Re: Best PC-compatible outlining programs?

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

Outliners.com Message ID: 611

Posted by dmason
2000-06-02 11:00:48

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

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