Latest 1.1 beta: 1.121B
Please visit
the main page -
this page is not updated
presently.
User Requests
- More word statistics
- List concepts
- Outliner capacity
- Longer words, URLs
- Revision date markups
- Simplified installation of local character sets
- Record sort order of items, unique for each project entry
- Linux version
Recent
vers 1.1 development, known bugs and version comments
Important fixes in versions later than 1.051 (= Oct 22, 2000)
Teaming software
- RoughDraft *)
- Note Tab Light *)
- Yankee Clipper
- Power Structure
- StoryView
- Word Web
- MindMan Personal
- TreePad
*) Set "Texteditor = ex-file-name" in lm.ini-file
Packing the database
LM uses a Paradox (Borland) database. Like most database systems, it will not automatically regain space left by deleted items. This can be a problem when you work with pictures. (Pictures are stored as uncompressed bitmaps in the present version.)The LM program itself contains no pack utility; you have to use an external tool. (Select directory =.. Literary Machine .. and check the "pack" option.)
1 year with 2000
It is 1 year since I made the LM 2000 version, after three years in the air with the original 16-bit version.
Life with a freeware is nice. I offend no one, except perhaps those who do not like complication and programming issues (I often get drops from the Yahoo list when I have written technical and principal comments).
I look at the "competitors" and find that similarities are indeed very few. I do not envy those who attempt to keep a shareware profile; I really dislike their pulling my leg with tricky devices when I want to look at their programs.
This program does not need tools to keep people away; it is, as I understand it quite deterring in itself by its lack of commonness.
I have added a line of features this spring to a beta version: New card associations, pictures, sound and a few word-processing tools. Lastly, XML data transport.
As usual I get few, but mostly very encouraging letters. Some old users have been unwilling to leave the not-too-perfect 3.6 version - I understand it as some kind of loyalty proof..
What to do now?
I have no clear idea. Just let it grow naturally I think.
I will not draw the line with 1.1, since some kind of user interface renewal is needed.
I ought to explain the program, but I do not quite know what to explain since I now and then get letters that show that people use the program in ways that I do not quite understand. My help texts might be un-attractive, but I try to describe all details there. To be earnest, I do not know exactly how my users make it. They are usually both quiet and content about their ways with the program.
I would like interactions with others on these topics:
a) Discuss the methodology of creative writing/database tools (which is my point of departure - I do not need PIM services myself)
b) Software that connects.
| Send a support mail |
Working with outlines
How the new outline feature in LM works
How to decompose a text to a set of items in LM
Demo database made from the LM ordinary help file - use it to study work with long texts.
Demo database - screenshot
Questions & Views
I have been using the LM2000 for about 2 months now, and I think it's a terrific program. The problem I am having is that when I click on a file directory in the project window, it will pull up my word processing program, but not the file itself. I thought maybe it was because I use Windows Works from the Basic Office 2000 suite. I downloaded the RoughDraft program, and I am still getting the same results. I have downloaded and installed the updates for beta 1.105 and beta 1.106. My operating system is Windows Me. I have also tried to change the ini file, but I haven't had any luck with that either.
(J. O-a.)
This worked on a NT machine:
Installed Roughdraft
File Explorer/Options: Erase .rtf entry
Doubleclick a .rtf file; answer "Always open with Roughdraft"
I then registered and tested in LM vers 1.106;
I could open the file with R. by clicking the "semaphore".
I have been developing a personal thesaurus/ dictionary for some time, and I wondered if it was possible to import it into LM (from either Paradox or Excel)?
(T. T.)
I have added comments to the "programmer's info" page about the
database structure.
I like most(all?)people can think a great deal faster than I can type.My thinking is particulary visual and sound based.So I have a problem your program solves the second half , the organisation bit but leaves me relying on my slow typing , the creative flow is severely hindered.My apologies but I'am about to shoot for the stars!My ideal program would work something like this:
I would begin talking and a text box would appear
with the words as I say them showing in the box. Certain words from my
dictionary have a special significance and have been linked previously
to an image and a sound. For example at the moment I say the word ocean
the image I have chosen to represent 'ocean' appears and the sound sample
of say a gull calling is heard. The gist of all this is that not until
I'am able to talk directly into the program will I be able to fly.
(S.P-y.)
(1) Just to clarify, the only way to manipulate data from LM outside of LM (such as in a text editor, word proccessor, etc) is to group the given data into a project, organize it and then drop it back to the desktop and select to go to text? Is there a way to drop dictionary words to the desktop (multiple ones, organize these different peices of info, and then somehow capture all the data on the desktop to the clipboard and then paste into the word processor, without having to set up a topic, such as if wanting to transfer only for a single time directly unrelated data that is somehow indirectly related? (S.V.)
