Read-Only Option for Notes

[alexferen 33]

Hi... Tried EN many moons ago, then went with OneNote but EN's cloud and accessible anywhere features are bringing me back...Enough kudos...

Is there a way to mark a note as "read-only" so I cannot accidentally erase or modify it? Thanks. Alex

[OBrien 9]

Please seriously consider this feature.

Ive been using Evernote for almost 10 years with the fear that I could accidentally erase or modify my precious data.

although I know I can restore from previous version on the web, i cannot do that on iOS. 

And what if I dont get noticed the fact I accidentally change data. This possibility makes me so anxious and keep me from using Evernote with important data.😭

I believe this is a common issue among many user!!

 

[digitalarchivist 1]

The ability to read-only lock or protect a note would have been useful to me today. I hope you will add this feature.

[Sandal Jepit 2]

I like to use evernote to log my experiment in the lab, because I can put everything from lab like photos of my experiments, scrap of notes on paper, and a short voice records about the problem in my experiment. So I think a feature to prevent accidental note changes is also important for me. Furthermore it would be great that this kind of locked note have a detail time stamp.

[Jennifer Weiss 1]

I save values that I want to be able to copy and paste for repeated use (example commands I need to enter at a command prompt for tasks that I only do occasionally).  Sometimes I'll accidentally cut rather than copy.  Once I've grabbed the value, I don't have a reason to return to the note, so it won't be until the next time that I want to copy the value that I'll realize I cut it the last time.  By then, I usually can't remember what the value was. 

My workaround is to copy the note and label it 'backup'.  Of course, if I edit the note, I have to remember to copy the edits to the backup, which is definitely a potential point of failure.

I'd much prefer to be able to change a note to read-only, realizing that I'd have to change it back if I want to edit the note.

[Metrodon 2,155]

No, but you could tag it and then be careful when you empty your trash.

[BurgersNFries 2,406]

But I guess I would be careful in first place, but that's not what I'm after - anyone can delete something by an accident.

As metrodon pointed out, no, you cannot flag/tag a note for read only.

[Nomad76 0]

Hi!

Is there a way to lock Evernote to prevent "accidental" changes or edits to already completed notes?

Evernote is now my goto second brain. I have valuable memories in it. Things that I now reference, that do not need any further editing.

So if this feature doesn't exist, I would like to request that it be included. Just a simple switch or menu item to turn off editing.

Thank you!

Darrin.

[jbenson2 2,133]

No, this is not available.

Several other users in the past have requested various types of locks ranging from simple software locks to advanced encryption techniques.

This is a hot topic and Evernote is aware of the wide range of requests.

Best advice I can offer - be sure to backup your Evernote database regularly. Don't rely only on the cloud.

[lhenze 0]

I also would very much like to see the ability to lock notes.   I have a new Android device on which I've installed evernote but I'm afraid to use evernote on it because my precious notes feel too vulnerable there!

 

 

[UncleRic 19]

True enough.
But why isn't merely locking a single note a basic function across whatever plans the patron has?
It's merely neutering the ability to delete or modify via a toggle.
We could have BOTH history AND permanency. ☝️

[UncleRic 19]

4 minutes ago, DTLow said:

There is a basic note lock function, not connected to any plans.  However Evernote has not given us access to the toggle.

I use the feature from Filterize to toggle notes read-only and non-deletable

... interesting.
Why hasn't Evernote given us access to a toggle?

[s2sailor 1,095]

10 minutes ago, DTLow said:

There is a basic note lock function, not connected to any plans.  

It is used in shared notes.  When sharing you can select edit or just read capability.  The read only ones are locked.  I agree it would be nice if this function was exposed for all notes.

[FredJ 3]

I have a note that locks up, trying to go into edit of the note, and it hangs.
(well i actually have several, that hang on my mobile devices, ok on mac)
(a lot of them are scrapes of websites / web pages)...

PLEASE allow me to set to read-only and "not" go into edit mode, no need to.

I imagine if it doesn't try to edit, the note might just easily be "read"

 

 

 

 

[UncleRic 19]

I'm not looking for 3rd-party solutions to 'read-only' status.

