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Choosing the right outlining application (continued)
FIGURE F
Though not packed with frills, Natara Bonsai is a strong, stable outliner.
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.
FIGURE G
Shadow Plan makes good use of color.
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.
FIGURE H
ThoughtManager has a product specifically designed for educators.
Tips for using outlining programs
Finally, here are a few general tips about using outlining programs:
- Outline programs are perfect for project management, especially if you choose one with "task completion" bars that show a percentage of work completed;
- Using an outliner, you can easily put together notes for extemporaneous speeches, which beats flipping through a handful of index cards;
- Outlines are also quite useful for preparing checklists of routine tasks or troubleshooting steps;
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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Steve Niles is Senior Editor for ZATZ Publishing. He is also an independent filmmaker and freelance writer. For more information, visit http://www.sn-films.com.
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