Note: ASGS conducted a survey on bibliographic database programs over Doc-Talk that appeared as a regular posting. However the results of this survey are reported in another section of these Web pages, under
ASGS Student Surveys.
=====================================================================
DEAR DOC-TALK
=====================================================================
On Dec 5, Paul McKinney (MCKINNEY.W+_PAUL"@dallas.va.gov) wrote:
>Does anyone have experience using one or more of the commercially
>produced bibliographic databases, eg End Notes Plus, Reference Manager,
>Pro-Cite, AskSam, Papyrus, etc? If so, which seems most suited for
>general academic usage?
...to which we've received numerous replies--
=====================================================================
From: Anne Grillet ([email protected])
I've worked with end-note plus. It allows you to create a
library of references with options of sorting by any
information filed (ie. author, keyword, etc.). You can then
copy a completed list into your paper as a bibliography and
you choose the format.
Over all, it's really easy to work with, but a pain to set
up because you need to type in all of the references.
=====================================================================
From: Larry Pike-Noble ([email protected])
I have extensive experience with EndNote Plus (Niles & Associates,
Berkeley), having used both the Mac and PC version for the last several
years. My view is biased because I have no experience with any other
package, but I can make the following observations based on my own
experience:
1. This is a great way to keep track of references, particularly journal
articles. I use it as a kind of database for keeping track of every
little scrap of information I might need.
2. Most of the 'work' in using EndNote is done while you are
researching,
leaving you free to actually think and write when the crunch comes.
3. Making tiny changes to several hundred citations is a one-shot, 30
second task.
4. Anyone using Melvyl (or, I assume, other on-line service) can
directly download journal citations (complete with abstracts) into
her database. This avoids slow and (in my case) error-prone manual
data entry. Caveat: you need an accessory program called EndLink to
do this--well worth the additional $49.
A few criticisms:
1. There is no Windows version of EndNote. They've been promising one
for years, but I haven't even seen an alpha version. The DOS
version works under Windows, but it's a bit cumbersome. (and not
nearly as cool as the Mac version--see below)
2. Paying for EndLink (see above) seems a bit gratuitous.
3. The DOS version is a bit complex to use: A. You write your
document with markers for each citation, B. you save the document
and exit your word processor, C. You format the document in EndNote,
D. you reopen the document in your word processor. This also means
that you have to edit the original (Step A) document and then redo
steps B-C every time you change it. (see below for comments about
the Mac version).
4. A correlary to #3 is that you can't "unformat" a document. This
sounds like gibberish, but it will make sense once you start using
the software.
5. EndNote only supports a few "mainstream" word processors (Word,
Wordperfect, etc.) If you use something unusual (VolksWrite III,
say), then you need to save to a common format such as RTF.
6. Niles & Associates never seems to notify me when there are
upgrades...
A few kudos:
1. The Mac version is a plug-in module for Microsoft Word. It formats
on the fly eliminating all the switching back and forth described
above.
2. This is among the best written packages I've ever used--it is
virtually bug-free.
3. It is (fairly) straight forward to move files between the Mac and PC
versions.
4. Niles has excellent, free technical support.
5. Although the original software is pricey (I think the list is $250),
upgrades are cheap (free-$19).
The bottom line is that I can't imagine writing without EndNote. It's
easy to use and indispensable.
=====================================================================
From: Ashley Armstrong ([email protected])
The only one of these I have any experience with is End Notes. It
appears to be a remarkably adaptable program for creating
bibliographies--easy to customize and search by various variables. I've
also looked at Lotus Notes and DO NOT suggest it for a bibliographic
database. I've dabbled some in File Maker Pro, as well, at it seems to
have potential. I think End Notes might have more flexibility, though.
=====================================================================
From: Jennifer E Bertrand ([email protected])
I have used Pro-cite for over 3 years. I haven't found it very useful
except to store the citations by number and use keywords, authors names,
etc. to find a particular reference. There are supposedly other
features, like being able to transfer citations directly to a
bibliography section of a paper, but I still haven't figured them out.
I really wish we had a Windows based program (I don't know if Pro-cite
makes one). Recently, Pro-cite was put on our department network (we
gave up our lab's individual rights so the network license would cost
less). Bad idea. It takes about 10 times longer to find a citation
now. I have heard good things about Reference manager, but I have not
used it myself.
=====================================================================
From: Dissertating Denise ([email protected])
I have used EndNote Plus with a Mac and love it! Saves me lots
and lots of time.
=====================================================================
From: "D.M. Wilkins" ([email protected])
I use EndNotes, a Macintosh bibliographic database. I have not used
EndNotes Plus (the version that allows you to download cites from a
variety of on-line databases).
I'm currently using version 1.6.1. EndNotes is easy to use. It works
interactively with Microsoft Word 5.1 (although I find it just as easy
to have an EndNotes library open along with my document and simply
copy and paste cites into footnotes as needed).
EndNotes has an extensive number of built-in citation formats, making it
quite easy to prepare bibliographies with different formats. For example, I
just finished a paper for which the prof required MLA style; I'm also
submitting this paper to an SCA regional meeting, for which I'll use
APA. The conversion is quite painless.
EndNotes is also cheap (under $100). I recommend it highly for Macintosh
users.
