Law case library
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 10:54 am
Having trialled Bookends on several occasions, I have now bought in. I want to "experiment" using B for my law library. "Experiment"' because I've concluded it would only make sense to change over entirely and stop sticking with what I've done so far. Which is a combination of a Filemaker database, Devonthink Pro Office (DTPO), and a folder containing approximately 8000 pdfs, which numerous new entries every week I name all pdfs to my requirements and ocr.
I am using Filemaker as a flat file database, not relational (which I don't understand!). The main attraction for me of F is its sorting capabilities and I can add, modify and delete fields and their properties as i like; the downside is that the field width/depth limitation imposed by the format/monitor size (27" iMac) doesn't lend itself for my being able to read all content in a large field without scrolling, which means breaking up the content into several fields which means tracts of wasted space in some fields. I could link each record to a pdf but it's a fiddle so mostly since I decided to use DTPO in conjunction I now only use FM for case names, snippets, etc. I find DTPO flexible and I prefer the free form layout; into DTPO I have imported all pdfs and created dozens of smart folders which enable me to find all references to words and phrases in cases and articles. The downside is that adding notes to pdfs requires a separate entry, as does adding notes concerning a case: what I need is everything in one place. (I've tried using Papers3 but despite the more attractive gui I don't find it as adept as DTPO, also I've had a go at Highlights but again I don't want a separate application.)
On first installing B I was disappointed to discover that either it doesn't or I haven't worked how to import pdfs so that my file name for pdf is shown in B. Having made a mess of a small import, I realise the quickest way to bring in all my pdfs would be to configure the source folder as a watch folder. Q: is there anything on B that shows the progress of import? I quit B a couple of times because I thought it was hanging; it wasn't. (I don't want my pdfs renamed and what to? One at time ok, but 8000? Also, it seems to me a waste of hard drive storage to move the pdfs into B, I am content to copy which in itself is a duplicate. Question: Is there any way to link a pdf without importing?
Having read a little more of tutorial and user guide, I gather all i can expect of a pdf import is a hash? reading for manual rename: I note that my file name goes into the keywords field so that'll mean copy and paste. I don't mind it the file name is not shown pending the fun of entering the name again one by one but Question: if I use Find then would I be able to find what I'm searching for in any attachment even if it's unnamed?
In Preferences under reference Types I have renamed one 'Case'. and its field label Case also. Since it doesn't look like the default label names are in any easily identifiable order, i have also created a reference type 'template' and field label template upon which I've renamed all the fields 01, 02, etc and the Additional fields Af01, AF02, etc. I have taken and printed a screenshot of the layout so that I can see at glance the position of the fields per their default labels. I now find i could have the preferences open alongside the result so I could see the position as I go. Even so, I think my way is easer at a glance.
I've linked B to word processor Mellel 4 which I use for writing long reports: yesterday, I've finished writing 17,000 words report in under 10 days: breather today ready for another 3 reports due in this month: (one thing I was taught when i first started work is tat if you find a deadline too tight then change the deadline!). I cannot envisage using the citation bibliography set up between B and M because for me it's as quick to copy and paste from one application to the other; also i have my own style. (I understand however that for academics and institutional requirements the built-in styles feature is probably very useful.) Whether I'll use the DOI feature remains to be seen: i am not going to leave field names at default in any of the reference types I'm working on so a DOI entry would end up on its own somewhere! I don't subscribe to an on-line law resources.
As a repository for standard (if only!) phrasing and paragraphs for my writings I envisage B will be very useful, particularly since I can add content to the record with the pdf on it, rather than as I've said have it in different places.
I'd appreciate please any suggestions and advice on structuring B for my law library to achieve what I'm after.
Mog
ps - And if I can get B to synchronise with my way of working, then I might even import another 100,000 pdfs in connection with my work.
pps - A link to my comments on the DTPO forum: http://forum.devontechnologies.com/view ... =7&t=24524
I am using Filemaker as a flat file database, not relational (which I don't understand!). The main attraction for me of F is its sorting capabilities and I can add, modify and delete fields and their properties as i like; the downside is that the field width/depth limitation imposed by the format/monitor size (27" iMac) doesn't lend itself for my being able to read all content in a large field without scrolling, which means breaking up the content into several fields which means tracts of wasted space in some fields. I could link each record to a pdf but it's a fiddle so mostly since I decided to use DTPO in conjunction I now only use FM for case names, snippets, etc. I find DTPO flexible and I prefer the free form layout; into DTPO I have imported all pdfs and created dozens of smart folders which enable me to find all references to words and phrases in cases and articles. The downside is that adding notes to pdfs requires a separate entry, as does adding notes concerning a case: what I need is everything in one place. (I've tried using Papers3 but despite the more attractive gui I don't find it as adept as DTPO, also I've had a go at Highlights but again I don't want a separate application.)
On first installing B I was disappointed to discover that either it doesn't or I haven't worked how to import pdfs so that my file name for pdf is shown in B. Having made a mess of a small import, I realise the quickest way to bring in all my pdfs would be to configure the source folder as a watch folder. Q: is there anything on B that shows the progress of import? I quit B a couple of times because I thought it was hanging; it wasn't. (I don't want my pdfs renamed and what to? One at time ok, but 8000? Also, it seems to me a waste of hard drive storage to move the pdfs into B, I am content to copy which in itself is a duplicate. Question: Is there any way to link a pdf without importing?
Having read a little more of tutorial and user guide, I gather all i can expect of a pdf import is a hash? reading for manual rename: I note that my file name goes into the keywords field so that'll mean copy and paste. I don't mind it the file name is not shown pending the fun of entering the name again one by one but Question: if I use Find then would I be able to find what I'm searching for in any attachment even if it's unnamed?
In Preferences under reference Types I have renamed one 'Case'. and its field label Case also. Since it doesn't look like the default label names are in any easily identifiable order, i have also created a reference type 'template' and field label template upon which I've renamed all the fields 01, 02, etc and the Additional fields Af01, AF02, etc. I have taken and printed a screenshot of the layout so that I can see at glance the position of the fields per their default labels. I now find i could have the preferences open alongside the result so I could see the position as I go. Even so, I think my way is easer at a glance.
I've linked B to word processor Mellel 4 which I use for writing long reports: yesterday, I've finished writing 17,000 words report in under 10 days: breather today ready for another 3 reports due in this month: (one thing I was taught when i first started work is tat if you find a deadline too tight then change the deadline!). I cannot envisage using the citation bibliography set up between B and M because for me it's as quick to copy and paste from one application to the other; also i have my own style. (I understand however that for academics and institutional requirements the built-in styles feature is probably very useful.) Whether I'll use the DOI feature remains to be seen: i am not going to leave field names at default in any of the reference types I'm working on so a DOI entry would end up on its own somewhere! I don't subscribe to an on-line law resources.
As a repository for standard (if only!) phrasing and paragraphs for my writings I envisage B will be very useful, particularly since I can add content to the record with the pdf on it, rather than as I've said have it in different places.
I'd appreciate please any suggestions and advice on structuring B for my law library to achieve what I'm after.
Mog
ps - And if I can get B to synchronise with my way of working, then I might even import another 100,000 pdfs in connection with my work.
pps - A link to my comments on the DTPO forum: http://forum.devontechnologies.com/view ... =7&t=24524