Split-Screen Learning Environment in Coda - Technical Advice Needed

1

Dear Coda Community,

I’m developing an educational tool in Coda that combines AI and sketching functionality with content viewing. While I’ve successfully implemented these features within the doc, I’ve hit a technical barrier with the viewing interface.

The Problem:
I need users to simultaneously view content (Video/PDF/Webpage) and scroll through their notes. Currently, I have:

  • Video/PDF content embedded in one column
  • Notes section in a canvas column
  • No vertical scroll functionality in the canvas column, which limits note-taking space

I’ve explored two potential solutions:

  1. Finding a way to add vertical scroll to the canvas column so the user can read/watch the content and scroll through their notes section while the content remains in a fixed location
  2. Creating a webpage with dual iFrames showing content and notes side by side

Current Implementation:

  • Built a React application using dual iframes to display the same Coda document
  • Set up proper embedding:
    • Share → Publish enabled
    • “Allow embedding” enabled
    • Document visibility: “Anyone in workspace can view”
    • Using standard embed URL format with viewMode=embedplay

Technical Blocker:
Despite following Coda’s documentation and implementing all recommended permissions, the document consistently gets blocked in the split-screen setup.

Key Questions:

  1. Is this type of dual-iframe implementation supported by Coda?
  2. Are there specific permissions needed from Coda to enable this functionality?
  3. Does anyone know how to implement vertical scrolling in a canvas column? This would be an ideal solution if possible.

I believe this tool could significantly enhance how Coda is used in education, but I need guidance on the best technical approach.

Best regards,
David

2

I might be off here

But when you have a right/viewed modal row open and pinned, you can then navigate and scroll through your doc like normal while the modal view is still open.

So have him take notes in the modal canvas column, and scroll through the material on a canvas page

3

Scott, Thanks for the feedback. I will test this out next week. Cheers

4

I don’t have an answer for you, but I have thought about this a lot too. I’ve also wanted to create a workspace with two docs side by side (for example, one where work is being done --a dashboard, quiz, etc–and one for looking up information, notes, etc). the only solution i’ve come across is to use arc browser.

5

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for, but MS Edge offers a split screen without having to install any plugins:

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