Reading notes with nov.el-mode and org-noter

Reading notes with nov.el-mode and org-noter
============================================

Within Emacs, you can read PDF and EPUB files and keep reading notes
in a separate but linked org file. With DocView you can also read
odt and docx files, with these also you can keep linked reading
notes.

I have only used org-noter with EPUB files.

Below, we look at using Emacs to read EPUB files, and create and
maintain reading notes.

I use the Vanilla Emacs key bindings (without Doom or Spacemacs).

nov.el and org-noter can both be installed from Melpa.

Read EPUB files with nov.el
---------------------------

nov.el (https://depp.brause.cc/nov.el) is a wonderful major mode for
reading EPUB files in Emacs.

Configuration
.............

With nov.el you open and read EPUB-files in Emacs. Depending on your
preferences the text is shown with a variable pitch font, a
monospace font or your standard font in Emacs.

I prefer the standard Emacs font, this way everything uses the same
presentation.

Nov.el by default fills the text to column 80. I prefer a smaller
text width and set this to column 70. This way I can have two
windows side-by-side and still have some 'air' around the text.

This is my configuration:

(use-package nov
:ensure t
:config
(setq nov-variable-pitch nil
nov-text-width 70))

Line numbers are probably not very useful while reading a EPUB.
Therefor I have disabled the line numbers in nov.el-mode, and some
other modes:

(dolist (mode '(deft-mode-hook
term-mode-hook
nov-mode-hook
shell-mode-hook))
(add-hook mode (lambda () (display-line-numbers-mode 0))))

Usage
.....

Just open an EPUB file to start reading.

The main navigation is with the standard key bindings, like in info
or eww:

* To scroll, use space and to scroll back use backspace.
* To move to the next chapter, use n and to the previous, use p,
or use the ] and [ keys.

For more key bindings, see the nov.el file, search for nov-mode-map.

Take reading notes with org-noter
---------------------------------

org-noter (https://github.com/weirdNox/org-noter) advertises itself
as "a synchronized, org-mode document annotator".

Org-noter shows the buffer with your EPUB-file side-by-side with the
buffer with the org file containing the notes.

It keeps both buffers synchronized, so when you walk through the
EPUB file, the notes for the current chapter are shown, if any. And
vice versa, when you walk through your notes, the for the current
note corresponding chapter from the EPUB file is shown.

Org-noter can be used with PDF files, with EPUB files, and ODT and
docx files.

org-noter creates org PROPERTIES drawers in the org file, to link
your notes to the specific EPUB file, and to link the individual
notes to the chapters in the EPUB file.

Frames
......

For each EPUB file or PDF file, org-noter creates a new frame. This
new frame contains two windows, the left one containing the buffer
with the EPUB or PDF file, and the right one containing the org file
for the notes.

These frames makes it possible to open several PDF- and EPUB files
at the same time, each together with their own org-noter window.

When you press q in one of the frames, the specific frame is closed
again.

In the beginning this was something that I really had to get used
to, normally I run Emacs in a single frame. Once used to this
however, it turns out to work fine.

Configuration
.............

Default org-noter uses a file called "Notes.org", but I prefer
lowercase-only filenames, so I configured it to use "notes.org".

Org-noter needs a default path.

This is my configuration:

(use-package org-noter
:after org
:ensure t
:config
(setq org-noter-default-notes-file-names '("notes.org")
org-noter-notes-search-path '("/path-to-the-notes/")))

Usage
.....

Open an EPUB file and start org-noter with M-x org-noter. Org-noter
opens the notes.org file as configured. At this point, you can
choose to not use the default notes.org file, but a different org
file.

Start reading the EPUB file.

* To create a new note, use i
* To create a precise note, use M-i
* To stop taking notes and close the frame, use q
* To go to the previous page or chapter, use M-p
* To go to the next page or chapter, use M-n
* To go to the previous note, use C-M-p
* To go to the next note, use C-M-n

A "precise note" is a note linked to a specific location which you
have marked with your mouse. I haven't used this.

For more key bindings, see the org-noter.el file, search for
org-noter-doc-mode-map.

When you walk through the EPUB file, the note referring to the
currently opened page is unfolded, the other notes are folded so you
only see their headings.

Taking notes
------------

After you have started org-noter from an opened EPUB or PDF file,
you have a frame with two windows:

* The left window contains the EPUB or PDF
* The right window contains the org file for the reading notes.

At any location you currently are in the EPUB file, Just press i,
and org-noter will prompt in the minibuffer for the title text for a
new heading.

Just enter the title text followed by Return, org-noter now creates
a level two header (** Note title) in the org document in the right
window, followed by a folded PROPERTIES drawer, and puts the point
right below it. so you can start typing your note right away.

The note you just have entered is linked to the current location in
the EPUB file.

It doesn't take long to get used to this workflow, and very soon you
take notes while staying "in the flow".

The reading notes are kept in the right order
.............................................

If you make a note at say, chapter 2, and after that a note at
chapter 5, followed by a note at chapter 3. org-noter will put the
last note between the notes for chapter 2 and chapter 5, so it keeps
your notes in the right order.

In your org file you will see:

* Title of your note on Chapter 2
* Title of your note on Chapter 3
* Title of your note on Chapter 5

This is a great feature!

While reading the EPUB and going through the text, you can stay in
the flow, and at any time make a note on any place in the EPUB file,
without having to think about the placement.

You will end with a perfectly organized org-file with all your
notes, each with a nice org-heading, and all in the right order.

Organization of your reading notes
----------------------------------

Default org-noter uses the "notes.org" file, as defined in its
configuration.

For each EPUB, PDF and so on, for which you have made notes, there
is a level one header (* Title) with the title, followed by the
level two headers (** Note-title) with their actual note.

However, if you want the notes for a certain PDF of EPUB in a
different org file, you can do that.

If you have notes made with org-noter in a different file, and want
to read the notes together with the original PDF or EPUB file the
notes relate to, first open the org-file, and start org-noter from
there. Org-noter retrieves the right PDF or EPUB, including its file
name and path, from the PROPERTIES drawer and open it.

Org files
---------

org-noter creates standard org files. You can read and edit these
files like any other org file.

When you want to review your notes, there is no need to open the
related EPUB or PDF, just open the org file directly, without
org-noter.

At any time while reading the org file, you can start org-noter,
which will open the related EPUB or PDF and you can see the original
file and your notes side-by-side and synchronized again.

org-noter uses only the org-files, and puts all the necessary
information it needs to function, in the PROPERTIES drawers. No
extra tools, like a database, are needed. It is all just plain org.

Just give it a try!

Last edited: $Date: 2023/01/26 14:14:18 $

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