this is no continue the discussion started in
http://support.biblioscape.com/node/1114
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I have just realised that the Link Folder is part of 7.25. However, I do not see it. How does one use it? Also, should it (them?) not be prominent being one of the three paradigms: categories, keywords, folders and link folders (perhaps a more distinct name would be good here). Seems I have misunderstood something. Could you please clarify?
bugs/issues with link folders
I haven't had much time yet to try out the new link folders feature, but I've found a few things that need to be fixed or at least looked at:
1. It's possible to make a reference disappear from a regular reference folder yet still appear in a link folder. How: select a reference in a link folder; right-click and choose "Move to Folder"; select another link folder as the destination; and click "Yes" at the confirm dialog. What happens is that the reference does NOT move from one link folder to the other, but it does disappear from the actual reference folder.
2. Deleting a link folder (right-click > Delete Folder) causes all of the references inside it to be deleted from the actual reference folder(s) where they really reside. Considering that they link folder is a virtual folder, it seems like it would be better if deleting it would merely make the link folder itself disappear but leave the references alone. In other words, it should be hard to delete the references. Someone who really wants to delete them can go inside the link folder, select all, and delete.
3. A deleted references link folder shows up in the trash can with a yellow folder icon instead of a green one.
4. Restoring a deleted link folder from the trash doesn't work well. Sometimes when I try restoring a deleted link folder, it simply disappears. Other times, the link folder gets restored to its correct location, but not all of the references it contained get restored together with the folder (some get restored, some don't).
5. Right clicking on a link folder and selecting Properties does not show that the folder is a link folder. Ideally, it should show the same check box, but grayed out so that the user can see it but not change it.
1. In 7.26 release, only
1. In 7.26 release, only regular folder will be displayed in the move to window.
2. When users select Delete, the records will be deleted no matter the current result set is from a search, link folder, or regular folder. If you just want to remove a record from the current link folder, please click the right mouse button and select "Remove from Folder".
3. All folders (references, ntoes, link folder or not) are displayed as yellow folder in the trash can. The green icon in trash can means the record is a reference.
4. This bug will be fixed in 7.26 release. Thanks.
5. This will be implemented in 7.26 release. Thanks.
clarification
2. Paul, I meant deleting a link folder, not references within a link folder. In other words: select a link folder, right click, select "Delete Folder", and click "Yes" at the confirm dialog. This deletes the link folder AND all of the references inside it.
Since a link folder is a virtual folder, it seems like it would be better to make the Delete Folder behavior consistent with that when you delete a search folder or delete a category. In these cases, the folder/category is deleted but the references are not deleted.
4. I've just noticed that there's a similar problem when restoring a deleted category. What I've seen so far is that the category will restore but not all of the records are re-tagged with that category.
2. In 7.26, this problem
2. In 7.26, this problem will be fixed. 4. Tagging with category works differently. Once you delete a category, it is removed from all other records' Categories field. It is not possible to add it back when it is restored. There is no record of that operation.
Another issue with link
Another issue with link folders:
6. References in link folders do not appear in: a) the reference tab of a note, b) add link menues in notes and references, c) biblio sidekick - although the folders themselves are shown.
Lars, all 3 bugs will be
Lars, all 3 bugs will be fixed in 7.26 release. Thanks.
When you create a new
When you create a new folder, there is a check box for link folder. Once created, there will be a link icon in the folder pane. You can drag and drop records into it. It is similar to old folders prior to version 7. But a record has to be in a regular folder first. Link folder like search folder is just a virtual folder. This is different from old release. With link folder, it doesn't care about unique names (unlike tagging with categories).
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It would be good to hear opinions of others but I feel a little confised. Do you not think that it would be better to keep the link folders separate from the normal folders in the interface? They seem quite different. E.g., what happens if a reference is dragged from a linked folder to a normal folder? Is it possible to convert a linked folder to a normal folder? Having these two different types in the same tree implies that they can become one another and are fundamentally the same. What do you think is gained by mixing them together? Why then not simply have B6 stile folders?
They will be in the same
They will be in the same folders tree, but there will be an icon for link folders and search folders. Both link folders and search folders are virtual folders. If you drag a reference from a link folder to a regular folder, that reference will be moved to that folder. But it will also still be in the link folder. To remove a records from link folder, click the right mouse button and select "Remove from Folder". This command is only available when a link folder is the active one.
SR, thanks for starting this
SR, thanks for starting this thread.
I think one important reason to have the link folders in the Folder List (on the left) is so that they can be used easily with categories in the Tabs pane (on the right). You can select some references in a link folder and drag them into a category to categorize them. That's very handy, and it would be lost if the link folders were put in the Tabs pane.
My primary use for link folders will be to organize and keep track of references needed for specific projects. I'll have my "master list" of references stored in regular reference folders at the top of the Folder List, and then down below I'll have references for various projects organized in link folders. For me there won't be much "mixing" of folder types per se, and I don't expect it to be confusing once I get everything set up.
I'm not sure yet what advantages (beyond easier drag and drop between folders for copying) link folders offer compared to BS6 folders, but I've just started playing with them....