=====================================================================
From: "A. E. B. Coldiron" ([email protected])
Hi-- In response to the question about bibliographies, I'd first
like to make sure we're thinking of the same thing--does the
questioner mean bibliographic *software* programs that manipulate
and format the bibligraphic data entered by the user? (Not a
*database*, in other words, as phrased in the question--but
let's not nitpick.) If so, I can report positive
experiences with Citation(tm?), a program that permits the user
to generate several styles of endnote, footnote, works-cited,
reading list, and good old fashioned bibliographies. Being a
humanities PhD candidate, I've only had occasion to use a few
of the styles--MLA, Chicago "A", Chicago "B"--but I believe the
program also includes several social-science styles and perhaps
pure-science styles. An advantage of this program, I find, is
its capacity for searching and arranging lists. There are
fields, naturally, for author, title, journal, book-title,
volume and series numbers, and so on, but there is also a large
"abstract" field in which one can write notes and abstracts,
saving time later on, as well as an excellent "keyword" field
that I have found invaluable for searching older work and
generating new reading lists. This is great even for my
teaching--when I find a source that could be useful in an
undergraduate class, I use keyword-markers to signify that; if
I ever teach that particular subject, I'll have a good start on
a critical reading list for students. Furthermore, one can
generate a given list in any format--this is useful when
sending articles for publication. If a journal that prefers
MLA style rejects an essay and I wish to resubmit to a
Chicago-style journal, Citation makes it a matter of a few
keystrokes instead of a few days.
Citation has, to sum up, helped my research and teaching a
good deal, and I recommend it.
=====================================================================
From: "Kennett T. Robinson" ([email protected])
I have been using EndNOte for a year now. I like its structure but
think a Windows version would be very helpful. I'm just finishing the
review of Lit and will compose the biblio for it with EndNote. THAT
will be the test...
=====================================================================
From: David Giesen ([email protected])
I have used End Note Plus to write several papers for publication in
Chemistry Journals (in addition to my preliminary examination papers).
Frankly, I can't imagine working without it! It is fairly flexible
as far as reference type (and you can actually get any reference format
you want with a little imagination). I consider it indispensible for
working with any writing that will undergo several revisions.
=====================================================================
From: "A. L. Winkler" ([email protected])
The only bibliographic software on the list that I've used is
ProCite, and I love it! It allows a variety of formats for inputting
records, and will then allow complete Boolean searches on your material.
It also allows you to input an abstract--very useful when preparing for
major or minor field exams. It has a variety of "output"
formats--Turabian, MLA, etc. In addition, it allows you to design your
own input fields and output formatting, if none of the pre-designed forms fit.
It has a few limitations. The manual is appalling, and there
aren't popular supplementary workbooks as there are for more broad-based
commercial programs like DBASE or MS Word. I haven't figured out how to
include accents yet--does anyone out there know? Well, actually, let me
backtrack. I can *add* them, but I can't print them out as anything
except extremely nasty looking bits of nonsense. And you are supposed
to be able to import and export bibs. from text, but I haven't mastered that
one, either.
Aside from that it is very useful. When someone asks for a basic
starter bibliography for a subject my base covers, I can provide one with
three keystrokes. Subscribing to UNCOVER Reveal sends the latest tables
of contents to selected journals to my EMAIL box. I download them and
enter them into PROCITE. When I go to read journals at the library, I
just print out citations for those I'm interested in, saving a lot of
time paging through a journal and then remembering that there wasn't
anything in *that* issue ... Plus it makes bibliographies for papers a
snap. Enter the book into the base, if you don't already have it there
from related papers; at bibliography time, all you have to do is press
buttons. You can index books in a number of different keywords --
(mendicants, Dominicans, 13th century, urban, preaching) is one "index"
line. And you can always go back and update it. It seems reasonably
fast, too. I have only about 1500 records in my base at the moment (I
had a prof. who has a monster bibliography, 40 pages single spaced and
double sided, and I entered that for her for summer money once--but I got
to keep a copy!), but it isn't terribly slow. Space isn't a problem,
either. Up until last year I ran Procite on a 512K machine, and I'm
using it now on my much faster 286 with a 40 meg hard drive; it doesn't
use a lot, for those of you lucky enough to have 486 machines.
At any rate, I find it useful. Enjoy, and hope this helps.
=====================================================================
From: Karla Tonella ([email protected])
I have used both EndNote Plus and Pro-Cite, which are bibliographic
applicatons and I HIGHLY recommend them (especially EndNote) to any
academic, and especially dissertation writers. AskSam is a different
animal, but I think I recall reading that Papyrus was a bibliographic
program too.
Both EndNote and Pro-Cite are made for DOS or Macintosh platforms.
Between EndNote Plus and Pro-Cite I prefer EndNote for two reasons. One,
the Macintosh version has a Plug-In module that makes it work from within
Microsoft Word. Two, Pro-Cite seems to have been developed with librarians,
not writers, in mind-- with many fields academics won't find useful such as
ISBN numbers.
Using EndNote with Microsoft Word is great! You enter the basic data for
each reference ... it will be the only time you have to type that
information. While writing your paper when you come to a place where you
want to cite a reference you call up Endnote *from your Word menu* and
highlight the reference. Click on "Insert citation" and EndNote puts the
author & reference number in your document in special brackets. When
you're finished, still within Word, you pull down the menu selection
"compile bibliography" choose the style you want -- MLA, APA, Chicago,
Science .... whatever ... EndNote will comb your document for cites,
change their format to fit the style you've chosen, gather and
alphabetize your reference list and plop it down at the end of the
section or document. No more worrying about where the commas and
periods go ... no need to reduce author names to initials ... if the
style you choose requires initials, EndNote will reduce the names to
initials.
