Research you can re-Search
I've made lots of notes I'll never read again, because they are on paper and I can't search them. There are now lots of tools for recording research and searching it. Here are my favourites.	Word Outline PBWorks Wiki Zotero FoxIt FileLocator Acrobat OCR EverNote

. Word Outline View I covered this when looking at long documents - you can see the overall picture, or drill down to details instantly - you can move text around, with all the associated paragraphs - you are writing in the native format your final work will be in

. Wiki - eg the one at PBWorks.com (free for non-commercial use) * write ideas as they come to you, and access them from anywhere * and it is very good at Greek and Hebrew, even on a Mac. * you can paste complex Unicode Biblical Greek & Hebrew from Word, or from a web page  (you can't paste straight from BibleWorks, so paste into Word, then copy and paste from there) * this works just as well on a Mac as a PC, because you are using the web

The point of a Wiki is that is written in a disorderly way, but it organises itself * you quickly write down an outline, then expand it by highlighting a word or phrase and starting a new page * or you simply write individual pages and bring them together later * search is pretty good, so you can find pages where you’ve already written on something

. Zotero (free) * stores and searched web pages, PDF files * great for grabbing a web page and storing it with a date * it automatically stores the complete PDF from periodical sources like JStore * if you are in a library catalogue, it can grab all the bibliographic data * then you can add summaries of the book as you read it * it can integrate with your word processor to export in all the standard formats, eg Cicago style * with the add-on to search PDF files, it will automatically index them for instantly finding text * just type a work, and it lists all the web pages & PDF files or summaries including that word * you can highlight sections of a web page or PDF and it stays highlighted * you can categorise stuff in multiple ways * esp tags and folders. * you can ;sync your Zotero database with several computers, BUT your attached files don't sync * so put them into a Dropbox or SugarSync folder (more of that another time) Zotero doesn't index Word docs (don't know why), so do this: * click on the "+" and link to the Word file. * double-click on the file to open it, then select all the text and Copy it * paste the text into the "Note" area in Zotero. These notes are automatically indexed.

. Foxit for PDFs (free version) * Endnote is probably better than Endnote at integration with Word and online backup * but it isn't so good at quickly grabbing just anything (web pages, word docs) and indexing them FoxIt for PDFs (free version) * everyone uses Acrobat PDF reader by default, until they discover FoxIt * there’s a free and a paid-for version, but the free one is much more powerful than free Acrobat * much smaller, quicker to load, you can use it to annotate PDFs, highlight bits, and add notes * but the killer feature is the ability to search multiple PDF files * by default it searches your whole computer, so tell it to search you Documents * or, if you are organised, just the folder with PDFs, or your Zotero folder

. Search everything with FileLocator (free version) * Zotero is good at searching your web pages & PDFs & your document, if you’ve added them * FoxIt is wonderful at searching all PDFs and shows results in context one at a time * FileLocator searches everything, and shows you results in context all at once  (Google desktop is also good, and even the Find built into Windows is now very good,   but they only work well if they have already indexed everything, and this can slow down   your computer considerably) Check out Qiqqa.com - a new free tool which indexes and searches PDFs, synchronises them across several computers. , and even OCRs them if they are scans.

. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) * in the bad old days you had photocopies, which you can search only by eye * then OCR came along, which was like employing a really bad typist who makes lots of errors * you can search it, but it is hard to read when there are even occasional errors * and of course any Hebrew or Greek turns to gibberish * you get a free OCR program with any scanner you buy * then Google books came along and showed a new way to do OCR * you keep the picture of the scan, but invisibly superimpose the OCR * there are still OCR errors, but they don't matter much, and you can read the Greek & Hebrew Now everyone can make Google-book-style documents * Nuance.co.uk is good, but the free version doesn't do OCR - you need to pay about £100 * Acrobat Pro is better, esp when a scan has a "gutter" (the bent faint bit in the spine of the book)   but this costs more (about £130 with a education discount). * we use Acrobat Pro on the photocopier at Tyndale, so all scans become searchable

. EverNote.com is a free alternative * you don't need a scanner or an OCR program. Just a free account * you take a photo of a page on your phone, and send it to your online account * it turns into a picture of the page with an OCR layer * you can also clip and save web pages * they have search software which works on most phones and computers

Forget nothing and work anywhere

Imagine a world where everything you read is searchable so you can re-view any page containing a word or reference; where your computer is accessible from any other computer; and where you can instantly find any file you want. You can do all this now, with your present computer, for free.

