How can I use handwriting or draw sketches in LabArchives? – LabArchives Gov

Note: Some features or third-party integrations may be restricted by your organization’s policies. Contact your organization's LabArchives team for guidance on what is approved for use.

When selecting tools for note-taking or sketching, consider how easily your content can be searched later. In LabArchives, any text-based content—including file names, descriptions, tags, rich text, headings, and searchable documents like PDFs or Office files—can be indexed. In contrast, images such as handwritten notes, sketches, or scanned documents are not inherently searchable.

Tip: To make your work easier to find later, always add descriptive metadata—such as captions, summaries, or tags—when uploading non-text content like images or handwritten notes. For details on how search works and what’s indexed, learn more about search features in LabArchives.

To help you choose the right tools and methods for working in LabArchives, the sections below cover a variety of options—from OCR and sketch tools to voice input and handwriting recognition.

Working with Sketches, Drawings, and Handwritten Notes

You can create and upload sketches or handwritten notes in a few different ways:

Sketch Entry: Draw simple diagrams directly within LabArchives.
Image Annotator: Mark up existing images with text, lines, or shapes.
Paper Notes: Take a photo or scan of handwritten notes or diagrams, then upload the image.
Drawing or Note-Taking Apps: Use third-party tools (e.g., Notability, OneNote, GoodNotes) to create notes or diagrams, then export to formats like .pdf, .jpg, or .docx for uploading.
Smart Hardware Tools: Devices such as Livescribe pens, Rocketbook notebooks, or Wacom tablets can digitize handwriting and export to searchable file formats.

Note: browser-based tools, including the LabArchives Sketch and Image Annotator, are not compatible with touch devices.

Converting Handwriting or Voice to Text

To make your content searchable and accessible, consider converting handwriting or speech into machine-readable text:

OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Use OCR tools to scan handwritten or printed notes and convert them into searchable text files. Uploaded images or scanned documents are not searchable unless converted using OCR or accompanied by descriptive metadata.
Handwriting-to-Text Keyboards: On many touchscreen devices, you can use a handwriting keyboard to input text directly into LabArchives.
Voice-to-Text: Tools like Google Voice Typing, Siri, or Windows Speech Recognition let you dictate notes into any LabArchives text field.
Audio Files: You can also record audio and upload it as an attachment.

File Formats and Organization Considerations

When using external tools, always export your notes or sketches into common, searchable file formats such as .pdf, .docx, .txt, or .jpg. These can then be uploaded to LabArchives as attachments.

Note: Ensure any apps or tools used—especially for sensitive or regulated research data—are approved by your organization.