Re: Vitally needed functions

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Note: This message is from the outliners.com archive kindly provided by Dave Winer.

Outliners.com Message ID: 2020

Posted by zeoli
2004-07-08 22:18:25

Once again, I think we’re talking about two different types of software: 1. True outlining programs like NoteMap and GrandView, for instance; and 2. Free-form databases with a hierarchical structure. Comparing NoteMap to TreePad is kind of like comparing a Excel with Access… yes, you can achieve some of the same results, but the programs are designed for different purposes.

A true outliner needs these function:

a. the full editing ability of a full-featured word processor

b. complete transparency as you jot ideas, sketch an article, structure a lecture; that is, you don’t have to think about the program, you just have to think about your words and you can move your topics and sub-topics and paragraphs around almost instantly with a minimum of keystrokes or mouse clicks

c. easy export in a variety of formats for use in other software, such as word processors, and presentation programs

A free-form database program needs these functions:

a. easy acquirement of information from any source

b. the ability to categorize this information in numerous ways (hierarchically, keywords, indexing, priority, dates, RTF text formatting, other meta data)

c. the ability to shuffle this information in numerous ways (moving around the tree-structure, creating hyperlinks, sorting, filtering…)

d. the ability to easily and quickly retrieve the information you need

e. the ability to quickly and easily extract the information for use in other programs

I’m sure there are other features that are also necessary, but what I’m trying to say is that I don’t think any piece of software can really do both these jobs perfectly—GrandView came close. Maybe someday, someone will make it possible to perform the functions of NoteMap within an article in a program like Jot or TreePad… seems a lot to ask for, but we can dream!

Steve Z.

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