This posting will show you how, at zero cost, you can: have an electronic photographic memory which is searchable have automatic backups, ready for the day your computer dies access your work and software from any web-connected computer and you do NOT have to be continuously online. 1) Dropbox: Access your files on any computer - even with a poor connection 2) DjVu: Search everything you've read - with intact Greek & Hebrew 3) Zotero 2: Your automated librarian and bibliography/footnote creator 4) LogMeIn: View and control your computer from any other computer 5) GoogleDesktop: Index your whole life and find it again on any computer

1) Dropbox: Access your files on any computer - even with a poor connection: Where should you keep shared files? - on your computer or online? Files on your computer are fast and available even when the internet fails, Files online are backed up and can be accessed on any computer Now you can have BOTH, automatically updated, by using Dropbox. files in your Dropbox folder live on your computer, and online they are automatically kept in sync with identical folders on your other computers or, on a public computer, you can go online and load the file from your storage and if you accidentally delete it, the last three revisions are safely online Get a free 2.25 Gb Dropbox here (enough space for about 2000 PhD theses!) Nearest rivala: SugarSync - 2 Gb free, on only one extra computer or PDA and LiveMesh - 5Gb online free, and syncs more. In Beta, but looks good.

2) DjVu: Searchable text which is an exact image, with intact Greek & Hebrew: How should you store things you've read? - as scanned images or typed text? Scans show the exact page, including page numbers, Greek & Hebrew Text is searchable, but typing is tedious and automatic OCR is often garbled Now you can have BOTH without correcting any text, by using DjVu scan what you read even at only 200dpi, eg on your office photocopier upload it to a free DjVu converter then save the file on your computer (the conversion site automatically deletes them after 6 days) install the DjVu plugin which is much faster than viewing PDFs they look just like a scan or photocopy, but they contain the typed text (like all OCR, it is not perfect, but this is OK because you see the original) Hebrew & Greek remains legible, because you can see the original image you can search and find a word, or copy and paste text into a summary DjVu files are only about 1/6 the size of PDF files, so they're easy to store. Does scanning take you too long? Flatbed scanners are cheap but scans take 20-30 secs. Look at your office photocopier - it may have a scanning function as fast as copying. At Tyndale House the photcopier scans to a public server accessible on all computers. Its quick!

3) Zotero: Your automated librarian and bibliography/footnote creator How should you record your bibliography? - as a strict database or free-form records? Databases like Endnote create searchable records automatically from some catalogues and create references in different styles in your documents, but data of ten need tidying Free-form records can be written quickly, but the format needs retyping for publication Now you can have BOTH created automatically from most sources, by using Zotero collects bibliographic fields automatically from web catalogues (including Tyncat) can be organised by both tags and folders, and the content searched by words can attach whole documents to the records, including articles from JSTOR etc can store whole web pages or highlighted clippings and redisplay them can index and search PDFs and web pages (but not DOC or DjVu files) can create bibliography records and footnotes in hundreds of standard styles Zotero 2 can now share collections on different computers. To do this: if you already have a Zotero folder, make a backup. (To find it, click on the cog symbol, then 'Preferences' then 'Advanced' then 'Storage Location' then 'Show Data Directory') install Firefox 3 from here and Zotero 2 from here then create a Zotero ID here in Firefox, click on Zotero (bottom right), then on Actions (the 'cog' icon) then 'Preferences' to add SBL style etc for formatting citations, click on 'Styles' then 'Additional Styles' You can access your Zotero files on two or more computers and update them all automatically: in 'Preferences', click on 'Sync', enter your Zotero ID for the Sync Server and tick Sync automatically the 'Storage Server' needs WebDAV but no free online storage service provides this, so instead: use 1) Dropbox (see above): create a folder 'Zotero' in your Dropbox folder, then click on 'Preferences' 'Advanced' and 'Choose' or 2) Live Sync duplicates folders on two computers without keeping an online copy: download, find and run it on both computers and tell it to sync the Zotero folder

