Whiteboards / canvas

Jason_22 · 2024-01-22T21:44:51.660Z

I am just thinking about this, but, I wonder if it would be sensible to combine Whiteboard/Canvas with Handwritten Notes?

I mean, to me that would make sense. That could be an answer for both features!
And, maybe 3 if you want to include the graph view with it.

Jomatom · 2024-03-12T21:27:01.205Z

GitHub

GitHub - obsidianmd/jsoncanvas: An open file format for infinite canvas data.

An open file format for infinite canvas data. Contribute to obsidianmd/jsoncanvas development by creating an account on GitHub.

Jason_22 · 2024-03-21T03:29:13.929Z

thats nice. reminds me of Open USD.

we need something like that for Anytype.

it’s a powerful idea to have an open standard that works with everything.

Interoperability is the key.

jesusivargas · 2024-03-21T18:18:09.702Z

Something like Affine or Logseq?

mrwildenfree · 2024-03-28T10:28:47.894Z

My most recent Feature Request is likely to be our best shot at making Visual Note taking / Mind Mapping happen in Anytype. It mentions Obsidian’s latest Open Source contribution — JSON Canvas

You can vote on it here!

In it I have linked back to this discussion as well.

CheekyChad · 2024-01-09T03:40:18.038Z

IMAGINE AN INFINITE CANVAS

… to research, brainstorm, diagram and lay out your ideas.

HOW IT COULD BE DONE

Canvas seamlessly integrates as a type of page within Anytype, allowing users to easily visualize complex ideas and connect diverse data points.

Anytype Canvas like Obsidian2560×1440 205 KB

WHAT IT ENABLES + REAL WORLD USE CASES

Boost in Creativity and Innovation
Stimulates creative thinking and innovative approaches, incorporating a ‘Playground for Thought’ concept for exploring ideas.
Visualization of Complex Concepts
Enables tangible representation and understanding of incredibly complex concepts and topics.
Visual Mapping of Text and Data
Enhances efficient organization by seamlessly connecting a variety of embedded data types.
Support for Diverse Work Styles
Flexibility to accommodate different ways of thinking and working.

These are just a few. I’m sure you can come up with more. : )

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

An incredible implementation of canvas by team obsidian:

obsidian.md

Obsidian Canvas - Visualize your ideas

Obsidian Canvas gives you infinite space to research, brainstorm, diagram, and lay out your ideas.

Shampra · 2024-01-09T08:44:59.538Z

Look this FR :

Add whiteboards / canvas feature Any Requests?

Logseq has been doing something similar for the past several months, and out of beta since March, with whiteboards.

mrwildenfree · 2024-03-28T10:24:12.929Z

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND

Obsidian had recently released their canvasing functionality as an Open Source file format (.canvas ) that can be adopted by anyone (similar to markdown). It would be really nice have the ability to utilize this functionality & format inside of Anytype (or at the very, very least… be able to preview it):

HOW COULD IT BE DONE

Here is a release note on JSON Canvas. It has other additional resources / links included.

This could be incorporated as a separate View in the floating menu at the bottom of the canvas, next to the Graph icon, & above, e.g. [ Graph | Flow | Canvas ]

— Yes, I’m understanding that a separate naming convention might need to be used here to distinguish between what we currently refer to as the canvas, and the “JSON CANVAS” that is being recommended. Could be called MAP.

It could be built out to include Drawing / Whiteboard features as well, which would be really helpful.

REAL WORLD USE CASES

The video above should provide a great example of how it could be used. It is similar to:

Scrintal
Mind Map tools
Features that Affine has

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVES

None at this time. It is a great jumpstart to providing this kind of functionality in Anytype, instead of having to build out Canvas functions from scratch.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

Other Feature Requests that align with this:

New Type of Pages - Whiteboard/Canvas
A diagram or flowchart type, in addition to the current “pages”, ”notes” etc.
Support for handwritten notes
Embed Collaborative Map Editing Tool
Mind map object/page with page/file links
Mind Mapping Feature

Hexara · 2024-03-28T14:27:41.670Z

Vote, vote, vote!

Code-Jack · 2024-03-28T19:05:33.020Z

This is impressing!

And we all should appreciate the gentle step from Obsidian to share this development with the whole world so that other Apps can integrate it!

This is how the world should run!
– Sharing good inventions, working together for the good of all, to make the world a better place, instead of patents and copyright fightings etc.
Together growing, instead of fighting each other.

Let’s all celebrate and appreciate this gentleness!

