Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for you? Positives/negatives?

They seek it here, they seek it there. The Holy Schmoley and Holy of Holies, the software whose name can't be uttered, does it exist? It exists. Muhaahaa :D

No.

Although Scrivener comes pretty damn close.

Happy New Year!
Bill

I don't use a single file, but in a sense TheBrain uses a single file -- e.g., Jerry Michalski's famous file using The Brain, which claims to have 340,000 "thoughts" (or notes) to date.

https://sites.google.com/view/jerrysbrain/home

I've tried using big files in the past and found the effort to curate the file over time outweighed any benefit.

kjxymzy wrote:

Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for
you? Positives/negatives?

kjxymzy wrote:

Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for
you? Positives/negatives?

This is what WorkFlowy is. It works very well for me. Key advantages are the ability to quickly move around and find things, including tagged items, zooming in and out (hoisting), the export options, the nightly automatic backups to Dropbox, and the various Chrome extensions and Stylish/Stylus CSS enhancements. Also, each outline item has its own URL, which allows for some cross-linking or linking to from external applications.

It runs in a single browser tab, but you can open it in as many tabs as you like, which then gives you multiple access points to different parts of the outline.

It doesn't have any negatives for me, as I accept its limitations.

Another single file app that comes to mind is TiddlyWiki (which I haven't used):

http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/7722/0/tiddlywiki-resurgent

I installed, used for a while and uninstalled TheBrain many a times. IMHO the mega mind mapper was just the usual hype and worse a time killer for me, maybe OK for footnotes/research refs but there are much better specialist in that genre. I used TiddlyWiki a lot until early last year, then like the other wiki maker ConnectedText, I stopped using it. I found a couple of other better wiki makers but have no use any more for general purpose wiki files. More specialized these days, more focused in each tool area.

The OP title is specific, not just one genre, mind-map or just wiki etc, but one that ticks the boxes listed. The tool sought by the thread lists the first 2 requirements as a "text file" app and then an "outline"r etc etc. Interesting to see if there are any candidates proposed that not only will tick all those boxes but are good enough to be "The One". I'm not searching anymore, will be surprised if there is anything new proposed I never heard of. Scrivener plus Scapple comes close, but they are not the one either. I assume to remain on-topic, candidate tools need to tick those genres he listed, presumably. It is in daily and long term usage that one discovers the dark horse, the dirtied golden fleece, the unassuming one.

Dr Andus wrote:

This is what WorkFlowy is. It works very well for me. Key advantages are [...]

It doesn't have any negatives for me, as I accept its limitations.

I like Dr. Andus's approach, in that the more you try push the limitations, the less focused it can be any particular application.

The best thing about using a big single file for your notes is having it all in one place, and the security that if someone better comes along you can export your plain text investment. What that does, is prevent you from taking too seriously the upfront optimization problem of what system to use.

When I wrote Indigrid (freeware for Windows), I wanted to see how far I could take plain text for that reason. Even though it is one big plain text outline, you can open multiple sections of a single big file in different columns. https://innovationdilation.com

But I think what would be most interesting is how I could open it up so that other third parties can extend it, with the only limitation that it must stay plain text, so that you can always have your data grow with you, no matter how many times you outgrow your tools.

The Brain is an interesting thing, and I like the premise. I used it a few years back, and I would probably use it today instead of DevonThink save for one thing - I see too many rough edges in The Brain.

The idea of an arbitrarily large mind map with automatic folding and hoisting is pretty cool.

I use Ultra Recall every day. Everything (web clips, attachments, links, etc.) is in a single file and it is very reliable. MyInfo also meets your criteria and is similar but simpler in my opinion. TheBrain and Scrivener are interesting options too, but the data is kept in multiple files. If you are looking to add scheduling, tasks and notes, there is EssentialPIM. It stores everything in one file. For complex outlines nothing beats InfoQube. Like Ultra Recall, I rely on IQ every day.

Jon

I have no problems with single file apps. I do my whole buisness from a single file, a VMWare disk image file :-)

What is really the showblocker for me to use single apps is the bad or non existing way to automate the notes file processing, especially import/export. A one to rule them all don't need a 100% export but everyone else does. And as long as i can't guarantee this is will not fill one up with all information.

For example i recently bought Curio and i'm very disappointed that as an information drawing tool it does not let me get any access to the visual information.

Mark Nevarrik wrote:

When I wrote Indigrid (freeware for Windows), I wanted to see how far I
could take plain text for that reason. Even though it is one big plain
text outline, you can open multiple sections of a single big file in
different columns. https://innovationdilation.com

Thanks for telling us about Indigrid. I don't have my Windows laptop with me, so couldn't try it yet, but it looks very interesting.

There should be more apps like yours that take full advantage of the landscape screen's horizontal real estate.

Indigrid does look interesting, but within the first few moments of testing it, I ran into three problems:

1. There doesn't appear to be a help file. The Help link leads to a long philosophical article, which might be interesting, but it doesn't explain how to use the software.