This should be a basic property of ANY Evernote doc.

Think about the plethora of legal documentation, etc. that users import into their EverNote apps.

Most of these notes are to used as reference, without desire to accidentally alter or remove them.

Having to rely of restoration and/or 3rd-party means is an unnecessary hassle.
All that is needed is a write on/off (default) toggle somewhere in the menubar.

 

[Rizputin 1]

I cannot believe this has been requested for 5+ years. Seriously? Low effort, high reward. 

[OBrien 9]

It‘s almost insane. In this 5 years, they have been developing so many other features. But about this, nothing has been done.

We might should be get angry on this. Is there any way to make them get attention to this??

[UncleRic 19]

I assume some Evernote™ engineer is monitoring this discussion so I believe EverNote is aware.
That's why we have the Evernote™ forum.

Well obviously.... no movement in a half decade; which is NOT acceptable.

My guess the only way is to complain on either feedback or contact a human within EverNote and complain.

I think I'll do it... being that this forum hasn't produced anything that I value.

... Evernote has a few Facebook accounts (I've checked).

I think I'll ***** in PUBLIC.

 

[PinkElephant 4,032]

Most people posting here are on a paying a count.

So who is hindering you to go ahead and swamp support with this feature request ?

Here somebody from EN Amy listen in - at Support they get paid to do so.

P.S. Just to get this right: I think this is a good request, and have added my vote to the basket quite a while ago.

[UncleRic 19]

I've been a fully paid user for the past half decade or so.

The Evernote™ team hasn't given me (us) a followup on our request to have a convenient toggle to lock the document versus the the half-ass way recovering from history or via a 3rd-party hack.   I think it's a dereliction of duty.

Hence I've subscribed to the Facebook community and shall bring this concern out in the open.

 

Ric.

 

[DaneLennon89 3]

yes. this is a must for me as well. I use evernote exclusively for work and I have many documents where I will no longer need to edit them and it's important that I lock from future editing

[CheilaNg 1]

Hi,

Day by day, my notes are getting bigger and bigger and there are some contents that I do not intend to change, simply because they are study notes. So the feature of being able to block some notes would be a really nice one to have.

I suggest that just in case the person needs to unlock for some reason, the block feature could be a note status, where the user would have to use a toggle button to lock/unlock and have a popup message showing up to make sure the user really wants to proceed with th action whethe it's locking/unlocking the note. In case it's locked, the edit button would stop appearing.

Hope I didn't complicate this idea of locking lol.

[Steve10 1]

This has been a thread for 8 years?! Why hasn’t this been added yet. Just a read only option to avoid accidental edits. There are hundred of up votes here which means that this option would make thousands of people more satisfied. Please add this feature. It’s essential for a product like this 

[Derick 1]

I often want someone else to read my note on the iPad, so i hand it to them and they end up modifying/deleting part of my text inadvertently.

I also have notes that I reference often, but rarely edit.

In both of these cases I NEED a read-only option for these notes.

[Shantanu27 0]

Would love this feature and it's absolutely necessary to make app more user friendly for reading notes.

[Billdhampton@gmail.com 2]

My use of Evernote is divided between Notebooks where I actively add, remove, and edit information and another set of notebooks that serve as my library.  The library notes and notebooks are predominantly pdf files of books and articles that I use in my teaching / research.

I would very much like to be able to "lock" or prevent a note from being edited without an extra step.  Sometimes (especially when using Evernote on a tablet or my phone), I have accidentally deleted information about the pdf or even the pdf itself.  "Locking" the note would require you to "unlock" it in order to type within it or change it.  Notebooks could be set to default to "locked" or "unlocked" notes.  

This would allow me to share entire notebooks with my students without always having the extra step of making it "read only" for them.  Being able to set this option to a predetermined default would also be appreciated.

Thank you for your consideration!  I appreciate all that this company is and continues to become.

[DTLow 5,622]

5 hours ago, Billdhampton@gmail.com said:

I would very much like to be able to "lock" or prevent a note from being edited without an extra step. 

