5 hidden tips to make using Notion even more convenient.

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Hello! I'm Rei, an official Notion ambassador.

This may be a sudden question, but how well do you use Notion?
Notion can do anything, but that's why it can be quite difficult to master...

Even I, an ambassador, sometimes find myself wondering, " Did I even make this? " and searching for the answer, which is embarrassing... (laughs)

This time, we'll introduce some hidden (?) features of Notion that will make you say, " Wow, you can do this...! "

1. How to make a database multi-column

The first trick is to make the database multi-column .

Text can be arranged in multiple columns, such as two or three columns, but databases cannot be arranged in multiple columns by default.

This time, as an example, we will show you how to arrange a calendar database in two rows.

First, make two rows into two columns using the following method. (By the way, this method is also a little trick that was recently added...!)

1. Where you want to arrange multiple columns, type " /2 " in half-width characters.
2. Under "Advanced," select " 2 columns ."
   

Alternatively, you can just grab the row and drag and drop it onto the right edge of the row above, as before.

All you have to do is drag and drop the database into the row divided into two columns.

This method can be used not only for databases, but also for images and embeddings , so it's very useful when creating a home page in Notion...!

By the way, you can split up to 5 columns using the same method " / (number) ".

2. Splitting within a toggle

Next, we will show you how to split the database mentioned earlier within a toggle .

Those who have tried it will understand that although it seems possible, it is actually not possible to split within a toggle ... If you try to split as we did earlier, it will go outside the toggle and it will not work.

I found a way to split within a toggle , so this time I'll show you how to split within a toggle and create a two-column database as shown above.

Here's how to do it.

1. Select " Page " from " + " and create a new page.
2. On the new page, create two columns
   

3. Return to the original page and add the newly created page to the toggle

4. Click the menu button on the left side of the new page and select " Text " under " Convert Block Type "

5. Once the toggle is split, drag and drop the database or other items you want to add to the toggle.

Now we can split the toggle and include a database.

Of course, the database is inside the toggle, so when you close it, both the left and right sides will be hidden neatly .

As before, this method can also be applied to images and embeddings , and columns can be split into up to five columns .

3. How to divide a page with a vertical line

Next, we'll show you how to add a vertical line to a page like this.

This trick can be used when you want to divide a page vertically. Notion's official " divider" feature only allows horizontal lines , but you can actually divide it with vertical lines by using the " quote " feature.

This time, I will teach you how to separate using dotted and straight lines .

■How to separate with dotted lines

1. From the menu where you want to add a dotted line, select " Convert Block Type " → " Quote "
   

2. Enter characters and spaces inside the quote block

3. Copy the block and paste it down to the line you want to separate.

■How to separate with a straight line

1. In the same way, select " Quote " from " Convert Block Type" where you want to insert a line.
   

2. Place the cursor inside the quote block (or at the right end if you're typing text), and press Shift and Enter until you reach the line you want to separate.

What do you think? Using vertical lines makes it easier to see the divisions between columns. It's super easy, so give it a try!

4. How to manage your daily notes in one place

Next, we'll show you how to manage your daily notes in one place .

As an example, we will write the minutes on one page like this and add a table of contents.

If you use Notion at work, you may have to use it to take meeting minutes. However, if you create a new page for each day within a page, you can't see the contents unless you open the page, which can be a bit inconvenient .

However, if you just write from top to bottom on one page, it can be difficult to find what you want to go back to later. This is where adding a table of contents can come in handy.

Actually, the method is very simple.

1. Write several minutes with the title of the minutes as a " heading " ( any of the headings 1 to 3 is fine ).
   

2. Click " + " on the top line of the page , and select "Table of Contents" from " Advanced " at the bottom.

...That's it!

With just this, you can easily create a table of contents like this. Of course, clicking on it will jump to the corresponding section .

This is a very useful trick to remember, as it can be used not only for minutes, but also as a table of contents for regular notes, and for people who film YouTube videos like me, as a table of contents for scripts.

5. How to Count Words in Notion

Next is a trick for counting the number of characters that is useful when writing a manuscript.

When using Notion, I was surprised to find that one feature I really wanted was a word count like in Word . Especially when using it for work, there are many situations where I wish there was such a feature , such as when I want to check the word count of a copy.

In fact, I found a way to count the number of characters using a function , so I'd like to introduce it to you.

1. Create a new database
   

2. Make it a table view and create one page in it

3. Click " Add Property " on the page, add " Text " under Basic, then click " Function " under Advanced.

4. Click " Edit " in the second row of the function, enter "length" in the upper left, and the " #length Click

This " length " is a function that counts the number of characters .

5. Press the arrow key and click " Text " that appears in the properties.

6. At the end of the function in the upper left , type " ) " to close the parentheses and click " Done "

7. Leave the display method as "Number" and close the menu

Now, the number of characters you typed in the "Text" section will be counted as shown below!

Functions may seem a little difficult, but once you master them, you can use Notion more conveniently, so be sure to research and try out various functions.

Conclusion

These are the 5 hidden tips to help you use Notion more conveniently ! Did you know about any of these tips?

New features are being released all the time, so I'm struggling to keep up, but if I find any new tricks, I'll be sure to share them again like this one.

Click here for a list of Notion templates available on "Notion in Life" !

The book "Notion Life Hacks" is now on sale! It includes 36 templates and provides plenty of practical tips on how to use Notion.

We also introduce how to use Notion and specific examples of its use on YouTube, so please take a look if you're interested.

We will continue to provide information about daily life and Notion to help you get the most out of your busy days.

Thank you for reading to the end!
See you in the next article.