2. With software so simple, I didn't think I'd need a help file. But I guess I do. I created a new "column" to the right of the existing (default) column. Everything I write in one column is duplicated in the other column. This can't be correct, as there's no point (that I can see) to this behavior. I want multiple horizontal columns that are able to contain *different* content - content that, ideally, I can drag back and forth between columns.

3. The software threw an error message twice in the short time I used it, then shut down and restarted.

Hi Mark,

Indigrid indeed looks interesting.

A couple of early thoughts after an initial play:

* I closed the column that had my root node. I don't see any way to go back up the tree in a column that is set to some child of arbitrary depth, so now I am trapped in a sub-tree.

* Is the only way to clear the filter to run the filter again with an empty string? I think it would be great to clear a column's filter with the Escape key. Also, I am used to a filtered outline automatically expanding to show the matches, but I can see how not doing so could also be useful at times. Maybe an option? I know, the options dialog is getting rather cluttered.

Great concept, looking forward to watching it mature.

Chris

* I closed the column that had my root node. I don't see any way to go
back up the tree in a column that is set to some child of arbitrary
depth, so now I am trapped in a sub-tree.

I was actually able to use the clever undo to go back to a previous view state that had my root node showing. I still think there should be a way to go up the tree in any column, but - cool.

I had a play with indigrid shortly after being posted here. Crashed on me on exit too, can't remember what/why, no biggie, happens with some big beasts too.

It needs about half a dozen vital functions and interface features that takes it from a nearly non-functional WIP prototype to an innovative and more importantly very useful creature. All should be fast, standard Libs based and fairly easy to code too, given what's already coded. I like the concept and the looks. Hope it keeps going.

One big file? The one todo.txt keeps all notes in one file?

No.

If I would I'd probably use something like Excel so there are filtering options.

Like Paul and Dr Andus mentioned, if you extend the idea to software that keeps things in one location, one database, then yes.

I'm a heavy user of Evernote and software that can work with its ENEX exports such as Joplin (Evernote Markdown) and Nimbus Note (EN clone).

I use TheBrain for visualized, associative data/browsing.

Dynalist is my note taking and thinking places. Think WorkFlowy but on steroids, with an active user community, responsive developers, and enthusiastic ongoing development.

The only time I struggle (or, let's be honest, "struggle") with notes is when my 3 buckets collide: personal notes, work notes, stuff I find interesting.

Evernote has grown to be my personal notes repository with some interesting or noteworthy stuff thrown in. Dynalist is where I keep work *knowledge*, while Nimbus Note is where I keep work related articles.

TheBrain is a bit of personal notes + interesting stuff, but no work.

kjxymzy wrote:

Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for
you? Positives/negatives?

I've tried it but it doesn't work for me because I need to see discrete visual overviews of separate categories, in order to work effectively. A long canonical scrolling file or outline (like ones you could make in Workflowy or Dynalist or OnniOutliner) would have me lose focus the minute the text was scrolled off or the outline section closed. Also, search on my computer/phone/iPad is so good and fast that there's not a lot of advantage in using one file for everything.

But that's just me. When I remodeled my kitchen I replaced kitchen cabinets with open-facing ones so I could see everything at a glance. I found otherwise it was out of sight, out of mind.

Many of my notes are in outliner format: notes to long-form writing, seminar notes, lists for various tasks, ideas. Multiple outline files. I vastly prefer to work in outline format, but not for everything at all times. Sometimes I convert back and forth into mindmaps with MindNode, but usually the outlines themselves are sufficient.

For simple lists I am shocked that I enjoy using Google Keep - little open rectangles of simple lists, notes, and pics. Dead easy to use, available on web as well as all mobile/PC platforms, has a Chrome app for the browser, also has available a Chrome extension for adding items.

For other notes I use discrete files depending on what they are. Apple's free Notes app can be used as a lightweight Evernote replacement (and I know people with thousands of Evernote files who migrated to AN). It's powerful and lightweight on iOS/Mac/iCloud-web, syncs fast, saves a zillion files, includig media files.

Some notes are just text files, either saved to my computer or in Dropbox/iCloud for constant access, depending on need. Some are created and stored in Ulysses, which has its own storage in iCloud for iOS/Mac sync (though files can be accessed and stored anywhere).

Files that need to be secured, (like serial number registration info or Day One pdf archives) are password-protected sparsebundles I access through EagleFiler. Passwords are in my password manager of choice (which hold the passwords to the sparebundles on my Mac too).

I just couldn't imagine using a single file (or robust-enough app) for all the needs I have for files, outlines, protected files, embedded media - and have them available if needed on all my devices, let alone hope that the outliner has the features I need.

I am really looking forward to giving this a whirl, although I am mainly on Mac. I have always wanted a text file outliner similar to what I'm seeing here.

WriteMonkey 3 is looking to do something similar as well, and will be cross-platform. Neither of these are single text file apps, but provide easy access to your library of docs which to me is just as well. I currently use Workflowy the most which is of course 1 big file, but the ability to star and quickly switch between 'pages' is similar to having separate files.

