Download This Chapter

Create a Memo within a Document

Memos can be added to any part of a document, similar to a post it note you might attach to a book. MAXQDA offers several different ways to create a new memo in the "Document Browser":

Creating a memo by double-clicking in the memo column

Move the cursor to the memo column, located to the left of the open document, then double-click at the location you want to attach the memo.

Creating a new memo by double clicking in the memo column

All memos in the "Document Browser" are associated with a position on the document. When you create a memo by double-clicking in the memo column, it will automatically be attached to the document body at the level of the click position in the left margin. In MAXQDA, memos can be easily recognized by their yellow icon:

Yellow memo icon in the memo column

Creating memos using the context menu or quick button

Other ways to add a new memo are to select the position in the document, right-click with the mouse and select New memo from the context menu. MAXQDA will insert a memo in the memo column at the selected position in the document.

Tip: In the “Document Browser,” memos can be moved using the mouse – of course, only within the memo column. MAXQDA will display the original position of the memo while it is being moved. The memo’s original position within the document will be cancelled when the move is complete.

The number of memos per document and per position within the document is not subject to practical limitations, which means you can create several memos at the same level in the "Document Browser". MAXQDA will automatically place the memos side-by-side.

Please note: If you delete text to which a memo is attached while in Edit Mode, the memo will be retained and automatically assigned to the preceding text. This operation is intended to prevent valuable personal notes from being deleted unintentionally.

Recording information in a memo

Immediately upon creating a new memo, the memo window will appear:

The memo window

You can now enter a title for the memo, so that you can easily find it later in the “Overview of Memos”. Select a meaningful title for simple identification.

Tip: The memo title also appears in the tooltip that appears when you hover the mouse over the memo symbol in the “Document Browser”.

The memo text can be entered in the bottom field of the window.

Was this article helpful?