.KEYWORD outlines
.FLYINGHEAD PRODUCT SURVEY
.TITLE Choosing the right outlining application
.OTHER
.SUMMARY Outlining applications are ideal for use on Palm devices because the collapsible nature of an outline is perfect for "drilling down" to precise pieces of data without wasting valuable screen space. There are a great number of different programs available, and each one has different strengths and weaknesses. Marie Braden has taken an in-depth look at some of the major players to help you decide which application is right for you.
.AUTHOR Marie Braden
In the early days of computing, before the advent of the modern PIM (Personal Information Manager), outline programs were popular for gathering together scraps of information and imposing some sort of order upon them. While no longer a prevalent force in the desktop world, outliners have received a second wind on the Palm platform. In an operating environment where space is at a premium, the collapsible nature of an outline is perfect for "drilling down" to precise pieces of data without wasting valuable screen space.
Several outliners exist for the Palm OS, ranging in price from free to rather expensive. Each one has a slightly different focus, so it’s difficult, if not impossible, to choose an overall favorite. More importantly, each has its own interface quirks, so read this article to narrow your choices and then take advantage of the trial period that each of these programs offers.
.H1 BrainForest
BrainForest (at http://www.aportis.com/products/BrainForest/benefits.html) is the 300-pound gorilla of Palm outliners. BrainForest Mobile Edition is a stand-alone Palm application (priced at $30), while BrainForest Professional includes a desktop interface to your data (priced at $39.95). Unfortunately, BrainForest has no ability to link to other Palm OS applications, making it less than adequate for project management. Such integration is critical to avoid duplication of effort, and it’s surprising that this particular feature has not been implemented. BrainForest Professional adds a PC/Mac interface, along with Gantt charts on the Palm device side, a feature that other outliners have not yet implemented. The program is pictured in Figure A.
.FIG A Like most Palm outliners, BrainForest has put its introductory materials in outline format.
.H1 Arranger
Arranger (at http://www.olivebr.com/pilot.htm) was the first Palm outliner to support drag-and-drop and To Do List linking. In fact, Arranger probably has the best linking capability of any program reviewed here, supporting not only the Palm device’s built-in applications, but also DateBk3 and DateBk4 at http://www.pimlicosoftware.com), Action Names Datebook (at http://www.iambic.com/pilot/actionnames/), Super Names (at http://www.standalone.com/palmos/super_names/index.shtml), TealPhone (at http://www.tealpoint.com/softphon.htm), ToDo PLUS (at http://www.handshigh.com/html/todoplus.html), Memo PLUS (at http://www.handshigh.com/html/memoplus.html), and the various versions of pedit (at http://home.columbus.rr.com/nevai/palm/).
Arranger is one of the most stable Palm applications that I’ve used, and it’s incredibly easy to get started with. Arranger is priced at $19, and it’s pictured in Figure B.
.FIG B Arranger’s screen is very easy on the eyes.
.H1 Hi-Note
Hi-Note from Cyclos (at http://www.cyclos.com/hi-note.htm) has the distinction of being able to add drawings to your outlines, though only as separate items. However, these drawings do allow for text elements, making it a very useful program to have. Although Cyclos has no plans for a desktop interface, PCHi-Note (at http://www.thegrid.net/softessence/pchinote/pchinote.htm) and HiView for the Macintosh (at http://www.ewoks.net/palm/hiviewe.html) provide this functionality. Hi-Note also offers "left-hand compatibility" for the southpaws among us. The application is priced at $20, and it’s pictured in Figure C.
.FIG C Hi-Note’s drawing tools make it easy to add diagrams and maps to your outlines.
.H1 Info Select
Info Select (at http://www.miclog.com/ispdesc.htm) is not only the most expensive outliner reviewed here, but is also the one with the least-intuitive interface. While it works well with the desktop version of Info Select, the Palm application interface is difficult to navigate. There seems to be no particular functional advantage to this over other outliners, unless you happen to be a user of the Info Select desktop PIM (priced at $149.95). The one unique feature Info Select has, however, could be enough to make it worth the extra money. It has the ability to recombine changes to multiple outlines into one cohesive unit. Info Select is priced at $69.95 and is pictured in Figure D.
.FIG D Info Select for the Palm device isn’t the powerhouse application that Info Select for the PC is.
