The changes and fixes in 9.0.5 seem strong -- as ever, this app (an essential tool of my research and writing) gets better with each incremental update.
But I find the addition of quotation marks around the name of the List View window confusing? Was this there in earlier versions and I just didn't notice it? Either way, what is the function of the quotation marks?
TH
Why quotes on List View in BE 9.0.5?
They're simply there to distinguish the List View window title from the title of the Reference window (both are the database name). In previous versions I believe we used something like "List View of ABC", but someone on this forum felt *that* was confusing (or uncool, or something), so I changed it to this. You can't have two windows with the identical name (because you can't distinguish them in the Window menu).
Jon
Sonny Software
Jon
Sonny Software
Hmm... I find the quoted titles more confusing than "Database - List View" or something like that. I'm afraid that I would vote for a switch back.Jon wrote:They're simply there to distinguish the List View window title from the title of the Reference window (both are the database name). In previous versions I believe we used something like "List View of ABC", but someone on this forum felt *that* was confusing (or uncool, or something), so I changed it to this. You can't have two windows with the identical name (because you can't distinguish them in the Window menu).
Jon
Sonny Software
What would be *very* nice -- I've thought this for some time, but wondered if it might just be me -- would be to have the Database name used for the List View (no quote marks), and a unique identifier for the Record window's name. For example:
Given a database named "Research Bibliography" and a Reference 5083 of 5801 with the Title "Interaction of Color", we would have:
list view window title = "Research Bibliography"
record view window title = "Reference 5083 of 5801" or
"Interaction of Color"
...or some other field of the database assigned as the window title in the user preferences. I have a user-defined label field that from my EndNote days that I've kept -- for the above, it would be "Albers 1975a".
This would mean changing the name of the window when moving between records, which might prove a problem for the UI or increase application overhead. My preference for List View as the default view shows here.
TH
I agree with the poster.tharpold wrote: Given a database named "Research Bibliography" and a Reference 5083 of 5801 with the Title "Interaction of Color", we would have:
list view window title = "Research Bibliography"
record view window title = "Reference 5083 of 5801" or
"Interaction of Color"
...or some other field of the database assigned as the window title in the user preferences. I have a user-defined label field that from my EndNote days that I've kept -- for the above, it would be "Albers 1975a".
This would mean changing the name of the window when moving between records, which might prove a problem for the UI or increase application overhead. My preference for List View as the default view shows here.
I also wonder if it's possible to implement a third kind of "view": a sort of sticky-note reference view. Sometimes I'm taking notes in BE from a document that it's in a pdf or a word document. I need to enter the reference and (particularly) I'd like to add some notes to it. The current reference view while good is not actually lean enough to do that. I wonder if it's possible to have a very small reference window, small and simple as a sticky note that can also be set "always on top." I'm also frustrated by losing the view of the original reference I was working with when I add a new reference (a natural process of reading and taking notes of one text is adding more items to the bibliography). In this ideal type of reference window, I'd love to be able to have more than one references open at once.
Anyway, I guess this is rather obtuse or unuseful for most people, but I just wanted to test the grounds for the idea...
Amil
I can certainly change the List View to the name of the database. Changing the title of the reference window is easy -- keeping it synched with the record is more problematic (as you note, because of maintining the Window menu). I'll think about it.
As for a sticky notes option, I can imagine this will cause a lot of headaches for people, and the fact that users can use the reference window as the main mechanism for interfacing with the database makes spawning new windows problematic as well. But I'll think about these issues...
Jon
Sonny Software
As for a sticky notes option, I can imagine this will cause a lot of headaches for people, and the fact that users can use the reference window as the main mechanism for interfacing with the database makes spawning new windows problematic as well. But I'll think about these issues...
Jon
Sonny Software
Jon, I actually think this sticky notes view is kind of a cool idea. What if it were set to show the basics of the reference (a default format or the concise format minus the abstract) and then a field for notes? I could see this being very handy, especially in the struggle for maximizing screen space.
Its a neat idea anyway.
Danny
Its a neat idea anyway.
Danny
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
you mean "view formatted" right (command-E)? I think this would work (it would be nice if the command-E would work in the List view). Now could a Notes field be added to that, with an "update" button? And, could you have more than one of those open if you wanted? This would be really cool!
It works nicely in that the view formatted box does not bring all of Bookends to the front when you are looking at it.
It works nicely in that the view formatted box does not bring all of Bookends to the front when you are looking at it.
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
danzac wrote:you mean "view formatted" right (command-E)? I think this would work (it would be nice if the command-E would work in the List view).
It does.
No, this is read-only. It's to address the ability to refer to one reference while adding/editing another. The Info Drawer will work for Notes.Now could a Notes field be added to that, with an "update" button? And, could you have more than one of those open if you wanted? This would be really cool!
