Getting software to work together
Posted by 100341.2151
on 2/2/2006
100341.2151
2/2/2006 4:16 pm
Recently I have spent more time than I care to count on trying to get software to work properly with other programs, or with files generated by other programs.
First, it was trying to get Papyrus (DOS) to work properly in Windows XP; then it was getting TotalCommander (file manager) to scroll through and display a range of file types - pdf, gif, doc, rtf, htm, mht - fullscreen. And, most recently - an ongoing problem - trying to get Zoot, and Word 2003 to make use of the address hyperlinks that ContentSaver offers as a way of accessing and displaying files saved to its database.
It is probably unreasonable to expect some of these goals (e.g., the Papyrus one) to be achievable. But, as Graham has pointed out, being able to browse through a list of various types of file is an essential part of research activity. It is also important to be able to do so without having first to save the files in question into a 'container' database, as this tends to restrict further access to the data by indexed search engines. Hence the TotalCommander project...
Lastly, I was naively encouraged by the similarities between Zoot's and ContentSaver(CS)'s three-pane display to think that it might be useful if CS could be used as a container for project files that Zoot could not itself display - htm, pdf, gif, doc, and rtf files, for example. Of course, Zoot has its own way of linking to external files in the Windows folder/file system, and displaying them by invoking their original programs. But ContentSaver seemed a tidier and potentially quicker way of assembling, organising and displaying specific project data. The downside is that a duplicate set of files needs to be kept outside CS so that indexed searches can be performed - although, in fact, programs like dtSearch can index and display CS's htm and mht files.
Only the TotalCommander project has worked out satisfactorily due, mainly, to help from its lively and excellent forum members. The CS project works for htm, txt and gif files but not for doc, rtf or pdf ones, so far. (Incidentally, CS and Ultra Recall work flawlessly together using CS's address hyperlinks, but this is an answer to someone else's problem.)
Next comes the issue of references and whether I can do more than just keep parallel lists of references in Zoot and whatever bibliographic program I decide to work with, or whether I can find a way of avoiding this duplication - and get some added value, too. So far this does not look too hopeful...
Somewhat discouraging maybe, but - looking on the bright side - it I'm beginning to think that CRIMP may be a self-limiting affliction.
Derek
First, it was trying to get Papyrus (DOS) to work properly in Windows XP; then it was getting TotalCommander (file manager) to scroll through and display a range of file types - pdf, gif, doc, rtf, htm, mht - fullscreen. And, most recently - an ongoing problem - trying to get Zoot, and Word 2003 to make use of the address hyperlinks that ContentSaver offers as a way of accessing and displaying files saved to its database.
It is probably unreasonable to expect some of these goals (e.g., the Papyrus one) to be achievable. But, as Graham has pointed out, being able to browse through a list of various types of file is an essential part of research activity. It is also important to be able to do so without having first to save the files in question into a 'container' database, as this tends to restrict further access to the data by indexed search engines. Hence the TotalCommander project...
Lastly, I was naively encouraged by the similarities between Zoot's and ContentSaver(CS)'s three-pane display to think that it might be useful if CS could be used as a container for project files that Zoot could not itself display - htm, pdf, gif, doc, and rtf files, for example. Of course, Zoot has its own way of linking to external files in the Windows folder/file system, and displaying them by invoking their original programs. But ContentSaver seemed a tidier and potentially quicker way of assembling, organising and displaying specific project data. The downside is that a duplicate set of files needs to be kept outside CS so that indexed searches can be performed - although, in fact, programs like dtSearch can index and display CS's htm and mht files.
Only the TotalCommander project has worked out satisfactorily due, mainly, to help from its lively and excellent forum members. The CS project works for htm, txt and gif files but not for doc, rtf or pdf ones, so far. (Incidentally, CS and Ultra Recall work flawlessly together using CS's address hyperlinks, but this is an answer to someone else's problem.)
Next comes the issue of references and whether I can do more than just keep parallel lists of references in Zoot and whatever bibliographic program I decide to work with, or whether I can find a way of avoiding this duplication - and get some added value, too. So far this does not look too hopeful...
Somewhat discouraging maybe, but - looking on the bright side - it I'm beginning to think that CRIMP may be a self-limiting affliction.
Derek
graham.smith
2/2/2006 6:50 pm
I have spent more time than I care to count on trying to get software >to work properly with other programs, or with files generated by other >programs.
Why does this sound familiar :-(
A couple of comments:
Have you looked at FileNotes http://www.filenotes.com/fno_home
However, I have sneaking suspician that I have mentioned this before, this is a excellent mix of File Manager and document manager, reads just about anything and allows you to set up virtual folders for related files.
The other suggestion is that with Biblioscape and Library Master, the citation tag is plain text, so you can drop that into a Zoot field, add notes etc to the record in Zoot and then Zoot the citation tag into Word, with biblioscape or Library Master then used to create the bibliography inside Word.
Graham
subs
2/7/2006 3:00 pm
Graham, Thanks for the reply. Good to see you've looked at it and know we exist.
Derek. That wasn't meant to be an exhaustive comparison with CS and is likely biased, but hopefully of some value.
FYI Surfulater V1.95.0.0 has just been released. New features in this release include the ability to copy or move folders and articles across Knowledge Bases, Expand and Collapse the entire tree or just a branch, only show Articles for the current Folder and more.
Available from http://www.surfulater.com
Derek. That wasn't meant to be an exhaustive comparison with CS and is likely biased, but hopefully of some value.
FYI Surfulater V1.95.0.0 has just been released. New features in this release include the ability to copy or move folders and articles across Knowledge Bases, Expand and Collapse the entire tree or just a branch, only show Articles for the current Folder and more.
Available from http://www.surfulater.com
subs
2/8/2006 6:37 pm
but hardly any ad-ons work with Opera.
I spent weeks looking at getting Surfulater to work with Opera and in the end gave up. They have Opera so tightly closed up that ad-ons aren't really feasible. Further they don't seem to be responsive to folks like me.