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One text file/outline/mind map/tinderbox to rule them all?
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Posted by Ruud Hein
Dec 29, 2017 at 04:25 PM
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.
Posted by satis
Jan 1, 2018 at 01:55 PM
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.
Posted by steveylang
Jan 9, 2018 at 12:32 AM
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.
Posted by ikandi
Jan 14, 2018 at 07:56 PM
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.
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Jan 14, 2018 at 08:33 PM
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!