Messages

126

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off discount sale - until the end of May

« on: June 05, 2018, 01:35 AM »

Link note:
Create a link to any file for quick access to that file

That is referring to external files.

You would have to have a way to create a contact note structure.
And an event or call log structure.

Within Rightnote.
And link the two together.

Airtable does this easily with its online database/spreadsheet metaphor, so that is my current try (2500 records free.)

With Windows programs, of course the Filemaker and Alpha 5 type of program does this.  Maybe GS-Base on the simpler end, I have not tried its internal linking yet.  It does do well with an extended/large note fields within the single database.

I don't know if any of the RightNote, Mybase types of programs can do this.

127

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: June 04, 2018, 09:21 AM »

> (This is in addition to using Linoit as the visual traffic cop.)

Protopage has user-sizable RTF notes, that you can lay out on a page, and it also has a tab structure., and direct urls to each tab. The editor is decent, create web link is there.  And other widgets can be on the same page, e.g. for simple bookmarks or RSS feeds.

The boxes are far more RTF configurable than Linoit (for which only the box itself,  can be configured for color of font, size of font and background color. Within the box, everything is fixed.)

For now, those are my two leaders for visual note-taking and visual quick-access. 

While I poke around with Evernote, Wunderlist and word processing documents for most of the rest.

(Sidenote: I do like using AirTable for a custom contact manager that can easily url documents, email and stuff.)

For me, the full page-with-boxes view is a primary consideration.  The Linoit metaphor has helped, and I think a port to Protopage (if I decide that way) would be a couple of hours.

Both programs seem solid on your choosing private, public, sharing.

Protopage is thought of as a start page, but I am quite impressed with its versatility.  I actually was looking at it as my RSS and podcast feed locale, where it "feels" more flexible and pleasant.  Then I noticed the RTF notes feature.

Linoit wants $3/month for a real full-blown search (a necessity over time.) Not sure if the Protopage situation will push me to something similar.  These fees I do not mind.

128

General Software Discussion / Re: free online customized contact manager and call-contact log

« on: June 02, 2018, 07:31 PM »

I looked around the Window PIMs and did not see anything that looked great.  Usually they are note oriented, too free-form, or they are overly structured PIMS.  A few have tablet and/or web accessibility. They do not really think in terms of an event or call log, like you would have in Act! or GoldMine and those software choices. Those are sales-centric.

So I went into Airtable, so far it is a pleasant surprise. The field data types, linking files, are all reasonably robust and intuitive. I used a tempate for personal CRM and quickly tailored it to my needs.  More planned.  I think it will become my all-purpose PIM, personal, Bible research, business and more. You've got checkboxes, tags and all sorts of goodies, and a pleasant interface.

Next I will create the "Event" file and link it to the "Contacts" file and see how it looks.

Oh, it has all sorts of connections, to web spots, email and such, where the field can bring up the Google Doc, the Box.net place, the Gmail specific one, and stuff like that. 

This is a bit of a new genre, and I was impressed .. so far.  Active community forum, too.

On the iPad it will not let you work through the browser, so far the App looks good, although they may not duplicate the geek efforts to make structure, I have not checked that yet.

129

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off discount sale - until the end of May

« on: June 02, 2018, 11:35 AM »

Would there be a way to mold a Rightnote into a contact manger with call-note log.

Clearly the table-spreadsheet function could be used as a contact manager, but to have a call-note log you have to relate a contact to their events.

Is there a way to get this from the Rightnote functionality?

130

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off discount sale - until the end of May

« on: May 31, 2018, 10:50 AM »

Looks good.

Working with that, I decided to make myself a LinoIt page.

Writer's Tools
http://linoit.com/us...vases/Writer%20Tools

The page moves up and down - dragged - to see more.

I have it set for now that only I can change or adjust boxes.
If I start getting the page too full, I break it up to two different urls with simple toggle-url capability.

131

General Software Discussion / Re: New PDF editor: FlexiPDF from SoftMaker

« on: May 29, 2018, 07:37 PM »

I just tried Flexi-PDF (Basic) on a document that needs rotation.

You go to Thumbnail and there is a button, or you go Ctrl-R.
However it did .. nothing.

Maybe I stick with PDF XChang-Editor for now.  I was ready for a $30 splurge.
I'll plan on trying again after a reboot.

132

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off discount sale - until the end of May

« on: May 29, 2018, 06:54 PM »

Really, I have not used Scrivener.  Although I have a copy.  I'll know better when I give it a real go.

For the actual documents, so far I use mostly Atlantis, but if RightNote works nicely, it might be better on a project with form, because it supplies the tabs and hierarchy. 

