# Shape notes
## Introduction
You can add notes to any shape in a process flow. This can be useful for many reasons - for example, to keep track of why certain shapes are used in more complex flows; to add reminders for any updates needed in future, or perhaps to leave guidance for another user.
## Need to know
* You can add a single note or multiple notes to each shape - there's no limit
* Any single note cannot exceed 64kb
* Notes are not encrypted - we strongly advise against adding sensitive information such as API keys, login credentials, payload data, etc.
* Notes are associated with a shape, not the process flow version, so if you add notes to shapes in a draft process flow and then deploy that process flow, the notes remain in the deployed version.
## Accessing shape notes
To access shape notes, click the notes icon for the required shape:
Any existing notes for this shape are displayed:
From here, you can click any existing note to open it in the [notes editor](#the-notes-editor), or use the **add note** button to [add a new note](#adding-a-new-note).
## Adding a new shape note
To add a new note for a shape, click the shape notes icon for the required shape and then click the add note button:
From here you can add required content via the [notes editor](#the-notes-editor), then save your note.
## The notes editor
Notes are added using a markdown editor, which includes a preview pane for rendered output:
Standard markdown formatting can be used, or you can use the notes editor toolbar to apply formatting and add elements such as code blocks, tables and flow charts.
{% hint style="info" %}
Click [here ](https://www.markdownguide.org/cheat-sheet/)to view a markdown cheat sheet.
{% endhint %}
When adding/editing a note, you can apply a colour - perhaps useful to categorise different types of notes with a visual cue.
You can also mark a note as **private** (so only you can see it), or make it available for all users in your organisation. Once a note is saved, the rendered version is displayed in the notes panel.
## Shape note versioning
Notes persist to subsequent versions of a process flow. For example, if you add **two notes** to a `draft` process flow, then deploy that flow, the `deployed` process flow will have **two** **notes**.
If you go on to add **one more note** to the current `draft` version and then deploy this draft, the `deployed` process flow will have **three notes**. The `inactive` version will have **two notes**.
{% hint style="info" %}
For more information on process flow versions, see our [Process flow versioning](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-versioning) page.
{% endhint %}