I merged your post with an existing discussion for this feature    
To indicate your support, use the vote button at the top left corner of the discussion

>>This would allow me to share entire notebooks with my students without always having the extra step of making it "read only" for them.  

Edit permission is actually a function of the share process

[iamnumberboy 1]

+1 YES YES YES. I'm a paying customer (2 years now), and have 100s if not 1000s of notes now. Being able to lock them down is super key since I'm using evernote as my lab book. 

[Sal G. 0]

a lock, unlock  would be an appreciated feature.

[Lavarock 0]

+1 This would be super helpful, especially for worry-free use of Templates! 

[franciswongcn 0]

I need this function too. I used Note to record all my stuff, from research ideas to shopping list. Therefore, I need to check with Note from time to time, it is quite easy to delete the text accidentally, so a simple lock button to individual note helps me a lot. I hope this function can be available soon. 

[Wilf Forrow 12]

1 hour ago, ezfine said:

As I saw the date of this request was at 2011, it's 9 years ago. I doubt EN's management team is aware of this very basic requirement.

I see where we're going wrong - 'Read only' means Evernote team just need to read it but not actually do anything with it !  :-)

Seriously, it's time to fix this guys.  I've lost information any number of times where I found out straight away, and was able to undo.  God knows how many times I did it without finding out.

The worst case (for me) has been where I right click a link (to open in new window), which selects it, so the next character I type in the source note replaces the whole link.  Bang, gone, and I probably won't even notice.

[viniciussp4 1]

+1

We totally need a read-only option. I have some notes that contains terminal commands and I use them regularly, but everytime I need to put myself in "alert mode" or I can accidentally erase or change some character, and this would destroy the command (which happened more than one time). Unfortunately, the way things are I can't even consider upgrading my account and probably I will have to change to another product.

[*** Simon *** 0]

+1 request to have the option of making notes Read Only.

Yes, I know that with my Premium account I can go back through the history if I discover a change. The problem is that it is currently possible to accidentally make a change to a note without realising it (especially when you use Evernote on smart devices and fumble them e.g. by putting them in your pocket without locking the screen). If you don't know that a change has occurred, there's no reason to go digging through note history.

Considering write protection has been a feature of note-taking throughout history (e.g. using ink instead of chalk or pencil, the little recording tabs on audio & video cassettes, the write protect slot on floppy disks, and the write-protect flag on almost every file system), this appears to be a "table stakes" feature.

[DTLow 5,622]

On 7/1/2020 at 3:59 PM, *** Simon *** said:

If you don't know that a change has occurred, there's no reason to go digging through note history.

I view  my notes in descending modification date sequence   
Recently edited notes are easily identified at the top of the list

fwiw  We've been told a view/edit switch will be available with the new editors (no date)

[BugnerH 0]

Agree. Just a simple padlock symbol on the top menu bar which when clicked locks/unlocks the note. To unlock a note it could require the users password to prevent accidental clicking.

When will this feature be available as its been requested ages ago.....

Thanks, Andy

[OBrien 9]

According to the preview video, next Evernote version might have edit mode/read mode. This is not exactly what we have been waiting for, although this may improve our concerns some how.

So many comments, no feedbacks for long time. That’s what I don’t get. At least, They can share us their thought and plan on this.

[bp5 0]

+1

[RunStephen 0]

I first emailed support two years ago to ask how to make a note read-only. Surprised it is still not a feature.  Please allow notes to be made read-only by the user!

Also, I do the same as noted by an earlier user, and that's a big reason I want this feature:
> I view  my notes in descending modification date sequence   

[Gear Feng 0]

I need this function!

[cacotigon 23]

I wish you could set this at the "app level", I do all my editing on computers but also have Evernote installed on my iPad for browsing/reading *ONLY*. The number of times that I've accidentally edited the damn note making it sync back is beyond frustrating.

[leelee1972 1]

On 6/12/2018 at 2:50 PM, Mikhail Osher said:

Not sure if it happens really often, but it will make my life such easier. Every time I open my notes with sensitive data I'm scared to erase something by accident.

