Feature overview

Start with what you want to do, then choose a tool. Your note type determines how content is arranged; this overview groups tools by the tasks you perform while taking notes.

Find by task

Classification	Features included	Suitable scenarios and guidelines
Handwriting and Pen Boxes	Apple native handwriting, Apple Pencil, pen and highlighter pen types, color/thickness/transparency, common pen configurations, Pen Boxes and Pencil interaction	Classroom shorthand, hand-drawn sketches, marking key points. Handwriting and Pen Boxes
Drawing and Geometry	Shape tools, Perfect Shape's draw-and-hold recognition and adjustment, control point adjustments and snapping, color filling, ruler, compass	Draw schematic diagrams, geometric diagrams and regular lines. Drawing and editing
Erase and select	Pixel/stroke eraser, Scratch Out to Erase, free/rectangular Lasso, content filtering, moving/resizing/recoloring/duplicating selections, handwriting recognition and text copy, undo and redo	Modify handwriting, adjust layout, reuse a piece of content. Drawing and editing
PDF Reading and Pages	Import PDF, handwritten annotations, original text highlighting/underlining/strikethrough, page templates, add/copy/rotate pages, reading display, bookmarks/outline/search	Read handouts, annotate documents, and organize exercise books. Paged notes and PDFs
Information Organization	Table and cell editing, merging/splitting, mind mapping and branching, folding/expanding, connecting lines, object layout and hierarchy	Compare information, sort out knowledge, and express relationships. Tables, mind maps, and connectors
Materials and recordings	Pictures, videos, photos, paper scans, recordings and playbacks, stickers/materials, web cards, canvas text and formulas	Collect information, record meetings, supplementary explanations. Insert and organize content
Navigation, review, and presentation	Pins, grouping and search, document, page, and object location links, jump back and forward, tape masking and revealing, artboard, canvas view sorting and switching, laser pointer, external screen demonstration	Open information from the index, return to questions or conclusions, hide answers for practice, and present an overview before the details. Pins, navigation, and presentations
Text and typesetting	Headings, outline, lists/task lists, quotations, code block, link, text style, text table, media, inline/stand-alone formula, search and replace and word count	Organize long-form content, meeting minutes and learning summary. Text document
Organization and search	Folders, favorites, naming, moving, copying, sorting, type filtering, name search, batch operations, document lock, Trash	Manage course and project materials. Manage notes
Import, export and share	PDF and native document import, Markdown import, PDF/picture/native document export, text format export, system sharing and printing	Bring in data, hand in assignments, share results, and continue editing. Import, Export and Share
Sync and Backup	iCloud sync, synchronization status, cloud storage or NAS Automatic Backup, manual ZIP backup, document recovery	Continue recording across devices and keep copies independently. Sync and Backup
Preferences and auxiliary tools	Customized toolbar, gesture settings, immersion mode, keyboard shortcuts, calculator, stopwatch/countdown timer, help and feedback	Adjust operations according to habits to assist learning and work. Settings and Help

How these tools differ

Tools	Main problems solved	Classification
Tables	Put information into clear rows and columns for easy comparison and organization	Information organization
Mind map	Expand branches from a topic to express levels and connections	Information organization
Connecting lines	Connect related objects to express processes and relationships	Organize information; use with shape tools
Shape Tools	Directly draw editable graphics such as rectangles, ellipses, arrows, etc.	Drawing and Geometry
Perfect Shape / draw and hold	Pause after hand-drawing, press and hold to adjust, lift the pen to refine, and snap to nearby shapes	Drawing and geometry; Detailed usage
Scratch Out to Erase	Scribble back and forth over handwriting to erase it	Erase and select
Lasso	Select a group of content and then move, scale or copy	Erase and select
Pins	Save important locations and quickly return to them later	Positioning and review
Internal links	Open an existing document, page, object or pin from a reference	Locate and review; Article and location link

The Shape tool creates objects; Perfect Shape recognizes and refines hand-drawn shapes. Mind maps organize branches, while pins save locations to revisit. Pins can be used alongside tables, mind maps, and handwriting.

Start with a usage scenario

• Take notes in class: Prepare common pens → handwritten records → highlight key points → adjust the layout with Lasso → organize them into course folders.
• Read a paper: Import PDF → mark and annotate the original text → revisit it with search, outline or bookmarks → export and share.
• Organize knowledge and solutions: Use tables to compare → Expand ideas with mind maps → Use shapes and connecting lines to supplement relationships → Mark the locations that need to be reviewed.
• Explain a plan: Organize content on the canvas → Save the views that need to be explained → Arrange the order → Display or export by view.
• Review a set of knowledge points: Cover the answers with tape → recall the content → tap to reveal and check → add pins for the areas where you still have questions.
• Write a summary: Organize the text with headings and lists → Supplement pictures, tables or formulas → Search and check → Export by purpose.

Use by current document and device

Handwriting tools work in Paged notes, Infinite documents, and Vertical documents. Text documents use their own editing and layout tools for text, tables, and formulas; see each guide for details. Pin and canvas-view navigation mainly applies to canvases, while PDFs also offer page, bookmark, and outline navigation.

