Software for Profs

I thought it would be nice to have a place where profs can inform their colleagues about computer software or services that they find especially useful.

Here is information about four programs.  If you wish to add odds, others send me the information.

BTW, if someone is seriously interested in any of the first three, I will be glad to show you how they work.  Just email me.

Scroll down, or click on the name of the program for more information

Endnote

This is a bibliographic program.  More than a dozen years ago, a former colleague was singing this program’s praises.  I didn’t see its appeal.  I wasn’t sure that I would use it.  Besides, it was expensive.  Finally I broke down and bought it.  Now I cannot imagine functioning without it.  Here’s why.  Once you enter a full reference into Endnote, you will never has to fish around again for the precise date, the subtitle, or the volume number of journal in which an article appeared.  (I don’t dare calculate the wasted hours looking for the information.)  Once the reference is there, it is always ready to hand.

A bibliography list looks like this:

When you are ready to use a reference, highlight it, and then click the “insert reference” button.  The reference appears, in the chosen format, at the chosen place.  The program comes with pre-defined formats for hundreds of journals and publishers.  You can also create a custom format.  Finally, if, for some reason, you have to change formats, no problem.  Just instruct the program to regenerate the list of sources using the new format..

You can also download full references information from hundreds of libraries (e.g., the Library of Congress, Google Scholar, etc.

Here’s the company’s web page:  http://www.endnote.com/.   You can get a free trial.

Academics can purchase this software (as well as many other titles) at a reduced rate at: http://www.academicsuperstore.com/.

Apparently this is now available, for the cost of a CD ($5, I think) through the university!

ClipMate

Ever had to copy multiple items (say, student names, or references) from one file to the other?  First you cut it from one document, switch to the second; paste it; then switch back to the first.  Not with this gem.  You can copy as many items as you want from one source, then move to the second document, and paste them without having to return to the first.  It has a feature called exploding power paste that allows you to just move the cursor from field to field.  You hit paste, and then it automatically selects the next item in the list.

Keep the clips as long as you want.  For instance, when you cut a section from a paper you are writing, only to discover two weeks later that you would like that section back, not to worry.  It is there in your clip list.

You can also encrypt clips.

This one is inexpensive (about $40).  More info:  http://www.thornsoft.com/index.htm. 

You can get a free trial of this product.

This program, like the first, can be used on two different computers, and you can move the relevant files from one to the other.

IBackup

I am a fanatic for backups.  I try to keep multiple copies of all important files in multiple places.  Even so, I have to remember what was copied where.  IBackup is an off-site backup system.  I have mine set up mine to backup any altered and important file (not only documents, but email, favorites, all settings, etc.) every hour.  It works in the background, and does not interference with your other work.   Moreover, since it has “open file support” it can backup even files currently in use (most programs do not do this).  It is $100 a year for 5 gig of storage.  But knowing that all my important files are safe off-site is very reassuring. You can also access these files via the web when you are traveling.

Web site.  http://www.ibackup.com/.  You can sign up for a free trial.

IrfanView

Infaview -- free software for viewing and converting image files. (courtesy of John Husfield)

Available here: http://www.irfanview.com/