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General brainstorming for Note-taking software
kfitting:
Features and abilities wise texnotes is awesome. However, my conclusion, every time I've tried it, is that it takes way too long to do anything in it. Obviously, user interface is a highly subjective field and I understand that texnotes is the best answer for some people, I just cant seem to get into it.
But, I think it's interesting because, like Nudone and Superboyac, I've tried a bunch of different apps for this kind of thing and I find myself in a similar position as nudone: I just want an interface to my data! I have all sorts of files: textfiles, documents, pdfs, pictures, etc, and I want to organize, relate, and catogorize them. But I dont want to:
1. spend a huge amount of time inputing and organizing the information (dont misunderstand me here, I realize that any classification that is meaningful will require some effort to input. I'm tired of GUI design and Program architecture (ie, "required" fields for things that arent really required) that succeeds only in making the input process cumbersome, something I personally feel Texnotes does).
2. Lock my data away in some proprietary format that requires me to do the same long tedious input process if ever I choose to switch programs or the program is discontinued. (Once again, I realize that different programs have different features and you cant do a 100% conversion in many cases. But the data, the text/formatting, ought to be easily accessible.)
All this being said, I think I'm too idealistic. I strive to have one program or one center of focus for ALL my information but just keep coming to the realization that, due to the amount of data and the multitude of types of data this will not happen. Everytime I find myself longing for a minimalist type program, I find myself wanting a feature from a bloated one! Perhaps, file explorers are something of an answer. What about a combination file browser/organizer. Something that would rely on individual files, and store all other data in individual files, but serve as an interface, showing their relationships. Oh wait, this could be called a database filesystem...
Oh well... so I agree with Nudone... searching, searching, searching for that application that meets (in my case anyway) what are probably unrealistic expectations. So, there's my rant, largely incoherent since I've left out most of the background to save time inputting it into this forum post (I hate inputting data!!).
Kevin
Darwin:
I love TNP but only use it occasionally. For example, recently I had a job application to put together that required cv, cover letter, statement of research interests and plans, statement of teaching philosophy, and a statement of expected contributions to the department and university. It was great for organizing this, though once I was ready to do my final edit, I wound up in Word 2003 because of formatting issues. But I digress...
I agree with the assessment that what is really needed is an interface for one's data. Something like ACDSee for everything, not just multimedia stuff... I suppose that X1/Yahoo Desktop Search is close, but both are resource hogs. NeXT OS used to be sort of like this. I never used it, but my MSc supervisor for my had a NeXT box when I was using Windows 3.11 for Workgroups. I used to sit in his office in awe of the interface and power of his computer...
I like Kevin's idea for a combo file explorer/organizer - something like DOpus with built in indexing and organization capabilities...
Darwin:
Kevin wrote: So, there's my rant, largely incoherent since I've left out most of the background to save time inputting it into this forum post (I hate inputting data!!).
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Ha ha - I know exactly what you mean!
tranglos:
is there a note taking program that uses individual txt files as the individual notes AND has a tree structure type view so you can see all the files/notes. even more than this i'd like the program to be able to show a tree view of txt files that are in different locations on the hard drive - and the ability for it to remember this each time i run it.
-nudone (January 30, 2007, 05:34 AM)
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If I understand your requirement correctly, KeyNote can do precisely this. The feature is called "virtual nodes". The easiest way to make it work is to drag one or more txt files into the tree panel (not the editor area). KeyNote will prompt you to 'select import method" - choose the last option, "Import as virtual nodes". The term "import" is somewhat of a misnomer here, because the txt files will stay on disk, and KeyNote will read their contents when you open the knt file containing those virtual nodes. You can also turn any normal node into a virtual node (txt or rtf).
If you have already considered and rejected that possibility, never mind :)
marek
urlwolf:
Nudone, I think what you want is a tagging layer on top of your filesystem (which is hierarchical).
I'm still wondering why after tagging is now everywhere (urls, pictures, images, music), our filesystems are still far away from supporting tagging natively...
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