4) LogMeIn: View and control your computer from any other computer : How do you work at the office and at home? Carry a laptop or data stick with you, or work online? Carrying hardware around feels safe, though editing copied files can lead to several versions. Zoho's online office suite is powerful and fast, but you need dependable internet access. Now you can have BOTH by controlling your office computer from home using LogMeIn you can use your office computer from any other computer, which 'becomes' that computer in 'full screen' mode, it is easy to forget that you are actually controlling another computer you can switch between computers and copy and paste from one computer to the other create a free account at LogMeIn and install the software on your computers you can then access them even on public computers (without installing) by web browsing Zoho is worth considering for true 'cloud computing' - ie doing all your work online. Their Notebook is almost as good as Google's notebook (sadly discontinued), and their word processor is better than Google Docs. They also have spreadsheet, database etc. But until we have reliable internet access everywhere, true cloud computing will have to wait.

5) GoogleDesktop: Index your whole life and find it again on any computer: How do you search for your files? Keep them strictly organised or index them? Do BOTH of course, but now you can index your whole life with GoogleDesktop Google Desktop indexes and searches documents, emails, calendar, viewed webpages etc you can choose to include external drives or restrict the indexing categories results are ordered in an intelligent way, like Google web searches you can share indexes to be visible on any other computer you log into it share files between computers, but not reliably. Use DropBox instead (see above) it stores deleted files and previous versions, ready to be resurrected there are lots of other gadgets to watch email, calendar, news stations etc it even indexes words inside scans, if they are in DjVu format (see above) to turn DjVu on: click on the down arrow, 'Options', 'Desktop Search', then at 'Indexing plugins' click on 'Download Page' and search for 'DjVu Plug-in'. Download and Run.

Time-saving tools for writing

I'm just about to start the third volume in my TRENT series, so my thoughts are
partly on how to save time in the writing process. Here are my best tips.
The best bit comes first - if you do nothing else, get the InsertBible tool.

1) InsertBible tool
2) Pen Scanner
3) Summary and Bibliography
4) Speed tips for Word


1) InsertBible tool

[UPDATE: this is now updated and available at http://www.biblecrawler.org/]
Michael Stead unveiled a wonderful new tool at the Tyndale Fellowship conference.
It inserts a Bible verse or passage into a Word document in several versions:
* ESV (including footnotes in curly brackets) & RSV
* MT (corrected BHS, plain, or pointed or with full Masoretic markings)
* NA27 (same as NA26 and UBS3/4)
* Translitteration of MT & NA27 Hebrew and Greek (with full accents etc)
* LXX (Rhalf's, I guess, but Quinta looks as if it will be very similar)
* Vulgate (well, why not? Useful for historians if no-one else).
* Inserts as a series of paragraphs, or as a table
* Versification to match the versions used.
This works well in Word 2003, but struggles elsewhere, even though theoretically
it should be OK in all versions of Word (we've heard that from MS before!).
The Settings allow you to pick the fonts to use. I recommend you get Cardo and
use that for them all - it is a Unicode font which has Hebrew, Greek, transliteration,
and looks good for English too. Get it as part of the free Tyndale Unicode kit
at http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Fonts.htm
He is offering this to the academic community FREE, and has negotiated free access
for us with the various copyright holders. All we have to do is send a signed fax
which we can printout from his website at http://stead.streetlinemedia.com/
This is a no-brainer if you use Word 2003on a PC. Do it now
(though it is a 12Mb download, so make sure you are on a fast connection).
If you use Word on a Mac, just keep badgering MS to bring out a version which works properly with Unicode.

2) Pen Scanner
When I read library books, I highlight key phrases with a pen.
Before you call the Librarian, I'd better add that I use a pen scanner.
Just draw it over a sentence and the words are ready for your computer.
Note: they only works for European fonts, not for Greek & Hebrew.

