A method and system for seamlessly integrating typical word processing functionality with note taking. A new view called a notebook layout view is added to the already-existing views of a word processor. Data needed for the notebook layout view is stored in data structures that already exist for the word processor. When creating a document in the notebook layout view, icons and menus are displayed that relate to note-taking. In addition, the notebook layout view is further optimized to allow input in a manner intuitive to paper notebook users.