Exactly!

Evernote normally makes life easier, but in this case they've given me a new thing to worry about.

I need new worries like I need a hole in the head.

Knowing I can recover something that I deleted by accident is useless if I don't even realize I deleted it.

I came extremely close to this happening tonight; hence my presence here now.

This feature should be a basic no-brainer.
 

[Miftah Thoha 0]

+1, need it. sometimes after i select all content of a note, copy and paste it to other app, then I can accidentally lost all the content because i press a tab button

[tvslaven 0]

I have long been missing a simple  way to just lock my notes with a single click to prevent accidental changes.  I am aware of the encryption function on text. Its not that I am wanting here. Its just a way to quick-lock a note from changes.

[PinkElephant 4,032]

If you really change it accidentally, you can always use note history to go back to a prior version of the note.

[Vojkan Cvijanovic 5]

10+ years and you still haven't implemented this simple, but very useful feature. Shame on you Evernote.

[UncleRic 19]

This is 'me' after a decade....

Most of my work is via desktop vs iPhone.

There's aways a way to 'recover' a problem, like retrieve from trash or history.

But there are times when I'm writing code (I'm an iOS Developer), etc. and I may have deleted a line or whatever; or even remove a legal PDF (***** happens).

There are times that I'm not aware of such an incident till sometime in the future; then it's 'recovery time'.

Having a READ ONLY option prevents '*****' from happening in the first place.

BTW: Evernote forbids me to write '*****' in my response.   I wonder if I can write '*****' in my own, personal documents. 🤔

P.S. I must admit, Evernote is getting better.

 

[eric99 360]

A database should always be protected against accidental deletion

Assume you have a note with many attachments. If you (or your family) clicks an attachment and accidentally click the delete button, the attachment is gone without any warning.  Since there are many attachments, you may not notice that it disappeared and you will not look in your history for the previous version!

For that reason I'm big fan of read-only mode.

 

[jefito 5,542]

Was wondering whether that was coming or not, since I knew you had the ability under the hood, for Hello and Food.

[BurgersNFries 2,406]

Something I think would be cool is to have notes auto locked if they haven't been modified in X number of days. Maybe even done on the server side rather than client side so as to not affect upload usage.

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

I like BNF's idea. Even though I am not terribly concerned about deleting stuff, since I never empty my trash, I do accidentally modify the wrong note on occassion. Early drafts of things get re-worked, and then I realize that I had a newer draft already, and I am wasting my time. Not only that, but I have ruined the early draft by messing around with it (deleting things here and there, moving stuff around, etc.). The scary thing is that I sometimes reproduce the same stuff! But, not always It would just be nice to know that old stuff is locked. Unlocking is no big deal compared to the hassle of recovering stuff.

And, you know I am going to say it: you could give us the option to toggle this auto-lock on/off

[jefito 5,542]

And, you know I am going to say it: you could give us the option to toggle this auto-lock on/off

Heh. Options are for developers who are afraid of making choices...

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

And, you know I am going to say it: you could give us the option to toggle this auto-lock on/off

Heh. Options are for developers who are afraid of making choices...

Balderdash! (yes, I know who you are quoting)

Developers have to make choices one way or another when they design the default UI. That reflects their decisions, and if they did a good job (Evernote usually does), then most users will never have to mess around with any settings.

Giving users the ability to customize their experience is a choice as well, and it is pretty rare that I hear someone complaining about being able to do what they want to do

Taking away the user's ability to customize their experience, or deciding not to offer a feature is a choice as well, and I think a lot of customers complain when they cannot do what they want to do! It is especially painful when a feature Evernote developed to perfection is removed or radically altered, when a toggle would have satisfied everyone

[jefito 5,542]

Hmm, I thought that I was quoting myself... and kidding, too...

Frankly, since note locking is available through the API, it might be a good 3rd-party opportunity.

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

Hmm, I thought that I was quoting myself... and kidding, too...