I always like RightNote, but I just never quite get around to using it. However it might be rather good for a small book-writing project.

133

Found Deals and Discounts / Ashampoo Bundle

« on: May 29, 2018, 06:50 PM »

I am not an Ashampoo fan, but this bundle might supply a couple of long-term tools, like the Music or Photo ones.

In some places it is over, here they say five days more.

How It Works

Pay What You Want: The Ashampoo Software Bundle
Supercharge Your PC with This Extensive App Collection — All For a Price You Choose
https://deals.neowin...03nQY4&scsonar=1

134

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: RightNote 50% off discount sale - until the end of May

« on: May 29, 2018, 01:13 PM »

I have a registered 3.6.1.0 but the 12 months of upgrades began in 02-2017.

And I have some writing projects coming up, A research book on how Codex Sinaiticus is only 180 years old, not 1670, and some others.
And I think the choice comes down to Rightnote, Scrivener, or both. (Comments from others?)

Any discounts on an upgrade?

Which is cheaper the upgrade, or the new version at 50%?

Thanks!

Steven

135

General Software Discussion / Re: New PDF editor: FlexiPDF from SoftMaker

« on: May 28, 2018, 07:26 AM »

Very nice thread.  Mostly I do only a little PDF, but I plan some more.  Bookmarking and annotation features would be interesting.

So I probably will buy this, from Flexisoft rather than Ashampoo (btw, Ashampoo has an interesting bundle today on Bits du Jour, does not include this program), as my long-term go-to PDF program. The Flexisoft I have now is a Basic freebie.

PDF Xchange Editor has a good reputation and it sometimes my default PDF reader.  I'm not sure if it is as Firefox capable as it used to be (I often prefer a plug-in for quick reading because then I have a bookmark without hassle.) My main Firefox is 52-ESR.

For free PDF editing, simple changes from a Word Processing perspective, AbleWord and LibreOffice/OpenOffice have been recommended. Gizmo also mentions Draw.  Also Google Docs for online.  It is likely that the features are basic compared to these programs. Atlantis, I think not (my fav WP.)

In your experience, what are the big advantages of a paid program, and especially of Flexisoft? Say over the free PDF XChange-Editor or any other comparisons. Or the advantages of XChange paid from Tracker. (I consider them the silver standard of proven inexpensive PDF software.)

======================

Three recent reviews that include piles of PDF editing tools.

Best PDF editors 2018: Reviewed and rated
http://www.pcworld.c...for-pdf-editing.html

Somewhat higher end and biz oriented. - likes Nitro and Acrobat.

======================

edit a PDF – with these programs to do it! (broken English with Seattle in the name?)
http://seattlepuzzling.com/530

Very solid on Flexi - mentions OCR (but how does that compare with Abbyy as dedicated OCR)
LibreOffice
PDF Xchange Editor
Google Docs
and a bit more

A competent article despite the broken English.

======================

Best PDF Editors for Windows in 2018
The Windows Club
http://reviews.thewi...-editors-for-windows

Mostly moderate price or subscription, no freebies, the comment notes the lack of PDF Xchange Editor, and we can add Flexisoft-Iceni-Ashampoo.

======================

136

General Software Discussion / free online customized contact manager and call-contact log

« on: May 25, 2018, 09:54 PM »

Maybe using a little template to start. There are many tools that try to be your online spreadsheet and database tool. Many of them give you a limited amount for free, like 1,000 contacts. And a certain number of apps, forms or tables.

However, it might be enough. Especially if I am just talking about the contacts for a project (e.g. that Codex Sinaiticus is an 1800s Bible manuscirpt, not 300s.)

There are all the new tools, ones that have a reasonable "free".  I have a little satisfactory experience with Airtable, but I have not tried the linking you need for a contact list.

Most of these are free on their server.
Yes, I can add the urls.

Airtable
Bubble Free
Rajic
Kohezion 
MvTaskHelper
Worsksheet.Systems
ifree (integrates with google stuff)

The next three seem to consider the free version as hobby-input versions.

Podio   
Vivaris 
Kaspio

=======================

Any thoughts, suggestions?

Steven

137

General Software Discussion / the simple database software - flat file or modest relational

« on: May 22, 2018, 05:23 PM »

Note put in today at the GS-Base review
https://www.donation...=37655.msg420217#new

I like quick creation of a database, preferably with at least some modest special abilities, codes, well-designed note fields (GS-Base adds tabs so your note field does not get in the way.)  Linking if possible, getting into more than flat file, but often this is not needed.

