Notability Planner: Import and Use a Digital Planner
To use a planner in Notability, import the PDF as a new note, switch to reading mode (or the hand tool) to tap the tabs and dates, and switch back to the pen to write. This guide covers the import steps, the reading-mode habit that makes links work and fixes for the most common problems, using PlanBloom All-in-One Digital Planner as the example file.
Choose your file
Planner files differ by orientation and week start. Landscape (1194 × 834 points) is wide and shows seven days side by side. Portrait (834 × 1194) is tall like paper. Pick Monday or Sunday as the first day of the week. Then decide between the dated 2027-2028 planner (952 pages per layout) and the undated planner (481 pages per layout). More on the differences is in what is a digital planner.
Import into Notability
- Save the PDF to Files or iCloud Drive. Unzip first if you received a ZIP.
- Open Notability, tap the plus button and choose Import (or share the PDF from Files to Notability).
- Pick the planner file and import it as a new note.
- Open the note when it finishes loading.
Keep the original PDF in a safe folder as a master copy.
Use the links
- Switch to reading mode (or the hand tool) so a tap follows a link instead of drawing.
- Tap a month tab, a date number or a top-bar button.
- When you want to write, pick the pen or highlighter again.
Don't write over the tabs and top bar with the pen. Tap them in reading mode.
Navigation cheat sheet
| Want to | Tap |
|---|---|
| Jump to a month | The month tab on the edge |
| Open a day | The date number on a calendar |
| See a week | The week number or any day box in the week view |
| Go to goals or notes | Buttons in the top bar |
| Find anything | The Index page |
Mini calendars on day, week and plan pages let you jump to any date of the month.
If something doesn't work
| Symptom | What to try |
|---|---|
| A tap draws a dot | You are still in a writing mode. Change to reading mode and tap again |
| Links do nothing | Update the app and re-import as a new note; test in Xodo |
| The page looks cut off | Fit the page in the view, or re-import in the right orientation |
| Import fails | Save the file locally first and try again |
The product's own Quick-Start Guide notes that link support differs between apps and versions. That is honest: the planner uses standard internal link annotations, but no one can promise every version handles them. A quick test with one tab right after import tells you what you need to know.
Add covers and stickers
Use the photo tool to insert PNG images. A cover goes on page one; keep the top-bar buttons visible. Stickers can mark priorities and label sections; avoid placing them on tabs. PlanBloom All-in-One Digital Planner includes 160 covers and more than 5,500 transparent PNG stickers; the steps are the same as in the GoodNotes covers guide, only the menu names differ.
Notebooks and templates
You may also want notebooks and paper templates. The package has 48 tabbed notebooks, 120 paper templates, a Student pack and a Work pack. Import them as separate notes and duplicate pages as needed.
Backups
Turn on automatic backup in Notability's settings and keep the original PDF in cloud storage. Export an annotated copy now and then.
Notability or another app?
If you haven't chosen yet, GoodNotes vs Notability compares them for planner use. For iPad-specific tips on orientation and setup, see the iPad planner guide.
Quick start
- Import the PDF as a new note.
- Open it in reading mode and tap the month tab for the current month.
- Go to this week's page and write your top three tasks.
- Add a cover if you like.
- Do a short weekly review each Sunday or Friday.