# Create a Pactto doc for shared notes

> Click Doc in the toolbar or press D to add a document to the canvas that everyone in the room can write in at the same time.

Category: Adding content
Web page: https://www.pactto.com/help/create-pactto-doc
All guides: https://www.pactto.com/help.md

## Create a Pactto doc

A Pactto doc is a document that lives on the canvas. Everyone in the room sees each other's typing as it happens. Use it for meeting notes, briefs, scripts, and checklists. You need **Can edit** access (or be the room owner) to create or edit a doc.

### Steps

1. In the toolbar, click **Doc**, or press **D**. In a narrow window, Doc is under the **Insert** (**...**) button.
2. A new doc named **Pactto doc** appears in a free spot on the canvas. Pactto zooms to it, selects it, and puts your cursor on the first line.
3. Start typing, or pick a starting point:
   - Under **Choose a starting template**, pick one of the templates (for example **Meeting notes** or **Creative brief**), or **Blank**.
   - **Create with AI**: describe the document and let the AI write a first draft.
   - **Import a Markdown file**: start from a .md file on your computer.

In an empty room you can also click **Create doc** on the **Start your first review** card.

### Write and format

- Type **/** to open the block menu: **Heading 1**, **Heading 2**, **Heading 3**, **Bulleted list**, **Numbered list**, **Checkbox list**, **Callout**, **Quote**, **Code block**, **Image**, **Table**, **Divider**, and **Date**.
- Select text to show the formatting bar, including **Link** for links.
- **Image** lets you add one image from your computer to the doc.

### Download a doc

Click **Download** in the doc's title bar and choose **Download as**: **PDF (.pdf)**, **Text (.txt)**, **CSV (.csv)**, or **Markdown (.md)**. The same menu has **Copy as Markdown** and **View as Markdown**. Downloading needs **Can edit** access.

### Move and rename

- To move the doc, drag its title bar.
- To rename it, select it, double-click the title, type a name, and press **Enter**.

## Who can do what

- **Can edit** and the room owner can create, write in, and download docs.
- **Can review** and **Can view** see the doc and its live changes, but cannot edit it.

## If something goes wrong

- "Failed to create collaborative document": the doc could not be created. Try again in a moment.
- "AI could not create the document. Please try again.": the AI draft failed. Try again or start from a template.

## Good to know

- Pactto docs are included when you export the canvas as PNG or PDF.
- Older docs created before the current editor still open in the room as before.
- The AI assistant can also create a doc for you, for example with a meeting summary.

## Related guides

- [Add images, videos, PDFs, and other content to a room](https://www.pactto.com/help/add-assets.md): Click Add asset in the toolbar (or press 1) to upload from your computer, Google Drive, or Adobe Frame.io; you can also drag files onto the canvas, paste them, paste links, or create a Pactto doc or a table.
- [Add a table to the canvas](https://www.pactto.com/help/create-table.md): Click Table in the toolbar or press Y to add a table with Description, Status, Assignee, Due date, Priority, and Notes columns that you can edit, extend, reorder, and download as a spreadsheet.
- [Add or edit a link in text or a sticky note](https://www.pactto.com/help/add-links-to-text.md): Select the text (or sticky note), click the Link button in its formatting bar, type or paste the URL, and press Enter; clear the URL and press Enter to remove the link.
- [Export the canvas, a board, or a selection as PNG or PDF](https://www.pactto.com/help/export-canvas.md): Right-click an empty area of the canvas and choose Export canvas, then PNG or PDF; select a board or items first to export just those.
- [Download files from the canvas, one at a time or all at once](https://www.pactto.com/help/download-assets.md): Select a file and click Download in its title bar, or right-click a selection, a board, or the empty canvas to download many images, videos, and PDFs at once.