Frankly, since note locking is available through the API, it might be a good 3rd-party opportunity.

dlu said that somewhere in the forums. I guess great minds think alike! My mind may not be as great, but I know what I want

[May 268]

since I back everything up with Crashplan I can easily restore all my file's (not just Evernote) past versions or even deleted files (from previous days up to previous years). Everything is retained forever and there are no limits.

I actually had a problem recently when an app (Byword) on iPad deleted all of its files from the Dropbox. Took me just a couple of clicks to restore everything without any problem. I guess I could have contacted Dropbox support and ask them to restore those files for me but doing it myself is just much faster.

so the bottom line - automatic backup is awesome.

[micsaund 9]

Hi,

I'd like to propose a feature for all Evernote platforms: Let us toggle a read-only attribute on notes.

Let me explain why: I use Evernote to keep lists of customers, email addresses, etc. and other stuff that rarely needs to be changed. Sometimes, I will highlight those bits of text to copy/paste into another window. However, I occasionally hit a key on the keyboard which replaces all of the highlighted text in the note. If I don't notice this, the changes get synced and I lose the data that used to be there (admittedly my own mistake).

If you could right-click on notes and toggle a read-only checkbox or something similar, that would make Evernote much more robust for storing things that you never want to accidentally change like doctor info, email addresses of friends, or whatever. Also, if you think about how many things you clip/copy/paste into a note that never again need to be edited, it just makes sense to be able to lock the content to prevent edits.

Overall, I think a read-only feature would make Evernote even more useful for storing long-term info.

Thanks!

[pepr 12]

+1 on this, great "security" feature

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

Hi,

I'd like to propose a feature for all Evernote platforms: Let us toggle a read-only attribute on notes.

Let me explain why: I use Evernote to keep lists of customers, email addresses, etc. and other stuff that rarely needs to be changed. Sometimes, I will highlight those bits of text to copy/paste into another window. However, I occasionally hit a key on the keyboard which replaces all of the highlighted text in the note. If I don't notice this, the changes get synced and I lose the data that used to be there (admittedly my own mistake).

If you could right-click on notes and toggle a read-only checkbox or something similar, that would make Evernote much more robust for storing things that you never want to accidentally change like doctor info, email addresses of friends, or whatever. Also, if you think about how many things you clip/copy/paste into a note that never again need to be edited, it just makes sense to be able to lock the content to prevent edits.

Overall, I think a read-only feature would make Evernote even more useful for storing long-term info.

Thanks!

hi. welcome to the forums!

this request occasionally comes up in the forums. so far, evernote doesn't seem like it is likely to implement it.

however, i sure would like to see it. even with trash that doesn't have to be deleted and note histories, it is still a worry, because you might accidentally delete something and not realize it for days or weeks, especially in an account with thousands of notes.

[micsaund 9]

however, i sure would like to see it. even with trash that doesn't have to be deleted and note histories, it is still a worry, because you might accidentally delete something and not realize it for days or weeks, especially in an account with thousands of notes.

This is exactly what happened to me. I had deleted something and didn't notice it for a few weeks. Why not give people the ability to avoid having to use the note histories at all when such a simple thing as a read-only flag would solve it once and for all?

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

however, i sure would like to see it. even with trash that doesn't have to be deleted and note histories, it is still a worry, because you might accidentally delete something and not realize it for days or weeks, especially in an account with thousands of notes.

This is exactly what happened to me. I had deleted something and didn't notice it for a few weeks. Why not give people the ability to avoid having to use the note histories at all when such a simple thing as a read-only flag would solve it once and for all?

i could not agree more

[jbenson2 2,133]

It would be a wonderful safeguard if we could make our Evernote "memories" read-only.

[SomeBizzare 0]

+1

[Machine2473 0]

+1

As a database admin, I have a wealth of scripts, checklists and reference info that I stash in Evernote. More than once I've accidentally altered a note and not noticed for weeks, forcing research and correction.

[cnewtonne 0]

Please please do it. I have very same reasons listed above and making note(s) read-only is a must.

