NoteBook Discussion Forums: Special Interest Communities

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by Summer Storm Pictures)

Summer Storm Pictures — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:05:05 +0000

To dispense with one comment about me being a “produced screenwriter” that “bestows” me some special privilege, my doing so seemed completely acceptable since this particular thread/topic was for “writers using Notebook.” I was simply trying to put myself in some context so other writers (not lawyers) could see where I was coming from. Nothing more. I expect no medals or knighthood or anything else.

Back to the topic: My overall concerns with CPN have not changed. I still think this is just a confused app with a pretty face. It is inspired from a UI standpoint, but from a usability and intuitive point of view, beauty is only skin-deep.

What did get me wandering back in here is that I finally did find a writer-specific potential for this software—and that is of a “board” of sorts where I can shuffle around and organize notes/stickies in advance of delving into a story. I have yet to find a nice but simple post-it or notecard-type utility that “fits just right” for this task that is visually useful. I’m going to see if CPN might work. Ideally I’d love to have something as simple as the standard Stickies utility that comes with the Mac OS, but as inspired as Apple occasionally is, they abandoned this utility back in the 1990’s.

So, this update is to let anyone interested know that I am trying to use CPN one last time, for the simplest of tasks, a $50 notecard/stickies utility. Maybe it’ll find a place in my work stream…finally…

Some immediate feedback, usability issues and unsolicited suggestions:

FONT: Had to change the default font to a much more readable Noteworthy 14 pt. which displays quite nicely on notes and stickies; is compact, yet big enough to be read and small enough to fit on the default note size.

SHUFFLING: I wish one could move these note elements forward and backwards (behind and in front of one another), but they seem to be preordained. I like to make “piles” of notecards as they accumulate, re-ordering them. I can see this will be a bit of a problem eventually. If anyone knows how to do this, chime in.

STICKY FLAGS: Why do sticky flags display “flag out” off the left side of a notebook but not the right side? This is kind of an obvious UI fail.

TABS: I would actually consider using tabs if they could be displayed on top or on the bottom of a notebook, not just the right side. This would make them much more readable—to me at least. This is why I have stopped using them and use the sticky flags instead.

MOVING: How can I move a note from one page to another? If I drag it off outside, it “poofs” and vaporizes. I’d love this ability especially, perhaps more than anything else.

Now, I’m sure somebody will say “you idiot, of course you can do this” to several of my above points, but why isn’t it intuitive? This is one of my pet peeves about this boutique app—nothing is intuitive or obvious to a long-time Mac (since 1984) user.

Maintaining Outline Format/Numbering Through Out Entire Notebook (by bls13)

bls13 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:06:57 +0000

I use notebook for my law school notes

I do them all on outline format on a note page and like to have the levels numbered a specific way. I use a different page for every day and the problem is, I have to start the new page and re-do the numbering every single morning before class. It is kind of annoying. Is there a way to just maintain the numbering through out the notebook so that I dont have to re-number every page when I start a new one? I would like it to just to carry over through out the notebook

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by DeepYogurt)

DeepYogurt — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:04:42 +0000

Linda – have you tried setting the “To Conform to selected paper size” option in the File/Print menu (select the Layout tab to see this option)? Without doing this NoteBook shrinks the text like you describe, even though the option “As it appears onscreen” makes more sense to me. But the “NoteBook Help” menu item brings up the “Help Center” and in chapter 14 (Frequently Asked Questions) in the “Printing” section, it talks about what to do when printed text is smaller than Onscreen.

There are other options in the File/Print command window like the “Appearance” and “Page Numbers” sections/panes to help with other optional printing issues – things like page numbers at the bottom of each page in two different ways, whether to print keywords, stickers, highlighting, links, etc

Hope this helps with your printing issue. When I tried it, it seemed to help a lot.

I think the issue is trying to get the printed page to match what the screen shows, but that’s really hard to do as NoteBook window can be sized to whatever you want on screen and so then the issue becomes how to print the text and whether it’s possible to match the screen format or not, and if not what NoteBook does to try it’s best. I wonder if the developers could give more options on controlling the printed output – things like specific font and/or size to use for printing, etc might be helpful.

But bold text always came out bold for me, italics always came out italics, etc – the only thing that changes is amount of text on a line, i.e. the size.

Perhaps there are things that others might suggest to make NoteBook more able to be a WYSIWYG type of app when it comes to printing? Things like how big to make the window, etc might be important.

Anyway, hope this tip helps with preventing the text coming out so small when you go to print.