I’m already too much in love with Anytype to switch.
But if Anytype wouldn’t exist then I would choose Obsidian! Now even more.
I appreciate the gentleness of giving it to the world even more then the functionality itself!

I sense an equally good attitude there, as in the philosophy of our not less appreciated Anytype makers!
Many thanks to them all!

Gleycon · 2024-05-26T22:51:52.550Z

Please implement the use of .Jasoncanvas within Obsdian! It is a universal and very powerful format for Infinite Canvas users. .Jsoncanvas is like the younger brother of .txt, .md, .pdf, .mkv, .html… Which are universal formats.

siousu · 2024-05-27T16:52:21.359Z

Hey Anytypers
May I ask why this feature request is set to “improbable” with 174 votes so far?

As nearly all the tools out there are heading towards integrated whiteboards I think this is still a must. Having a p2p local first whiteboard sounds just amazing, and would be a huge benefit to all the visual thinkers. Just to say, 65% of the general population are thinking visually.

So to the 13155 forum users: Please vote
Then we would already have 8’550 votes. Would that be enough to implement the feature?

jaf_872 · 2024-06-12T11:38:15.811Z

+1, the way excalidraw is integrated in obsidian, makes it 100x better than native canvas plugin, since it can embed all kinds of stuff including even websites or pages from other plugins. would be absolutely overpowered feature to integrate into anytype

cropher · 2024-08-07T14:57:09.465Z

Would love canvas support that goes beyond embed blocks.

Using a Miro embed is somewhat cumbersome and you also can’t search the text on the canvas from within anytype. You can only use the search tool inside the specific embed block.

I stumbled upon jotnoted today:

jotnoted.com

jotnoted.

Minimalistic web app for note-taking with sketches

You can write notes and include excalidraw sketches. If you write inside the sketch and go back to your note, you can search the text inside the sketch. The sketches also support free drawings.

Would be great to have something similar to this in anytype.

Sandr44 · 2024-08-07T18:12:59.347Z

Hello everyone, I switched back to Obisidan-excalidraw for my note taking and left anytype behind. Because I got a mail notification I still wanted to share with others what got me back to using excalidraw and hopefully provide ideas to Anytype’s implementation of handwriting. https://youtube.com/@visualpkm (This absolute gold mine of an channel is of the developer of Obisidan Excalidraw)

Code-Jack · 2024-08-07T18:53:56.755Z

@Sandr44 I know that YT channel; saw many videos from that guy when I was trying to get warm with Obsidian last year.
But it never resonated with me, although I recognized the high quality of his work.

I find it astonishing that you seemingly see so much use in Excalidraw that you leaved Anytype.
May I ask you what’s your use case for it that you need it so much?

Sandr44 · 2024-08-08T07:22:44.180Z

I simply prefeer taking notes with an stylus compared to raw text. I enjoy the process more and also my school had the requirement all digital notes had to be taken in handwriting (the reason beeing studies which conclude handwriting is better than typing when tested in recalling facts).

General feedback about Anytype Any Talk

With not wanting to argue about the last statement, which I haven’t looked into myself, here are more general thoughts I have about Anytype First of all, I had a few problems over time, some of them might be fixed by now but the following was my experience: Anytype is Desktop-first: while there are native apps for mobile, features like graph view or kanaban view are not available. I also use a tablet most of the time for my note taking, which isn’t an use case considered at all. Handling sing…

TwilitWave · 2024-08-29T00:49:33.586Z

I just want to bump this up, because I think adopting this format is an ideal way forward. In addition to just being an excellent starting point - and a big time saver in comparison to building a whiteboard/canvas from scratch, it also means Obsidian users migrating to Anytype would have an easier time importing their existing Canvases.

I do think other big open-source options like Excalidraw and Draw.io could also be great options - assuming they can be implemented in a way that integrates well with AnyType’s blocks. But I think the compatability with Obsidian canvas exports gives it a leg up.

Pyrofruit · 2024-10-13T19:34:34.378Z

After using Heptabase and Scrintal, I don’t think I can go back. Open canvas is an amazing way of facilitating thinking, way better than an open document or some AI assistant.

Jason_22 · 2024-11-12T06:00:04.237Z

yes, I would spend more time on using the notes, rather than trying to organize them.

I think the canvas thing is a huge breakthrough for the human brain and just in general for PKM!

I think the Canvas is going to be the next natural progression of PKM, like it is Inevitable, even if it’s not the main focus right now.