Best PC-compatible outlining programs?
Posted by fjnuzzi
on 6/1/2000
fjnuzzi
6/1/2000 7:44 pm
Can anyone recommend the "best" PC-compatible outlining program? Possible choices might be MS Word, MaxThink, PC-Outline.
parkie
6/2/2000 12:46 am
Dear Mr Nuzzi,
Probably Think-tank right now, but the new windows edition of PC Outline is, judging by the comments of some of the beta testers, looking promising.
Yours,
Peter Parkinson, whistling happily.
Ciphertech Ltd
Probably Think-tank right now, but the new windows edition of PC Outline is, judging by the comments of some of the beta testers, looking promising.
Yours,
Peter Parkinson, whistling happily.
Ciphertech Ltd
dmason
6/2/2000 11:00 am
One important criterion would be support of a nexus file format for moving outlines around between different outliners and even different platforms. Dot-Head files are the main nexus candidate I'm aware of. These seem to be Think Tank's native format. Additionally PC-Outline for DOS can export these and the Windows version of PC-Outline -- which is in late development and early beta testing -- has committed to supporting these as well.
I think another only slightly more futuristic criterion would be the ability to move outlines back and forth between desktop computers and palmtops.
Going beyond the question, generally much more needs to be done to universalize the outline paradigm as a replacement for flat text files. Potentially they are the key to moving toward paperless-ness.
A computerized book replacement that only displays flat pages is still inferior to a book in so many ways, yet if content is presented as a skillfully done outline, computerization suddenly adds tremendous value by structuring content. Information-dense text such as textbooks, repair manuals, computer reference materials, administrative procedure manuals, financial reports and encyclopedias might greatly benefit from reworking as outlines. Just as the novel developed from flat text pages, there is undoubtedly literary or artistic potential in outlines. However everything depends on a great deal of additional missionary work to pave the way for their wider acceptance.
Outlines need access to graphics, sound files and video clips. Ways to work collaboratively on outlines need to be found. Ways to present outlines over the .WWW need to be developed.
- Dave Mason
I think another only slightly more futuristic criterion would be the ability to move outlines back and forth between desktop computers and palmtops.
Going beyond the question, generally much more needs to be done to universalize the outline paradigm as a replacement for flat text files. Potentially they are the key to moving toward paperless-ness.
A computerized book replacement that only displays flat pages is still inferior to a book in so many ways, yet if content is presented as a skillfully done outline, computerization suddenly adds tremendous value by structuring content. Information-dense text such as textbooks, repair manuals, computer reference materials, administrative procedure manuals, financial reports and encyclopedias might greatly benefit from reworking as outlines. Just as the novel developed from flat text pages, there is undoubtedly literary or artistic potential in outlines. However everything depends on a great deal of additional missionary work to pave the way for their wider acceptance.
Outlines need access to graphics, sound files and video clips. Ways to work collaboratively on outlines need to be found. Ways to present outlines over the .WWW need to be developed.
- Dave Mason
n.lowe
6/2/2000 5:56 pm
Surely has to be Inspiration. 30-day demo and good tutorial from http://www.inspiration.com
dersot
12/1/2000 6:27 pm
Sorry if this question doesn't exactly pertain to outlining but I am looking for an equivalent in Windows of the Macintosh shareware EZNote for text clipping by John Holder. Could Info Select be the best candidate?
Thank you.
Lionel Dersot
Thank you.
Lionel Dersot
asidfsc
12/7/2000 11:47 am
Hello members of the discuss.outliners.com community!
I'm surprised that no one in this community has mentioned NDMA's HyPerform. Though the software is not actively marketed, it has been available since 1994. It takes the concept of outlining to a whole new level of sophistication. It is actually more of a thinking tool than a mere outliner. I tried a demo version of it back in 1994. Felt it was a little beyond my ability then. Now I want to take another look. For more information, check out www.ndma.com/ I believe that there is a downloadable demo version available.
Peter Lorenz
I'm surprised that no one in this community has mentioned NDMA's HyPerform. Though the software is not actively marketed, it has been available since 1994. It takes the concept of outlining to a whole new level of sophistication. It is actually more of a thinking tool than a mere outliner. I tried a demo version of it back in 1994. Felt it was a little beyond my ability then. Now I want to take another look. For more information, check out www.ndma.com/ I believe that there is a downloadable demo version available.
Peter Lorenz