When you are done, you might export to a web program like AirTable. I am doing that now with an inventory/pricing schema with a few hundred items.  However, I don't want to do the initial entry in one of the web tables.

Your thoughts ?  - Is GS-Base still the winner if you don't want to go to Alpha, Filemaker and Access.

138

General Software Discussion / Re: desktop sharing tool

« on: May 22, 2018, 05:19 PM »

AnyDesk seems to show a minimum of $80 a year.

There is lots of use where Skype and TeamViewer are excellent, for free.

So, in a light usage, or modest usage where you use Skype anyway, what would justify the 80, or is there some secret free?

139

General Software Discussion / Re: Giving up on "The Bat" email client. Who needs my unused key?

« on: May 22, 2018, 05:07 PM »

I just gave up on Eudora, but only because I could not get the AOL server (holding my old-time Verizon accounts) down reliably, although I might have missed some tricks.

And I had a 1 year old TheBat! v. 7, and went to it.  Overall, I actually like it, I am asking some questions on the forums.  Eudora still shines in some areas, despite being 5,000 years old, but there are definitely some spots where TheBat! shines brighter.  The chief deficiencies are that the "look" is not as nice, there are some places where Eudora has drag-and-drop and TheBat! does not, and the Eudora structure is more integrated when you have multi-mailboxes that really act as one. However, overall, I have been reasonably happy with the move, after about 15+ years of Eudora.

An example of TheBat! superiority is the virtual mailboxes., also some helpful message columns not in Eudora, and a flexible user-defined tab view of the messages, and all sorts of stuff.

I still like the Eudora filters a bit over TheBat!, but TheBat! is definitely usable, unlike the last time I looked at Thunderbird.

TheBat! opens multiple Windows-windows, Eudora worked in one.  That is more a matter of style.  Theoretically you have more power with more windows, but Eudoras simplicity and cleanness is a plus as well.

The Eudora forums are still very good, TheBat! forum has been very responsive, mostly one person doing a lot of care.

Steven

140

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: GS-Base Mini-Review

« on: May 22, 2018, 05:00 PM »

Where are we today? - Let's put aside the download issue.

The forums last post was six months ago, and some gibberish code shows up and the captcha does not show up.  Busted?

The program works good. 

A feature and a quirk. I just noticed how the long note sets up tabs on the right, rather elegant. (And one reason that program like Listpro does not compare.) It does change the height of the row, by about 5x, because of having a long note and it tells you blah blah in the space.  Is that a feature, a quirk, or something you just live with?

Last Bits du Jour Dec, 2017

"Citadel5 @martian
There are no unanswered questions on the support forums. Rarely it may take up to a few days before an answer is posted. "

Yeah, but is the forum busted?  A vibrant forum is key.  We can write you, but it is not the same thing.

If not GS-Base, what?  AirTable is one of the good web databases, but they do not have the heads-down data entry.  Back to Filemaker, Alpha, Access etc?  Anything else in the GS-Base niche?

Steven

141

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: January 27, 2018, 10:23 AM »

I have far too many licenses for similar programs that just aren't as usable as the multi-platform options: RightNote, TreeDBNotes, Ultra Recall and many others. I'm not entirely comfortable in switching to Microsoft, Google etc, but just working on everything is just so much easier and more efficient, though I will pay for Scrivener upgrades as they come along (hoping that the Android version will arrive some year or other).

-Dormouse (December 03, 2017, 01:37 PM)

I like multi-platform, Evernote does that, but it is not really (to me, so far) a Research Assistant, like I think  RightNote and Scrivener might be.

Can you explain a bit more of how you like the various products in multi-platform?  My multi is mostly Windows PC and iOS Tablet. Are they keeping your info in the cloud, Evernote style?  (Which does allow action when offline.) Is there a modest or large cost?  Which one do you like the most.

I might well return to RightNote for this element, its Windows implementation I always felt was crisp and solid. I find myself working on projects were some information is in my email correspondence, some is in Linkman bookmarks, and maybe a .doc or .rtf or .pdf file or two that can be  on disk or in the cloud, some may be in a Linkman or Academia.edu or Facebook conversation and other locales.  I need a master research and/or writing assistant.  (This is in addition to using Linoit as the visual traffic cop.)

(Then there are web programs.  Does Quip, Qippa, Clibu, Nimburs, the CMS WebAsyst or other online programs ever work effectively in this manner? This is another question.  I always think that the functionality will be reduced when you get to nitty-gritty stuff.)

Steven

142

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: January 24, 2018, 10:14 AM »

Just a follow-up.   I have used LinoIt as a master note-taking facility.

