Member
2008-08-03, 06:29 AM
I would second the point about not using OmniFocus for keeping reference materials. But you can use it to link to them. I use finder folders, called "Reading" and "Reference." Although I would prefer the ability to just drag an alias to the blue sidebar, it is possible to sort of do this currently. Here's how:
1. Create a project (I have mine under "Library", but you can put yours wherever it's most convenient to you)
2. Drag the finder folder to the project as an alias
3. When you click on the "Reference" highlight in OF it takes you to the Finder folder "Reference" (You can set up whatever Folder hierarchy you want)
(Optional, and probably overkill: change the icon on the reading and reference folders in the Finder so you you see them as "special" folders--my reference folder has sort of a library building type icon)
I use FoxTrot Professional Search to search. It's pricey, but it's the most reliable program I've found for searching. I think it's better than Spotlight.
I've tried various 3rd party applications: Devonthink, EagleFiler, and various programs like Circus Ponies Notebook. Pretty much what's worked for me is to use the Finder. After an issue with database corruption in DT, I figured the safest way would be to use the Finder. Though one advantage of DT is that you can created more types of folder linkages than in the finder. Eaglefiler is also worth trying, in my view, because EF uses core data in OXS, so it builds upon OSX technology (and the developer is so responsive). Anyway: I moved to the Finder when OSX introduced Quicklook. (I'm not sure whether DT or EF have incorporated Quicklook by now)
To help find things, I use Spotlight Comments to add alternate tags. (In the example above, where if you have a file with "pail" in it, and a search for "bucket" wont' turn up "pail" I would insert a term like "pail" using spotlight comments. (Select a file using the finder, hit apple-I and you get to edit the spotlight comment). It takes some discipline to set up consistent keywords, so I'm unfortunately not consistent in doing this, but probably what makes libraries work is the use of consistent keywords. You could try using DevonThink's artificial intelligence to index finder folders, so that may help also. And the pro version is great for scanning materials in.
Good luck!