Keywords…

[Jon]

I thought it was time to revisit the issue of the placement of the Keywords field in the reference window.

It's pretty clear that there are those who value keywords as a primary field that should be in the main tab. Others don't care.

I think the thread on this topic pretty much exhausted the reasonable possibilities. I'm leaning toward providing an option in Preferences along the lines of "Display Keywords in main tab". If checked, the Keywords would appear where the Notes field is now and there would be just two tabs: Main and Notes.

If unchecked, the display would be as it is now, with three tabs: Main, Keywords, and Notes.

An alternative (that strikes me as less desirable) is to put the Keywords in the reference drawer, below the other options.

I've asked for your input in a poll, so one can see if there is overwhelming support for one option or another. Please vote if this matters to you.

Jon
Sonny Software

[dhayton]

Jon,

First, thanks for setting up this poll. Along with a good product, this level of service and concern sets Bookends apart from its competitors.

Second:

… I'm leaning toward providing an option in Preferences along the lines of "Display Keywords in main tab". If checked, the Keywords would appear where the Notes field is now and there would be just two tabs: Main and Notes.

If unchecked, the display would be as it is now, with three tabs: Main, Keywords, and Notes.

This would be, in my opinion, perfect.

Best,
Darin

[nicka]

I voted for the reference drawer, just because I'm absent-minded enough to forget that data exist if I can't see them all at once.

[Jon]

Don't forget that notes are also visible in the list view info pane (both the Concise view and, of course, the Notes view). This is where, I imagine, most people do their reference browsing.

Jon
Sonny Software

[nicka]

True. But I use the list view for locating references and then open a reference to see which fields have data -- like flipping through index cards, then pulling one out to look at it. I tend to ignore the stuff on the right-hand side.
That said, it's not such a big deal for me either way, since I don't use keywords very much.

[jblander]

Jon, I was wondering if you would be open to doing something like what I describe below. If so, would you consider adding it to the poll? I think it would retain the clean look of the Main Tab, while providing all the info people are requesting. And it would be nice to be able to leave the drawer closed unless I need "special" info.

Do you mean to have three fields at the bottom of the main tab, with two splitters, as in Keywords: Notes : Abstract?

I didn't see a direct reply by anyone to your comment above (taken from the other thread), but what you say would be highly preferred by me (3 fields with 2 splitters). You could make each fully re-sizable just as they are now, to the extent (again, as is the case currently) that one can completely close one of the fields by dragging the dimple to the edge of the window. Thus one can have just Abstract or Notes or Keywords, or two of the three, or all three. And so each person can adjust those field sizes to what he or she needs - which is how things are now....but with the ability to have all three fields showing, instead of being limited to two.

My own process yields lots of keywords imported automatically, and some add'l info that I regularly cut and paste into Notes right away. As a result, I like to work with both fields just after entry of the record, because I want to review and manually adjust the kw and notes fields while I review my new records. I quite agree with your comments about the redundancy of viewing notes (and even keywords). But having all of the three fields available in one place (the Main Tab) for initial record entry/review is extremely helpful (for me).

If I had to choose between Notes and Keywords, I would choose Notes, for what it's worth. So as long as there is a way to keep the Notes on the Main Tab, I'll be fine. But the 3 field view at the bottom would be absolutely ideal. And I think that the fields at the bottom are large enough relative to the others that adjusting their sizes doesn't mess up the overall clean look and symmetry of the window.

[Jon]

I don't think three fields at the bottom would work. It would be much too crowded to be useful, especially on a small screen. Not to mention how one would actually handle two splitters in one horizontal plane. I think two fields is the maximum that can be handled here.

Jon
Sonny Software

[jblander]

I don't think three fields at the bottom would work. It would be much too crowded to be useful, especially on a small screen. Not to mention how one would actually handle two splitters in one horizontal plane. I think two fields is the maximum that can be handled here.

Hi, Jon. Thanks for the speedy reply, and I definitely appreciate the concerns you are raising. I was wondering, though, if you could set it up, say, with a preference to enable the third field (or some kind of flexible dragging ability for the splitters to open a new field); that way if someone is using a wider screen, she can enable that option to show all three; but if someone is on a narrow screen, she can leave it with just two fields at the bottom. Since the splitters are movable, even to the point of closing the field, it could be configured/manipulated to best suit individual user needs. You could "ship" BE with the two fields displayed, and then the preference would have to be ticked to get the third field.

[Jon]

Honestly, I think it would be a very difficult interface to manage. There's no elegant way you could have two splitters on the same horizontal plane *and* allow them to close all the way *and* allow the middle pane to be closed while keeping the other two open. It won't work.

Jon
Sonny Software

[jblander]

Honestly, I think it would be a very difficult interface to manage. There's no elegant way you could have two splitters on the same horizontal plane *and* allow them to close all the way *and* allow the middle pane to be closed while keeping the other two open. It won't work.

Ah, that does make sense.

If you were to implement the preference selection to allow the lower right-hand field to be changed from Notes to Keywords, is this something that could then be changed on the fly, via a key combo? If I could toggle the field contents between Notes and Keywords just by a key combo, that would be nearly as good as having all 3 fields present, since I could quickly switch between the two.

(As a bonus, perhaps you could make the lower left-hand field "toggle-able" between Abstract and Keywords, so that those who prefer could have Keywords and Notes side-by-side on the screen, and no Abstract. I don't know how much demand there would be for it, but if you are doing it for one field, perhaps it wouldn't be a huge project to do for the other field? I know little about the programming in your app, so I apologize if that is just a completely stupid thing to say.)

If this suggestion wouldn't be feasible, I think I would vote to have the Keywords in a (stretched out) field in the drawer, and keep Notes in the Main Tab.

[Jon]

While I suppose it is possible, I think that unnecessarily complicates the interface. Simple and understandable are good, and having fields change their meaning via a menu of key combination would be unintuitive and confusing, IMO. I'll consider your vote to be for option #2.

Jon
Sonny Software

[maarten]

Ok, my opinion. Nothing new though.

1. keyword back in the main tab!!! (instead of notes)
2. delete drawer and make it a tab
3. make it possible for the users to define a entry field

as I said nothing new.

[Jon]

Hi,

1. It will be done (as an option, but this will be the default).
2. I'd be happy to do that, but some people object because they want to view all data at one glance. I'd be happy to open a poll on that once 10.0.2 is out.
3. Not sure what you mean here. You can change the name of any field. But that's not what you mean, I'm sure...

Jon
Sonny Software

[gke]

Just voted for the keywords field back on main tab, because I enter keywords for any reference I import and having keywords as a separate tab complicates the entry-process.

[Jon]

Hi,

Invoking the "mercy rule", I think the poll can be closed. Keywords in the main tab will be an option in 10.0.2. You'll also be able to leave Notes in the main tab, as it is now, if you want.

Jon
Sonny Software