First, I had to set my own Navigator system, with a special board that can go to all the other boards.  So I have about 50 boards set up, using my own pseudo-categories like Business, Bible, House Maintenance, Autos, General. So every board can be reached from my Navigator, and often I have a special sub-group (a Navigator Note)  of 5-10 items that have quick navigation capability.  The General stuff include a Today and a Calendar, which is two boards at this time.

Many strengths.

Pleasant to use
Quick Top-Down
You see related items quickly.
Markdown helps with hot urls.
Picture and Document capable.
Decent on iPad App, or simply go to web site on the iPad
No cost option is fine, Paid option is low $3 month.
Good interactivity between boards (copy over) and between users and groups (I have not used all that yet)

Here are the weaknesses that come to mind.

No Tabs or Folder Structure
Minimal RTF .. each note within a page is one size and color font.
Search  (not sure if much even exists in Professional)
Minimal Support  (but no glitches and no rumors)
Substantive Improvements Unlikely
Backup - no trivially simple way
Does not accept paste a picture from Clipboard (needs a file for pic).
No offline aspect.
Export is only to other Linoit boards

In Between
Pinning works well, but there could be more with grid snapping, stuff like that.

Still, I like it, Linoit helps my thinking to have related stuff all in front, rather than hidden on some other url somewhere. And it is pleasant to use.

To give an example, I might have a page with Active Forum discussions.  With links to various current notes, and short notes to myself about what is what, where.  Then various notes on the page for different types of discussions. The flexibility is good.  Sure I would like it better if there were more strengths and now weaknesses, but for now, it seems to be the best in town. 

Your thoughts welcome!

Steven

143

General Software Discussion / Re: online bookmark service to import 100K Linkmans for search on road

« on: January 18, 2018, 08:23 AM »

Thanks for the great suggestions.  It will likely be a few days before I try some implementations.

Here is a related idea. 

I use Linkman for keyword mass bookmarking, research, PIM, page-by-page book urls. The stuff above is to get easy access when on an iPad or on the road, without using remove access.

And Roomy Bookmarks on Firefox (non-Quantum) or Pale Moon for quick bookmark, quick action, hierarchical go-to bookmarking.  (I also have some uses for Xerpi, start.me and others in this regard, but that is specialized and generally static, only changed modestly once it is set up. These can be good if I am setting up for a friend.)  Linoit is in the mix as a hybrid note-taking, navigator system, that uses markdown nicely for its hot bookmarks.

So I will want to export the (Roomy) Bookmarks Bar of Firefox to a my own (tabbed) web pages or, more simply to Raindrop or some other online bookmark manager.  Here we have only a few hundred.  That way, when I am using Chrome or Edge or another I have quick action available without going back to Firefox (Pale Moon seems to be a bit more stable than Firefox, but both have advantages. In the long run, Firefox security of the older vesions might be an issue.)

Then I would like, in the most elegant world, to be able to export-import in an automated way.  Will it work smoothly?  What should I use, Raindrop.io or another?

Your thoughts welcome.

144

General Software Discussion / Re: online bookmark service to import 100K Linkmans for search on road

« on: January 11, 2018, 04:43 AM »

Thanks.

Maybe first I will try simply doing the HTML Export, followed by an automated backup to box.net (or another backup spot in the cloud).  Would the github alternative above accomplish more, or is it the same thing?

And placing that url to the .html file in the cloud on my start pages (currently Linoit), which are accessible from any net connection, PC or iPad. Theoretically it should come up in a browser?  And allow a search.

Also possible to try will be the .tsv file and open with Google Sheets.

I was wondering if any of the official bookmark programs could take the 100K (I saw one said 20K), because then I would have their more formatted search.

Steven

145

General Software Discussion / online bookmark service to import 100K Linkmans for search on road

« on: January 04, 2018, 09:12 AM »

online bookmark service to import 100K Linkmans for search on road - low $

Overall, I love Linkman, understanding that it is a Windows program, and a very effective cross-browser (they really do a superb job, I add and modify urls from about five or more different browsers).  Thus it is a continual research tool (often bookmarking many pages from a Google book, each one having its own keywords)  and pseudo-PIM.  And there are over 100K bookmarks in my database, which Linkman handles quickly, or quick enough, on search.

When on the road, say on my iPad, the only online mechanism I am using is remote access, especially Teamviwer or Google Chrome Remote. It works, if I have my PC up, but it is not elegant.

Thus, I would like a cloud access method if possible, to my 100K bookmarks. Allowing a search. Sync is not necessary, but I would like to delete and update occasionally, maybe once a week, or once a month.  The full file is 70 MB, which is relatively modest uploading these days.  And I do not expect any great speed in searching, it would only be occasional search usage.