Since EndNote is basically a database you also have various sorting
options available. If you want to print out a bibliography sorted by
Journal instead of Author ... no sweat. I always enter library
call-numbers in my records so I can sort by call-number and systematically go
through the library. It will print out annotated bibs. The keyword
field is really useful. I always put in the name of the section or
sections I think I'll use the reference in, so I can do a quick find and
have only those references showing in my list.
For DOS or Windows users ... alas, the EndNote people have not yet made a
plug-in module for Word for Windows ... but they do make an Endnote for
Dos and Windows ... you just don't have the convenience of using it as an
intregral part of Word. Of course most DOS people are Word Perfect users
and already live spartan lives :-). Pro-Cite also makes a DOS version.
EndNote has a companion application called EndLink (Pro-Cite has
something similar) that takes output from library and commercial
databases and pulls it into EndNote, stripping the unnecessary parts, and
making it into a regular EndNote bibliography. On the other hand, many of
these databases, like the MLA one, will output it's data in Pro-Cite
format ... (which reminds me there is a Pro-Cite to EndNote translation
feature in EndNote).
I read that many people use AskSam for taking notes ... and love it.
It's a DOS application though and I haven't bothered to check it out.
=====================================================================
From: "MCKINNEY.W+_PAUL"@dallas.va.gov
I currently use EndNote Plus, and find it quite helpful and reasonably easy
to use (I am an inveterate DOS-based tinkerer). Entry and sorting of listings
is quite easy, and searches are fast and capable of a good degree of complexity.
In working with an article or paper, one merely inserts coded references
(usually marked with curly brackets {}, and the author and reference in-
formation). When the paper is completed, EndNote will scan the paper,
insert footnotes or references in the desired bibliographic style, and
automatically create a bibliography at the end.
If one uses WordPerfect, EndNote Plus works as a TSR; to add a reference,
one merely hits the hotkey (Ctrl-Alt-E) to bring up the database, marks the
desired reference(s), and returns to WordPerfect. The TSR then inserts the
appropriate code in the text, which can then be formatted in the desired
style.
Included with EndNote Plus are reference styles for APA, Author-date,
Chicago (Turabian 5th edition), JACS, MLA (two styles, one with footnotes,
one without), Nature, Numbered, Science, and Vancouver. In addition, it
is possible to configure one's own styles as needed. Niles & Associates
maintains an ftp archive with bibliographic styles created by users, as
well as suggestions and information about using the program.
Citations can be imported from ProCite, Refer, and BiblX files, or from
user-configured database reports, including comma-delimited dBase files.
Niles also offers an import utility that can import references from various
online databases such as Medline, Silver Platter, and others.
I have not used any other bibliographic programs, so I cannot asses how
EndNote functions in relation to them, but I have been satisfied with
the way the program handles my needs.
Niles & Associates can be contacted at
[email protected]; Niles.Assoc on A.O.L.; or
71172,653 on Compuserve.
Or by snail-mail:
Niles & Associates Inc.
2000 Hearst St., Suite 200
Berkeley, CA 94709
(I have no connection to Niles except through having been one of the
beta-testers of the current Endnote version.)
=====================================================================
From: John Dowell ([email protected])
Yepper, I bought EndNotePlus several months ago, thinking it
would make my ludicrously over-cited (as opposed to over-sighted,
hardy-har-har) dissertation on the relationship/synergy between
humor and horror in American popular culture a snap to write, as I'd need
only Plug'n'Play using the application.
Wrong.
Further, I was under the MacWarehouse advert-inspired impression
that I would have -- as a matter of course (and my dollar investment, of
course) -- instant modem access (via an access code, perhaps) to all these
fabulous databases Out There in Virtual Reference Land.
Wrong again.
I called Niles & Associates' [sic] for info on such databases,
and was given three or four phone numbers for institutions which digitize
googoggles of journals. I called 'em all on my nickle. These folks are
VERY expensive for a starving grad student; some, in fact, are worthy of
calling "little more than expensive moneyholes" for an entire
program/department facing current "budgetary restructurings." By the
bye, some of these database institutions are _still_ calling me,
wondering why I've yet to fork out a few grand for their services.
If anyone out there could offer ME some practical advise (you
know, other than dropping out of the academy and going back to
McBartending), I'm all ears. Meantime, I _am_ using ENP now and again,
though I typically just copy and paste the references.
=====================================================================
From: Paul Brassey ([email protected])
I use EndNote Plus with a Macintosh. I chose it in part because my word
processor is Microsoft Word, and EndNote Plus has a "plug-in" module
which works as one of Word's tools.
I think most of these bibliography managers have the same basic
functions: They provide a framework for entering bibliographic data,
which can then be formatted according to a variety of common journal
formats, and enable you to design your own formats. The advantage of them
is that you only have to type in the information once.
