## Keep an investigation legible

Notes hold observations in a temporary Notes panel and can retain references
to the objects or context that motivated them. A reference badge gives the
next investigator a direct route back to the relevant layout object.

![Expanded Inspector Note showing rendered Markdown, a Lifter object reference badge, edit and copy actions, and reference metadata](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/notes-lifter-reference.png)

## Create and find a note

1. Open **Notes** from the Inspector group on the Visual Components **HOME**
   tab. If a Notes panel already exists, the command returns to that panel.
2. Select the plus button to create a note, or use **Notes** in Object
   Inspector or **Create note from selected** in Search to create a note with
   object references.
3. In the list, use the search box to filter by note title or content. Choose
   **All**, **Note**, **Finding**, **Warning**, **Metric**, or **Todo** to filter
   by type.
4. Select a note title to open its expanded view.

Active notes appear before resolved notes. Dismissed notes are hidden from the
list. The severity stripe and type icon help distinguish an urgent warning or
finding from a general observation.

## Edit or close the loop

In the expanded view:

* Select **Edit**, change the Markdown content, then select **Save**. Use
  **Cancel** to discard an edit in progress.
* Select **Copy** to copy the note content.
* Use the note selector to switch to another available note, or use the back
  button. `Escape` also returns to the list when the note is not being edited.
* Select the resolved toggle when the investigation is complete. Select the
  delete action to remove the note.
* Select **Open in separate window** when the note must remain visible beside
  another Inspector surface.

## Use an object reference

Select a reference badge to open the actions that apply to that reference:

* **Select** makes a valid, selectable object the Visual Components selection.
* **Inspect** opens or updates Object Inspector for an object reference.
* **Goto** changes the relevant application context or editor when needed,
  selects the target when appropriate, and focuses the camera. See [Go To and
  navigation behavior](../reference/goto-navigation.md).
* **Copy** preserves the reference representation for another supported
  Inspector interaction.

Position and simulation-time references can expose focus or run-to-time
actions instead. Actions are hidden when the reference data does not support
them. A reference to an invalidated runtime object, such as a dynamic
   product removed by a reset, remains visible as context but its object
   actions are unavailable.

## Result

Use a note when the next useful step depends on an observation, a decision, or
the identity of an object. Keep the reference attached to the note so a later
reader can select, inspect, or navigate to the same investigation target.