-Bob

ps – can you give us an example of a problematic web site that caused NoteBook to crash and what exact steps were done that caused the crash so we can offer possible suggestions? Is the crashing random or is it easily reproducible?

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by Linda)

Linda — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:11:28 +0000

I very much want to like CP Notebook (for Mac) because it seems like such a cool application and much easier to use than the confusing Word notebook. But I’ve had lots of problems in the 2 years since I created a running project with CP Notebook. Problems with text and highlighting, several crashes where I’ve lost pages. Importing web text unleashed major problems and crashes. Tech support was good about getting back to me but could not solve that problem, so I stopped importing web text. The latest problem is not being able to print out my pages in a format that looks good. The text is miniscule no matter how many times I clear the formatting and reformat (losing my bold text along the way) and no matter the commands I enter on the print command page. In the end, I cut and pasted these pages into Word and printed that way with no problems. Now I’m debating copying the entire CP Notebook into Word and calling it a day.

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by JonathanP)

JonathanP — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:21:02 +0000

While I can appreciate the frustration of the “produced” screenwriter who began this thread (as if being “produced” bestows upon a writer a special ability to critique software), one must wonder what set him off on this rant in the first place. If he has been happy with MS Word (despite the bloat, and despite the availability of many screenwriting-specific tools out there for Macs), then why was he even bothering to experiment with CP NB? My intuition is that he did not give CP NB a chance, as can be seen from the responses from others who have had completely different experiences with NB.

Yes, NB is different. With the differences come the features that make it more useful than Word (even the “notebook” feature of recent versions of Word), and even some database apps like DevonThink, which I suspect some researchers on this thread have tinkered with in the past (or maybe use for other tasks), as well.

The downside of “difference”, as with any software app, is that there can be a learning curve – some will find the curve more manageable than others. I agree that the manner in which some processes in NB are handled is not intuitive—not to me, at least. At the same time, I can appreciate why the processes are handled the way they are, even though I am not a programmer. This product has been around for many years, and it has managed to grow (and I would say flourish) even with some very serious changes in the way Apple has decided to modify some manners in which databases are handled within OS X.

I echo the comments of others regarding support – it has always been prompt, friendly, and honest. All of my questions and issues have been resolved. When I have asked for “enhancements” or “changes in the way NB handles certain tasks”, or even just help in understanding the logic behind the “way of the NB”, these requests have been considered by support staff (especially Eric) in a timely fashion, with thoughtfulness and genuine concern for me as a user. If my special request cannot be resolved, it normally is the result of a limitation in the way Apple requires NB to interact with the OS.

I have been using NB for more than five years, and I have yet to lose a NB or find one that suffered from irreparable corruption. (I did experience a few corrupted NBs years ago when I tended to sync NBs between two Macs and was not careful enough about making sure I followed CP-suggested protocol, or I ventured into using some early “cloud” sync services that did not play well with Apple’s “packages” format for databases.) Many of my NBs reach sizes of 6 MB or more. I know from experience that an MS Word document of that size will crash or become corrupted at some point, especially if it includes any attachments (think large 150 page commercial contract with 100s of pages of PDF or Excel exhibits.) Even when the bloated Word doc does not crash, it takes forever to load and manipulate (even on the fastest Macs).

I think this thread can be helpful for folks thinking of getting their feet wet with CP NB. The price point for entry into the NB world is VERY low compared to what else is out there, but NB does require a different though approach for many who have been trained over the years to think that computers are useful as writing instruments only by using the “separate documents arranged in a file tree folder system”. If you like to keep your screenplays, letters, research, and other items organized into manilla folders in a file cabinet or box, then you will need to reach back to your days of keeping all of your materials (whether for classes, research, or creative writing) in a spiral-bound or three-ring binder with dividers.

As an attorney who has worked with European clients, they frequently laugh at the typical American lawyer’s habit of arranging, using, referencing, and storing client files in loose folders, grouped together only by a box or “redweld”, while European businessmen and attorneys are able to quickly and easily find what they need in a “two ring” binder style notebook. I view CP NB as the equivalent of the binder approach to file management, whether it be a bunch of legal contracts, correspondence and notes, or a portfolio of stories or other artistic works.

For those considering trying out CP NB, please do not let the originator of this thread scare you away from at least seeing if it is the right “fit”. Every software app has a learning curve. If you’re not prepared to invest some time in truly learning the app, then you will always find yourself returning to the hum-drum, often second- or third-best method of accomplishing the task at hand.