EndNote Plus with Word is also able to insert citations from the
bibliographic database into the text or footnotes of your document. When
you are ready to print out the document, you must then command EndNote
Plus to format the citations. This can take several minutes, depending on
the length of the document and number of citations. It also automatically
compiles and formats a bibliography of works cited and places it at the
end of your document. It would be wonderful if the document could now be
printed. Alas, not the case. EndNote Plus knows nothing about such
common footnote conventions as Ibid., Idem., op.cit., etc. You get the
full or abbreviated citation every time it appears. So after EndNote Plus
has finished its work, you must still do some further editing.
EndNote Plus can import bibliographic data from a variety of formats.
Unfortunately, it cannot import the records from my own university
library. This is very important: The first step in selecting bibliography
software is to ask your librarian which formats the library computer
system supports. The library computer wonk would know which software
works best with your library database.
=====================================================================
From: Tom Brown ([email protected])
There is a freeware extension to EndNotes called Taglink that
allows one to download references directly from the MELVYL
database. It is available from Niles & Associates' ftp site.
I never have to type a reference.
MELVYL is accessible to anyone by telnet. Unfortunately, the
journals part of the db requires a password. Still, with
taglinks anyone can download book citations for free.
=====================================================================
From: [email protected] (Mary Ann Coyle)
In the summary of responses to the query on bibliograhic
databases I saw no mention of the package I use,
Library Master.
I chose Library Master over ProCite several years ago
because it was more flexible, easier to use with much
less manual reading, and much cheaper.
I use the program as a database for all my research notes
and not just as an aid to writing particular papers, as
most of the respondents seem to do with other packages.
Library Master is compatible with most Word Processors and
permits downloading of whole databases or selected entries
into bibliographic or footnote form in a large variety of
accepted styles from the humanities, social sciences, and
sciences.
The package is also supposed to allow importation of
entries from online databases, a feature I have yet to use.
Another feature I have never tried is the importation of
Word Perfect merge files into the Library Master databases.
What I like most is the ease with which I can search all
my references and notes by any field in the bibliographic
entries or by index terms assigned by myself.
A demo copy of Library Master was available on the
University of Maryland Inform system last time I looked
through the available software. (inform.umd.edu)
I am in no way hawking this product, but think it important
that potential users try various applications before choosing
one to buy. I was impressed with ProCite when I first used it
on campus and probably would have bought it despite my
discomforts with it if I had not happened to see a demo
of Library Master.
=====================================================================
From: Chris Golde ([email protected])
One more comment re. Bibliographic manager programs (I am a dedicated
Endnote Plus on the Mac user), like most tools it is limited by what you
put into it. I try and discipline myself only to add a citation to my
database once I have read the article. I am considering adding a second
file for citations I stumble over that i want to find, or have found but
not read, to keep from duplicating.
I have a system in which once I have
read an article, it goes in a file drawer with a separate file folder by
author. After it is read, but before it is filed, I type the citation
into Endnote (kind of a reification of having done the reading.) At that
time, when the information is freshest in my mind, I write a citation. I
also assign keywords to the citation. I keep a note card of my citation
categories so that i use the same spellings and wording, making it easier
to sort out a subset (women, colleges, graduate students, feminist
theory, etc.) when I am looking for something.
I have found that every time I "cheat" my system and file without writing
an abstract, I don't go back to write the abstract "tomorrow" and
inevitably forget exactly what I liked and didn't like and thought the
main findings were in a given citation.
Like many such tools, customization to meet my needs is helpful too. For
example, I added a field called "Own This" in which I simply write Yes or
No, or list the course reader it is in, or whatever other helpful note
about what portion I have a copy of. I have also had to write some of my
own citation types (which is quite simple) for things like Conference Papers,
E-mail correspondence, etc.
However, I wouldn't let go of this service for anything. Assembling the
bibliography is always one of the last tasks, and inevitably done when
tired. I am sure I have avoided countless errors of alphabetization,
spelling of author names etc.
In retrospect, I would have been smart to build a file of every reading
for my courses in early years. This would allow me to go back to things
that "vaguely ring a bell", or might help in developing syllabi in the
future.
=====================================================================
From: [email protected] (Jonathan Burgoyne)
Here in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese the students use
Pro-cite, especially in a course given this last quarter by Professor
Perisinoto on bibliographic research. Although the students complain
about the complexities of setting up all the parameters, in the end it is
a very useful program, especially if you are working with very long
bibliographies. I myself don't use it.
=====================================================================
From: sfeigenb ([email protected])
In response to Pro-Cite:
I used Pro-Cite for the bibliography on my dissertation
proposal. I would NOT recommend it for literature students who use
articles and books published in foreign languages. I found the program to
be very helpful at first but then realized that it had quite a few
discrepancies. An example: they sell it telling you it will put the data
in MLA style. That was not entirely true. The format is on the program
but they "forgot" some fundamental rules pertaining to the MLA style. In
other words, you had to doublecheck all the periods, caps, and commas.
I don't believe that students should get lazy and just expect to plug in
the info and come out with an MLA style bibliography BUT if a company sells
software under the pretense that you can indeed expect your bibliography to
come out in a specific format, there should no discrepancies. When I
called the support line, they basically had no explanation and kindly
told me doublecheck my MLA manual for those categories they hadn't
programmed in.
In conclusion, this program is not worth its price.
=====================================================================
From: ([email protected]) (Art Prutzman, NE Penna)
I enjoyed the issue about databases very much.
