Mendeley: Annotating resources

There are two ways of navigating around the PDF. These options can be found in the top left-hand menu, and you can select one or the other depending on your need.

The default setting is a mouse (arrow) symbol. This allows you to navigate and interact with the PDF to create annotations.

To scroll through the document, you must use the mouse wheel or the scroll bar on the right-hand side.

The second setting can be chosen and is represented next to the mouse symbol by a hand.

When selected, you are able to hold and drag the page around, without selecting or affecting any of the text. This tool is used mainly for viewing and reading.

There are further viewing tools on the right-hand side of the menu bar.

These tools allow you to adjust the zoom and fill ratio of the PDF pages to the screen, as well as allowing you to rotate the document.

Step 1

To begin highlighting, select the pencil tool in the top left hand menu.

By clicking the arrow next to this symbol, you can select from the two types of highlighting annotations:

1. highlighting lines of text
2. highlighting using a coloured rectangle

Step 2

Once you have selected the type of highlighting you would like to do you can select your colour.

You can choose from a list of available colours by clicking the name of the current selection, which as seen in the example image is set to 'Yellow' by default.

Step 3

Now find line, word, quote, or other area of text you would like to highlight and drag the tool to highlight the selection.

Step 4

Once highlighted, you can click on the selection to edit.

From this pop up you can change the colour of the highlighted annotation, delete the annotation altogether or 'Add to Notebook' will send it to the Mendeley notebook attached to your account.

For more information about using the Notebook see: HERE

Step 1

To begin, select the sticky note symbol in the top menu.

You can choose the colour of the sticky note in the drop-down menu as pictured.

Simply choose the colour to match the highlighted section or select another colour that you think fits.

Note: you do not need to add a highlight to add a sticky note. Sticky notes can be placed anywhere.

Step 2

To place a note, click the screen where it will be dropped.

Notes can be placed anywhere on the page including over text so choose carefully.

Once placed, a pop-up box will open where you can type your comment.

Step 3

To edit the sticky note, select the three grey dots in the right-hand corner of the pop up.

From here you can change your note colour and delete the annotation

Step 4

All of your notes for the source can be viewed in the 'Annotations' section of the resource panel.

To view your notes, select 'Info' in the top right-hand menu and it will open the reference panel.

Note: sticky note comments cannot be added to the overall 'Notebook'.

Why use notebook?

'Pages' in your notebook help your organise your notebook.

You can create pages for any assignment/unit, topic, chapter, or research focus and input comments and annotations from across your library of PDFs.

Setting up a page

To start a new page, select the button 'New Page' at the bottom of the Notebook panel. Once selected you will be greeted with a blank page.

The title of your page is what will be visible in the list (see above) and will help you quickly identify which page will be useful for your current research.

Adding highlights to Notebook

To add a highlight to the Notebook, select the highlighted text to open the pop up. You will see the option 'Add to Notebook'.

Organising your thoughts

As can be seen in the image (right) highlighted text imported into the Notebook will show up in a grey box with quotation marks.

You can then annotate and add comments around these highlights to organise your research.

Wherever you have the Notebook open, clicking on an imported highlight will take to you to the place in the PDF where the highlight was originally made.