Improving Bookends.

[GoPool]

I am a recent convert to bookends, and I must say that I am very impressed with what I have been able to do so far. However, I think there are a few things that can be done that may improved to user experience.

1. The only thing I like about endnote is the keyboard shortcuts to switch to word or keynote (ctrl + 1 on a mac), and to insert citation in word (ctrl + 2 on a mac). Bookends has one of these shortcuts (Cmd + y) to insert citation. Would it be possible to implement a global keyboard shortcut on the mac that automatically switches to bookends regardless of the word processor being used? There is a button in word to do that in bookends, but I think keyboard shortcuts are more efficient.

2. Bookends is used a lot to search data bases, however, the command to search online is buried in the menu. Would it be possible to add a button front and center that takes us directly to the search window?

3. I did not know anything about this program until yesterday, but I have been using an mac and endnote for a number of years now. This program is a great alternative to endnote, and I think more people will use it if more was done to advertise it.

GoPool

[Jon]

1. The only thing I like about endnote is the keyboard shortcuts to switch to word or keynote (ctrl + 1 on a mac), and to insert citation in word (ctrl + 2 on a mac). Bookends has one of these shortcuts (Cmd + y) to insert citation. Would it be possible to implement a global keyboard shortcut on the mac that automatically switches to bookends regardless of the word processor being used? There is a button in word to do that in bookends, but I think keyboard shortcuts are more efficient.

Hi,

Perhaps, but that can be kind of intrusive to install. If Bookends is in the dock, it's of course easy to switch to it by clicking on the icon.

2. Bookends is used a lot to search data bases, however, the command to search online is buried in the menu. Would it be possible to add a button front and center that takes us directly to the search window?

If/when we add a toolbar, that will be included. In the meantime, perhaps Shift-Command-W will do the trick (that's what I use).

3. I did not know anything about this program until yesterday, but I have been using an mac and endnote for a number of years now. This program is a great alternative to endnote, and I think more people will use it if more was done to advertise it.

We have advertized on VersionTracker. The results were so-so. Word of mouth, posts on MacUpdate and VersionTracker, and the like seem to do just as well. Thanks for the kind words.

Jon
Sonny Software

[ozean]

1. The only thing I like about endnote is the keyboard shortcuts to switch to word or keynote (ctrl + 1 on a mac), and to insert citation in word (ctrl + 2 on a mac). Bookends has one of these shortcuts (Cmd + y) to insert citation. Would it be possible to implement a global keyboard shortcut on the mac that automatically switches to bookends regardless of the word processor being used? There is a button in word to do that in bookends, but I think keyboard shortcuts are more efficient.

As long as there is a menu entry for the command that you want to use (I think this is the case for Bookends in Word), you can use System Preferences > Keyboard to assign a keyboard shortcut to the command to switch to Bookends.
In addition to clicking on the dock icon, there is of course the possibility of using Command-Tab to switch apps with the keyboard…

[GoPool]

Thanks a lot for the system preferences keyboard shortcut tip. I just make ctrl+1 take me to bookends from word, or to word from bookends. I also replace copy citation (cmd+y) with ctrl+2. These are the shortcuts that I used in Endnote, so a few less things I have to learn. They work much faster than in endnote though, instantaneous with bookends compared to a second or two with endnote.

Are you guys planning on adding a toolbar? I think it would be a great addition considering they are standard on most mac applications, and it would mean less trips to the menu bar.

[Jon]

A toolbar is certainly on the list of things we'd like to add.

Jon
Sonny Software