dumbnote-page

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about DumbNote. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check our Troubleshooting guide.

General Questions

What is DumbNote?

DumbNote is a powerful markdown note-taking app built with Electron. It combines the advanced editing capabilities of Monaco Editor (VS Code’s editor) with comprehensive note management features, including attachments, search, themes, and GitHub sync.

Is DumbNote free?

Yes! DumbNote is completely free and open source. You can use all features without any limitations or subscriptions.

Which platforms are supported?

DumbNote runs on:

• macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Windows (64-bit)
• Linux (AppImage, deb, rpm)

Where can I download DumbNote?

Download the latest version from: https://github.com/baibao577/dumbnote-page/releases

Is my data safe?

Yes! Your data is:

• Stored locally on your computer
• Never sent to any servers (unless you enable GitHub sync)
• Fully under your control
• Easily exportable in standard markdown format

Getting Started

How do I install DumbNote?

1. Download the installer for your platform
2. Run the installer (may need to allow in security settings)
3. Launch DumbNote
4. Choose or create a notes folder

See Getting Started for detailed instructions.

Can I use my existing markdown files?

Absolutely! DumbNote works with standard markdown files. Just:

1. Copy your files to the notes folder
2. Or use File → Import to bring them in
3. Or set DumbNote to use your existing folder

What file types does DumbNote support?

• Notes: .md (markdown) files only
• Attachments: Images (PNG, JPG, GIF), PDFs, videos, any file type
• Import: Markdown files from other apps

Editor Questions

How do I enable spellcheck?

Go to Edit → Check Spelling or right-click in the editor and select “Enable Spellcheck”. Spellcheck underlines misspellings in red and provides suggestions on right-click.

Can I customize the editor?

Yes! You can:

• Change themes (5 built-in + custom)
• Adjust font size with Cmd/Ctrl+Plus/Minus
• Configure tab size and spaces
• More customization options coming

Why can’t I see line numbers?

Line numbers appear when you hover over the left margin. This keeps the interface clean while providing the feature when needed.

Features

How does search work?

DumbNote uses full-text search powered by Lunr.js:

• Searches content, titles, and tags
• Real-time results as you type
• Background indexing for speed
• Supports advanced search syntax

See Tags, Favorites & Hub View for search details.

Can I sync with GitHub?

Yes! DumbNote includes built-in GitHub sync:

1. Get a GitHub personal access token
2. Configure in Sync → Setup GitHub Sync
3. Your notes backup to a private repository

See GitHub Sync guide.

How do attachments work?

• Drag & drop or paste images directly
• Files copied to attachments/ folder
• Automatic organization by date
• Inline preview for images
• Any file type supported

See Attachments guide.

Can I use tags?

Yes! Add tags in YAML frontmatter:

---
tags: [project, important, todo]
---

Tags appear in the sidebar and are searchable.

Is there a mobile version?

Not currently. DumbNote is desktop-only, but you can access and edit your notes on mobile using GitHub sync:

Mobile access via GitHub:

1. Set up GitHub sync in DumbNote (see GitHub Sync)
2. Install the GitHub mobile app (iOS/Android)
3. Access your dumbnote-storage repository
4. View and edit notes directly in the app

Benefits:

• Full access to all your notes
• Edit markdown files on the go
• Changes sync back to DumbNote
• Version history available
• Works offline with sync later

Tips for mobile editing:

1. Sync before leaving your desktop
2. Pull changes on mobile before editing
3. Commit and push after mobile edits
4. Sync again when back at desktop

Customization

How do I create custom themes?

1. Go to Preferences → Themes
2. Click “Create Custom Theme”
3. Adjust colors with the visual editor
4. Save with a unique name

You can also choose from 5 built-in themes in the theme selector (top-right of the window).

Can I change keyboard shortcuts?

Currently, keyboard shortcuts are fixed. Custom keybindings are planned for a future release. See all shortcuts in Keyboard Shortcuts.

How do I change the preview style?

The preview uses your selected theme. To change how it looks:

1. Switch themes in Preferences
2. Or create a custom theme
3. Preview updates automatically

Can I use custom CSS?

Not directly yet, but you can:

• Create custom themes for color changes
• Future versions will support custom CSS
• Export to HTML and apply your CSS

Import/Export

How do I import notes from other apps?

From markdown apps (Obsidian, Bear, etc.):

1. File → Import Notes
2. Select your markdown files
3. Choose copy or link mode

From other formats:

• Export from the app as markdown first
• Then import into DumbNote

How do I export my notes?

Multiple options:

• Individual: Right-click → Export as Markdown/PDF
• All notes: File → Export All (creates ZIP)
• GitHub Gist: File → Share as Gist
• Copy HTML: From preview mode

See Export & Sharing.

Can I backup my notes?

Yes! Several ways:

1. GitHub Sync - Automatic cloud backup
2. Export All - Creates ZIP archive
3. Manual - Copy the notes folder

Will my notes work in other apps?

Yes! DumbNote uses standard markdown format. Your notes will work in:

• Obsidian
• Typora
• VS Code
• Any markdown editor

Troubleshooting

DumbNote won’t start

1. Wait 10-15 seconds (initial load)
2. Try restarting your computer
3. Check if another instance is running
4. See Troubleshooting

Search isn’t working

1. Let indexing complete (see status bar)
2. Try File → Clear Cache
3. Restart DumbNote
4. Check file permissions

Notes aren’t saving

1. Check disk space
2. Verify folder permissions
3. Try saving to different location
4. Disable antivirus temporarily

Images aren’t displaying

1. Check if image file exists
2. Verify path is correct
3. Try re-adding the image
4. Check attachment folder permissions

Can’t sync with GitHub

1. Verify token has ‘repo’ scope
2. Check internet connection
3. Try manual sync
4. See GitHub Sync troubleshooting

Tips & Best Practices

What’s the best way to organize notes?

Recommendations:

• Use folders for major categories
• Tags for cross-cutting topics
• Date prefixes for journals
• Consistent naming convention

See Organization guide.

How can I speed up DumbNote?

• Keep notes under 10MB
• Archive old notes
• Clear cache periodically
• Limit attachments per note
• Disable spellcheck for large files

Should I use copy or link mode?

• Copy: For permanent notes you want in your collection
• Link: For external projects or shared documents
• Copy: If you want GitHub sync
• Link: If files must stay in original location

What’s the recommended workflow?

1. Capture quickly with Cmd/Ctrl+N
2. Organize with folders and tags
3. Search instead of browsing
4. Sync regularly if using GitHub
5. Export for sharing

How do I migrate from another app?

1. Export all notes as markdown
2. Import into DumbNote
3. Fix any formatting issues
4. Organize with folders/tags
5. Set up GitHub sync

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Still have questions?

• Check Troubleshooting for technical issues
• Visit the User Guide for detailed documentation
• Report issues on GitHub
• Join our community forums