I've just been wondering what the current state of the art outlining application is. It seems there has been no real innovation in this area in a while. That isn't to say that there are not a lot of terrific programs available, just that I haven't seen anything new that impresses me. On the Mac, the "state of the art" might be considered OmniOutliner or Neo. Both of these programs are solid, full-featured applications, but neither has really advanced the notion of what an outliner can do. For Windows... well, I don't know what would be considered the "state of the art." InfoQube perhaps. Noteliner is a great program, but it gets there mostly be being stripped down (though, it is gaining features with each new release). I'm eager to investigate the upcoming version of ConnectedText, but CT is really a wiki desktop and not an outliner.

So, I am curious to read comments from this group about which applications they see as the current state of the art in outlining. Anyone?

Steve Z.

Stephen Zeoli wrote:

curious to read comments from this group about which applications they see as the
current state of the art in outlining. Anyone?

Piggydb is an excellent candidate. Learned about it right here and have used it since February after years of crimping and compromise. Multi-parent recursive relationships and it uses a browser interface so you can tinker with the style sheets, split the windows, etc. Free and open source, version 5.0 just out at piggydb.net .

Other than InfoQube, maybe Mindsystems Amode. It seems like the only fairly new outliner with a newer UI and lots of advanced features - and ongoing development.

I think we shouldn't limit this question to individual software or platform only. I'd be more interested in constellations or assemblages of software and hardware across platform (including online) that serves the task of writing the best. So I'd be more interested in the state of the art workflow of information collection, analysis, organisation, outlining, and writing and the associated tools.

I'd suspect that the state of the art would involve the ability to capture information across platforms but especially using mobile devices that communicate with each other via the cloud. There would also be an online solution to manipulate the information in the cloud, which then could be downloaded and imported into further information processing and outlining software on a desktop computer. But it wouldn't have to be this linear. I could imagine doing most of this on a tablet or moving pieces of writing back and forth.

I'm experimenting with assembling something like the above by using Notebooks for iPad and iPhone, CarbonFin Outliner and iA Writer, using Dropbox for syncing. CarbonFin has an online outliner as well, from which I can export OPML and import into Natara Bonsai for outlining. I also use Whizfolders for capturing and organising info into outlines and Surfulater for webpages, SmartDraw for charting ideas, CMap tools for quick brainstorming and MS Word for writing. Am I happy about this arrangement? Not really.

I believe that, like most maturing technologies, the outlining approach advances and expands its user base through three main areas or levels of application:

1. Basic functionality: integration, in a simplified form, in popular tools. Examples: Gmail threads, file managers (folder navigation), task and project management tools.
2. Advanced functionality: application in specialised tools where outlining itself provides the competitive advantage. Examples: writers' tools.
3. 'Transposed' functionality: taking the concept to a new level or dimension(s). Examples: Treesheets, zoomable interfaces, some datamining applications.

Within this context, there are various 'states of the art' depending on the area one is interested in. In 1, one may not find much innovation, other than the application in a novel territory. In 2, I am quite impressed by the evolution of Sense. In 3, Treesheets represents the way to go IMHO, with extremely powerful possibilities for development.

Sense looks interesting and I'd buy it except for the fact that the U.S. price is far higher than the British price, even after taking the exchange rate into account: 12 Pounds = $19.15.

I have been very impressed with Sense. It really does something that I have been looking for for some time. In addition I have found remarkable support from the developer. He has a great vision and listens and reacts to ideas and recommendations. I asked about improved "style" support for export to word and he is hard at work on new capabilities.

Charles

Org-Mode is continuously developing in both core program and community mods and probably represents the most comprehensive and flexible and high-performance program in the outlining class... IF you can stomach a text interface and Emacs environment. Power comes at a price.

JJSlote wrote:

Piggydb is an excellent candidate. Learned about it right here and have
used it since February after years of crimping and compromise. Multi-parent
recursive relationships and it uses a browser interface so you can tinker with the
style sheets, split the windows, etc. Free and open source, version 5.0 just out at
piggydb.net .

PiggyDB is different and interesting. I had tried out version 4 - will see what's new in version 5.