I can't edit a sticky note on the canvas
A note locks while its editor is open, for everyone in the file. Close the editor, or click the lock icon to clear a lock left behind.
Goal
Unlock a note so you can type on it, resize it and use its toolbar again.
Before you start
- A Notely Widget note that shows a lock icon in its header or the button Editor open in its footer.
Steps
- Recognise the lock While an editor has the note open, the card shows a lock icon, its footer button reads Editor open, the toolbar above it is empty, and hovering the text says "Close the note editor to edit text on the canvas."
- Close the editor If the Edit Note window is open on your screen, close it. Opening All Notes or switching the editor to another note releases the lock too.
- Ask who has it open The lock is shared with everyone in the file. If you have no editor open, a teammate may be editing the note right now.
- Clear a lock left behind Click the lock icon. After about two seconds Notely tells you what it found: "Editor is active. Close it to unlock canvas controls.", "Stale lock cleared. Canvas controls are available." or "Could not recover this lock. Please try again."
Tips
- The lock coordinates editing between people; it does not protect a note from being moved or deleted.
Result
The note is unlocked and you can edit it on the canvas again.
If something goes wrong
- "This editor no longer owns the note. Close it before editing on the canvas." Someone else opened the note in their editor, so your window stopped saving. Close it and open the note again when they are done.
- "Close editor to edit on canvas." You selected a locked note while your editor was open. Edit it in the editor, or close the editor first.
Common questions
Why does a note lock at all?
So two edits do not overwrite each other: while the editor writes to a note, typing on the card is paused.
Does copying a locked note copy the lock?
No. A copy starts unlocked.