Reading, extracting and storing scholarly information to supercharge the writing process

Bookends has completely replaced Papers.app as my citation manager. Despite this change, my method of information gathering has changed little since I covered the topic, except for one major addition. I am now finding the majority of information through qxMD Read.My workflow for extraction of annotations differs a bit from when I was using Papers. I now use the combination of Bookends and Highlights.app to extract each of my annotations and notes as separate files. In addition, after highlighting, I’ve been extracting the entire manuscripts in 1-4 paragraph pieces.The whole purpose of extracting annotations and full text from each manuscript is to gain granular access to the information I’ve read. Through its "see also" feature, Devonthink can identify information I’m looking for. But more importantly Devonthink finds related content based on the context of my original query.After importing a manuscript into Bookends, the document becomes available on all my devices. Bookends outshines Papers in its built-in annotation tools as well as its seamless syncing between iOS and Mac.

My current preference is reading PDFs on a 12.9" iPad Pro along with an Apple Pencil. In a pinch, I’ll annotate on my iPhone. On my first pass through an article, using Bookend's built-in tools, I highlight annotations and jot notes in green. I use blue to highlight quotes I wish to use verbatim. When I’m finished annotating, I add the keyword RFP (ready for processing) to the manuscript in the Bookend database.

I have a Smart Folder set up in Bookends that finds the Keyword RFP. Uzsing this method, I can batch process multiple PDFs when I get to my Mac.When I'm ready to extract the information from the PDF into my Devonthink writing database, I export the PDF to my desktop and append the exported file’s name with FT (for fulltext).On my desktop, I open the file with Highlights. I use Copy Hypertext Link:Copy as Text from Bookends, and then open the “Edit” Tab in Highlights. Using use the text URL copied from Bookends to make a markdown link back to the Bookends Reference.When I export my annotations to Devonthink, the URL link will be appended to each file. Clicking the link within any extracted file takes me directly back to the reference in Bookends.I then turn my attention to Highlights.app. I make sure the annotations color preference is checked in Highlights.app. When checked, this preference will append the color of the highlight in each note.

Within Highlights, I use yellow to mark up the entire document over the top of my previous annotations. I highlight in 1-4 paragraph chunks. I also highlight the text of each table and figure.Once I'm done highlighting the entire paper, from within Highlights.app, I export my annotations to Devonthink from the Highlights.app menu. The annotations are saved as individual files to my Devonthink Inbox. I move the folder from the Devonthink Inbox to my desktop and then use Launchbar to move file from my desktop to my annotations folder. I put the desktop PDF in the trash, replace the RFP keyword in Bookends with DTx to remind me I've extracted the paper.

Since I’ve set up my Devonthink database to index this folder,the next time I launch Devonthink, the new information is catalogued and available for writing. The new information is also transferred to Devonthink ToGo to use while writing on my iPad.Using the Artificial Intelligence of Devonthink. I can quickly find related information. When I find an item in my database I want to include in my paper, clicking the link in the annotation takes me directly to the paper in Bookends.app.Using this method, I'm able to take full advantage of the Devonthink AI. Queries within Devonthink simultaneously find annotations, chunks of text and full manuscripts related to my search. I find this workflow invaluable when writing scholarly information.

***This workflow has been modified from here to the end-Please see Modification to Reading, Extracting And Storing Scholarly Information To Supercharge The Writing Process to see what I do instead.***

Writing Morning Pages with an iPad Pro

A couple of months ago, I was feeling the age of my first generation iPad Air and decided I needed to upgrade to an iPad Pro. I was torn between the larger 12.9 inch model and the smaller 9.2 inch model. Although I was attracted to the portability of the 9.2 inch version, in the end I bought the larger model. I decided to go with the larger model for a variety of reasons: 1. When reflecting on how I used my technology, I found when I had a task to do, I'd often forgo the iPad Air and just use my iPhone 6 Plus, 2. I wanted the best support for my extensive use of the Duet App (the larger screen giving me more portable dual screen real estate), 3. It was becoming increasingly difficult for me to read and annotate PDFs on the smaller screen.I purchased the iPad Pro (along with a Logitech keyboard and Apple Pencil) and have not looked back. One of my favorite unexpected uses of the iPad Pro is the ability to write with the Apple Pencil. In addition to Mindfulness and meditation, I am a true believer in the process of Morning Pages, a journaling technique that espouses the power of long-hand writing in the creative process. Up until the time I bought my iPad Pro, I was using a LiveScribe Pen to do my daily writing. No more!I have been experimenting with various writing apps including: GoodNotes, Penultimate, and Notability. Despite the more feature-rich environment of GoodNotes and the versatility of Notability, I find myself favoring Penultimate, primarily for its ease-of-use and automatic Evernote synchronization. I'd love to hear what your favorite handwriting app might be, and how you're using the handwriting capabilities of the new iPads.If you are not yet writing your own Morning Pages, I hope you'll give it a serious try.