smartnotes

smartnotes is a LaTeX package for dynamic margin notes. It places note boxes on the left or right margin automatically based on the horizontal position of the note mark, with optional forced placement, fancy connector lines, simple overlap avoidance, and configurable box shape.

Package metadata to review before CTAN upload

• Package name: smartnotes
• Version: 0.1 2026/04/05
• Author/Maintainer: Abhishek Ranna
• Contact email: ranna15abhishek@gmail.com
• License: The LaTeX Project Public License 1.3c

Files included

• smartnotes.sty - package file
• smartnotes-doc.tex - package documentation source
• smartnotes-doc.pdf - package documentation PDF
• smartnotes-example.tex - minimal example
• smartnotes-example.pdf - mimimal example usage PDF
• README.md - top-level CTAN readme

Features

• \note[<options>]{...} command
• \notesetup{...} for global defaults
• automatic left/right margin choice
• forced placement with left, right, auto
• fancyline and nofancyline
• note shapes: rectangle, rounded
• configurable cornerradius
• simple overlap avoidance with stacksep
• package option disable

Basic usage

\usepackage{smartnotes}

\notesetup{
  width=2.2cm,
  sep=8pt,
  pagepad=6pt,
  stacksep=4pt,
  backgroundcolor=yellow!30,
  bordercolor=black,
  textcolor=black,
  linecolor=black,
  rounded,
  cornerradius=4pt,
  font={\linespread{0.7}\selectfont\footnotesize\itshape}
}

Some text \note{A margin note.} which needed a note....
\vspace{2cm}
Some more \note[right,rectangle]{Forced right note.} right here...

Installation

Place smartnotes.sty somewhere TeX can find it, or keep it next to your main .tex document.