I save a lot of screen saves and such from the net. A lot of ascii ends
up in my download directory.
I usually go into pctools for windows to view these scraps and move them
around to the proper subdirectory. I can't edit with pctools for windows,
a lot of times there is garbage from the screen that I would like to delete
and keep just the info I want.
Ami pro works well, but I would like a VIEWER that is also a file manager;
that can edit. I think XTREE is like that, and I have a fiew Dos programs,
but none quite as cool drag n drop as pctools.
Does anyone have any similar experience?
=====================================================================
From: Wirote Aroonmanakun ([email protected])
Thanks for the information about bibliography software. I keep
looking for EndNote in computer stores, but couldn't find
one. Can sombody tell me where to buy it and how much it
costs? Is there a discount for students?
As for bibliography software for MS Windows, I found some
shareware in the network. Some of them are very interesting.
The first one (jeepersw.zip) can export output in many styles
directly to Word, WP, Ami Pro.
FTP to ftp.cica.indiana.edu,
in pub/pc/win3/util, there are:
jeepersw.zip (interesting)
bbase15.zip
bibfil12.zip
bkwrm091.zip
in pub/pc/win3/demo, there is:
bib30.zip (interesting)
========================================================
Thanks, Wirote. You can find out about EndNote from its publisher,
Niles and Associates, Inc. by email at [email protected]; at
Niles.Assoc on America OnLine; or at 71172.653 on Compuserve, or by
writing:
Niles & Associates Inc.
2000 Hearst St., Ste 200
Berkeley, CA 94709
(Thanks to Rev. D. Andrew Kille who gave us that info in a previous
posting.)
--dt
=====================================================================
From: [email protected]
Actually this is a question about Endnotes (and EndnotesPlus). The computer
store showed a listing for the Mac format only. Could someone tell me the
name of the company that produces the MS-DOS format? Does anyone know if
a windows version is due out soon? Thank you.
===========================================================
Apparently, from previous postings, EndNote comes in DOS and Mac
formats only--no Windows yet. Although Niles and Assoc has been
promising to come out with one, they haven't delivered as yet,
I'm told.
--dt
=====================================================================
From: [email protected]
Would anyone know if such an animal exists for the Amiga platform?
=====================================================================
From: Mark Alan Zurbuchen ([email protected])
As an undergraduate, I used FileMaker Pro on the Macintosh to database
thousands of journal article abstracts (yes, thousands) for a professor.
Although we didn't use it for bibliographic references, it could prove to be an
extremely handy tool for bibliographies. Some of the benefits are:
You can format the output any way you please. It may take you a little
while to get set up, but once you are, you're set.
You can define any kind of data field you want. For instance, I had a couple
of check boxes for every entry. As I was searching through the database, I
could
check the little box of any papers that I wanted the references for. Then I
would use the program to "Find" all of the little check boxes, and print out
this list.
You can also define fields of "pull-down menus" with pre-defined lists. I would
"pull down" the article keywords from a pre-defined list, eliminating any
chance of typos. Searches were equally simple. Alternatively, I could also
search for the occurrence of words in the abstract, title, or any other fields.
Also in Reference to Bibliographies:
Here are several alternative methods I have used to get bibliographic
information into my computer, although these may not be options for everybody:
Remote log into your library's card catalog database and download the
results of a search.
Your school probably has CD-ROM databases available for literature
searches. These computers often have a diskette drive and offer you the
option of
exporting the results of a search to a diskette.
It is possible to scan in references and use text recognition software. I have
actually done this. It is quicker than typing only in a very few special cases,
for example if you want to index the table of contents of a journal.
Resolve to teach yourself to touch-type. For your lessons, type in
bibliographic information. : )
=====================================================================
From: Scott Kelley ([email protected])
For people looking for a Mac version demo of Endotes, one can
be had (via gopher or ftp) from sumex-aim.stanford.edu (or one
of their mirrors, if busy). I believe the bibliographic soft-
ware is in the /TextProcessing or /utility directory. Also
of use to Hypercard users is a program called
bibliography-manager-ii-20.hqx. I've just recently acquired
these applications, so I can't comment on their use yet.
=====================================================================
From: Elizabeth Lane Lawley ([email protected]) re: biblio software
I come late to the discussion of bibliographic tools, but would like
to add words of high praise for the Mac version of EndNote Plus, which
enabled me to survive my comps with far less stress than I would have
had without it. Truly a well-designed program, and the new version has
excellent searching and formatting capabilities. (You can format a
paper by one style manual's rules, then unformat it and redo it in
another format--a godsend if you are submitting the same paper to
multiple sites.)
=====================================================================
This useful survey report on user ratings of comparative software for
bibliographic citation management was forwarded to us from an email
list put out by Pamela Cibbarelli of Cal State-Fullerton. Details on
how to reach her are at the bottom of the message.
=======================================================
From: "Dennis O'Hara" [email protected]
In view of earlier discussions concerning bibliographic citation
management software, I thought that this forwarded message might be of
interest. Dennis O'Hara
*********************************************
'Cibbarelli's Surveys'
USER RATINGS OF
BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
This User Ratings survey focuses on bibliographic citation
management software. Bibliographic citation management
software is used to manage databases of citations to information.
The databases are designed to produce reports which adhere
to standard bibliographic styles, such as Turabian, Chicago
Manual of Style, MLA Style sheet, etc.
