I couldn't get Papers to do much, but it has a great GUI. Certainly some ideas there for any future overhauls to the Bookends GUI:
http://mekentosj.com/papers/
GUI Ideas: Papers
Hi,
Actually, we've worked a bit with the developer of Papers, which you'll soon see in the next Bookends update.
As for the interface, what in particular do people like, and how would it be implemented in the List View (note that the List View will get a bit of an overhaul in the next Bookends update, too)?
Jon
Sonny Software
Actually, we've worked a bit with the developer of Papers, which you'll soon see in the next Bookends update.
As for the interface, what in particular do people like, and how would it be implemented in the List View (note that the List View will get a bit of an overhaul in the next Bookends update, too)?
Jon
Sonny Software
I don't find Papers to be a particularly helpful program in the least, but I agree the GUI is VERY nice. I recommended DT make their GUI more like it.
Some of the stuff I like:
Tabbing- Not sure how this could work, but off the top of my head I'd say that multiple BE databases could all be in the same window in different tabs, or different static groups of the DB could be opened in its own tab (would be helpful in a very large database)
Groups - You've said the group pane is getting an overhaul, so suffice it to say that Papers group pane is done well. Folder in folders, etc. I would also like to be able to nestle smart folders/groups in static folders/groups.
'Filter' Buttons - I don't know what to call these. In the GUI pic they are underneath the tabs. Look at all, just the hits, just review, just books, etc.
The 'inner' Drawer- Probably what I like best is the inner drawer concept. Instead of having a drawer open off the window, have it push itself inside the window. (this would solve the problems I have with the window sizing and the info drawer I think). Though I'll admit I can't remember if Papers info pane can be closed or is always there.
- Attachments: I like that Attachments are not indicated in the list of citations but in the info section.
I'm torn as to whether a Preview window would be advantageous in BE. By far the nicest part of it is being able to read the PDF and take notes in the notes tab in the same space. This is very handy for note-taking, but it does take up a lot of space. If it was optional (i.e. it 'pushed in' from the bottom if invoked) i would like it. Much of the time I would have the list of citations taking up that whole section. That would leave where to put the 'view formatted' pane question up in the air. Someone on the forum suggested a while back (if I remember) that the view formatted become part of the concise view, or that we be able to format how the concise view shows the info. I've always like that, because it potentially eliminates the need for the view formatted at all.
Some of the stuff I like:
Tabbing- Not sure how this could work, but off the top of my head I'd say that multiple BE databases could all be in the same window in different tabs, or different static groups of the DB could be opened in its own tab (would be helpful in a very large database)
Groups - You've said the group pane is getting an overhaul, so suffice it to say that Papers group pane is done well. Folder in folders, etc. I would also like to be able to nestle smart folders/groups in static folders/groups.
'Filter' Buttons - I don't know what to call these. In the GUI pic they are underneath the tabs. Look at all, just the hits, just review, just books, etc.
The 'inner' Drawer- Probably what I like best is the inner drawer concept. Instead of having a drawer open off the window, have it push itself inside the window. (this would solve the problems I have with the window sizing and the info drawer I think). Though I'll admit I can't remember if Papers info pane can be closed or is always there.
- Attachments: I like that Attachments are not indicated in the list of citations but in the info section.
I'm torn as to whether a Preview window would be advantageous in BE. By far the nicest part of it is being able to read the PDF and take notes in the notes tab in the same space. This is very handy for note-taking, but it does take up a lot of space. If it was optional (i.e. it 'pushed in' from the bottom if invoked) i would like it. Much of the time I would have the list of citations taking up that whole section. That would leave where to put the 'view formatted' pane question up in the air. Someone on the forum suggested a while back (if I remember) that the view formatted become part of the concise view, or that we be able to format how the concise view shows the info. I've always like that, because it potentially eliminates the need for the view formatted at all.
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
You can turn this off in Preferences (Indicate Attachments checkbox) if you don't want to see it. The attachment will still show up in the Info Drawer.danzac wrote:- Attachments: I like that Attachments are not indicated in the list of citations but in the info section.
As far as a Preview pane (I image you mean this for pdfs), you of course can open the pdf inside a resizable Bookends window by double-clicking on it (or opening it by any method Bookends offers) with the Shift key held down.
Jon
Sonny Software
The biggest problem with taking notes in BE while you are reading attachments has always been the window arrangement. I like being able to use the notes in the info drawer, but ultimately I cannot look at a PDF and take notes at the same time on a regular monitor. i can have the PDF on 3/4 of the screen, with the info drawer in the rest of the screen, but once I click into the notes to type, the PDF goes behind the list view. If the PDF viewer was built in to the List view like Papers, this problem goes away. The workaround I use to use before moving over to DT is placing the List view entirely off screen except the info drawer so that the PDF will always stay visible.Jon wrote:You can turn this off in Preferences (Indicate Attachments checkbox) if you don't want to see it. The attachment will still show up in the Info Drawer.
