Stubs

‘Stub’ is a Tag used for Rem automatically created while tagging, linking, or even searching within your notes. These Rem are thus called Stubs and exist as placeholders or reminders of what you have started to work on.

The Stub Tag helps you find any Rem you created automatically in the process of making and organizing your notes. This then allows you to easily add to those notes, move them elsewhere in your notes, or get guidance on what you need to research next.

When you are adding a Tag with ## or a Rem Reference with [[ or a Portal with (( you can a new Stub Rem. Type the text desired and then either scroll to find the “Create Rem” near the bottom or hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and hit Enter.

This will add the desired Tag/Reference/Portal and create a top-level Rem outside your hierarchy with the Stub Tag.

If you click on a Stub Rem, you will see that it has the Stub Tag. If you click on the Tag you will be taken to the Stub Rem, where you can find all the stubs you’ve created, including the dates you created them.

You can also label any Rem as a Stub by tagging it with ##Stub!

If you navigate to the Stub Tag, you’ll find all the stubs currently created. You will see the dates they were created, and, next to it, a number. This is a record of where and how it has been used so far. This way you will never lose track of these Rem and can quickly find and work on them.

In the Stub’s backlink section, each Stub is shown through a Portal, which makes it easy to edit them directly to add details to them. If you do, those will be reflected on the original Rem and hence the Tag/Reference/Portal you created with it.

This is essential for returning to a topic you know you need to explore and expanding on it easily.

You can also go to any individual Stub, and edit it directly.

In addition to editing the text of a Stub, there are a number of potentially useful things you can do.

Add New Tags

Since each Stub is a Rem of its own, you can add tags onto it directly. This could be useful, for example, with tags like “Urgent” “Details” or “Unknown” that will help you navigate what to do with it later.

More importantly, if you know where a Stub belongs, you can send it there. Click on the Rem Options and choose Move Rem To. Alternatively, you can type / then move. Either way, you will now be prompted to find a new Parent for the Rem by searching for it. Once you have chosen, just hit enter.

If you are finally satisfied that you have added all the details you need and moved it to its proper position in your Hierarchy, you can remove the Stub Tag.

Click the little x on the Stub Tag and it will be gone. Now that Rem will no longer show up in the Stub Tag. Leaving you free to move on to others.

Stubs will occur naturally as you take notes, which is the point. RemNote is allowing and encouraging you to build your hierarchy as you work, adding details or even structures you know you will need later without having to go back and find them.

When in doubt, add a Stub. You can always find it easily later to move, edit or label.

When taking notes for research, you will often run into important terms you haven't created Rem for yet. Author names, new chemical compounds, and terms you don’t know. Instead of looking it up immediately and getting distracted from your task, make it a stub with a reference or tag, and work on it later!

It will save you time and attention in the present, and headache later trying to find that ‘one thing you read about once’ later.

Similarly, whether for a new class, language, or chapter, you might run into new terminology or references you are not yet familiar with. Make them a Stub as a way to remember to return to them later. This is especially useful when you don't yet know where something belongs in your hierarchy yet.

It will help you take more comprehensive notes, more easily find gaps and holes in your knowledge, and keep your notes well structured and organized. Just remember to periodically go back and go through the Stubs!

When you are in the productivity zone, or in a time-sensitive setting like a meeting or call, taking the time to think about where a particular note should go is hardly a possibility. Instead, make it a Stub and worry about it later.

This will help keep your focus on the task or moment, while also ensuring you don't miss out on important points or connections later.