[X4U] Randy's organizational tools?

[Randy B. Singer]

On Aug 26, 2010, at 1:11 PM, Richard Hartman wrote:

> Randy,
>
> I am always mightily impressed with your splendidly organized and  
> link-reinforced responses to problems on this list, like the  
> response above.
>
> Would you mind sharing what tool(s) you use to store and organize  
> all this information? Inquiring minds, and all that...

[blush]  Thank you for the kind words!

Many years ago I used to host a large e-mail discussion list for  
Macintosh-using attorneys.  You can't just answer an attorney's  
question by saying "do this."  No, they want a citation.  Sometimes  
they insist on several.

So, in addition to keeping track of Macintosh how-to's and tips, I  
got into the habit of keeping track of citations to back up Macintosh  
information that I learn.

Some of my citations come from knowing where to look.  For instance,  
It's hard to find Apple tech notes that apply to various situations  
unless you know where to look for them...which is here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search

I have a bunch of other similar sites bookmarked and carefully  
arranged in my browser.  I know instantly where to look for free  
software, for refurbished hardware, for esoteric business software,  
for info about old Macs, etc. etc.

I have a huge amount of information stored in a scrapbook-type  
application (which is basically just a structured database) that is  
truly wonderful:

ScrapIt Pro ($25)
http://www.johnvholder.com/sipxdesc.html

I've written a large number of articles about the Macintosh, and a  
few books, and over 50 issues of my MacAttorney Newsletter, over the  
span of about 24 years.  I've been warehousing the information that I  
gathered for those projects in my database all of this time.  So, I  
have the answers to a large number of questions about the Macintosh  
ready to go.

At one time I thought that I might one day write another book about  
the Macintosh, and just pour my database into it.  But the publishing  
industry is incredibly slimy, I've seen my name in print enough times  
to last me the rest of my life, and I already have a job that pays  
better than writing a book.  So that isn't likely to happen.  I'm  
just happy to answer questions on the dozen or so Macintosh e-mail  
discussion lists that I am on.

___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
___________________________________________