Research Logbook

Start a project
notebook

Three free starting layouts for Research Logbook, with worked examples you can open on Windows.

Choose your starter ↓

No signup. Each ZIP includes a clean layout, a separate fictional example and opening instructions.

What belongs in your notebook?

Turn a broad question into daily work, source notes and a clear next action.

  • Question & scope
  • Work & thinking
  • Approach & checks
  • Sketches & evidence
  • Reading & sources
  • Decisions & questions
  • Next actions

An example next action
Replace Source card A with one genuine reading note.

Start with something real

The worked examples show questions, evidence and unfinished thinking across three days. Everything is fictional. Use them to explore, then open the separate clean layout for your own project.

Dissertation

Turn a broad question into daily work, source notes and a clear next action.

Download dissertation ZIP ↓

Read the dissertation guide →

Clean layout + worked example + instructions
Notebook data only; install the app separately

Actual Research Logbook showing the fictional dissertation worked example
Inside the unchanged Windows app, with fictional example notes

Open it on your computer

Each download contains two notebook folders. Keep the clean layout separate from the worked example.

Get the free Windows app ↗

Windows 10 build 19041+ or Windows 11, x64. Phone and Mac visitors can read these guides; the full app runs on Windows.

  1. Extract the ZIP

    In File Explorer, right-click the downloaded ZIP and choose Extract All. Extract into a new folder in Documents. Keep both notebook folders separate.

  2. Open a notebook folder

    Install Research Logbook from Microsoft Store and select Open. In an existing notebook, use About → Open another notebook folder. You can also hold Shift while opening the app to choose a folder.

    Choose the folder named Worked example or Blank notebook that contains settings.json and logbook. Do not choose the ZIP or the parent folder.

  3. Explore, then make it yours

    In the worked example, select 7 November 2026 in the date picker; 5 and 6 November show the earlier work. For your own project, open Blank notebook, complete setup, set your name and time zone, and rename the project.

  4. Write and reopen

    Write a short made-up note. Wait for Saved, close the app and reopen the same notebook to check it. Keep a separate backup before using the beta for normal work.

See the first project

Follow the question, evidence and next action through real app captures.

Watch the walkthrough →
Captioned pictures and evidence controls in Research Logbook