I know that I can drag and drop a reference from one database to another, and that I can export a reference from one database and then import it to another. I find both of these methods a bit cumbersome, the first because of my small screen, the second because of the number of steps involved. Is there any other way to copy a reference from one database to another? I've looked in the Guide but haven't found anything on this.
Thanks,
James
Copying references
Jon, Thanks for your quick reply. (You seem to work too hard!)
Yes, drag and drop is simple, but, for me at least, it means resizing windows so that I can see both source and target databases. Perhaps I should just set them all to be narrow and get used to seeing only part of the window.
Any reason there couldn't be a kind of copy/paste method via a menu/keyboard shortcut?
Don't get me wrong. I love the software and appreciate it more and more. Right now I'm still trying to figure out the best way (for me) to use it. Perhaps my inclination to have a separate database for each project is a bad idea.
Here's where I'm stumbling: I know the idea is that citations embedded in documents, when scanned, produce a bibliography. The trouble I have is that there is no standard format for citations that always works. Sometimes I want just a name, sometimes a page number, etc. So I thought the best idea would be to omit citations from final document. This works pretty well, but in Mellel at least this leaves an odd space where the citation 'was'. So I'm experimenting with ways to keep track of citations outside of the document proper. Probably I'm trying too hard to reinvent a wheel. What I'd really like--but don't think is possible (?)--is for any text to be able to serve as a citation: you know, mark it somehow, or, alternatively, to be able to customize citations ad hoc. (I know I can do this, but re-scanning undoes this customization, as far as I can tell.) My other idea is simply to keep the citations in a separate document. This of course has its inefficiencies, too.
If I've got all this wrong, please set me straight. Such a basic problem is most likely a product of my own ingenuity.
Perhaps I should ask what others do, particularly those using, say, MLA style.
Thanks again,
James
Yes, drag and drop is simple, but, for me at least, it means resizing windows so that I can see both source and target databases. Perhaps I should just set them all to be narrow and get used to seeing only part of the window.
Any reason there couldn't be a kind of copy/paste method via a menu/keyboard shortcut?
Don't get me wrong. I love the software and appreciate it more and more. Right now I'm still trying to figure out the best way (for me) to use it. Perhaps my inclination to have a separate database for each project is a bad idea.
Here's where I'm stumbling: I know the idea is that citations embedded in documents, when scanned, produce a bibliography. The trouble I have is that there is no standard format for citations that always works. Sometimes I want just a name, sometimes a page number, etc. So I thought the best idea would be to omit citations from final document. This works pretty well, but in Mellel at least this leaves an odd space where the citation 'was'. So I'm experimenting with ways to keep track of citations outside of the document proper. Probably I'm trying too hard to reinvent a wheel. What I'd really like--but don't think is possible (?)--is for any text to be able to serve as a citation: you know, mark it somehow, or, alternatively, to be able to customize citations ad hoc. (I know I can do this, but re-scanning undoes this customization, as far as I can tell.) My other idea is simply to keep the citations in a separate document. This of course has its inefficiencies, too.
If I've got all this wrong, please set me straight. Such a basic problem is most likely a product of my own ingenuity.
Perhaps I should ask what others do, particularly those using, say, MLA style.
Thanks again,
James
Hi James,jb wrote:Any reason there couldn't be a kind of copy/paste method via a menu/keyboard shortcut?
Copy/paste a reference (which was actually removed from Bookends a while back because people weren't using it) is more cumbersome than drag and drop. You do know that you only have to drop it on any visible portion of the database (or reference) window? So leaving any 10 pixel portion of the target window exposed is enough.
I always suggest people use one database (this is one of many reasons). And of course turn automatic backup on.Perhaps my inclination to have a separate database for each project is a bad idea.
I'm not sure I follow. Let's make sure we are using the same terminology.Here's where I'm stumbling: I know the idea is that citations embedded in documents, when scanned, produce a bibliography. The trouble I have is that there is no standard format for citations that always works. Sometimes I want just a name, sometimes a page number, etc.
A temporary citation is what Bookends places in the document while you are writing (in Mellel, this would be a citation object).
A final, or resolved, citation is what Bookends places in the bibliography after you scan. It can be anything: a number, a name, a footnote, etc. The format you use is what specifies how the final citation looks.
I don't see how this is a good thing. You mean you go back and manually type in the citation/footnote? This is unnecessary.So I thought the best idea would be to omit citations from final document.
Any text can serve as a citation. Surround it with curly brackets and then, in Mellel, use the "convert to citation" feature. Now that text is a citation object. As long as the text can be found in a Bookends reference during a scan, Bookends replace it with whatever the format calls for.What I'd really like--but don't think is possible (?)--is for any text to be able to serve as a citation: you know, mark it somehow, or, alternatively, to be able to customize citations ad hoc.
See if my comments above help.If I've got all this wrong, please set me straight. Such a basic problem is most likely a product of my own ingenuity.
BTW, I'll be out of the country for the next 10 days, so my replies to posts and emails may be delayed.
Jon
Sonny Software
Jon
Thanks for your helpful reply.
Yes, I've been using Exclude from final document. When scanned in Mellel a space remains where the Temporary citation was. This is a minor annoyance, but one that makes this option less useful.
But I think I've figured out my problem. I just needed to learn how to control how the Formatted Citation appears. If I set it up so that *only* the author's name, without parentheses, appears, then I can use it in both of the following:
1. Brown claims x (133-35). [where the numbers are pg. numbers]
2. Some claim x (Brown 133-35, e.g.)
My first thought was that I should be able to control the appearance of Formatted Citations ad hoc, but this isn't possible and it's not even necessary I realize.
Thanks,
James
Thanks for your helpful reply.
Yes, I've been using Exclude from final document. When scanned in Mellel a space remains where the Temporary citation was. This is a minor annoyance, but one that makes this option less useful.
But I think I've figured out my problem. I just needed to learn how to control how the Formatted Citation appears. If I set it up so that *only* the author's name, without parentheses, appears, then I can use it in both of the following:
1. Brown claims x (133-35). [where the numbers are pg. numbers]
2. Some claim x (Brown 133-35, e.g.)
My first thought was that I should be able to control the appearance of Formatted Citations ad hoc, but this isn't possible and it's not even necessary I realize.
Thanks,
James