Notes Export & History

Export your notes in 6 different formats, browse version history with preview and restore, and collaborate in real-time with presence and comments.

Export Formats

Click the "Export" button in the header to open the export modal. Choose from document or developer formats.

Document Formats

Word

.docx

Microsoft Word document — ideal for sharing with non-technical collaborators

PDF

.pdf

Portable document — great for read-only distribution and printing

Plain Text

.txt

No formatting — useful for pasting into other systems

Developer Formats

Markdown

.md

Plain text with formatting — perfect for READMEs, docs, and static sites

HTML

.html

Web-ready document — ready to embed in websites or emails

JSON

.json

Lossless BlockNote data — re-importable for backups and integrations

You can also copy Markdown or HTML directly to clipboard without downloading a file.

Version History

How It Works

Every time you save, a history entry is recorded (throttled to one entry per 10 seconds). Entries are grouped by date and show the author's name, avatar, and timestamp.

Preview a Version

Hover over any history entry and click the eye icon to open a read-only preview of that version. It renders in your current theme so you can compare visually.

Restore a Version

Click the restore icon to replace your current content with that version. A confirmation dialog appears first. Restoring triggers an autosave so the change is permanent.

Open History

Click the History button in the header bar to open the version history panel. It shows all recorded versions for the current note.

Real-Time Collaboration in Notes

Notes projects support the same real-time collaboration as flowcharts. When multiple people view or edit a note, you'll see:

Presence Avatars

Avatars of all active collaborators appear in the header bar.

Live Cursors

Color-coded cursors show where others are reading or editing.

Canvas Comments

Place comments directly on the note content — inline or canvas-pinned.

Real-Time Sync

Edits sync automatically so everyone sees the latest content.

Notes Workflow Best Practices

  • ✓

    Use headings for structure

    Headings power the outline sidebar, AI section detection, and exported table of contents.

  • ✓

    Match theme to task

    Academic for papers, Terminal for changelogs, Focus for deep writing sessions.

  • ✓

    Use AI iteratively

    Generate a draft, then use Improve Writing or Expand Section on specific parts instead of regenerating everything.

  • ✓

    Export before sharing externally

    Word and PDF are universally readable; Markdown is best for developer documentation.

  • ✓

    Check version history for peace of mind

    If AI made an unwanted change, just restore from the previous version.

Tip: JSON export preserves the exact block structure. Use it for backups or to transfer notes between OpenCharts accounts.

Notes AI AssistantGetting Started