Notes
A note is an editable text document. It’s the primary unit of content you work with — fully searchable, taggable, and accessible to Bird. Notes are created when you:- Record a voice note (the transcript becomes the note)
- Capture a photo that contains text (the extracted text becomes the note)
- Import a document (the extracted content becomes the note)
- Type directly in the editor
- Ask Bird to create one
Attachments
An attachment is a file — the raw audio, photo, PDF, Word document, or any other file you bring into Bower. When you capture or import, Bower typically creates both a note (with the extracted content) and an attachment (the original file), linked together. This means you always have the source alongside the editable version. Attachments are also independently useful:- PDFs — Bower extracts all text content, making the full document searchable even as a standalone attachment.
- Images — Bower generates an AI description, so you can search for images by what’s in them.
- Audio — the original recording is preserved so you can listen back if the transcript missed something.
Protocols
A protocol is a step-by-step lab procedure — structurally the same as a note, but stored as a distinct type so it appears in the protocol library rather than your notes list. Use protocols for standard operating procedures, experimental methods, and repeatable workflows.How artifact type is determined
When you import a file, Bower decides what to create based on the file and the option you choose:| What you do | What Bower creates |
|---|---|
| Record a voice note | A note (transcript) + attachment (audio file) |
| Capture a photo with text | A note (extracted text) + attachment (image) |
| Import a document (PDF, Word) | A note (extracted content) + attachment (original file) |
| Import an image without text | An attachment with AI-generated description |
| Type a new note | A note only |
| Create a protocol | A protocol only |
Quick reference
| Note | Attachment | Protocol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Editable text | Original source file | Editable step-by-step procedure |
| Searchable | Full text | Full text (PDFs), AI description (images), filename | Full text |
| Accessible to Bird | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use when | Working with content | Preserving the source | Documenting a procedure |