Categories and logged entries capture the *what*. **Notes** and **comments** capture the *why* and *how* — the context that turns a list of entries into a story.

## Two types of free text

- **General notes** — a section-wide note (Behavior, Environment, Health) that is not tied to one specific logged row. Good for summaries like "Quiet morning overall" or "Substitute teacher all day."
- **Comments** — attached to a **specific entry** in **Recorded Today** (a behavior, intervention, health event, etc.). Good for cause-and-effect: *"Started after we changed the lighting."*

## Adding a general note

### On the web

1. Open **Track** → pick your tab (Behavior, Environment, Health).
2. Find the **General Notes** area.
3. Click **Add Note**.
4. Type the note.
5. Click **Save**.

The note appears in that section with your name and timestamp.

### On mobile

Tap **Add Note** in the same section on the **Track** tab.

## Adding a comment on a specific entry

1. Find the entry in **Recorded Today** (or the section list).
2. Open the comment control for that row.
3. Type your comment and save.

**Attached comments thread together** under that entry — you and teammates can reply in a back-and-forth under the same logged row. General notes do not thread that way; each general note is its own standalone item.

## @-mentions

On profiles shared with a care team (not self-reporting-only setups), you can type **@** followed by a teammate's name to notify them. This works in **general notes** and in **attached comments**.

Example: `@Jane Doe please review this escalation when you're on shift.`

## Editing your own notes and comments

Use the **pencil (Edit)** icon on anything you wrote. Save your changes.

- Edits show **"Edited by [your name] on [date]"** so changes stay traceable.
- Managers can edit anyone's notes and comments.

## Deleting

- **General notes** — use the **trash** icon on the note, then confirm.
- **Attached comments** — same trash icon and confirmation on the comment row.

Deleted notes and comments disappear from the daily view. They **do not** appear in the audit log after removal.

## Public vs. private comments

Some organizations use a **Public / Private** toggle:

- **Public** (default) — everyone with access to the profile can see it.
- **Private** — only the author and Managers can see it.

Use private comments sparingly — most BEHCA data is meant to be a shared record for the care team.

## Tips

- **Be specific and factual.** "Triggered by sudden noise from the kitchen" beats "Got upset."
- **Keep notes short.** Bullet-style is fine on busy shifts.
- **Use attached comments for cause-and-effect** on a specific behavior or health row.
- **Don't repeat the form.** If time and duration are already logged, add what the form does not capture.

## Common questions

- **Where do notes show in reports?** — Notes and comments appear in **Analyze → Audit Log** while they still exist. PDF exports such as the Notes Audit Log include them too.
- **Can a Guest add notes?** — Yes, with **Track Data** permission. View-only guests cannot.
- **Are notes included in PDF exports?** — Yes, relevant audit and daily PDFs include notes and comments that are still on the record.

## Related articles

- [Daily tracking overview](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/daily-tracking-overview)
- [Editing or deleting an entry](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/editing-or-deleting-an-entry)
- [Reading the audit log](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/reading-the-audit-log)