There are several pen-scanners available.
Some only work when connected to a computer which runs the software
eg C -Pen 20, Iris Pen
Some work away from the computer (much more convenient), though you
can also link to a computer and insert directly into a document,
eg C-Pen 600, C-Pen 800, Wizcom Elite or InfoScan
For some reason, Amazon appears to be the best place to buy these. Search for "Pen scanner"
I recommend the C-Pen 600 or 800 (http://www.cpen.com/) - pricey and hard to find, but worth it.
The Optical Character Recognition software is very fast and accurate.
You can add dictionaries, eg German, to give you instant translations for a word you scan
Note: I find the batteries drain, so I flip up one end of the batteries when not in use.
If you want to scan lots of text, you need a flatbed scanner. I recently saw someone using
the wonderful HP ScanJet 4670, which is like a piece of glass you place on top of a book.
Much faster than constantly turning the book over in order to turn to the next page.

3) Summary and Bibliography
You were probably told this at Junior school: Write summaries of what you read.
And add page numbers - you know how much time this would have saved in the past.
I use an endless Word file - easy to search and copy and edit.
I include full bibliographic details in a "Heading 2" style (click on Style in the Formatting toolbar)
- then I can search the bibliography separately from the summaries
(eg click on "Find" - "More" - "Format" - "Style" - "Heading 2")
- or I can view just the bibliography data
(eg click on "View" - "Outline", then click on "2" in the outlining toolbar which appears)
I use Heading 1 for subject areas, so I can display only the entries in a particular subject.
Or you could put your summary in your Endnote database, if you find that quicker.
If Endnote slows down your computer, try adding extra memory.

4) Speed tips for Word
Use abbreviations which automatically expand as you type
eg when you are writing an article about the eschatological banquet,
set up an abbreviation ".et" which automatically expands when you write it:
1) type "eschatological banquet" and highlight it
2) click on "Tools" then on "Auto-correct" and type ".eb" in the Replace box
3) click on "Add" then "OK" and try it out - just type ".eb" then hit the spacebar
Note: The abbreviations are case-sensitive, so ".EB" can abbreviate something different
The abbreviations don't have to start with a dot, but this works better for various reasons.
Use Styles. They are powerful and necessary for book-long projects.
- turn on the Style area so you can see what you are doing
(click on "Tools", "Options", "View" and type "0.5" in the "Style Area Width")
- to format or create a style, double-click on the name in the left-hand Style Area.
- Click on "View" - "Normal" to see the style area, or "View" - "Print" to hide it
- assign a style for chapter headings and paragraph headings, paragraphs & quotes,
- apply them rigorously and try to avoid adding other formatting
Use exact line spacing
- exact line spacing for footnotes fixes a bug in Word97 which reappears if someone
accidentally opens and edits your document in Word97. So best to do it for all documents.
Footnotes can appear on the wrong page or flow wrongly without this fix.
- to do this, double-click on "Footnote" in the "Style Area" (see previous note)
then click on "Modify", "Format", "Paragraph". Select "Line spacing"="Exactly"
- exact spacing also prevents Hebrew or Greek fonts making a wide line when they are used,
so exact spacing is useful for the main text as well.
Use Unicode fonts for Greek & Hebrew - this will future-proof your work
- get the free Tyndale Unicode kit at http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Fonts.htm
Use formatting in Find and Replace- to find all Italics: click on "Find" and press Ctrl-I.
- to find all Arial font, click on "Find", "More", "Format", "Font" and type "Arial"
Use Tracking and Compare Document for editing
- click on "Tools", "Track changes" to mark changes as you make them
- another person can quickly find them, and accept or reject them.
- if tracking has not been used, to compare an edited text with the original,
click on "Tools", "Compare" and find the other document.
(Note: it is best to use a copy of your document when comparing with another)
Indexing - follow the instructions at http://www.instonebrewer.com/tyndalearchive/Brewer/TTech/TTech006.htm
Use Tables instead of columns, then make the lines invisible
- tables give you much more freedom for formatting and editing