Bonsai outlines on iPad
Started by Dr Andus
on 3/30/2011
Dr Andus
3/30/2011 11:15 pm
Another reason to love Natara Bonsai: I've just found out that there is a way to get Bonsai outlines on the iPad! I'm excited about this as I was about to drag both my iPad and my netbook on a business trip tomorrow just because I needed to be able to manipulate a large Bonsai outline at a meeting. It turns out Carbonfin Outliner on iPad (http://carbonfin.com/index.html provides a little utility which allows you to export Bonsai OTL files as OPML files, which you can import into the iPad via Carbonfin's website and then sync with the iPad. I've just done it and I'm a very happy camper as I don't need to drag my netbook around in my backpack all day tomorrow.
Here are the instructions (it took me less then 5 min to set it up, it's very easy):
http://www.natarasoftware.com/forums/index.php/topic/7001-use-bonsai-with-ipad-is-easy/
Here are the instructions (it took me less then 5 min to set it up, it's very easy):
http://www.natarasoftware.com/forums/index.php/topic/7001-use-bonsai-with-ipad-is-easy/
Alexander Deliyannis
3/31/2011 7:37 am
Can Bonsai export tab-indented text outlines? Then you should be able to use its outlines with quite a bunch of programs, including mind mappers. I read that it can import but not export OPML which is the other popular outline format.
Dr Andus
3/31/2011 11:03 pm
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
It can export CSV, txt, HTML, XML, Bonsai Palm OS, MPX and RTF.
Carbonfin provides an add-on file now which adds OPML export to the Bonsai file menu. So the process with the iPad goes like this:
1. export Bonsai file as OPML on the PC.
2. log on to Carbonfin website and import OPML file.
3. hit the sync button in Carbonfin Outliner in the iPad.
Can Bonsai export tab-indented text outlines? Then you should be able to use its
outlines with quite a bunch of programs, including mind mappers.
It can export CSV, txt, HTML, XML, Bonsai Palm OS, MPX and RTF.
I read that it can
import but not export OPML which is the other popular outline format.
Carbonfin provides an add-on file now which adds OPML export to the Bonsai file menu. So the process with the iPad goes like this:
1. export Bonsai file as OPML on the PC.
2. log on to Carbonfin website and import OPML file.
3. hit the sync button in Carbonfin Outliner in the iPad.
Dr Andus
4/1/2011 2:19 pm
Actually this thread should have been about Carbonfin Outliner (http://carbonfin.com/index.html instead, as it's turning out to be a capable outliner on the iPad. I've been looking for an outliner for a couple of months now but there are only a handful in the App Store and none of them seemed convincing. However, the Bonsai import feature just did the trick and nudged me towards buying it and I'm not regretting it. Carbonfin Outliner is rapidly emerging as my main tool now for capturing ideas for writing.
I was already happy with iPod Touch/iPad's native Notes app that syncs with Gmail for capturing ideas on the go, however it lacks any tagging or hierarchical organisation. With Carbonfin Outliner however I can start slotting ideas straight into a hierarchical structure without needing to turn on the PC. There is also an online outliner companion (https://cfoutliner.appspot.com/ which is basically a cloud solution, for backing up the iPad and interfacing with the desktop, although it can also create new outlines and edit them.
In terms of features the iPad app has pretty much everything I need (except hoisting and colour-coding hierarchies). The files can be tagged and searched. Items can be numbered and can have tick boxes, and can be annotated. Items can be indented, moved around, and there are several options for making the notes more or less visible. You can also search within an outline.
I was already happy with iPod Touch/iPad's native Notes app that syncs with Gmail for capturing ideas on the go, however it lacks any tagging or hierarchical organisation. With Carbonfin Outliner however I can start slotting ideas straight into a hierarchical structure without needing to turn on the PC. There is also an online outliner companion (https://cfoutliner.appspot.com/ which is basically a cloud solution, for backing up the iPad and interfacing with the desktop, although it can also create new outlines and edit them.
In terms of features the iPad app has pretty much everything I need (except hoisting and colour-coding hierarchies). The files can be tagged and searched. Items can be numbered and can have tick boxes, and can be annotated. Items can be indented, moved around, and there are several options for making the notes more or less visible. You can also search within an outline.
MadaboutDana
4/1/2011 4:09 pm
You're right - your previous post encouraged me to go away and look at it, and I immediately bought it for my iPhone! Sad or wot?! It's a nice little app, and probably even better on the iPad (that's on my list, believe me...!). Just a shame it hasn't got a direct desktop equivalent, but then, the iPad appears to be bypassing desktops in a totally unexpected, unprecedented way (my daughter, who's just been given one for her 18th birthday, has started writing her essays on the thing! This despite the fact she already has a MacBook! Isn't that interesting?).