.H1 Progect Manager
Released under the GNU Public License, Progect Manager (and, yes, it really is spelled with a ‘g’) is the least expensive of the outliners reviewed here. It’s free, and available from http://sourceforge.net/projects/progect. This particular program is specifically designed for project tracking. Planned future enhancements include Gantt charts and a desktop interface. While synchronization with your To Do List is possible, there’s no support for categories. Also, you can’t drag and drop items. While there’s a huge amount of potential for this program, at this point in time you get what you pay for. However, it’s quite suited for simple projects and is very easy to use. Progect Manager is pictured in Figure E.
.FIG E Progect Manager is the freeware alternative for project management.
.H1 Bonsai
Natara Software’s Bonsai (at http://www.natara.com/Bonsai/index.cfm) has the best desktop application in the current crop of Palm outliners. Bonsai also supports two-way synchronization and has the ability to edit in place, instead of requiring the user to go to a second screen. Synchronization options, however, are where Bonsai excels. For example, you can set up outlines to synchronize only with certain machines, which can be very useful in a multi-user office. Unfortunately, if you use your outliner as a hierarchal to-do manager, items that are checked off aren’t deleted, though they can be hidden via filters. Another drawback to this otherwise excellent product is the inability to link to the To Do database from the desktop, although it can be easily done from the Palm device. It’s priced at $24.95 and is pictured in Figure F.
.FIG F Though not packed with frills, Natara Bonsai is a strong, stable outliner.
.H1 Shadow Plan
Shadow Plan (at http://www.codejedi.com) is not only economical, but also full-featured. It allows linking with the To Do List and Date Book, as well as with other Shadow outlines, allowing for very complex trees. The screen view on the Palm device is highly customizable and has the best support for color of any of the reviewed applications. The developer is highly committed to providing good service and responds very quickly to bug reports and help requests. Shadow Plan is priced at $12.99 and is pictured in Figure G.
.FIG G Shadow Plan makes good use of color.
.H1 ThoughtManager
Hands High Software’s ThoughtManager (at http://www.handshigh.com/html/thoughtmanager.html) goes Hi-Note one better by allowing color drawings within its outlines. Hands High also produces ThoughtManager for Teachers (priced at $29.95), which comes with over 75 education-related outlines. Unfortunately, ThoughtManager is incredibly slow and bulky, making it very difficult to recommend. ThoughtManager is priced at $19.95 and is pictured in Figure H.
.FIG H ThoughtManager has a product specifically designed for educators.
.BEGIN_KEEP
.H1 Tips for using outlining programs
Finally, here are a few general tips about using outlining programs:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Outline programs are perfect for project management, especially if you choose one with "task completion" bars that show a percentage of work completed;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Using an outliner, you can easily put together notes for extemporaneous speeches, which beats flipping through a handful of index cards;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Outlines are also quite useful for preparing checklists of routine tasks or troubleshooting steps;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET On each level of your outline, remember that too much detail is as bad as not enough. For most effective usage, outlines should contain no more than one detail or thought per line.
.END_LIST
For information on using your outliner for time management and life planning, check out Jeff Kirvin’s article on the subject at http://www.writingonyourpalm.net/column000522.htm.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on BrainForest, visit http://www.aportis.com/products/BrainForest/benefits.html.
For more information on Arranger, visit http://www.olivebr.com/pilot.htm.
For more information on DateBk3 and DateBk4, visit http://www.pimlicosoftware.com.
For more information on Action Names Datebook, visit http://www.iambic.com/pilot/actionnames/.
For more information on Super Names, visit http://www.standalone.com/palmos/super_names/index.shtml.
For more information on TealPhone, visit http://www.tealpoint.com/softphon.htm.
For more information on ToDo PLUS, visit http://www.handshigh.com/html/todoplus.html.
For more information on Memo PLUS, visit http://www.handshigh.com/html/memoplus.html.
For more information on the various versions of pedit, visit http://home.columbus.rr.com/nevai/palm/.
For more information on Hi-Note from Cyclos, visit http://www.cyclos.com/hi-note.htm.
For more information on PCHi-Note, visit http://www.thegrid.net/softessence/pchinote/pchinote.htm.
For more information on HiView for the Macintosh, visit http://www.ewoks.net/palm/hiviewe.html.
For more information on Info Select, visit http://www.miclog.com/ispdesc.htm.
For more information on Progect Manager, visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/progect.
For more information on Natara Software’s Bonsai, visit http://www.natara.com/Bonsai/index.cfm.
For more information on Shadow Plan, visit http://www.codejedi.com.
For more information on ThoughtManager, visit http://www.handshigh.com/html/thoughtmanager.html.
For Jeff Kirvin’s Writing on Your Palm article on using your outliner for time management and life planning, visit http://www.writingonyourpalm.net/column000522.htm.
For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6f26f
.END_KEEP
