Sonny Software

I'm pretty new to referencing software and I've been trying to make Bookends 'fit' with my way of working. Unfortunately, there's a few things which have me stumped. Either I'm missing something after hours of reading and experimenting, or there's some pretty big opportunities for developing the way the software works.


- Full integration with Mellel/Word?
I'd like to dynamically link a Word/Mellel document to a Bookends library or group of references within a library. This way I'd open a Mellel document and have the relevant reference database already loaded.

When I'm writing, I don't want to have to switch out of my word processor while I'm writing. Typically, I'll write a section in the WP, do some research, add a couple of sources to the database, and then want to write some more. So I'd like the reference panel in Mellel to automatically update with all references from the linked database.

- Confusion over terms used?
Where I come from, a Bibliography is a list of all resources used to research a document, and a References list are those which are cited in the text. For some bizarre reason, these terms seem to be interchanged freely in referencing software. At the moment, I have to produce the References in Mellel and the Bibliography in Bookends. While Bookends is able to produce a list of References (what it calls a 'Bibliography') using the 'scan document' macro, I'd like to have an option for a Bibliography ('subject bibliography') as well.

- Convert full text reference?
I have a lot of existing APA-style references in various documents which I'll need to add to Bookends over time. To save manually re-entering them, does Bookends have a 'copy and paste converter' for a full reference?

- References per section?
At the end of each section of a document, is it possible to list just the references used in that section?

- Are there any plans to change the graphic interface in the future? I've got pretty fond of the iTunes one-window approach, and it now feels cumbersome to use a pop-up window for entering or editing a reference.


Thanks for any comments
David

cappuccinomonkey wrote: - Full integration with Mellel/Word?
I'd like to dynamically link a Word/Mellel document to a Bookends library or group of references within a library. This way I'd open a Mellel document and have the relevant reference database already loaded.

When I'm writing, I don't want to have to switch out of my word processor while I'm writing. Typically, I'll write a section in the WP, do some research, add a couple of sources to the database, and then want to write some more. So I'd like the reference panel in Mellel to automatically update with all references from the linked database

Hi,

Mellel doesn't know anything about what is or is not in the Bookends database. They communicate well with each other, and can pass requests and information between them, but Mellel is not a reference database. There is a way you could do what you want, though. Do a Copy Citation on the references you think you'll be citing and, once they become citation objects in Mellel, place them at the end of your Mellel document. Now each temporary citation will appear in the Mellel bibliography palette. You can insert them as needed by double-clicking on them in the bib palette, then delete the dummy citations at the end of the paper when you're finished. I don't recommend this, because the bib palette in Mellel is pretty cramped, but it would work.

- Confusion over terms used?
Where I come from, a Bibliography is a list of all resources used to research a document, and a References list are those which are cited in the text. For some bizarre reason, these terms seem to be interchanged freely in referencing software. At the moment, I have to produce the References in Mellel and the Bibliography in Bookends. While Bookends is able to produce a list of References (what it calls a 'Bibliography') using the 'scan document' macro, I'd like to have an option for a Bibliography ('subject bibliography') as well.

Terms (from the scientific literature): a citation is what is placed in the text (or it can be in a footnote), a bibliography is the list of references cited in the document, usually appearing at or toward the end. Bookends actually generates *both* -- Mellel just displays what Bookends sends it. The scan also converts the temporary citations (citation placeholders) to the final citations, the latter configured differently for different journals/formats.

And there is an option for a 'subject bibliography' -- it's an option in a popup menu in the scan dialog (you don't see if when you're rescanning).

- Convert full text reference?
I have a lot of existing APA-style references in various documents which I'll need to add to Bookends over time. To save manually re-entering them, does Bookends have a 'copy and paste converter' for a full reference?

No. There is a section in the User Guide that covers how to import existing bibliographies (it can be hit or miss) -- search the User Guide for the term 'existing' and you'll find it.

- References per section?
At the end of each section of a document, is it possible to list just the references used in that section?

No. You'd have to break up the document into "chapters" and scan each separately. This is a feature request the Redlers are aware of, but it's something that would have to be implemented in Mellel, not Bookends.

- Are there any plans to change the graphic interface in the future? I've got pretty fond of the iTunes one-window approach, and it now feels cumbersome to use a pop-up window for entering or editing a reference.

I don't know how the Bookends UI will change over time. The List View window is already pretty full (4 panes, several different views per pane).

Jon
Sonny Software

Thanks Jon

Jon wrote: And there is an option for a 'subject bibliography' -- it's an option in a popup menu in the scan dialog (you don't see if when you're rescanning).

As far as I can see, the popup offers a choice between a bibliography and subject bibliography - it doesn't seem to be possible to have both?

Not from the same scan. But don't forget that after do a scan, all the references you cited are in the Hits list. So just do the scan and make a normal bib, then go to Bookends and choose "Biblio -> Subject Bibliography", then send it to the bibliography window. You can copy and paste the resulting subject bibliography into a word processing document (or send it to disk, and open it in your word processor).

Jon
Sonny Software

Unfortunately, that method would require a manual update of the bibliography with every revision of the text.

Thanks anyway. I'll maybe have a look at future versions to see if any of these missing features turn up then.

Frankly, I've never heard of the need for two different bibliographies in the same scanned document. Are you sure that's what you want? And in any case, you really don't need a bib (of either kind) until you're ready to submit. I don't see any of the items you raised as missing features (at least not on Bookends' side --- as I said, the scan of sections is something that Mellel would have to implement).

Jon
Sonny Software