Carbonfin has got many of the attributes of Bonsai, ThoughtManager and ListPro, but has kept its features very streamlined and logical. The only thing I personally miss is rich-text editing (which ListPro does offer - on the desktop), but it's not a major issue - on the iPhone you don't notice it. The OPML support is very welcome, although OPML support is nowhere near as widespread as it should be (given that it's really only a subset of XML).
Cheers,
Bill
Carbonfin has got many of the attributes of Bonsai, ThoughtManager and ListPro, but has kept its features very streamlined and logical. The only thing I personally miss is rich-text editing (which ListPro does offer - on the desktop), but it's not a major issue - on the iPhone you don't notice it. The OPML support is very welcome, although OPML support is nowhere near as widespread as it should be (given that it's really only a subset of XML).
Cheers,
Bill
Dr Andus
4/2/2011 1:06 pm
MadaboutDana wrote:
I saw from online reviews that another reason people like CarboFin's OPML output is because apparently it imports nicely into Scrivener ("(a single OPML document will be imported as several documents, retaining the hierarchical structure of the outliner)." Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be possible with Scrivener's Windows beta version yet.
The OPML support is very welcome, although OPML support is
nowhere near as widespread as it should be (given that it's really only a subset of
XML).
I saw from online reviews that another reason people like CarboFin's OPML output is because apparently it imports nicely into Scrivener ("(a single OPML document will be imported as several documents, retaining the hierarchical structure of the outliner)." Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be possible with Scrivener's Windows beta version yet.
Ken
7/14/2011 12:24 am
Dr Andus wrote:
Two questions, if I may? first, can you elaborate more on how you were able to get the native Notes app to sync with Gmail? Second, have you considered Notebooks for iPad that Bill has mentioned in previous posts? I am still looking at these, as well as GQueus and Apple's Numbers, for outlines and lists that can easily be passed back and forth among platforms/programs (Windows and Android). Any comments or advice are appreciated.
Thanks,
--Ken
I was already happy with iPod Touch/iPad's native
Notes app that syncs with Gmail for capturing ideas on the go, however it lacks any
tagging or hierarchical organisation. With Carbonfin Outliner however I can start
slotting ideas straight into a hierarchical structure without needing to turn on the
PC. There is also an online outliner companion
(https://cfoutliner.appspot.com/ which is basically a cloud solution, for
backing up the iPad and interfacing with the desktop, although it can also create new
outlines and edit them.
Two questions, if I may? first, can you elaborate more on how you were able to get the native Notes app to sync with Gmail? Second, have you considered Notebooks for iPad that Bill has mentioned in previous posts? I am still looking at these, as well as GQueus and Apple's Numbers, for outlines and lists that can easily be passed back and forth among platforms/programs (Windows and Android). Any comments or advice are appreciated.
Thanks,
--Ken
Dr Andus
7/14/2011 11:47 am
Ken wrote:
Funnily enough I discovered accidentally that iPad Notes syncs with Gmail. Once I looked under the Notes label in my Gmail and all my iPod Touch and iPod notes were there! I imagine it was set up automatically when I set up my Gmail on my iPod and iPad. The somewhat blandly named Notebook for iPad (which might be confused with the native Notes app in iPad) looks excellent indeed. But I haven't made the plunge yet because I still like the Gmail sync (between the iPad and iPad and the Gmail cloud) from where I can easily copy and paste into other desktop applications such as Whizfolders, where I can turn the notes into a hierarchical outline. I might change my mind once I have hundreds or thousands of notes and organising them into categories might be more pressing. I continue to like CarbonFin for outlining but I ended up not using it as a note-taking app as it's just easier to write things in Notes.
Dr Andus wrote:
Two
questions, if I may? first, can you elaborate more on how you were able to get the native
Notes app to sync with Gmail? Second, have you considered Notebooks for iPad that Bill
has mentioned in previous posts?
Funnily enough I discovered accidentally that iPad Notes syncs with Gmail. Once I looked under the Notes label in my Gmail and all my iPod Touch and iPod notes were there! I imagine it was set up automatically when I set up my Gmail on my iPod and iPad. The somewhat blandly named Notebook for iPad (which might be confused with the native Notes app in iPad) looks excellent indeed. But I haven't made the plunge yet because I still like the Gmail sync (between the iPad and iPad and the Gmail cloud) from where I can easily copy and paste into other desktop applications such as Whizfolders, where I can turn the notes into a hierarchical outline. I might change my mind once I have hundreds or thousands of notes and organising them into categories might be more pressing. I continue to like CarbonFin for outlining but I ended up not using it as a note-taking app as it's just easier to write things in Notes.