Notes & Comments

This article explains how notes and comments work in Model Reef.

You will learn:

  • How to use notes to document assumptions.

  • How to use comments to support review and discussion.

  • How roles and permissions affect notes and comments.

Notes and comments are key tools for keeping complex models understandable and auditable.

1

Notes

Notes are used to attach context to a model object.

You can add notes to:

  • Variables and drivers.

  • Branches.

  • Data Library entries.

  • In some cases, dashboards or report elements.

Typical note content includes:

  • Explanation of an assumption or formula.

  • Source of numbers, for example a contract or report.

  • Summary of a decision or rationale.

  • Links to external documents or references.

Notes are long lived and intended to be read by anyone who works on the model later.

2

Comments

Comments are used for discussion and review.

You can use comments to:

  • Ask questions about an assumption.

  • Request changes from another team member.

  • Record feedback from stakeholders.

  • Mark items as approved or needing follow up.

Comments are usually structured as short, threaded messages attached to a specific object.

3

Roles and access

Permissions behave as follows:

  • Owners and Editors

    • Can add, edit and delete notes and comments on objects they can access.

  • Viewers

    • Can read notes and comments on objects they can access.

    • Cannot create or modify notes or comments.

Branch level permissions determine which objects a user can see. If a user cannot see a branch, they also cannot see notes or comments attached to it.

4

Best practices for notes and comments

To keep collaboration effective:

  • Use notes for stable documentation and comments for conversation.

  • Include dates, names and key decisions in notes where appropriate.

  • Resolve comment threads once actions are complete.

  • Avoid placing critical assumptions only in external emails or chats. Keep a copy in the model.

This makes it much easier to revisit and audit the model in the future.

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