Sonny Software

I am still learning all about Bookends 11, but there is one feature that perhaps is there, but I can't find it. In the list view (or in the Bookends browser), I can navigate in the attachment window to new websites and new PDF files. For example, JSTOR files now have links to the articles in the footnotes that are on JSTOR, so I can navigate directly from the attached file to the PDF file of one of the articles referenced in it. But I cannot find a way to then directly import that new PDF file and make a new reference for it. I know I can save it, locate it in the Finder, and drag it to the list window and get the information, but it seems to me that a direct import (from the URL) of the new reference and attachment from JSTOR would be easiest.

Is this clear?

You're talking about Bookends browser, right? If so, you can either drag and drop the pdf proxy icon on your database and it will attach to the selected ref, or you can right-click on the pdf proxy icon. When you do you'll have three options:

Attach to selected reference
Attach to a new empty reference
Attach to a new "internet" reference (Bookends will fill in the URL for you)

Jon
Sonny Software

I meant from the attachment window in list view--where there is not a PDF proxy icon, but I can navigate to new PDF files that I do not yet have in the database.

But I have had problems with the Bookends browser. I can get to PDF files, but they will not import, and/or BE crashes. I just send a report to Apple for the latest crash. Even JSTOR on the Bookends browser fails in importing a PDF results in an error message, saying the file is corrupt. But I can get files from the JSTOR import filter–that works beautifully.

I meant from the attachment window in list view--where there is not a PDF proxy icon, but I can navigate to new PDF files that I do not yet have in the database.

Right. That's your database, it's not integrated with the online search/import features (and I think doing that would just confuse the interface).

But I have had problems with the Bookends browser. I can get to PDF files, but they will not import, and/or BE crashes. I just send a report to Apple for the latest crash. Even JSTOR on the Bookends browser fails in importing a PDF results in an error message, saying the file is corrupt. But I can get files from the JSTOR import filter–that works beautifully.

Sounds like you had the Adobe pdf plugin enabled. Disable it, it's buggy and causes major problems with Bookends. See our FAQ (Help menu) for a discussion of this and what to do.

Jon
Sonny Software

Turning off the plugin seemed to work. I can now import the PDF and autocomplete just fine. Thanks!

Since there is no proxy PDF icon in the database attachment window, it might be nice to put some sort of command to "open PDF in Bookends browser," where you could then import the PDF directly.

Although you can't do that, if you move the cursor to the bottom of the pdf display a HUD appears, and one option is Open PDF In Preview. Do that, then save the pdf to disk. Drag and drop it on the Bookends database to attach.

Jon
Sonny Software

I am not sure if my problem is the same as is being discussed here but I think it is. I want to import a pdf into bookends and then have bookends 'abstract' what information it can from the pdf to generate the reference. I would likely have to fill out some of it, but not all. I assume that Bookends examines the pdf for, say, a DOI and then uses that information to get the citation from the internet. This is done in Sente and is fairly efficient.

However, when I am in the attachments list view and drag a new pdf from, say the downloads folder, into the attachments window, I get a prompt from Bookends asking me if I want to attach the pdf to the file that is highlighted in the upper window. It doesn't ask me if I want to import the pdf to a NEW reference. It seems to assume that I want to attach it to an existing reference.

How do I get Bookends to do what I have described in the first paragraph above.

Many thanks.
Don

dspady wrote:I am not sure if my problem is the same as is being discussed here but I think it is. I want to import a pdf into bookends and then have bookends 'abstract' what information it can from the pdf to generate the reference. I would likely have to fill out some of it, but not all. I assume that Bookends examines the pdf for, say, a DOI and then uses that information to get the citation from the internet. This is done in Sente and is fairly efficient.

Yes, Bookends does that (hm, and I believe we were the first ref manager app to have this feature :-) )

However, when I am in the attachments list view and drag a new pdf from, say the downloads folder, into the attachments window, I get a prompt from Bookends asking me if I want to attach the pdf to the file that is highlighted in the upper window. It doesn't ask me if I want to import the pdf to a NEW reference. It seems to assume that I want to attach it to an existing reference.

How do I get Bookends to do what I have described in the first paragraph above.

Check the checkbox in the attach dialog that says "Import from Internet and then attach" (if a doi was found) or "Attach this file to a new reference and autocomplete" (if a doi was not found).

If you don't see that, please contact tech support and I'll walk you through it.

Jon
Sonny Software