One Note 2013 feature request - Edit Mode/ Read Only Mode

Question

I am having trouble finding where to post this, so I thought I would start here.  I love using One Note, and I wish there was a feature/add-in/ something, that let me put a notebook in "Read-Only" mode by default, then let me edit when I'm making changes by using a "Edit" mode.  I've seen other people requesting a similar feature.  I've used One Note and Atlas (Confluence), and I love how in Confluence it is easy to see the version history and I love how the documentation is read-only, unless you want to make changes, then you go into edit mode.  The thing I love about One Note is the cut and paste feature and the searchability.  If these 3 things (edit mode/cut and paste/searchability) were combined, it would be perfect!

Answer 1

Here's one fairly simple way that OneNote could implement this:

Add a new "View" to OneNote which is a read-only view. When this view is selected, then the UI works exactly the same as normal except that keyboard input that would change the document doesn't have any effect. This could also be a toggle on the "Home" pane. This would remove the need to deal with document permissions, require very little change to the app, and be fairly clear from a usability standpoint.

Answer 2

I use onenote a lot to keep track of my passwords and important information and I use it on my PC and my phone (Android).  I also keep the file on OneDrive. The problem with automatic edit is that if I am on my mobile phone reviewing information or trying to copy information, my fingers might slip and change the contents. This is not good, as the information is highly sensitive. 

I want to read only and have the option to edit.... as I am constantly adding new notes.

I recently migrated from Evernote and love the general flexibility of OneNote, but this issue is a significant one seriously impacting usability.

Answer 3

This option isn't as good as a Read-Only mode would be, but it's the best that I could figure out and it's relatively simple.

Open the Notebook and Section you want a Read-Only version of

Go to File, Save As:

1. Save Current: Section

2. Select Format: (*.one)

Then click Save As

Open Windows Explorer and find the file location

Right click and select Properties

Under General, select Read-Only and Apply

You now won't be able to edit this file in Onenote

So you have to make a copy of your original Section and if you ever make any changes in the original, you'll have to go through the process again. But it's fast and simple. For my purposes (school), this works fine.

I tried doing a "save as" for the whole notebook, but it wouldn't work for some reason.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

This is one place to make the suggestion. Here are some others:

Your satisfaction Matters! Let us know your thoughts about your Microsoft experience.

https://secure.opinionlab.com/ccc01/o.asp?id=yDnqREvN

MS has a very large audience, so if you want your suggestion to be acted upon you need many people to make the same suggestion. So ask your friends, fiends <grin>, enemies, relatives, co-workers, strangers on the street to also submit your suggestion to all of the following locations.

Microsoft: Tell us what you think - Feedback

http://mymfe.microsoft.com/support.microsoft.com/feedback.aspx?formid=24

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/suggestions.aspx?sitename=CL100569831033&type=0

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/suggestions.aspx Feedback

NOTE: when you post comments / suggestions it is best to limit each submission to one issue. That way replies can be specific to that error. And it makes it easier for MS to assign a submission to a specific development group or person.

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MS Office 365

http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Microsoft%20%20Online%20%20Services/Feedback.aspx?formID=210