Software for multiple types of computers is included,
e.g., DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and VAX.
CIBBARELLI'S SURVEYS: USER RATINGS articles traditionally
include Training as a category to be surveyed. Although the
survey forms included this category, only about 30% of the
responses provided ratings for it. Most respondents indicated they
had no opportunity to evaluate this service. Therefore the category,
Training, has been deleted from this survey article. Most of these
packages are inexpensive (less than $500), so formal training is
rarely included in the purchase price.
The results are shown on the following charts. The complete
article which includes comments made by survey respondents
will be published in a forthcoming issue of _Computers in
Libraries_.
Originally these survey results were planned for publication in
_Information Today_. However, with Learned Information's
recent purchase of _Computers in Libraries_ , the Cibbarelli's
Surveys articles are returning to _Computers in Libraries_.
There will be an overlap period of a couple of months as the
DOS/Windows IOLS survey and the DEC VAX/VMS survey
are published in _Information Today_.
Survey Results
Total All Responses
Ave High Low Category
7.8 10 (14) 2 (1) Documentation
6.2 10 (40) 3 (4) Service/support
8.3 10 (31) 1 (1) Product reliability
8.3 10 (38) 2 (1) Product capabilities
7.8 10 (18) 3 (5) Ease of use
8.6 10 (50) 2 (1) Vendor's integrity
8.2 10 (30) 1 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 176
The following charts are the averaged responses for those
bibliographic citation management software packages for
which at least four responses were received. Only one or
two responses were received for several packages. For
those, no chart is prepared nor statistics provided since
the sample is too small to be considered representative.
Thanks are extended to all who participated in the surveys.
EndNote Plus
Ave High Low Category
8.1 10 ( 6) 2 (1) Documentation
8.9 10 (25) 5 (1) Service/support
8.8 10 (23) 3 (1) Product reliability
8.5 10 (22) 3 (1) Product capabilities
8.1 10 (12) 3 (2) Ease of use
8.8 10 (26) 5 (2) Vendor's integrity
8.7 10 (20) 1 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 74
For more information about EndNote and EndLink contact:
Niles and Associates, Inc.
800 Jones Street
Berkeley, CA 94710 510 559-8592
510-559-8683, fax
[email protected]
listserv: [email protected]
news: bit.listserv.endnote
gopher: magic.ucsb.edu
*****
IBID
Ave High Low Category
7.0 9 (2) 4 (1) Documentation
6.4 7 (2) 3 (1) Service/support
7.6 10 (1) 4 (1) Product reliability
9.6 10 (4) 8 (1) Product capabilities
9.0 10 (2) 8 (2) Ease of use
7.8 10 (1) 3 (1) Vendor's integrity
8.8 10 (1) 8 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 5
For more information about NotaBene and Ibid contact:
The Technology Group, Inc.
36 South Charles Street, Suite 2200
Baltimore, MD 21201
410 576-2040
410 576-1968 - fax
listserv: [email protected]
news: bit.listserv.notabene
*****
Library Master
Ave High Low Category
7.9 10 (3) 4 (2) Documentation
8.1 10 (4) 3 (1) Service/support
8.0 10 (2) 4 (1) Product reliability
8.4 10 (2) 6 (2) Product capabilities
7.6 10 (1) 4 (2) Ease of use
8.8 10 (7) 6 (1) Vendor's integrity
8.0 10 (2) 5 (2) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 31
For more information about Library Master contact:
Balboa Software
5845 Yonge Street
P.O. Box 69539
Willowdale, ON M2M 4K3, Canada
416 730-8980
416 730-9715 - fax
[email protected]
listserv: [email protected]
*****
Papyrus
Ave High Low Category
9.2 10 (3) 8 (1) Documentation
9.1 10 (3) 8 (2) Service/support
8.9 10 (2) 8 (3) Product reliability
8.5 10 (1) 5 (1) Product capabilities
8.0 10 (1) 6 (1) Ease of use
9.6 10 (7) 7 (1) Vendor's integrity
8.6 10 (1) 5 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 8
For more information about Papyrus contact:
Research Software Design
2718 S.W. Kelly Street, Suite 181
Portland, OR 97201
503 796-1368
[email protected]
*****
Pro-Cite
Ave High Low Category
6.7 10 (1) 2 (1) Documentation
7.0 10 (2) 3 (1) Service/support
7.9 10 (2) 1 (1) Product reliability
7.8 10 (3) 2 (1) Product capabilities
6.6 10 (4) 3 (2) Ease of use
7.8 10 (2) 2 (1) Vendor's integrity
7.2 10 (2) 1 (5) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 26
For more information about Pro-Cite and Biblio-Link contact:
Personal Bibliographic Software
P.O. Box 4250
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
313 996-1580
313 996-4672 - fax
Internet: [email protected], support @pbsinc.com
listserv: [email protected],edu
*****
Reference Manager
Ave High Low Category
7.4 9 ( 4) 4 (2) Documentation
7.9 10 ( 3) 4 (1) Service/support
8.0 9 ( 6) 5 (1) Product reliability
8.2 10 ( 2) 4 (1) Product capabilities
8.1 9 (10) 4 (1) Ease of use
8.4 10 ( 3) 6 (1) Vendor's integrity
8.1 10 ( 1) 4 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 18
For more information about Reference Manager contact:
Research Information Systems, Inc.
