new-page.png](../_images/zim-new-page.png)
Fig. 106 Adding a new page#
Enter a name for the page in the New Page dialog window (Fig. 107) and click on the OK button.
![../_images/zim-new-page-name.png](../_images/zim-new-page-name.png)
Fig. 107 Enter a name for the new page#
The new page will appear in the Index view (Fig. 108).
![../_images/zim-new-page-added.png](../_images/zim-new-page-added.png)
Fig. 108 Newly added page#
Adding subpages#
A subpage will be placed under an existing page.
To add a new subpage:
Select an existing page in Index view
Select
from the menu barEnter a name for the page and click on the OK button
6.4.4. Deleting or renaming pages#
To delete or rename pages, you can right-click on the page and select the desired function.
6.5. Exporting notes and notebooks#
To export the notebook or a page, select:
In the dialog window that appears, select the desired option and click on the Forward button (Fig. 109).
![../_images/zim-export-notebook.png](../_images/zim-export-notebook.png)
Fig. 109 Export notebook#
In the next screen, you can select the format of the exported notebook or page in the Format drop-down box (Fig. 110).
![../_images/zim-export-formats.png](../_images/zim-export-formats.png)
Fig. 110 Select an export format#
You can leave it at the default — HTML. Click on the Forward button to proceed.
In the final screen, select a directory to save the exported notebook or page.
Note
If you are using the defaults, it is a good idea to create a new output directory and select it under Output folder.
Click on the OK button complete export.
![../_images/zim-export-select-folder.png](../_images/zim-export-select-folder.png)
Fig. 111 Select an output folder#
When complete, open the output directory in file manager.
Double-click on Home.html to open it in the browser (Fig. 112).
![../_images/zim-exported-notebook.png](../_images/zim-exported-notebook.png)
Fig. 112 Viewing exported notebook#
6.6. Activating more features using plugins#
These are some plugins included with Zim:
- Insert Symbol
— insert special symbols and characters
- Table of Contents
— adds a widget displaying the current page’s table of contents
- Tags
— add tags to your notes
- Tray Icon
— adds an icon to system tray for quick access to your notebooks
- Spell Checker
— adds support for checking spelling
—
You will need to activate (or enable) them in preferences, before you can start using them.
6.6.1. Enabling a plugin#
To enable a plugin:
Select
Click on the Plugins tab
Check the box corresponding to the plugin you wish to enable (Fig. 113)
Click on the OK button
Fig. 113 Enabling plugins#
Note
Some plugins have additional options.
Click on the Configure button below the plugin description to access these options.
6.7. Getting help#
Zim includes a detailed user manual. You can access this by selecting (Fig. 114):
![../_images/zim-help.png](../_images/zim-help.png)
Fig. 114 Help on using Zim#
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