I'm not sure you understand what I'm getting at. Open the reference window and press Command-E. I'm suggesting that *that* window can remain open and showing a single reference (when locked). Right now it stays open, but updates when a new reference is shown.It works nicely in that the view formatted box does not bring all of Bookends to the front when you are looking at it.
Jon
Sonny Software
oh, okay. misunderstood you- or you misunderstood me, or whatever. I thought we were still addressing aechallu's sticky note idea, and he definitely does not seem to be asking for just a read-only mini-window, but something small to take notes on. I definitely share his desire. We work so much with PDF sources now, it is a pain to flip back and forth between Bookends (either view) and Preview to take notes. If this 'read-only' window could add notes to the ref, that'd be great.
sorry for the misunderstanding
sorry for the misunderstanding
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
People are asking for different things, and it doesn't help that this thread has kind of gotten OT.
What's wrong with using the Info Drawer for this? Set it to Notes, and take notes to your hearts content. If positioned properly, while in Preview it would act just like a window belonging to Preview.
Jon
Sonny Software
What's wrong with using the Info Drawer for this? Set it to Notes, and take notes to your hearts content. If positioned properly, while in Preview it would act just like a window belonging to Preview.
Jon
Sonny Software
Sorry, I was not intending to overtake the thread. I was just piggybacking off of an earlier comment on this thread.
But, regarding your option to align the notes from the info drawer with preview- the obvious difference is it is still one or the other. Once I type notes in the setup you are suggesting, BE comes to the front and I can no longer see my article. A small stickynotes style view would not do this.
No biggie, not a major request just a very neat feature idea. Sorry abou the takeover- but it wasn't hostile
btw aechallu, if you are a DEVONThink user, they have a little widget called Devonjot that you may like to try and use. It isn't as handy as what you are suggesting here, but may help you out.
But, regarding your option to align the notes from the info drawer with preview- the obvious difference is it is still one or the other. Once I type notes in the setup you are suggesting, BE comes to the front and I can no longer see my article. A small stickynotes style view would not do this.
No biggie, not a major request just a very neat feature idea. Sorry abou the takeover- but it wasn't hostile
btw aechallu, if you are a DEVONThink user, they have a little widget called Devonjot that you may like to try and use. It isn't as handy as what you are suggesting here, but may help you out.
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
Hi Danny,
I didn't mean to imply you had hijacked the thread -- it was a community effort.
Although it is possible to force a floating window that would stay in front when other apps are used, I think this would be a mistake, interface-wise. It would also suffer from the problem that the floating window would inevitably get in the way of the other windows and you'd end up shuffling it around. I think it's better to simply have the Bookends Notes field act like any other window. You know that in OS X when you click on a window it does *not* bring the entire application to the front, right? So the Bookends Info Drawer Notes field would act just as if it were a window in Preview. I just tried this, and it works quite well, IMO.
Jon
Sonny Software
I didn't mean to imply you had hijacked the thread -- it was a community effort.
Although it is possible to force a floating window that would stay in front when other apps are used, I think this would be a mistake, interface-wise. It would also suffer from the problem that the floating window would inevitably get in the way of the other windows and you'd end up shuffling it around. I think it's better to simply have the Bookends Notes field act like any other window. You know that in OS X when you click on a window it does *not* bring the entire application to the front, right? So the Bookends Info Drawer Notes field would act just as if it were a window in Preview. I just tried this, and it works quite well, IMO.
Jon
Sonny Software
i agree with you Jon, having a window always in front is not a great idea, but the little window thing is okay.
But I must admit I am thoroughly confused now. Are you saying you can type in your notes field in the info drawer while still viewing a text in preview? As soon as I click on my notes, my whole list view window comes to the front, thus covering Preview. Isn't the info drawer always connected to the ListView window?
Danny
But I must admit I am thoroughly confused now. Are you saying you can type in your notes field in the info drawer while still viewing a text in preview? As soon as I click on my notes, my whole list view window comes to the front, thus covering Preview. Isn't the info drawer always connected to the ListView window?
Danny
~I swore to myself that if I ever got to walk around the room as manager people would laugh as they saw me coming and applaud as I walked away~
Yes, but do what I did. First, in Preferences tell Bookends to open the Info Drawer on the side that has more room. Then position your Preview window to one side of the screen and the Bookends List View to the other. Then open the Info Drawer.
In my case, the Preview window is on the left and the Notes drawer is on the right (the rest of the List View is mostly off-screen to the right -- only a little bit shows, enough to see what article/book is selected).
I can click back and forth, bringing the Preview window to the front or the Notes drawer (and the little bit of the of the List View window that is visible) to the front.
Jon
Sonny Software
In my case, the Preview window is on the left and the Notes drawer is on the right (the rest of the List View is mostly off-screen to the right -- only a little bit shows, enough to see what article/book is selected).
I can click back and forth, bringing the Preview window to the front or the Notes drawer (and the little bit of the of the List View window that is visible) to the front.
Jon
Sonny Software