Tabs and Panes
Tabs let you keep multiple files open. Panes let you place work side by side. Together they form the working layout for reading, writing, comparing, and navigating.
Tabs
Use tabs for files or views you expect to return to during the same session. A tab can hold a note, canvas, graph, settings page, AI page, or another app surface.
Common tab habits:
- Keep the current writing note in the first visible tab.
- Open source notes in neighboring tabs.
- Close tabs when they no longer support the task.
- Use quick switcher for files you do not need to keep open.
Panes
A pane is a region of the workspace that can hold one or more tabs. Splitting a pane is useful when two things need to be visible at once.
Use splits for:
- Draft beside source note.
- Note beside graph.
- Canvas beside project plan.
- Markdown source beside preview.
- Search results beside the strongest result.
Active tab behavior
Many contextual surfaces use the active tab. The right sidebar, outline, backlinks, and outgoing links generally follow the note you are working in. If a panel seems to show the wrong context, click the note tab you want to inspect.
Layout discipline
Open layouts grow quickly. A practical rule is to keep only one active task visible. If a tab belongs to a different task, close it or move it into a separate window or future session.