Organize Your Research
The problem with researching a particular topic is that the information can come in all types of formats - Word Processing files, PDF, Email, Web Pages, your own personal notes, etc. Where do you keep all this information? The new askSam Research template provides the starting point for organizing all your information.
The new template contains multiple entry forms for different types of data. Each form contains fields specific to that type of data. The forms available in the template are...
1. Documents - Organize all textual information from Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, PDF, etc.
2. Email - Organize email and attachments from Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, etc.
3. Images - Organize images, graphs, charts, etc.
4. Notes - Organize your own personal notes, ideas, thoughts, phone conversations, etc.
5. Web Pages - Organize web pages by importing save pages or cut and pasting.
The new template also contains pre-defined reports to summarize your information as well as stored searches to help you search for specific information.
To use the individual forms
Some forms are intended to be used with the askSam importing command while other templates are intended to be used with information being typed or cut and pasted into askSam.
Import Entry Forms
Import entry forms provide a place to store a link to the file being imported. As you import documents an automatic link will be made to the original file. By clicking this link in askSam you will automatically open the file in its original format. Import Entry Forms include...
Ÿ Documents
Ÿ Email
Ÿ Images
Ÿ Web Pages - Import
To use these entry forms choose FILE -> IMPORT and select the appropriate entry form from the FILES OF TYPE pull-down box before importing. Imported information will be imported into the selected form.
NOTE: You will need to setup an Email Profile using FILE -> IMPORT EMAIL to use the EMAIL form. You will select the EMAIL form from the "IMPORT INTO ENTRY FORM" pull-down in the IMPORT OPTIONS box.
Add/Cut&Paste Entry Forms
Add/Cut&Paste entry forms provide a place to store information not requiring a link to an original file -for example, notes.
Add/Cut&Paste Entry Forms include...
Ÿ Notes
Ÿ Web Pages - Add/Cut & Paste
Ÿ Miscellaneous
To use these entry forms choose FILE -> ADD ENTRY FORM and select the appropriate form. Or, choose the appropriate hypertext link from the main menu - ADD A NOTE, ADD WEB PAGE INFO, ADD MISC INFO.
Creating your own forms
If there are other types of data that you collect or if certain data needs fields to be automatically populated you can create your own entry forms in the file.
The simplest way to add an additional entry form is to copy an already existing entry form and make the necessary changes. To add a duplicate entry form..
1. Choose TOOLS -> ENTRY FORMS
2. Select the Entry Form from the list that you want to copy
3. Click EDIT
4. Choose ENTRY FORM -> ADD OTHER -> DUPLICATE
5. Make your changes and choose CTRL+S or FILE ->SAVE
(For example, lets say that we want to import some spreadsheet files. We could EDIT the IMAGES form and simply change the IMAGE to SPREADSHEET and save the form under the name SPREADSHEETS (step 7). Then, when we import any spreadsheet files us the SPREADSHEETS entry form.
OR
Maybe we want to import a collection of PDF files we have collected. However, we know that these files will all fall under the CATEGORY of WILDLIFE. We can EDIT the DOCUMENTS form and when we get to this step we can add WILDLIFE to the category field. A save the form under the name WILDLIFE DOCUMENTS (step 7). Then, when we import, use WILDLIFE DOCUMENTS form instead of DOCUMENTS.)
6. Give the new Entry Form a name when prompted.
7. Choose ENTRY FORM -> CLOSE to return to the file.
NOTE: See the askSam Users Guide and Tutorial for more information on editing and adding entry forms.
Modifying Entry forms
You can also modify the entry forms that we have created by adding additional fields, field data, or removing existing fields. To edit an existing entry form..
1. Choose TOOLS -> ENTRY FORMS
2. Select the Entry Form from the list that you want to copy
3. Click EDIT
4. Make the necessary changes
NOTE: See the askSam Users Guide and Tutorial for more information on editing and adding entry forms.
If you change or remove existing fields you may need to change or remove these fields from the existing reports and stored searches. Also, if you add fields that you want to be included in reports you will have to manually add these fields to the reports or create additional reports.
5. Choose CTRL+S or FILE -> SAVE
6. Choose ENTRY FORM -> CLOSE to return to the file
I hope you enjoy using the askSam Research template.
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