Sonny Software

I'm coming back to my reference manager research after some time away and am sold on going with Bookends.

I've read that it's best to create a single, universal library and then use the grouping features in Bookends to create subsets of works that are related to particular themes or projects.

This is not how I set things up when I got the demo. I created separate libraries for various projects I was working on in my test phase. Now, I'd like to delete those specialized libraries (there are no refs in them; I just created the libraries as placeholders to see how the program worked) so that I only have one library stored.

How exactly do I do that? I can't seem to find a file in the Apple Finder that corresponds to the titles I've given those separate, specialized libraries, and I don't want to do a thorough uninstall of all related files.

Also, can someone confirm if the advice I saw about creating one global library is the best way? Thanks!

I can confirm that one library us usually the best, unless the libraries will never be used for similar purposes (e.g. one library is for astronomy, one is for stamp collecting).

The default location for libraries (but just the default, they can go anywhere) is

~/Library/Application Support/Bookends

See this FAQ

http://www.sonnysoftware.com/faq/faq.ht ... tored_on_t

Jon
Sonny Software

The Bookends folder, which contains your library files is actually in
/Users/your_username/Library/Application Support/

The tilde (~) is the conventional shortcut that is synonymous with /Users/username/

~/Library/Application Support/Bookends

is correct.


Jon
Sonny Software

Well, if someone has a hard time finding his library file, he might not know what ~/ means
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_directory

In that case I'm not sure they'll know what /Users/your_username/ means, either.

This is one reason that we have the Help option Show Bookends Folder in Finder. Then you don't have to know much of anything about the file system nomenclature.

There is also a FAQ on this topic: http://www.sonnysoftware.com/faq/faq.ht ... tored_on_t

Jon
Sonny Software

P.S. From your link: "The ~ (tilde character) shorthand command refers to that particular user's home directory."

~/ is unknown to windows users

Why not put the library file and all customized files (formats, settings, etc) in the Bookends folder in Documents?
Wouldn't it be easier for Newbies to find them?

If you don't like the ~ don't use it. I do.

All apps on the Mac App Store must store application-associated files in Application Support. And frankly, that's where they belong, not Documents. As for the library, you pick the location where it is installed when you create it -- select Documents if you like, Bookends doesn't care where it is.

Jon
Sonny Software

I see...

If the files have to be stored in "application support" then there is no alternative.
I was just thinking that some users might loose their custom format files, when they migrate to another Mac...and forget about them.
Anyway...I know where the files are...and I understand now why. (requirement for Mac App Store).

No problem, thanks