Pasting chemistry and mathematical formulas (commented by DeepYogurt)

DeepYogurt — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:28:23 +0000

You can also use MathMagic to do complex math equations, but not sure how easy it will do chemical equations, but guess that it would as it’s a lot of subscripts and superscripts which is the same as many math equations.

You create the equation in MathMagic or MathType and then a simple copy/paste creates an “image” of the equation which you can then put in any other app that allows image or MathML insertion or TeX or several others depending on which app is used to create the equations.

They can also export MathML and TeX and other formats.

After using MathMagic for a bit I don’t recommend it as it has problems with importing and exporting MathML formulas to Mathematica and probably other apps as well, but the copying of equation images seems to work fine. I tried to do a fairly simple quadratic root formula for both and only MathType was able to copy/paste MathML code back and forth between itself and Mathematica. MathMagic had problems both giving and accepting MathML code to/from Mathematica.

So watch out if this is important to you. They both have free trial versions of their software if you wish to try em out. Highly recommended to do this first. Wish I had done it and save wasting the cash!

-Bob

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by Todd Brockway)

Todd Brockway — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:12:39 +0000

Wow!!!
I have no computer credentials. I just click and type and add cool “stuff” to my notebook it just works no crashes maybe at some point aren’t you supposed to back up? Any way sorry your experience was so bad Summer Storm. But you are right it is helpful when people speak out about their use experience and that’s why it is pretty clear that the majority falls to the side of Notebook being a great product really. She is pretty and she is trustworthy. Well anyway I have to go finish my Kool-Aid. ;o

Importing pages from one note book to another? (commented by Eric)

Eric — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:42:01 +0000

Hello Simon,

Thank you for purchasing NoteBook for Mac!

You can move a page from one Notebook to another by copying the page (or pages) from the Contents page of the first Notebook to the Contents page of the other.

Importing pages from one note book to another? (by Simon Daniels )

Simon Daniels — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:45:03 +0000

Hi,
New to he product, but it got great reviews on the Mac cast so I put my money down. So here’s the question.

How can I import pages from one note book to another? This must be simple but I cant work it out al all.

Any help is really appreciated.

Regards

Simon Daniels

Voice annotation disappeared (by Arden)

Arden — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:58:15 +0000

I used the voice annotation feature in class, and later that night, while editing notes, the notebook crashed! and all the voice annotations disappeared! Help! What do I do?!

Export in die Dropbox (commented by Eric)

Eric — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:07:50 +0000

Für NoteBook für Mac, legen Sie einfach Ihre Notebook Dateien in Ihrem Dropbox-Ordner. Dies wird ihnen für den Einsatz auf anderen Macs zu synchronisieren.

Für Dropbox synchronisiert via NoteBook für iPad, Version 3.1 beinhaltet nun die Möglichkeit, via Dropbox synchronisieren.

encryption (commented by Eric)

Eric — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:00:07 +0000

Now, when you set a password for a Notebook (via the File menu), all pages are automatically encrypted. Until recently, you would have to specify encryption for each Notebook page for which you wanted that level of security.

The User Guide still reflects the old method and we will be updating that to reflect the new method of encryption.

Note that file attachments do not get encrypted. For that you would need to use any encryption found within the attachment’s native application or use an third party encryption method prior to attaching it to NoteBook.

Export in die Dropbox (by lerner)

lerner — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:55:04 +0000

Man kann einzelne Notebooks exportieren als website, es gibt im Menue diese Exportfunktion zu “mobile me”. Jetzt suche ich nach einer Möglichkeit, das in die Dropbox zu exportieren, ohne den Umweg über ein Speichern auf meinem MacBook, so dass ich auch synchronisieren kann. Gibt es jemanden, der da eine Idee hat?

Sketching on PDFs (by munchkinon2)

munchkinon2 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:09:35 +0000

I just downloaded the new update for Notebook and was wondering if anyone else was having troubles with the sketching on PDFs annotations. I’m using a Bamboo tablet and I’m underlining and writing on my class PDF notes like I normally do, but when i reopen the notebook on a different day all my markings are distorted and my underlines are moved to different locations. It’s to the point where I can’t even understand my sketches. I’ve never had this problem with the old version. Is there something I can do to fix that or is it just a bug in the new update? If it’s not possible to fix, is there a way I can go back to the old version of notebook?

Thanks for your help in advance!

encryption (by Leo)

Leo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:50:22 +0000

Hello, how is it possible in mac version 3.1 to encrypt a page (or several pages) of a notebook? I find this option in the user manual but not in the menu of the program.

