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Bonsai outlines on iPad
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Posted by Dr Andus
Mar 30, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Another reason to love Natara Bonsai: I’ve just found out that there is a way to get Bonsai outlines on the iPad! I’m excited about this as I was about to drag both my iPad and my netbook on a business trip tomorrow just because I needed to be able to manipulate a large Bonsai outline at a meeting. It turns out Carbonfin Outliner on iPad (http://carbonfin.com/index.html) provides a little utility which allows you to export Bonsai OTL files as OPML files, which you can import into the iPad via Carbonfin’s website and then sync with the iPad. I’ve just done it and I’m a very happy camper as I don’t need to drag my netbook around in my backpack all day tomorrow.
Here are the instructions (it took me less then 5 min to set it up, it’s very easy):
http://www.natarasoftware.com/forums/index.php/topic/7001-use-bonsai-with-ipad-is-easy/
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Mar 31, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Can Bonsai export tab-indented text outlines? Then you should be able to use its outlines with quite a bunch of programs, including mind mappers. I read that it can import but not export OPML which is the other popular outline format.
Posted by Dr Andus
Mar 31, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
>Can Bonsai export tab-indented text outlines? Then you should be able to use its
>outlines with quite a bunch of programs, including mind mappers.
It can export CSV, txt, HTML, XML, Bonsai Palm OS, MPX and RTF.
>I read that it can
>import but not export OPML which is the other popular outline format.
Carbonfin provides an add-on file now which adds OPML export to the Bonsai file menu. So the process with the iPad goes like this:
1. export Bonsai file as OPML on the PC.
2. log on to Carbonfin website and import OPML file.
3. hit the sync button in Carbonfin Outliner in the iPad.
Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 1, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Actually this thread should have been about Carbonfin Outliner (http://carbonfin.com/index.html) instead, as it’s turning out to be a capable outliner on the iPad. I’ve been looking for an outliner for a couple of months now but there are only a handful in the App Store and none of them seemed convincing. However, the Bonsai import feature just did the trick and nudged me towards buying it and I’m not regretting it. Carbonfin Outliner is rapidly emerging as my main tool now for capturing ideas for writing.
I was already happy with iPod Touch/iPad’s native Notes app that syncs with Gmail for capturing ideas on the go, however it lacks any tagging or hierarchical organisation. With Carbonfin Outliner however I can start slotting ideas straight into a hierarchical structure without needing to turn on the PC. There is also an online outliner companion (https://cfoutliner.appspot.com/), which is basically a cloud solution, for backing up the iPad and interfacing with the desktop, although it can also create new outlines and edit them.
In terms of features the iPad app has pretty much everything I need (except hoisting and colour-coding hierarchies). The files can be tagged and searched. Items can be numbered and can have tick boxes, and can be annotated. Items can be indented, moved around, and there are several options for making the notes more or less visible. You can also search within an outline.
Posted by MadaboutDana
Apr 1, 2011 at 04:09 PM
You’re right - your previous post encouraged me to go away and look at it, and I immediately bought it for my iPhone! Sad or wot?! It’s a nice little app, and probably even better on the iPad (that’s on my list, believe me…!). Just a shame it hasn’t got a direct desktop equivalent, but then, the iPad appears to be bypassing desktops in a totally unexpected, unprecedented way (my daughter, who’s just been given one for her 18th birthday, has started writing her essays on the thing! This despite the fact she already has a MacBook! Isn’t that interesting?).
Carbonfin has got many of the attributes of Bonsai, ThoughtManager and ListPro, but has kept its features very streamlined and logical. The only thing I personally miss is rich-text editing (which ListPro does offer - on the desktop), but it’s not a major issue - on the iPhone you don’t notice it. The OPML support is very welcome, although OPML support is nowhere near as widespread as it should be (given that it’s really only a subset of XML).
Cheers,
Bill