Creating Sections and Sub-Sections

Question

Does Microsoft Office OneNote 2013 not have the ability to create a category or section then create a sub-category or sub-section under that main section? All I can seem to find is a way to to add a section group but that still does not place that in the desired section. Any help someone can shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

If that is the case, then why is it that the GUI of the program does not reflect that? Why have colored tabs for a section if that is the lowest point in the hierarchy. The interface visually has the opposite  effect. The way it appears to the eye is the hierarchy is: Notebook at the top level, then Section, then arbitrary section groups. It seems to me that if Microsoft were going to set the program up the way it is they would have at least made the color section tabs be the second level of the hierarchy instead of last. The section groups definitely do seem as if they were thrown in at the last minute. What is the point of having section groups if they can't be part of the colorful section tabs? Why not have the hierarchy be: Notebook, then Colored Section Tabs(category) <- this being with sub categories or not, thereby giving the user more freedom to set up their notebooks however they want. Just seems that Microsoft again is ignoring the obvious.  Seems like a Hierarchial setup like i am describing would fit in perfectly with Windows' "tree" file structure. This is unusual for Microsoft's usual user-friendly interface. Thank you for your response.

Answer 2

That makes so much more sense now that I understand it. I wish they'd said that in clearer language earlier on. Makes the difference between how OneNote is organized and how Evernote is organized so much more powerful and less frustrating.

Thanks.

Answer 3

The highest hierarchical point is the notebook, the lowest is the section.

Between notebook and section you can define an unlimited number of nested section groups.

The reason behind:

A section is a (*.one) file within the Windows file system. Notebooks and section groups are just folders within the Windows file system.

Bernd

It seems impossible to add a page to a section group (or sub-group) - only to a section.

Am I right about this?

And is that because of the file structure you mentioned?

Answer 4

The highest hierarchical point is the notebook, the lowest is the section.

Between notebook and section you can define an unlimited number of nested section groups.

The reason behind:

A section is a (*.one) file within the Windows file system. Notebooks and section groups are just folders within the Windows file system.

Bernd

Answer 5

1. AFAIK the 1st version of Onenote (2003) had no section groups.
2. The real structure of a notebook with section groups and sections IS a "normal" folder tree seen from Windows explorer (if your notebooks are not on Skydrive)
3. If your notebooks are not on Skydrive you can arrange your notebook folder tree using Windows explorer (after closing all notebooks); then re-open them.

Bernd