As far as a Preview pane (I image you mean this for pdfs), you of course can open the pdf inside a resizable Bookends window by double-clicking on it (or opening it by any method Bookends offers) with the Shift key held down.
As to attachments, I like the small way it appears in Papers in that the icon shows you what type it is (PDF, .doc, etc) or a small image file.
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
My $0.02Jon wrote:Hi,
Actually, we've worked a bit with the developer of Papers, which you'll soon see in the next Bookends update.
As for the interface, what in particular do people like, and how would it be implemented in the List View (note that the List View will get a bit of an overhaul in the next Bookends update, too)?
Jon
Sonny Software
The color scheme in papers is subtle and nicely done. It also has a slightly rounded, versus flat, look. The dividers between fields or panes is a few pixels wide (which looks more modern) and the icons are also more modern (only slightly raised- versus the bubble jaguar-ish look of something like BE or DEVONthink).
The folder or group icons are also slick and in color. The tabbed interface is uncluttered and convenient. The sunken and highlighted look for type of file selected in the titlebar is also nicely done.
Overall, it has a modern, clean appeal. No one area of a bar or menu is cluttered with too much. There is little wasted space. There are different selectable options at the top of the window (text) and at the bottom (icons and text).
I was just looking at another well done GUI of an app that falls somewhere between Papers and BE, Bookpedia.
One thing that I like that I've never thought of for BE but makes total sense given iTunes does it is having the attachment in the left column under the groups. This maximizes space. I'm not sure about others, but I have a lot of white space in my groups column that can be used for something else. And for those who may have that whole column full, it sounds like Groups is going to get a facelift from Jon anyway, perhaps nestling stuff into folders or something.
This would make effective use of the space in the left column and add aesthetic to the list view (seeing the cover art or the first page of the PDF).
One thing that I like that I've never thought of for BE but makes total sense given iTunes does it is having the attachment in the left column under the groups. This maximizes space. I'm not sure about others, but I have a lot of white space in my groups column that can be used for something else. And for those who may have that whole column full, it sounds like Groups is going to get a facelift from Jon anyway, perhaps nestling stuff into folders or something.
This would make effective use of the space in the left column and add aesthetic to the list view (seeing the cover art or the first page of the PDF).
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
I have only used papers a couple of times when they first announced it. So let us see what I remember from that...
1. Slick, minimalistic and intuitive UI. Nice and clear icons very well laid out not just as mere eyecandy but rather make the functionality of the app more pleasant.
2. The scheduled search for a particular group, when it runs and brings in new hits, it shows up nicely like the New Mail indicator in Apple Mail. I really like it. Great implementation of an already familiar concept.
3. When you search pubmed, among the search results, it is clearly shown if you already have any of the papers in your database and if it has a PDF. Pubmed results in bookends don't tell us if any of the paper is already in the database. I would like to see this change.
That's for now. Perhaps there are more inspirations that can come from these two fresh minds.
1. Slick, minimalistic and intuitive UI. Nice and clear icons very well laid out not just as mere eyecandy but rather make the functionality of the app more pleasant.
2. The scheduled search for a particular group, when it runs and brings in new hits, it shows up nicely like the New Mail indicator in Apple Mail. I really like it. Great implementation of an already familiar concept.
3. When you search pubmed, among the search results, it is clearly shown if you already have any of the papers in your database and if it has a PDF. Pubmed results in bookends don't tell us if any of the paper is already in the database. I would like to see this change.
That's for now. Perhaps there are more inspirations that can come from these two fresh minds.
I often have several libraries open at the same time; what about giving the user the option of viewing them in different tabs? Tabs are being added to many apps, and it might be neater in some cases to have libaries in tabs rather than in discrete windows.Jon wrote:As for the interface, what in particular do people like, and how would it be implemented in the List View (note that the List View will get a bit of an overhaul in the next Bookends update, too)?
What does everyone think?
I definitely like this idea. Having said that, Jon has hinted at an improved groups pane, and this may eliminate my need for multiple databases (like being able to nestle groups in groups, etc). Not much detail has been given though, so I'm not sure how much I should expect for the groups overhaul.thecritic wrote:I often have several libraries open at the same time; what about giving the user the option of viewing them in different tabs? Tabs are being added to many apps, and it might be neater in some cases to have libaries in tabs rather than in discrete windows.Jon wrote:As for the interface, what in particular do people like, and how would it be implemented in the List View (note that the List View will get a bit of an overhaul in the next Bookends update, too)?
What does everyone think?
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~