(2) There's an old suggestion I made that you might add an 'Append to clipboard' facility to the Item right-click menu.
The facility was a 'manual' alternative to the Add desktop to Project facility.
For a simple 'collation' the user would then not have to create an 'ad
hoc' Project, and afterwards delete the Project one by one from Items.
(S.P-r.)
You can collect all text from cards on desktop via the bookmode.
Each time you click the book icon, a copy of the booktext is landed on
the clipboard. (Adjust the BookLeft setting in the ini-file if you want to get the text on the right side.)
Frameworking...
I found the best way for me is to arrange the items across the top of the screen. Then I open a new item and write from the ideas I see. If I don't have a good idea yet, I just add more items until I see where I'm going.From the new writing I can do the same thing, open up the longer items and cut and paste them into a new item box and make headings.
Then I can copy the whole thing to the editor by clicking the icon on the box.
Twenty years ago there was a program called Framework which let the writer make little frames like yours that were as easy to open and close. In this program, you could put one frame into another frame or take it out again.
You could make a table frame or a database frame. It was my favorite
program, but it was discontinued when Borland bought the company.
A writer needs a way to look at the pieces of information needed
and hide what is not needed. And there may be many many pieces.
Marion Cutler
Join the LM list!
Announcements about new versions and discussions. This could become the best forum for development of the program.Subscribe:
literarymachine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Post message:
literarymachine@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe:
literarymachine-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
The LM Project
| First version | 1997 | |
| Third version | 1999 | |
| In Search Engines | May 1999 | 50% |
| Pictures | June 2000 | |
| Win95/NT version | Sept 2000 | |
| LM Mail list | Sept 2000 | |
| Freeware Listing | Nov 2000 | 100 % |
| Sound | April 2001 | |
| XML interface | May 2001 | |
| Outline feature | Sept 2001 | |
| Active User Group | 2001 | 20 % |
| Beta 1.1 Help file | Nov 2001 | 0 % |
| LM homepage refresh | Oct 2001 | 10 % |
| 1.1 Version final | 2002 | 60 % |
| Independent Guides | 2002 | 30 % |
| FAQ questions | 2002 | 5 % |
| Teaming Applications | 2003 | 0 % |
| CNet+ZDNet Downloads | Sept 2001 | 4500 |
Error reports and comments!
Test reports and comments as to design and ideas are most welcome!
(Basically I have two kinds of users
1) those who like the program but very much dislike my philosophical
and non-commercial attitude and
2) those who think deep and contribute to the image of complexity.
I like both kinds and I can take those remarks about marketing incompetence.
In fact, that is only the beginning of me. Those who know me know.)
Download files are available at http://sommestad.com/dnl/
Damaged data problem fix
[2001-03-02]Beta version 1.107
The new menu entry "Utilities/Find Damaged Items" can be run (repeatedly)
to locate item cards with no text or with no keywords. (The criterias that
will halt the normal operations while using the LM.)
Please make extra backups when working with beta versions. New database files itmsjmp.*, sched.*, show.* and prjordr.* must be backed-up separately by 1.1 users.
Different languages
Quite a few users want to adapt LM to another character set. The basic
"intl" setting will do in most cases. However, database character sets is not a standardised area.
The following instructions are complicated and partly untested by me, but I repeatedly get indications from users that they work.
(It would be great if a freeware-programmer would like to make a
"BDE"-application for language settings in Paradox databases.)
The Cleandata files are unpacked when the menu command
Utilities/Clear All Data
is issued a second time.
A following File/Restore command will then build the data import on
the "Cleandata" tables and their settings.
To adapt to a different national language setting you must
1) Run BDEADMIN.exe (look for "Common Files" or similar directory path)
and select language for
Configuration/Drivers/Native/Paradox
and
Configuration/init
2) Import the adequate Cleandata.zip file from http://sommestad.com/dnl/support/
and replace the Cleandata.zip file in the LM.exe directory. Empty the
database in LM twice and import any old data.
If you use LM2000 Version 1.1, delete 1.1-database files Sched.*, Show.* Itmsjmp.* to get them recreated in the new environment (or convert them, see below).
You can create a "CleanData.zip" with Borland's "Data Base Desktop"
(should be found in a Delphi or Paradox/Corel installation. A link
to a shareware substutute for the "Data Base Desktop" ).
1) Unpack the cleandata files
2) Go through "Restructure" and change the language setting of each
file.
3) Recreate the Cleandata.zip
4) Empty database in LM and import any old data.
See this note for a list of language drivers.
Prepared CleanData.zip files for Norway, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Taiwan.