Apple Pencil gestures, Scratch Out to Erase, and some other features depend on the device and OS version. Some tools require Prodrafts Pro. Follow the options and access requirements shown in the app; the relevant guides explain the differences.

All detailed tutorials

Detailed articles are listed below by the same 12 topics as the sidebar. The shared tool maintains only one main guide; different operations on canvas and text are explained separately.

Get started

• Meet Prodrafts and its four note types
• Create your first note
• Get started with Infinite documents
• Get started with Vertical documents
• Get started with Paged notes
• Get started with Text documents

Document management

• Create and organize folders
• Browse, sort, and filter documents
• Search names and use Favorites
• Select, duplicate, and merge documents
• Delete, restore, and empty Trash
• View document information
• Switch between recent documents
• Use document and location links

Handwriting and revision

• Set up and organize Pen Boxes
• Choose pen types and properties
• Use highlighters and blending modes
• Set up Apple Pencil and input methods
• Use the eraser and Scratch Out to Erase
• Clear handwriting and canvas content
• Set gestures and prevent accidental touches
• Recognize handwriting and convert it to text
• Straighten and refine handwriting
• Select and edit handwriting and objects
• Export selections and save reusable assets
• Select, move, and transform objects
• Copy, cut, drag and drop objects
• Adjust object hierarchy and lock status
• Adjust object appearance and preview
• Add and edit links to objects

Shapes and Geometry

• Create shapes and adjust their style
• Perfect Shape drawing and snapping
• Fill hand-drawn shapes
• Connect objects with smart connectors
• Adjust connector styles and paths
• Use a ruler to draw straight lines
• Draw circles and arcs with the compass
• Use the ruler and reference markers
• Align objects with guides

Text and information organization

• Add a text box to the canvas
• Format fonts and characters in a text box
• Format paragraphs, lists, and spacing in text boxes
• Save text styles and set text box backgrounds
• Create mind maps and add nodes
• Organize mind maps and collapse branches
• Style mind maps and attach handwriting to nodes
• Export a node, branch, or entire mind map
• Create a canvas table and edit its contents
• Adjust table rows and columns and merge cells
• Adjust a canvas table’s style and size
• Enter and edit canvas math formulas
• Convert handwriting to a formula

Materials and recordings

• Insert photos, videos, and GIFs
• Take photos and scan documents
• Crop images and remove backgrounds
• Insert file attachments and convert PDF pages to images
• Add and refresh web cards
• Use stickers, emoji, and saved assets
• Create and organize sticker collections
• Use typed and handwritten sticky notes
• Browse and filter attachments
• Record and save audio
• Play recordings and adjust speed and noise reduction
• Search, manage, and merge recordings
• Transcribe recordings and use transcripts

Navigation and review

• Draw and customize tape
• Reveal, hide, and remove tape
• Add pins and return to saved locations
• Organize, search, and link pins

Canvas and page

• Set an Infinite or Vertical canvas background
• Create artboards and group existing content
• Find, organize, and export artboards
• Read PDFs and switch editing modes
• Set reading direction and page display
• Zoom, jump, and use thumbnails
• Sort, copy and paste pages
• Add pages and change paper
• Save and manage paper templates
• Rotate, clear and delete pages
• Use the page left and right to expand the area
• View and edit page outlines
• Search PDF text, typed notes, and handwriting
• Select original PDF text and add comments
• Navigate, zoom, and search an Infinite or Vertical canvas

Text document

• Use headings and the automatic outline
• Format text and paragraphs
• Use lists, checklists, and content blocks
• Insert with slash commands and undo edits
• Paste or insert Markdown into a document
• Insert and edit text links
• Insert and edit tables in text documents
• Insert formulas and understand export formats
• Insert and manage media in text documents
• Find and replace text
• Read text, adjust appearance, and check word counts
• Use system Writing Tools

Presentation and export

• Create and manage PPT views
• Use an external display and AirPlay
• Present with the laser pointer and touch indicators
• Capture and share a canvas area
• Import PDFs, native documents, and other files
• Create a Text document from Markdown
• Create a Paged note from photos or scans
• Import from other apps and add to the current note
• Export an editable Prodrafts document
• Export PDFs, images and pages
• Export and print Text documents
• Export multiple documents together

Sync and backup

• Automatically back up to cloud storage or a NAS
• Enable iCloud and check sync status
• Handle unavailable iCloud access and account changes
• Turn off sync and keep local data
• Create, cancel, and save a backup
• Recover documents missing from the library
• Review and resolve document conflict versions
• Understand conflict copies after syncing again

Settings and Help

• Set a password, document locks, and biometric access
• Prodrafts Pro and the free document limit
• Customize Toolbar
• Use calculator and unit conversion
• Use stopwatch and countdown
• Use external keyboard shortcuts
• Use the Shortcuts app
• Use multiple windows and split screen
• Get help and send feedback
• Sharing rewards and user surveys
• Set panel position and pop-up method
• Set the app appearance and keep the screen awake
• View and clear the image cache

Last updated: October 14, 2026.