#6 What Are Workspaces?
PenPage organizes your notes into workspaces — think of them as separate notebooks, each with its own purpose.
Three types of workspace
Local
Your default workspace. Notes stay on this device only — no account needed, no sync. Fast, private, simple.
Cloud
Sign in with Google to unlock Cloud workspace. Notes sync to your Google Drive automatically — access them from any device. (#12 Cross-Device Sync)
Public (Blackboard)
Your public notebook. Anything here is published to your profile at penpage.com/@yourname. Great for sharing knowledge with the world. (#9 How to Publish Publicly)
Managing your workspaces
Switch workspace
Tap a workspace name in the sidebar to switch to it. On mobile, use the dropdown at the top.
Keyboard shortcut
Press 1, 2, or 3 on your keyboard to jump directly to a workspace:
| Key | Workspace |
|---|---|
| 1 | Local |
| 2 | Cloud |
| 3 | Public (Blackboard) |
Number hints appear next to each workspace name in the dropdown.
Rename
Swipe the workspace name (mobile) or use Edit Mode (pencil icon) to rename. The Cloud workspace name is just for you. The Public workspace name becomes your public display name.
Custom color
In Edit Mode, tap the color icon next to a workspace to pick a custom color. This colors the workspace header and helps you tell them apart at a glance.
Reorder
In Edit Mode, drag workspaces up or down to change their order in the sidebar.
Which workspace should I use?
| Situation | Best workspace |
|---|---|
| Just taking notes | Local — simplest option |
| Need access on multiple devices | Cloud — syncs via Google Drive |
| Want others to read your notes | Public — publishes to your profile |
| Sensitive / private content | Local + encryption (#14) |
You can use all three at once. Most people start with Local, add Cloud when they want sync, and try Public when they're ready to share.
Related
- #8 How to Share Your Notes — private sharing via link
- #9 How to Publish Publicly — public publishing via Blackboard
- #12 Write at Work, Read at Home — cross-device sync setup