Thanks!

Not ready for prime time--never has been (commented by rshs)

rshs — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:36:24 +0000

I too am a produced screenwriter. I can imagine how I would work on research and outlines for screenplays without NoteBook, but it would be a far less efficient and fun experience. I know what the naysayers are talking about—there was a time when the package format of Notebooks meant they were fragile. Even today, the reason I came to the forums was to find out if anyone else is having the problems I am having using Dropbox to sync a large Notebook with my iPad. But that pales in comparison to the fun and power I’ve experienced using NoteBook and the almost one-on-one customer support I’ve experienced.

This latter item really fires me up. I’m so sorry people have experienced support here they consider terrible, because I can’t sing the praises of Circus Ponies support loudly enough. Oh my God, fast, detailed and helpful replies. Even chat and jokes! The difference between the support experience at CP and, say, Microsoft is winter and summer. (It’s not just the size of the company: Apple offers good support. But it is why I love doing business with small, passionate developers.)

Clipping from the Web. Audio recording meetings while taking notes. Using flags and stickies. Creating simple flowcharts and drawings. Attaching and annotating PDFs. And of course, writing detailed, intricate outlines. In short, creating one master file that contains the sum knowledge and imagination of my latest script, everything but the script itself. I’m not sure there is any other way to achieve this on the OS X platform (Scrivener? OmniOutliner?). And I’m positive there’s no other way to do it that’s as attractive and fun.

I’m sorry anyone’s had such problems with CP’s product and its support that they’re despairing. I wish you had had my experience: flawed, of course, but among the best software use and support I’ve encountered.

I’m a former technology journalist. I have no connection with CP other than being a customer. Those are my digital cents.

need help (by Shohag Jacob)

Shohag Jacob — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:47:23 +0000

OK..I JUST bought Notebook and am having fun with it. But I’m saving as PDF’s for associates and none of the embedded file links work. What am I doing wrong? For example, I added a pdf to a page that contained some photo thumbnails. It opens fine in my real Notebook, but not once I save it as a PDF. URL’s don’t link to the websites either. I know it’s me not knowing the program yet, but I’d sure appreciate help on this. And, THANKS in advance!!

sympodium (commented by Eric)

Eric — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:01:15 +0000

I’m not sure. If it technically behaves the same way as a writing tablet (such as Wacom tablets), then it may work. We’ve not had any other customers write in who have used this as far as I know. I’d suggest contacting the maker of Sympodium to find out more.

sympodium (by bec)

bec — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:38:08 +0000

Hi
Is it possible to use a sympodium monitor as a tablet for lecture delivery of notebooks?
Thanks

PhD (commented by shanshuprophecy)

shanshuprophecy — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:13:01 +0000

Are there any current/regular PhD students on the forums? I am trying to integrate CPN with my research/reading/writing workflow & would love to hear how others have (successfully) approached this.

i have done quite a bit of research online & have some good links if anyone would like to engage in some collaboration on the logistics of using CPN?

At the moment I am trial-ing Sente, Scrivener & CPN. As they all do different things very well, I think there is room for all 3 (I also use DevonThink Pro as a ‘catchall’ but I am not sure if I can sustain such a disparity of locations. My intention/current practice is to reference & take notes in Sente – I then have a script that exports all notes into DTPO (where I keep an a-z for authors & each Sente note becomes it’s own entity within a labelled folder for the author/ref – this is scripted so it’s not a big deal to do this).

My intention is to make ‘citable notes’ as per Peg Single’s ‘Demystifying Dissertation Writing’ into CPN where I paste all notes I intend to use into 1 page (author-ref) within an a-z structure which is then linked to themes/theories etc … within the notebook – so it’s a living thing that grows as my outline/structure grows. This will then get copied into Scrivener for writing/detailed outlining. (DTPO remains a ‘catchall’ while Sente stays as a stable reference manager with all PDF’s & full notes.

I am wondering if I am complicating things too much – I am cutting & pasting notes from DTPO into CPN so there isn’t too much to this but I am open to other workflows if anyone is using this all in a more efficient way?

One option I have hoped for is to find a script that allows me to transfer Sente notes into CPN & so cut out the DTPO step – DTPO would then be more of a repository for web clips, video, pictures etc ..

Any/all comments are welcome – I can see that this is a slow thread but perhaps there are a few grad students around who are trying to fine-tune their workflow? I find I am prone to procrastination if I am not happy with the way I am managing my research so it’s actually really important for me to have this all running efficiently :)