===============

FYI: Usually I do not use the Dropbox or any sync from one puter to another.  I simply switch by USB, however that does not really affect the question above.  I am always a little gun-shy about sync making my data jambalaya, as used to happen with my Firefox bookmarks. 

Btw, I do consider an older Firefox, or Pale Moon, with Roomy Bookmarks, my auxiliary method for quick finding and loading of the current hot and most important bookmarks.  When I want to keep and quickly find track of my recent posts online, it is easier to do that in the bookmark bar than in Linkman, even if I add the url to Linkman.

Thanks!

146

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: December 27, 2017, 09:09 AM »

Corkboard - there seems to be three goodies today.

lino.it - (the pic)
padlet ==  (wallwasher)
pin.com == (listhings, the main one I tried years back)

Spaaze, Memonic and Note.ly and NoteApp and some others seem to be dormant or going out or not really up to this level. There are many in the Whiteboard and Collaboration realm.  Few show you really good pictures (like the Padlet Gallery) even on their front page.
 
Big advantage - very portable (like Google Keep, over Windows sticky programs, which struggle for cloud portability.)
You can pin pages to the taskbar, and get to them easily even if on a foreign puter or on an iPad/Android.

And you can get fancy. Here I try to show my puter note page that I did yesterday and this AM I played with pic and video.  Some notes are on that page, which you can increase to full size.

I think Padlet is the worthy alternative. They have a Gallery.

One of the two seems to be becoming my "Visual" note method (complementary to Evernote and Wunderlist.)

Lino.it is quite good on navigating and sharing boards. I would say that the biggest weakness is RTF, that for a single note-box on a corkboard page you have to choose one font color and size.

All three, Linoit, Evernote and Wunderlist are effectively portable, at most needing the url and password from the password manager wherever I am.  Granted, Wunderlist will change (maybe Toodledo?) in some months.  Evernote has two ways (url or Evernote Windows parameter pseudo-url) to go directly to a specific page, which is nice when a program like lino.it wants to allow quick access to detail info.

Anyone using Padlet?

In the past I have tried to capture this visual effect with Pnotes or Notezilla, however now I lean back to native Corkboard.

For auxiliary visual bookmarking, Start.me and Zeef are in the lead.  While Linkman is always the industrial bookmark program that doubles as a research assistant and PIM.

I’ll see about sharing this page so you can go to the url, where notes will be updated, and maybe make complementary pages available.  This note is a bit cryptic to my personal quirks, but nothing is private confidential.  This is all with the free, professional is $3 a month, maybe double with tablet professional which would be likely unneeded.

Ok, try this:
http://linoit.com/us...Puter%20Utilities%20

Steven

 

147

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: December 15, 2017, 10:20 AM »

I am working with Clibu now.  I brought it up in Chrome and then pin to desktop, pin to taskbar, so it is easy-access. I like the architecture. It starts off being a replacement for Google Keep, clearly though it can also contend into possible usages where Evernote (or others like Rightnote) is involved now. I see you have a forum, I suggest a thread here. Generally, impressed, clean architecture, good features.  You can paste right in, a place where many fail (so I do not need the Web Clilpper, simply Abbyy Screenshot Reader and go go go.

Once it locked up while I was playing, no biggie if it does not happen on regular good-speed usage.

Can I link externally directly to a page?

Like that you have a vibrant forum.

148

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: December 13, 2017, 06:57 PM »

Yes, I deliberately do not have 57, I have a big five extensions on another thread and a few of them do not work.

Anyway, after my evening reboot, Clibu came up in Firefox 52.5.

Steven

149

General Software Discussion / Re: Notetaking software

« on: December 13, 2017, 11:29 AM »

Windows 10, Firefox 52.5 does not get it up even after a cache clear. However, now it is working in some other browsers, so I can test it out.

150

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox - PaleMoon - extension puzzle -RoomyBookmarks-Linkman-TabMixPlus-Lazarus

« on: December 13, 2017, 09:35 AM »

After some more use, I placed OneTab up there as very needful, and so far this works good.

One Tab on PaleMoon
https://forum.palemo...iewtopic.php?t=15092

So I have most everything working on:

Firefox 52.5esr and Palemoon 27.6

and use Chrome especially for auxiliary needs, trying to get those features in as in this discussion

better visibility for Chrome extensions - text on bar or special page
https://productforum...-place=mydiscussions

Other browsers so far are secondary, Edge was great for awhile with PDFs, however I think it crashed.
I like PDFs at least to be available in a browser for the ease of Linkman bookmark.