# Remove excessive UI nesting when creating a note (mobile)

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386>\
**Category:** Features\
**Created:** [30 July 2024 11:49 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386 "2024-07-30T11:49:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Snowfield1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Snowfield1](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Snowfield1)\
**Post date:** [30 July 2024 11:49 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/1 "2024-07-30T11:49:01Z")

</div>

Creating notes is a key feature of the app. It is currently hidden behind an extra tap and a one second animation for the option to create a to-do. At a distance, this is a significant loss of user time and convenience.

I can understand the logic behind this feature - this kind of interface is more extensible for new types of notes, more obvious to new users, less visually taxing on the appearance, and helps to avoid misclicks.

However, the value of this from a UX perspective is small compared to the fact that we are hiding the main app feature behind an extra action

My suggestion is to take the buttons out of the nesting and place them on the main screen.

 ![joplin](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/3/2/325c9a9997880d6018d3f8e4339a00b978bac497.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zblesk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/zblesk/32/11_2.png) [@zblesk](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/zblesk)\
**Post date:** [30 July 2024 12:22 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/2 "2024-07-30T12:22:17Z")

</div>

Even as it is I sometimes tap the button by accident, and it occludes the note content. Having that doubled would be a downgrade IMO.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Snowfield1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Snowfield1](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Snowfield1)\
**Post date:** [30 July 2024 12:58 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/3 "2024-07-30T12:58:52Z")

</div>

How is this possible if this button is only present in the note selection menu and not in the note itself?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MoriarT3a](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/moriart3a/32/16415_2.png) [@MoriarT3a](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/MoriarT3a)\
**Post date:** [30 July 2024 15:54 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/4 "2024-07-30T15:54:50Z")

</div>

A faster approach I would prefer, is a widget button for my homescreen.  
Just a Button, on which I can click and it will open a new Note in my inbox Notebook.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muzak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@muzak](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/muzak)\
**Post date:** [30 July 2024 18:20 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/5 "2024-07-30T18:20:14Z")

</div>

Nesting works better the more choices there are. Markor uses the plus button with a lightbox holding multiple fields, dropdowns, and buttons.

Tapping the plus button creates a new note in both Notesnook and Standard Notes. Standard Notes lets you select the note type from a context menu after creating the note.

What benefits does nesting provide with Joplin's two note types? Even if icon labels add context, competing apps use the plus icon for `New note` and the checkbox indicates todos. Users of one note type may not need labels or secondary buttons at all:

> [@Feature request: Add option to disable "New todo" button](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/feature-request-add-option-to-disable-new-todo-button/9853/3):
>
> I use Things for to-do lists so I don't need to-dos in Joplin, and I keep accidentally tapping the "new to-do" button when trying to make a new note.

In addition to removing nesting, pick one:

- Move the note type to the note view (whether or not new types will be added)
- Add sortable button show/hide checkboxes to options (to satisfy users of one or both types)

If neither will be done, shortening the overlay to cover only nested buttons covers @zblesk's concern about the note list and current notebook.

If keeping nesting but adding types, add a toggle for the pictured states above. The existing state could help choose from 3+ note types and/or needing icon labels for context.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![felipevaz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/felipevaz/32/20723_2.png) [@felipevaz](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/felipevaz)\
**Post date:** [16 February 2025 11:33 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/6 "2025-02-16T11:33:07Z")

</div>

I also really dislike the extra click. Removing the nesting and adding a config (or plug-in?) to enable/disable to-dos would make the experience much smoother for those who want just the note-taking without much fuss.

I am sorry that I am not a developer for addressing this on my own...

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![personalizedrefriger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/personalizedrefriger/32/13210_2.png) [@personalizedrefriger](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/personalizedrefriger)\
**Post date:** [16 February 2025 14:49 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/7 "2025-02-16T14:49:12Z")

</div>

I'm linking a pull request that redesigns the new note menu. Although it keeps the "new to-do" button, it changes the position/size of the buttons:

> <https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/pull/11780>
>
> \# Summary
> 
> \*\*Goals\*\*:
> \- Implement a redesign of the new note menu. 
> \- Make t…he new note menu more accessible.
> 
> This pull request partially implements a redesign of the new note creation process (design by @MartaLC).
> 
> In addition to changing the appearance of the "new note" menu, this replaces the \`react-native-paper\` \`FAB.Group\` component, which \[had accessibility issues\](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/calling-visually-impaired-users-help-us-improve-accessibility/42094/12?u=personalizedrefriger).
> 
> At the time of this writing, a version of this pull request can be accessed at \[personalizedrefrigerator.github.io/joplin/web-client/\](https://personalizedrefrigerator.github.io/joplin/web-client/).
> 
> \# Screenshot
> 
> The menu includes shortcuts to creating a new note with a photo, drawing, or file attachment, in addition to "new note" and "new to-do" buttons:
> !\[screenshot: A menu along the bottom edge of the screen with camera, attachment, drawing, new to-do, and new note actions. The new to-do and new note actions are on a second row\](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0851a314-1c42-417a-89ae-7b45498f2a61)
> 
> On a wider screen, the menu is pushed to the right edge of the screen, to minimize distance between the menu and the "+" (Add new) button that opens the menu.
> !\[screenshot: The menu, on a wider screen\](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/61711422-336b-479f-88c9-9bd114da22bb)
> 
> 
> \# To-do
> 
> \- \[\] \*\*Accessibility\*\*: Improve focus order.
> - Currently, keyboard/screen reader focus visits the "camera"/"attachment"/"drawing" quick actions before visiting the "new to-do" and "new note" buttons.
> - I'm running into issues with this. The menu is currently shown in a React Native \`Modal\`. While the menu is open, the \`Modal\` prevents accessibility/keyboard focus from reaching items not in the menu. However, it also makes auto-setting focus difficult. On Android, the \`Modal\` seems to auto-focus the first item several hundred milliseconds \*\*after\*\* the modal opens.
> \- \[x\] \*\*Accessibility\*\*: Fix screen readers read "side menu closed" then "side menu opened" when opening the edgemenu.
> \- \[\] Verify that the menu is shown in the correct place when RTL is enabled.
> \- \[x\] iOS: The menu is partially covered by the device notch when in landscape mode.
> \- \[x\] Determine how the menu should be positioned on wide screens.
> - Ideally, this would minimize the distance between the "new note" button and the "+" button that opened the menu. (Related: \[Fitts' Law\](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts%27s\_law)).
> \- \[\] Change the appearance of the "+" button that opens the menu to match the design.
> \- \[x\] Restyle the "new to-do" and "new note" buttons to match the design.
> \- \[x\] Fix swiping down to the left of the menu does nothing.
> - Swiping down from above the menu dismisses it. Swiping down to the left of the menu should do the same thing.
> \- \[\] Automated tests.
> \- \[\] Refactoring.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/1/c/1c948e33314e232a0927789508474d8624f4270b.png) [@system](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [11 February 2026 14:49 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/remove-excessive-ui-nesting-when-creating-a-note-mobile/39386/8 "2026-02-11T14:49:31Z")

</div>

Closed on 11 February 2026 14:49 UTC

This topic was automatically closed 360 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.