[jkenton 2]

I have tested this manual procedure a few times, and it seems to work. The notes (after importation) are not editable at the least...

1. Export the note(s) to a place where you can easily find them (computer desktop).

2. Open the notes in a text editor

3. Search for the section (near the end) that includes <note-attributes>

4. Copy a <content-class>xxxxx.xxxxx</content-class> somewhere before </note-attributes>. The API suggests that you use something company specific. I use my name.

5. Re-import the note to Evernote

Is there an easier way?

[BenB 1]

Dear EverNote team,

Please add the "read-only" feature. In fact, I recall that the earlier versions of EN (before it became cloud-enabled) had a button where you can toggle a note to read-only. I'm puzzled why it quietly went away.

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

I never thought of modifying the ENMl. What a great idea. Maybe as Food or Hello, it could be preserved (those notes are un-editable). Ideally, we would get the functionality, but in the meantime, this might be useful.

[cnewtonne 0]

+10000

I truly believe this feature is highly needed to prevent accidental deletion or modification of notes. As a workaround, I wrote a MacroExpress code to disable the delete button when EN window is active. My only concern now is to accidently modify a note without noticing because I ctrl+c 100's of times a day. I just could not find a way to set the note control to read-only at runtime even though I was able to do so with other apps.

[Machine2473 0]

Bump.

 

And I can only image the howling if Evernote Business lacked the ability to lock notes into a read-only mode.

[Machine2473 0]

There are at least a couple of other threads with this same request, with only crickets in response. 

[GrumpyMonkey 4,299]

There are at least a couple of other threads with this same request, with only crickets in response. 

 

Hi. I don't think of myself as a cricket

 

Requests for features occur all the time around here. Sometimes Evernote staff respond. Sometimes they don't. Most of the time, they cannot comment on the roadmap, so there isn't much to say. However, they read all of the posts.

 

As for the other users (this is a user forum), this feature has been requested in the past (by myself and others), and there isn't much more to say about it, I guess. Here are some ideas for "locking" notes. 

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/35413-can-i-lock-my-note/?p=191517

[BurgersNFries 2,406]

There are at least a couple of other threads with this same request, with only crickets in response.

Actually, there are some threads with very recent replies (as in just a few HOURS before *your* post), such as the first two links below. The reason some threads have no reply may be b/c people don't use the search function to see if their request has been addressed before & the regulars on the board get tired of posting the same reply to the same question. The search function is your friend.

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/35437-suggestion-ability-to-lock-changes/

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/35413-can-i-lock-my-note/

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/22032-lock-a-note-function/

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/28111-request-lockunlock-individual-notes-for-windows/

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/18706-how-to-lock-notes-against-deleting-or-editing/

http://discussion.evernote.com/topic/25110-request-lock-evernote-make-notes-read-only/

[SomeBizzare 0]

+1

 

please!

 

any formal EN response on this request?

[BurgersNFries 2,406]

+1

 

please!

 

any formal EN response on this request?

Evernote reads but does not reply to every thread. Nor do they publish roadmaps or ETAs.

[JohnRoth 0]

+1

 

I have designed PDF forms for use with evernote and skitch - this would be ideal.

[Kotya 7]

I'd like to propose a feature for all Evernote platforms: Let us toggle a read-only attribute on notes.

 

I have asked for this couple of times before.

 

Is has been awhile since EV added ANYTHING useful to the note-editing/formating itself... I wouldn't hold my breath for the new features.

[Vester 0]

+1 - this is must have feature

[avkdsiva 0]

+1 - badly in need of this feature.

[eric99 360]

+1  I'm waiting for this a long time...

[Machine2473 0]

Join the club.  We're having matching blazers made.

 

The feature of marking a note as read only seems like such a small thing but I suppose there are other pressing issues.

[acediez 0]

Here goes a very emotionally invested +1

[Liam Gretton 86]

I'd really like to see this feature return too. In EN2 you could lock individual notes but like quite a few useful features, that ability just mysteriously disappeared at some point.

[jefito 5,542]

I'd really like to see this feature return too. In EN2 you could lock individual notes but like quite a few useful features, that ability just mysteriously disappeared at some point.

