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Using a PIM to catalog files and folders
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Posted by Pavi
Jun 13, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Hi Andus,
I am looking into ConnectedText (again!). Is it possible to auto-update the list of files in each folder? By this I mean will new files be visible in a given folder if dropped in after folder creation?
Also is web import supported, or only web-linking?
Thanks, /Pavi
Dr Andus wrote:
>You can also do this in ConnectedText. In the edit view you can build whatever
>hierarchy you like (5 levels deep) using headings (so this would be your new “folder”
>organisation (which can be viewed as a left pane, if you select to have the “Table of
>Contents” pane docked on the left), and into the hierarchy you can drag and drop
>folders or files. When you switch to the “view” mode, you would have the two-pane
>effect. In addition a “files” window can also be docked e.g. on the right, so you would
>have a list of all the files in a third pane.
>
>Originally I thought I would be using
>UltraRecall for this sort of thing but there are several advantages doing this in CT.
>First, you will be able to see the contents of all the “folders” in a single page (if by
>“folders” we mean the new headings). Also, it is easy to rearrange the hierarchy (cut
>and paste or select and drag text). Finally, you can annotate any “folder” or the
>target folders and files directly inside their “folder” (heading), and it is all
>displayed in a flat view, i.e. everything is always visible (as opposed to other
>two-pane PIM where you can only see the contents of the folder you had clicked
>on).
>
>For me the the flat view and the ability to annotate things directly and in an
>unlimited way are the main attraction, as they allow for a meaningful processing and
>analysis of the folders and files, which is the main purpose of the exercise in the
>end.
>
>Another cool feature is the ability to chop up a document (e.g. a long list of
>folders and files as described above) and sink them into the background by packing
>them away into new documents to which only a hyperlink remains (which is another way to
>simplify a complex hierarchy, if the list gets too big).
Posted by Dr Andus
Jun 13, 2012 at 01:11 PM
Pavi wrote:
>Hi Andus,
>I am looking into ConnectedText (again!). Is it possible to auto-update
>the list of files in each folder? By this I mean will new files be visible in a given
>folder if dropped in after folder creation?
Not in the example I have given. The “folders” I was talking about are not really folders. They are just headings within a single document which can be used to thematically organise links to folders and files that can be dragged and dropped into the document. And these headings are limited to 5 levels. So my example is more suitable for thematic analysis and organisation of the contents of a directory where you are not planning to add any new files or folders. It’s kind of the final step of analysing a specific project and its related folders and files.
>Also is web import supported, or only
>web-linking?
In my example it’s only linking. However, I’m still a relative newbie with CT, so there might be other solutions I’m not aware of. However, for the process you describe, CT is probably not the right tool for.
Posted by Dr Andus
Jun 13, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Dr Andus wrote:
So my example is more suitable for thematic analysis
>and organisation of the contents of a directory where you are not planning to add any
>new files or folders. It’s kind of the final step of analysing a specific project and
>its related folders and files.
Another way to put this: if you have a folder directory with hundreds of folders and files, CT can be used to thematically organise and analyse (annotate) them (by dragging and dropping them) in a single document view (which is further aided by some additional panes, such as the Table of Contents and the Files pane). I’m talking about a qualitative analysis process. Once you have organised them into various themes using the sub-headings, the single document can be broken up into multiple documents, all hyperlinked to the original document, thus creating another form of hierarchy (a node with multiple linked documents).
Posted by Dr Andus
Jun 13, 2012 at 01:26 PM
Dr Andus wrote:
>Another way to put this: if you have a folder directory
>with hundreds of folders and files, CT can be used to thematically organise and
>analyse (annotate) them (by dragging and dropping them) in a single document view
>(which is further aided by some additional panes, such as the Table of Contents and the
>Files pane). I’m talking about a qualitative analysis process. Once you have
>organised them into various themes using the sub-headings, the single document can
>be broken up into multiple documents, all hyperlinked to the original document, thus
>creating another form of hierarchy (a node with multiple linked documents).
This is only useful of course if you have a specific objective as to why you want to analyse the contents of those folders and annotate the files, such as when organising and evaluating research materials stored in a directory, with the view of wanting to say something about them (such as writing a report etc.).
Posted by Pavi
Jun 14, 2012 at 07:32 AM
Dr. Andus,
Thanks for the detailed replies. I am really amazed with the power of Connectedtext as you describe it. I have demoing recently - the ability to drag a page, topic or category from any open database to an outline, and export that outline, is actually quite insane!
I am not sure how to consolidate my research, since I have many pdfs and webpages, not to mention files. These would probably be better suited to TreeProjects, using a standard tree format, as storing them with revisions is desirable as are automatically imported folders (special folders). However, I am completed fascinated by the possibilities of organizing more “free form” in CT. Is there any way to store files in the TreeProjects database, and access them (export?) in CT, I wonder?
Right now, Ultra Recall offers a good blend of techniques, and I can manage all my requirements from it, with some limitations. Moving to leverage the capabilities of other programs might help my overall workflow, though.
Best, /Pavi
Dr Andus wrote:
>
>This is only useful of course if you have a specific objective as to why you want to
>analyse the contents of those folders and annotate the files, such as when organising
>and evaluating research materials stored in a directory, with the view of wanting to
>say something about them (such as writing a report etc.).