Getting started with docs

Formatting

Most formatting options can be applied with markdown (type / in a new line) or Keyboard Shortcuts and are great if you prefer to add style to your doc as you type.

If you prefer to move around with your mouse or touchpad, you'll find out how to change the formatting for any selected text or entire blocks below.

Formatting Text

Select the text that you want to format and then choose one of the options from the toolbar:

Changing Block Type

To add a new block or transform one type of block into another type of block click the icon that is located on the left side of the text or line ( 1), or use the toolbar (2):

Move Content Around

Select the content you want to move and drag & drop from the left side to change its location.

Back to top

Embedding, Nesting and Linking Files in a Doc

Creating a Nested File

You can nest a file in your doc in the following ways:

1. You can create a nested board or doc by using the + sign next to the doc's title in the sidebar:

2. When typing in a doc, open the "block type" menu and select any type of file you would like to add.

3. You can also nest a file that already exists by dragging & dropping it under the doc from the sidebar.

If you don't want the already existing file to be nested into the doc but still want to link it, type @ and enter the file or card link or start typing its name:

Hierarchy and Navigation

The breadcrumb trail at the top left of your document shows you which files are nested within each other.

Right now, only two levels of hierarchy are displayed: the title of the file you're working in (on the right), and its parent (on the left):

You'll also be able to see which docs are nested within each other in the sidebar:

Deleting or Moving a Nested Doc

If you want to delete a doc that is nested in a parent doc, click on the vertical three dot menu in the upper-right corner:

You can choose to delete the doc from that menu, or show a list of all the deleted nested files. You can then permanently delete the files or restore them one by one:

If you want to remove the nesting relationship between a doc, but you want to keep the doc active in your files, you can drag and drop it out from the doc from the sidbar.

Embedding in Docs

While some things are better said than drawn, a picture is still worth a thousand words. Currently we support embeds from:

• Figma

• Airtable

• Loom

• Youtube

• Vimeo

• Any Whimsical board or doc

To add an embed, open the Add Block menu → Embed → paste the embed link and hit Enter:

Back to top

Sharing and Collaborating

Sharing a Doc

Click the Airplane icon at the upper-right corner and then click Get Shareable Link to access sharing settings:

Sharing settings for files nested in the doc inherits the sharing settings of the doc.

Collaborating on a Doc

You can collaborate on a doc with users within your workspace if the file is in the Team section of your Workspace.

Find out more about Managing Access Permissions.

See Who is Viewing the Doc

To see who has the doc open, check the upper-right corner of the screen. You'll definitely see your own avatar, but in case anybody else is viewing the doc, you'll also see theirs ( 1). The color of the diamond is assigned to each user at random and can't be changed, but it's there to help you identify who is working on what:

See Who is Editing the Doc

If somebody is editing a doc, you'll see a cursor with their name ( 1) and the doc will be updated in realtime. If text is selected, it will also be highlighted in the color of their avatar (2):

Restoring a Doc

You can restore the contents of a Doc with the Version history. Read this article to find out how.

Back to top

Docs Keyboard Shortcuts

There are keyboard shortcuts we all know, love and use (think copy, paste, cut, delete, etc.) and they can be used in Whimsical Docs as well. Here's a list of keyboard and markdown shortcuts that are perhaps a bit less known but worth remembering.

Formatting Shortcuts

Other Shortcuts

Back to top

Focus

Try enabling Focus Mode (bottom-right corner) to avoid any distractions and concentrate on the doc and nothing else.

Once you enable Focus Mode, you can also customize your preferences:

• Full Screen - if enabled, will enter into full screen mode. Can be disabled by pressing Esc.

• Paragraph Focus - if enabled, will highlight the paragraph where your cursor is located.

• Typewriter Mode - if enabled, will keep the paragraph where your cursor is located in the middle of the screen at all times.

Document Width and Text Size