Dr Andus wrote:

Mark Nevarrik wrote:
>When I wrote Indigrid (freeware for Windows), I wanted to see how far I
>could take plain text for that reason. Even though it is one big plain
>text outline, you can open multiple sections of a single big file in
>different columns. https://innovationdilation.com

Thanks for telling us about Indigrid. I don't have my Windows laptop
with me, so couldn't try it yet, but it looks very interesting.

There should be more apps like yours that take full advantage of the
landscape screen's horizontal real estate.

I have used B-Folders for many years. (jointlogic.com).
It is multi-platform, but the best thing about it, is the syncing tool, which is non-cloud, and connects via local IP address.
I'm not a fan of Google services at all, and where possible, simply refuse to use them.

B-Folders is similar in structure to CherryTree, Treepad, KeepNote.. all those hierarchal apps many of us use.
Because B-Folders is Mobile ready, I can carry all my data around in my pocket.
The app is password driven and encrypted, for extra safety.
My one stop shop, in one file.

ikandi wrote:

I have used B-Folders for many years. (jointlogic.com).
It is multi-platform, but the best thing about it, is the syncing tool,
which is non-cloud, and connects via local IP address.

Interesting; B-Folders has been discussed here in the past http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/1903/0/b-folders-2 and I use it myself for specific information but not as a generic PIM.

I wonder how well it scales as items become numerous. In your experience, what is the maximum number of items that it handles with no major delay? I myself haven't used for more than a few hundred.

BTW, welcome to the forum!

The late, lamented, missed-but-not-forgotten, Ecco Pro.

Never been anything like it since.

kjxymzy wrote:

Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for
you? Positives/negatives?

Thx for the suggestion Dr Andus.

Just used Workflowy for collaboration and it saved a bunch of back and forth chatting.

Lovely app.

Dr Andus wrote:

kjxymzy wrote:
Anybody just keep a big single file of your notes? How does it work for
>you? Positives/negatives?

This is what WorkFlowy is. It works very well for me. Key advantages are
the ability to quickly move around and find things, including tagged
items, zooming in and out (hoisting), the export options, the nightly
automatic backups to Dropbox, and the various Chrome extensions and
Stylish/Stylus CSS enhancements. Also, each outline item has its own
URL, which allows for some cross-linking or linking to from external
applications.

It runs in a single browser tab, but you can open it in as many tabs as
you like, which then gives you multiple access points to different parts
of the outline.

It doesn't have any negatives for me, as I accept its limitations.

Another single file app that comes to mind is TiddlyWiki (which I
haven't used):

http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/7722/0/tiddlywiki-resurgent

Any timeline on the Mac release?

I look forward to reading the design philosophy (in my reading queue at the moment).


Mark Nevarrik wrote:

Dr Andus wrote:
>This is what WorkFlowy is. It works very well for me. Key advantages
are [...]
>
>It doesn't have any negatives for me, as I accept its limitations.

I like Dr. Andus's approach, in that the more you try push the
limitations, the less focused it can be any particular application.

The best thing about using a big single file for your notes is having it
all in one place, and the security that if someone better comes along
you can export your plain text investment. What that does, is prevent
you from taking too seriously the upfront optimization problem of what
system to use.

When I wrote Indigrid (freeware for Windows), I wanted to see how far I
could take plain text for that reason. Even though it is one big plain
text outline, you can open multiple sections of a single big file in
different columns. https://innovationdilation.com

But I think what would be most interesting is how I could open it up so
that other third parties can extend it, with the only limitation that it
must stay plain text, so that you can always have your data grow with
you, no matter how many times you outgrow your tools.

I think the title was too glib now, but it at least sparked some interesting discussion and exposure to Indigrid.

I tried doing everything in one mind map (task, reference management, lists, tracking, notes etc) and that got overwhelming.

I've now moved on to having a unifying org system/naming scheme over an array of specialized software. Much smoother.

washere wrote:

I installed, used for a while and uninstalled TheBrain many a times.
IMHO the mega mind mapper was just the usual hype and worse a time
killer for me, maybe OK for footnotes/research refs but there are much
better specialist in that genre. I used TiddlyWiki a lot until early
last year, then like the other wiki maker ConnectedText, I stopped using
it. I found a couple of other better wiki makers but have no use any
more for general purpose wiki files. More specialized these days, more
focused in each tool area.

The OP title is specific, not just one genre, mind-map or just wiki etc,
but one that ticks the boxes listed. The tool sought by the thread lists
the first 2 requirements as a "text file" app and then an "outline"r etc
etc. Interesting to see if there are any candidates proposed that not
only will tick all those boxes but are good enough to be "The One". I'm
not searching anymore, will be surprised if there is anything new
proposed I never heard of. Scrivener plus Scapple comes close, but they
are not the one either. I assume to remain on-topic, candidate tools
need to tick those genres he listed, presumably. It is in daily and long
term usage that one discovers the dark horse, the dirtied golden fleece,
the unassuming one.