2355 Camino Vida Robie
Carlsbad, CA 92009
619 438-5547
619 428-5266 - fax
Internet: [email protected] or [email protected]
*****
STN Personal File System
Ave High Low Category
7.7 10 (2) 3.5 (1) Documentation
7.5 10 (2) 3 (1) Service/support
7.5 10 (1) 1 (1) Product reliability
8.0 10 (3) 2 (1) Product capabilities
7.9 10 (2) 5 (1) Ease of use
8.1 10 (3) 2 (1) Vendor's integrity
7.8 10 (3) 1 (1) Overall satisfaction
Total number of respondents for all software = 8
For more information about STN Personal File System contact:
STN International
c/o FIZ Karlsruhe
P.O. Box 2465 D-y
6012 Karlsruhe 1 F.R. Germany
+49/7247/808-555
+49/7247/808-666
STNmail: HLPDESKK
*****
Future Surveys:
You are invited to participate in future 'Cibbarelli's Surveys'.
Future surveys are:
- Subscription services
e.g., Readmore, Blackwell, Dawson, EBSCO, Swets, Everetts, Faxon,
Harrassowitz, Turner; due by April 1. To be published in
Computers in Libraries
- IOLS for DEC VAX/VMS
e.g., DRA, Aristocat, Datalib, Horizon, Galaxy, Georgetown, InMagic Plus,
BiblioTech, Libertas, Manager Series, MultiLIS, SydneyPlus, TechlibPlus,
ULISYS; due by May 1. To be published in Information Today.
- Library Security Systems & Self-Checkout Systems
e.g., Checkpoint Systems, Gaylord, Highsmith, Kingsley, 3M, Magnovation;
due by July 1. To be published in Computers in Libraries.
- Retrospective Conversion Services & Online Cataloging Services & Software
e.g., OCLC, WLN, Mitinet/Marc, BiblioFile, LaserQuest, Marcive,
RetroLink Associates, EKI, Electronic Scriptorium; due by Aug 1.
To be published in Computers in Libraries.
- Software for Use by Library Patrons to Navigate the Internet
e.g., NCSA Mosaic, Air Mosaic, Chameleon, Lynx, Gopher, GINA,
NetCruiser, Netscape, Vizion, WinPAC, Marvel, Internet Link; due by Sep 1.
To be published in Computers in Libraries.
To participate in the surveys, please complete the form in the
following e-mail message and send it to
Cibbarelli's 419 Main St. #82 Huntington Beach, CA 92648
fax 714 960-5454 e-mail [email protected]
*****
Pamela Cibbarelli 714 969-8358 [email protected]
adjunct faculty, California State University Fullerton
editor, Directory of Library Automation (Learned Info, 1994)
columnist, _Information Today_, 'Cibbarelli's Surveys'
technical program chair, IOLS'95
=====================================================================
From: Steve Thompson [email protected]
Are there any decent Windows-based bibliography programs out there? I
tried Jeepers--a share-ware program--but I wasn't that impressed. It
seemed complicated and unsuited for a student in the humanities. Is
Endnotes Plus impossible to use with Windows? I'm not a computer geek!
=====================================================================
From: Bruce Clemens [email protected]
I compared Pro-cite, end note, and others and decided on "Reference Manager."
I am glad I did. Reference Manager has been Windows-based for a couple
of years now. I can easily transfer between WordPerfect and Reference
Manager, which generates my bibliographies.
=====================================================================
From: [email protected] (Ashraf El-Hamalawi)
Well I've enjoyed the discussions that take part here, and I decided to send a
first message.
For bibliography packages, there are a few shareware programs which you
can download and try out (sending a fee of course to the author if you like it).
The site and directory are :
http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/SimTel/msdos/database.html
...there are actually DOS-based programs and one Windows program:
ap11.zip
biblo302.zip
pdx21b.zip
rms32b.zip
They have a lot of these facilities that you have mentioned in previous
posts, including things like exporting the references to WordPerfect and
Word format and searching and so on--you can also define the format of the
reference that you would like. Good luck with the various bibliographoes.
=====================================================================
From: "Michael J. Breen" [email protected]
Following some recent discussion on this list I took a look at what I
had available on shareware CD-roms in this area. I tried out a number
of different programs and am very impressed with Jeepers for Windows.
It seems to be an excellent product and can be tried for 30 days. It
is available at:
epas.utoronto.ca
...in the directory:
/pub/cch/shareware/bib_management.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone else tried this. My test was
limited to working with Word for Windows and the program was very fast,
100% accurate, and amazingly user-friendly.
From: Pamela Jean Lucas [email protected]
Thank you for the information on Delphi research. It sounds like it
might be something useful to me in my study.
A couple of weeks ago, there was some discussion on bibliographic
databases which proved to be very interesting. Is anyone aware of one
that will work with ClarisWorks?
=====================================================================
From: Shelly Warwick [email protected]
I use Reference Manager for Windows with Word for Windows and like it
(I've also used ProCite, and don't like it). RM allows you to download
from online and CD sources or enter data from the keyboard. It's also
good at entering the cite into your document. The selection for
entry is not as smooth as I would like (at least three key strokes).
