Is it possible to add a shortcut to a simplenote note to a Linux desktop?
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I’m new here so bear with me and my ignorance as far as Simplenote goes. I have imported all my txt based notes into Simplenote and in the process of tagging them. That’s a task right there! So here goes:
I used to use txt files for my notes and accessed them in an editor. I also put shortcut to notes i used a lot on my desktop for easy access. I can not see an option to do that in the Simplenote app or otherwise.Am i missing something, or is this not possible? I guess I could star the notes in the app for easier access so I will do that, but it would be great to have certain notes one click away ar all times. Come to think of it, it would be great to do the same on Amdroid, have certain notes as shortcuts in the launcher desktop.
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Hi. Simplenote has an “Internal link” feature which lets you jump between notes. It may be possible to put one of these in a shortcut to open a note directly, but I don’t use Linux.
For quick access to certain notes inside the Linux app, I use a “Current” tag for active notes. Current is forced to the top of the tags list (not alphabetical), and I always open that tag when opening the app. (Some of those notes are also pinned for top accessibility.) Remember, notes can have multiple tags, so the same note can appear in multiple collections.
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Hi @ocdysthe –
Welcome! No need to apologize, this is a good question.
Short answer: on Linux this isn’t possible right now, but on Android it is, and it does almost exactly what you’re describing.
On Linux desktop
Simplenote does have internal links — you can copy a link to a note and paste it into another note to jump straight there. But those links only work inside the app, between notes. If you put one into a desktop shortcut, Simplenote will launch and come to the front, but it won’t open that particular note. So there’s no way to get a true one-click desktop shortcut to an individual note today.
Three things that get you close inside the app:
- Pin the notes you use most, and they’ll stay at the top of the list. (Pinning is the feature you were thinking of as starring.)
- Use a tag as a working set — something like Current — and apply it to your active notes. Notes can carry multiple tags, so the same note can appear in several collections without being duplicated. Opening that tag when you start the app gets you to the right handful immediately.
- Make yourself an index note: one note holding internal links to everything you reach for often, then pin it. Open Simplenote, tap the index, jump anywhere in one click. This is the closest thing to the desktop-shortcut workflow you had with your text files.
That middle suggestion is essentially what another forum member described above, and it’s the best approach available on Linux.
On Android
This one you can do. Simplenote has a home screen widget for a single note. When you add it, you choose which note it shows, and tapping it opens that note directly. Long-press an empty area of your home screen, choose Widgets, find Simplenote, drag the note widget into place, then pick your note. There are light and dark versions, plus a separate notes-list widget if you’d rather see the list.
Two practical tips: give the widget a little room, because if it’s too small it may not display the note content, and if it ever gets stuck showing “loading,” remove it and add it again.
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I hope that helps. Let us know if you have any additional questions about Simplenote.
Simplenote Support Forums 