Open the app
Launch Brainstorm. On first run it creates a library folder at ~/Library/Application Support/Brainstorm and a
starter notebook called Notes. Everything you make is saved there automatically; there is no
"Save" button.
The layout
Brainstorm has three columns:
- Notebooks (left): your subjects, each with a color and icon.
- Pages (middle): the pages inside the selected notebook.
- The page (right): the A4 sheet you write and draw on.
Selecting a notebook opens its cover. Press Open, click a page, or use the arrows to flip in.
Your first page
- Click New Notebook (top-left) and give it a name, color, icon, and default theme.
- With the notebook open, click New Page (or press ⌘N).
- Start typing: text lands wherever you click. Or pick a drawing tool from the palette at the top of the page and draw.
Saving, undo, and printing
- Saving is automatic.
- Undo / redo with ⌘Z / ⇧⌘Z, which works for everything on the page.
- Print or Export PDF from the share button in the page toolbar. Pages print at true A4.
Where your files live
Each notebook is a folder under ~/Library/Application Support/Brainstorm, and each page is a .brainstorm file inside
it. You can open that folder in Finder (page/notebook menus have Reveal in Finder), back it up,
or edit the files with other apps. Brainstorm never locks them in a database.
Next: Organizing your work.