It probably disappeared when V3 came around (or maybe 3.5). A lot of things changed then, and the timeline view disappeared, mourned by some, but not me...

[Olli 11]

Hi,

my solution works only for small notes:

I have two notebooks: one contains only the original files. I'm very careful with them. These notes get exported and saved away from EN.

In EN i have a copy for daily usage. From time to time I delete the copies and replace them with my originals.

Sounds complicated, but works for me.

The second way could be realized with a second EN Account (I admit, I have one for work and one for private Issues)

Create a Notebook and invite your other account for reading only.

So content can only be added through one account.

Kind regards Olli

[Machine2473 0]

Renewing this feature request.  Yes, I fully realize that EN does not publish their dev roadmap but wanted to get this in front of them again anyway.

 

 

[luckman212 160]

+1 from me - I've requested this before. Badly needed feature.

[Wey 6]

I'm wondering, isn't it absolutely necessary to introduce such a button like "Toggle Edit Mode" or "Lock Edit" or whatsoever the name, in order to protect notes from unwanted changes or editings? Very often than not the notes are changed without out deliberate operation, right? Isn't that annoying? For example, when you have opened a note, and are or are'nt reading the note, but you touched the keyboards unintentionally and the note is changed -- what's worse, you may have not noticed it. Isn't it an annoiance? Further, even you can guard against mis-editing or mis-changes, isn't it a helly experience to do so? Why not introduce a "Toggle Edit Mode" or "Lock Edit" button, which is very easy to do, just like the android version EN, or other note-taking software, like myBase, the clips of the relevant interface is attached here.

 

http://app.yinxiang.com/shard/s19/sh/d5e3e161-b8f9-43f4-ab6f-5d59a5274eec/69cd997be1c700119393ee25435ffdc8

 

[JohnDM 122]

yeah +

[gazumped 9,000]

That already exists in Android - there's an Edit button for those who (like me) tend to hit random keys while trying not to drop the phone.  Don't see it's necessary on desktop clients - don't know about iOS.

[JohnDM 122]

Not avialable in iOS -- or if it is it's not easy to find

[gazumped 9,000]

It appeared in Android because some users had a rant about how unrealistic it was to show notes in an editable state - because that led to accidentally altered and deleted notes.

 

Of course there are now the rants about how long it takes to edit a note given that extra keypress...

[JohnDM 122]

 . . . Of course there are now the rants about how long it takes to edit a note given that extra keypress...

 

Ha!, Isn't that just the way?  

 

It should default to editable and  then a special key or button to lock it

[gazumped 9,000]

I prefer the current version - tapping EDIT is only a fingertwitch,  and everything defaults to safe unless you take a specific action to change it.

[Gangun 29]

"Lock Edit" would be useful to avoid "conflicting changes" too;

[ab1kenobee 95]

Until EN gets around to it... "CTRL + S" (save) and "F9" (synch) every 15-sec or so is my workaround to this issue (WIN desktop).

 

 

 

I hope this may prevent much future heartburn for others!

 

Alan

[Machine2473 0]

Bump.

 

Again.

[jefito 5,542]

Bump.

 

Again.

Please stop. Refer to item #5 in the Forum Code of Conduct. Thank you.

[jefito 5,542]

I found this thread not because I'm trying to prevent myself from messing up my notes, but a "Read-only option for individual notes and notebooks alike is useful when you need to share a note or notebook with someone but you don't want that other person or people modifying the note.

It's hard to believe when the Evernote team conceived this app that they wouldn't consider the usefulness of making some notes read only; especially shared notes and notebooks.

 

Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things."

"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

 

Anyway, you can already share a single note as read-only via email. You can also share a notebook as read-only with another Evernote user; that's the default anyways.

[HV-MAN 0]

Yes i'd also like the lock feature to prevent accidential deleation of note contents.

Should be implemented across all platforms

[Wordsgood 526]

Just as an FYI, there are programs on the market that can password protect entire apps. A quick Google search should bring some up.