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Comment Boxes ​

Organize and annotate groups of beats with comment boxes - visual containers that help you structure complex projects.

What are Comment Boxes? ​

Comment boxes are resizable, color-coded frames that surround groups of beats. Think of them like sticky notes or annotation layers in node based tools like Houdini or Unreal Engine Blueprints.

Use them to:

  • Group related beats - Keep scenes from the same act or sequence together
  • Add context - Label sections like "Act 1", "Flashback", or "Parallel storyline"
  • Visual organization - Color-code different story threads
  • Section planning - Mark areas that need work or review

Comment boxes are purely organizational - they don't affect playback, timeline order, or exports.

Creating Comment Boxes ​

Quick Create (Keyboard) ​

  1. Select 2 or more beats (Shift + Click or drag-select)
  2. Press C key
  3. A comment box appears around the selected beats

The box automatically sizes to fit all selected beats with padding.

Resizing Comment Boxes ​

Resize Handles ​

  1. Click a comment box to select it
  2. 4 orange square handles appear at the corners
  3. Drag any handle to resize
  4. Minimum size: 200 × 150 pixels

Resize Tips ​

  • Use corner handles for precise sizing
  • Box can be larger or smaller than contained beats
  • Resize from any corner - the opposite corner stays anchored
  • Undo works for resize operations (Ctrl + Z)

Editing Comment Boxes ​

Change Title ​

Method 1: Double-Click

  1. Double-click the title in the header bar
  2. Type your new title
  3. Press Enter to save, or Escape to cancel

Method 2: Properties Panel

  1. Select the comment box
  2. Look in Properties Panel (right side)
  3. Edit "Comment Box Title" field
  4. Updates instantly as you type

Change Color ​

  1. Select the comment box
  2. Open Properties Panel (right side)
  3. Choose from color options:
    • 20 preset colors - Click any color swatch
    • Custom color - Use the color picker

Color Strategy Ideas:

  • Red - Action sequences
  • Blue - Dialogue/character scenes
  • Green - Completed sections
  • Yellow - Needs revision
  • Purple - Parallel storylines
  • Orange - Key plot points (default)

Deleting Comment Boxes ​

Method 1: × Button ​

  • Click the × button in the header bar
  • Comment box is removed immediately

Method 2: Delete Key ​

  1. Select the comment box
  2. Press Delete or Backspace
  3. Comment box is removed

Note: Deleting a comment box does NOT delete the beats inside it. Beats remain on the canvas unchanged.

Current Limitations:

  • Multi-select color change not yet supported for comment boxes
  • Change colors one at a time via Properties Panel

Keyboard Shortcuts ​

ActionShortcut
Create comment boxSelect beats → C
Delete comment boxSelect box → Delete
Edit titleSelect box → Double-click title
UndoCtrl + Z
RedoCtrl + Shift + Z

Save and Load ​

Comment boxes are saved with your project:

  • Position, size, color, and title persist
  • Works in both browser and desktop versions
  • Included in .nodebeat project files

When you load a project, all comment boxes restore exactly as saved.

Use Cases ​

Act Structure ​

Create boxes for each act:

  • Act 1 - Setup (Green)
  • Act 2 - Confrontation (Yellow)
  • Act 3 - Resolution (Red)

Helps visualize three-act structure at a glance.

Parallel Storylines ​

Different colors for different story threads:

  • A-Plot (Blue) - Main protagonist story
  • B-Plot (Purple) - Subplot/romance
  • C-Plot (Orange) - Comic relief thread

See how storylines interweave on the timeline.

Production Status ​

Track progress with color coding:

  • Grey - Not started / placeholder
  • Yellow - In progress / needs work
  • Green - Complete / approved
  • Red - Revision needed / problematic

Perfect for team collaboration.

Location Grouping ​

Group all scenes at the same location:

  • INT. HOUSE - All interior house scenes
  • EXT. PARK - All park scenes
  • INT. OFFICE - Office scenes

Useful for shot planning and scheduling.

Sequence Breakdown ​

Mark major sequences:

  • Opening Sequence - First 10 minutes
  • Training Montage - Character development
  • Final Battle - Climax action

Helps see pacing and structure.

Revision Planning ​

Box areas that need attention:

  • REWRITE (Red) - Dialogue needs work
  • RESHOOT (Yellow) - Coverage issues
  • REVIEW (Orange) - Awaiting feedback

Great for iterative development.

Use the Shelf ​

Put unused comment boxes on the Beat Shelf:

  • Archive old structural ideas
  • Keep alternate organization systems
  • Declutter without losing work

Limitations ​

Current Constraints ​

  • Cannot contain other comment boxes (no nesting)
  • No automatic re-sizing when beats move
  • Multi-select color change not yet available
  • Delete key removes box, not contained beats

Next Steps ​