And you have to generate the final version of the document and the cites
once complete, which makes it a bit more troublesome in doing edits
(remembering to edit the ungenerated document without cites, rather than
the final, then generating the final version again). It has a
version that only allows 400 cites per database, available for about
$80.00. The download module is about $50.00 (if you need it). If you
can live with cite limitation, it's a great price. However if you need
more citations, you'll need the full version. I believe there is some
academic pricing available, but I don't know what it is.
There is also a new module available (which I haven't seen) which allows
you to create your own cite formats. I haven't used RM with WordPerfect
but find it works well with Word, and suspect it would be equally as good
in all programs. If you want more info, please let me know.
=====================================================================
From: [email protected] (Bob Irwin)
Dear Doc-talk, I don't want to take the time to reply separately to the
individuals asking about bibliographic software, but here is some information
you can pass along if you wish: A few days ago a fairly sophisticated friend
(he's published four books by age 35) mentioned to me that he's recently
bought "Papyrus" and wanted to recommend it to me.
=====================================================================
From: Prescott Smith [email protected]
I tried out a number of programs for bibliography use. Took me
literally years. Forget about shareware for academic purposes, though Bibl
is a very neat program for home or informal use.
You don't say what field you're in or what style manual you intend
to use. Many programs will not handle some types. Reference Manager,
for instance, is only good for science fields, and has a number of problems
(bugs) even there, though it has some good features--a full screen notes
editor for example.
If you're pretty far along on your dissertation, you will save time
by *not* using a bibliography program. Unless you intend to continue on
with academic publishing, it will require a greater investment in time
learning to find and use a good bibliography program than it will save
just for a dissertation.
ProCite is alright, though expensive, but if you want to use the
program to organize your notes and quotes as well, it is nearly useless.
I use Library Manager and find it is the best, most flexible, etc.,
with *all* of the record types you might run into--unpublished, articles
in books, videos, manuscripts, etc.--but takes time to learn: First you
have to design the setup for your needs, then report out in the format and
style you want, then import from CD ROM, MARC tagged format, OPACs,
etc.
Another good but simpler one is Papyrus, also minimal cost, but that
means you have to put more work into designing forms, etc. End-Note is
OK, but has problems and isn't as flexible if you can't work around them
for the needs of your field. Good luck.
=====================================================================
From: "Keith J. Miller" [email protected]
I would like to reply to Pamela Cook's query regarding biblio
tools and EndNote for Windows in particular. Several weeks ago, I
joined doc-talk, and posted my query about these tools, which I guess
brought this topic to the foreground again. I would like to thank all
doc-talkers for their generosity in providing me with information. Now
I hope the info I provide can benefit someone else.
I think I mentioned that after reading the tons of information that I
received on biblio tools, finding the WWW site that provides reviews
of the tools, and actually demo-ing several (many have demo versions
available via ftp), I chose to try out the full copy of PAPYRUS. There
were several things that led me to this choice: the "progressive
licensing policy", which makes it easy (and legal) for you to use
PAPYRUS on your home PC, your laptop, at school, and at work, the fact
that there are NO 'hidden' costs for (necessary) add-ons like import
modules or filters, the reported 'user-friendliness' of the manual (&
workbook) that come with PAPYRUS [even though the use of PAPYRUS is
fairly intuitive, these are nice to have], the fact that all of this
comes for the $99 pricetag, and finally, the money-back guarantee (I
figured 'what can I lose?')
I have been using PAPYRUS for several weeks now, and I am pleased to say
that I think that I have chosen right. Although I have not yet had to
put it to the test of generating footnotes in an actual document, I am
confident that this will work fine. Being character-based, the user
interface is a bit 'klunky' but that is the case for most of these tools,
which are DOS-based. This brings me to another point--RSD, the makers of
PAPYRUS, provide free, unlimited support for registered users via e-mail.
The software works exactly as it is supposed to, and the documentation is
excellent, but if there is something that needs more explanation, or if
PAPYRUS doesn't currently do something you want it to [in my case it was
to import all of the biblio information I had entered in the other tools as
I was demo-ing them], RSD will provide the necessary support. My only
criticism is that sometimes it might be a matter of days (even a week)
before you get a reply. I think that this is because they are a fairly
small company, but their heart is in the right place.
I have also been in touch (via e-mail) with Dave Goldman, PAPYRUS's
creator, to offer my feedback as a new user (they encourage this).
I made a few remarks especially regarding the interface, and was assured
that a Windows (GUI-based) version is forthcoming (but this will be after
the Mac version is released at the end of the year).
One final note: Pamela asked if there are features that she is likely to
want in the future. I don't know if EndNote supports note cards for
particular references, but I have definitely found this a useful
feature. In PAPYRUS, you can have as many notecards as you need (there
is some limit, but it was so high that I didn't concern myself with it)
associated with any given reference. I was also told by Dave Goldman
(although I haven't tried it yet myself) that if you are running PAPYRUS
under Windows, it is possible to cut and paste between notecards and
a document in your word processor. Saving keystrokes is a definite coup
for any finger-weary dissertation writer.
BTW, I don't work for (or own stock in....) the company that develops
PAPYRUS. I just feel that they are a well-intentioned company with a
human face that has developed a solid software product, and will stand
behind it. And to top it off, their product has many, if not all, of the
features you'd find in a high-priced system, but it is still priced so a
student can afford to use it. As long as they have this going for them,
it seems to me that you can't lose.
=====================================================================
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