There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.

hehe, the fact that several lawyers are trying to defend MaxThink and providing workarounds for such a trivial feature as undo certainly is tells (at least to me) a lot ...

... this is a lost case, sorry pals ;-)


Stephen R. Diamond wrote:

There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an
indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the
power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.

Stephen R. Diamond wrote:

There is a partial workaround to the lack of undue in Maxthink. Maxthink can save an
indefinite number of time-stamped backup files. This essentially provides all the
power of unlimited undo, but lacks the usability.

Stephen, you must be joking.
What is the interval you set the backup in MT?

And is this the same Stephen that wrote

* "When I was in the developer group, I said that for an outlining program to be built on a foundation which includes no undo function in the tree is a major blunder." in a discussion on ADM (http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/5198
* "PMM lacks multiple undo, a critical feature for me." in a discussion on mind mapping tools, PMM is Personal Memory Manager (http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/471/5

Franz

ADM didn't have the timestamped backups. I haven't used MaxThink on a serious project yet, and haven't been concerned with undo. I consider MaxThink hard to learn as programs go these days, and I don't consider myself proficient.

Maxthink shouldn't be evaluated under a checklist of features we've come to expect. To evaluate it on its own terms, you have to consider whether the sacrifice of some conveniences is worth the tremendous power. Not to have a workaround for undo would represent, to me, a powerful limitation on power. Hence the ADM comments, with ADM purporting to be a particularly powerful outlining program. MaxThink is above all tigtly focused on core outlining operations. But a far better job has been done on power than on usability. Not that usability is bad, given the features accommodated. The usability, I would say, is good. The power is light years ahead of anything else I've seen on Windows or the Mac (where admittedly I have probably missed a lot.)

I think MaxThink's handling of Undo is a usability rather than power deficit. Another usability deficit, which could arguably push its usability from Good to Fair for many users, is its extremely modal nature - if I'm using the term correctly. Often one will call up a command expecting something different, because you didn't realize what mode you were in. I think these modal switches become automatic with practice, but I can't say for sure yet. The program in other words is fairly hard to become proficient in.

Is there any way to get screenshots of MaxThink? Its website is frustrating.

Stephen, you must be joking.

What is the interval you set the backup in MT?

For myself, I use versioned backups set to backup every few minutes whenever I am doing serious drafting (e.g. by using Caddais BackupOnDemand's real-time mode) with MS-Word or Grandview. NoteTab Pro has its own built-in versioning backup system which I use in a similar way.

Whether this short time-interval is feasible or sensible depends on the type of software programs one is using and the task at hand. I find it very useful when drafting, but less important when outlining. For example, I used Grandview for years without once using its "Undo last delete" feature - and that was ages before I had a versioning backup system in place. (Nice to have it now though.)

Of course versioning isn't a substitute for a multiple delete feature - which Word and NoteTab Pro in any case have - but it's a good alternative on critical tasks when software has no adequate "undo".

By the same token, an "undo" feature is no substitute for frequent versioning backups. But that's another story.

Derek

Derek

You may have misunderstood the true function of UNDO feature in MaxThink or rather, have grown fixated on the functions of undo from other softwares.

UNDO tries to stimulate empirical style of thinking (the trial-and-error/experimental approach) in the users' minds by alternating between 'previous' and 'reverse'. Hence, you can only undo 1-2 levels backwards.

The user alternates and reverses the action till the mind identifies the value of the action. Value may not be apparent from the information itself, but external. Looks simple on-screen but the magic is formed in the mind.

eg Top universities

Stanford
Harvard
UC Berkeley

Move 'UC Berkeley' before Stanford. Undo the action. Reverses the undo. It functions like a joggle till you grasp the value. UNDO in MaxThink is not meant to only correct a mistake.

LOCK is another interesting function. A few topics is locked by the topic cursor and moves along as up/down arrows keys are pressed. The action rearranges the structure of the outline/level rapidly (rubber-band) and allows the user to identify different arrangements, experimenting with values and/or relationships of the information in the outline/level.

Some information on the author of MaxThink: Neil Larson

h@@p://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_web_browser