Getting Started with Capacities: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the core concepts and functionality of Capacities note-taking app

Key Terms

• Backlink - A reciprocal connection automatically created when linking objects in Capacities. When you link from object A to object B, a backlink is created in object B that points back to object A.

  Enables bidirectional navigation between related content and helps users trace connections between their notes.

• Central Calendar - A core feature in Capacities that provides a time-based view of content, including daily notes, dated content, and newly created objects.

  Serves as a grounding element that helps users track and organize their work chronologically.

• Daily Note - A dedicated space within the Central Calendar for writing quick notes and thoughts related to the current day, functioning like an inbox or scratch pad.

  Provides a quick capture space for temporary notes that can be linked to other objects.

• Graph View - A visual representation of the network of connections between objects in Capacities, showing how different notes and items are linked together.

  Helps users visualize and understand the relationships between different pieces of content in their workspace.

• Linking - The process of creating connections between different objects in Capacities, allowing users to associate related content.

  Core functionality that enables the creation of a network of connected information.

• Object - Any individual piece of content in Capacities, such as a note, image, or tag. Every object must have an associated object type.

  The fundamental unit of content organization in Capacities.

• Object Type - A category or template that defines the structure and properties for a group of related objects, such as books, meetings, or places.

  Provides consistent organization and formatting for similar types of content.

• Properties - Specific fields or attributes associated with an object type that capture structured information, such as dates, categories, or other metadata.

  Enables consistent data capture across similar objects and helps maintain organizational structure.

Key People & Entities

• Capacities - Product/company name mentioned throughout the video as the main subject

  The central product being demonstrated and explained in the tutorial video

• CapacitiesHQ - YouTube channel name mentioned in video metadata

  Official channel producing the tutorial content

• Julie - Example person used in demonstration

  Used as a sample contact to demonstrate the person object type and linking features

• London - City mentioned in demonstration

  Used as an example location to demonstrate place object types and linking features

• Lego - Brand name used as analogy

  Used metaphorically to explain how text blocks work in Capacities

• Unsplash - Image source platform mentioned during demonstration

  Referenced as the source of a sample image used in the tutorial

Key Dates

• November 21, 2024 - Publication date of the Capacities tutorial video

  This represents when the official getting started guide for Capacities was released on YouTube

• 9:00 AM (Referenced in demo) - Example meeting time shown in the tutorial

  Used to demonstrate how the calendar and meeting functionality works in Capacities

• Today (Referenced multiple times) - Current day context used throughout the tutorial

  Used to demonstrate daily notes, calendar features, and temporal linking capabilities of the platform

Key concepts

• Objects - The fundamental unit of information in Capacities. Everything in the system (notes, images, tags, etc.) is an object.

  Forms the basic building block of the system, replacing traditional files and folders for more flexible organization.

• Object Types - Categories or templates that define how different kinds of objects should be structured and what properties they should have.

  Provides consistent organization and structure for similar types of information without requiring manual organization.

• Properties - Specific fields or attributes that can be added to object types to capture structured information consistently across all objects of that type.

  Ensures uniform data capture and organization across similar types of content.

• Linking - The ability to connect different objects together, creating a network of related information with automatic backlinks.

  Enables natural association between related pieces of information and provides multiple ways to find and access content.

• Central Calendar - A unified view that shows daily notes, dated content, and newly created objects in chronological order.

  Provides temporal context and organization for all content, serving as a natural way to track and find information.

• Daily Note - A scratch pad or inbox associated with each day for quick capture of information and thoughts.

  Offers a quick entry point for information that can later be organized and linked to other objects.

• Graph View - A visual representation of how different objects are connected to each other in the network.

  Helps visualize relationships between different pieces of information and understand the context of content.

• Templates - Pre-configured object types that come with specific properties and layouts suited for different kinds of content.

  Provides quick starting points for organizing different types of information without requiring manual setup.

Introduction to Objects and Object Types

The fundamental organizational structure in Capacities

Capacities takes a unique approach to note organization by using objects and object types instead of traditional files and folders. Every piece of content in Capacities is an object, whether it's a note, image, or tag. Each object belongs to a specific object type, which determines its structure and properties. Object types are listed in the left sidebar for easy access and organization. This system eliminates the need for complex folder structures and organizational overhead, as notes are automatically organized based on their type. When creating new content, users simply need to decide what type of note they're making, and it will automatically be stored and organized appropriately. This approach provides a more intuitive and maintenance-free way to manage information while ensuring consistent note structure across similar types of content.

Key Takeaways:

• Everything in Capacities is an object with a specific type

• Object types replace traditional folder structures

• Notes are automatically organized based on their type

• The left sidebar provides quick access to all object types

• Creating new content requires only choosing the appropriate type

Working with Properties and Templates

Customizing and structuring different types of notes

Each object type in Capacities can have its own unique set of properties and layout, designed to capture specific information relevant to that type of content. For example, book objects might include properties for author, completion date, and rating, while project objects might have different properties altogether. These properties are applied consistently across all objects of the same type, ensuring uniformity in note structure. Templates are available for common object types, making it easy to get started with pre-configured layouts and properties. Users can modify these templates or create their own custom object types to match their specific needs. This structured approach helps maintain consistency across notes while remaining flexible enough to accommodate different types of information and working styles.

Key Takeaways:

• Different object types can have unique properties and layouts

• Properties are consistently applied across all objects of the same type

• Templates provide quick setup for common note types

• Properties can be modified to match specific needs

• Structured approach ensures consistency while maintaining flexibility

Linking and Relationships

Creating connections between objects and information

One of Capacities' most powerful features is its ability to create meaningful connections between objects through linking. When you link objects together, Capacities automatically creates bi-directional connections, making it easy to navigate between related pieces of information. For example, linking a person to a meeting creates a reference on both the person's page and the meeting page, allowing you to see all meetings associated with a person and all people involved in a meeting. This network of connections mirrors how our brains naturally organize information and makes it easier to discover relationships between different pieces of content. The Graph View provides a visual representation of these connections, helping users understand how their information is interconnected.

Key Takeaways:

• Links create bi-directional connections between objects

• Backlinks automatically show relationships between content

• The network approach mirrors natural thought processes

• Graph View visualizes connections between objects

• Multiple paths to find and access related information

Calendar Integration and Daily Notes

Time-based organization and daily workflow management

Capacities includes a central calendar feature that serves as a temporal organization system for your notes and activities. The calendar view provides multiple ways to interact with your information, including a monthly overview and daily notes. The daily note functions as a quick capture tool or inbox for thoughts and tasks throughout the day. Any object that references today's date is automatically collected in the calendar view, providing a comprehensive overview of your daily activities. This temporal context helps users track the evolution of their notes and projects over time, while maintaining easy access to current and upcoming items. The calendar integration creates another natural way to organize and discover information, complementing the object type and linking systems.

Key Takeaways:

• Central calendar provides temporal organization

• Daily notes serve as a quick capture tool

• Automatic collection of date-referenced content

• Calendar view shows evolution of notes over time

• Multiple ways to access time-based information