PhatNotes / PhatPad uses

09-02-06, 09:29 AM

Those who have it--how do you use Phatnotes and Phatpad? I'm asking not from a technical standpoint, but from a daily use view.

The Phatware sale looks great, and I've been impressed with the Calligrapher software I got from them. But what do these notes programs do beyond what I would do with notes in my Pocket Informant and documents in Textmaker? I'm pretty new to the Axim, so I'd appreciate your insights.

09-02-06, 10:21 AM

I use PhatNotes mostly to keep track of little things - shows I want to see and the prices, along with the time, directions, etc - in a sense, I use it like an organizer to supplement my alarm notes; since the alarm notes usually trigger for individual events, but I can use the PhatNotes system to keep track of that whole event and locations of various things.

PhatPad, on the other hand, I use for sketching things - maps, tic-tac-toe games, quick notes, etc. :D With Calligrapher, you can take those sketches and do the handwriting recognition to turn a jotted 'eat at Joes' to a text note which says the same thing, when you dont' have time to open up Notes or something to do the same... (or Phatnotes, for that matter).

I don't use Pocket Informant for notes - it lets you scribble, but I dont' like the way it organizes things (or rather, doesn't organize) - with PhatNotes, I can filter notes by type, priority, event, or even split them up into different databases I can encrypt or password-protect. I can also export those notes way easier than I could with the built-in Notes application, and I don't think Pocket Informant lets you export notes attached to various items, IIRC.

Bagelsnbrew · 09-02-06, 11:57 AM

I'm a sales rep and use notes daily for orders, phone messages, etc. I use Phatpad as a replacement for the built in notes application. Over time I've found notes(including PI alarm notes) to be too unreliable with formatting screw ups and note contents disappearing over time. I don't use Phatnotes because my notes are just graphical jots. I'm not big on using text input for anything but filling text and number fields.

pragnanzer · 09-02-06, 12:22 PM

I never used Phatnotes, but I use Phatpad almost everyday to jot down thoughts and to sketch out ideas. The benefit of Phatpad is that it is the quickest way to jot down an idea that comes to you mind before the idea evaporates. But different from other ink-centric pads that I surveyed 6 months ago, this one has all the other functions that allow you to add and correct your inked ideas. In case there are some Phatware people who collect ideas from this forum, here are my suggestions to perfect Phatpad:

1. Add an insert page function: Phadpad has a very quick and intuitive mechanism (by pressing the right button) to insert a page if users are already at the end of the stack. However, if you are in page #3 of 10, there is not a quick way to insert #4. The get-around mechanism is to duplicate page#3, then "select all", then "clear." It is not an elegant solution comparing with other elegant solutions in Phatpad.

2. Phatpad has a nice "page order" view that allows users to look at 9 thumbnail sized pages simultaneously. This view also allows users to rearrange the page number (pretty much like what users can do in Powerpoint). My suggestion is to allow a "drag-and-drop" pen gesture instead of the current use of the "Up" and "Down" icons--which is quite inefficient.

3. Implement a "drag-screen" function when a page is displayed. Because the Phatpad has a great zoom-in/out function, it is possible that the current view does not show everything. Yes, users can use the 4-way rocker to move around. However, Phatpad has come up with a wonderful use of 4-way (as an option) for zoom-in/out and previous page/next page. So if I map the 4-way with this option, to move around I have to touch the scroll-bars. A drag-screen function (like what has been done in some browsers and plug-ins) will be very useful. My suggestion is to allow users to press-and-hold the center key, during which the pen movement is interpreted as "drag screen" (instead of inking).

4. When a page is displayed, the screen should somehow display the current page number and the title of the file (if it has been renamed as something meaningful).

5. Allow users to remap all the Pocket PC buttons (not just the 4-way, but the Calender, Contact, Mail, Today, Volume up, down) when Phatpad is displayed.

09-02-06, 12:57 PM

I use phatnotes with calligrapher. I take notes during meetings. If it is an active office project. They are categorized according to project and I save some project notes to their respective office folders in rtf format. Others I keep as a running db that I access through approach. And finally I just keep as a way to organize bits of information that I gather from continuing education or other information from disparate sources that together start to have some meaning.

I can't say it has gotten rid of all the little pieces of paper on my desk, but it has gotten rid of the one and two page pages torn from notebooks and stuffed in folders, that I never go back to becuase I can't remember which folder they are in.

Knowledge is key, and this is a way or organizing those tidbits of knowledge that often get lost into something more useful. To quote Frenchy knowlege is free, but you have to bring your container -- well this is my container.

09-02-06, 04:41 PM

I use Phatpad for quick notes and then I set a reminder for later on when I need to take care of the note. I have also used Phatpad as a program to copy cellphone photo's that I e-mail to my PC and sync to my PPC then add handwritten notes to the photo (dented fenders, items at a store with the price written on it, etc.)
I use Phatnotes mostly as a list of reminders that repeat. For example "buy 100w bulbs, buy AAA batteries, make the car payment, change the furnace filter" and so on. I keep these in a list and set reminders when I need to do something. I also add a date to a reminder like the furnace filter change. Both are great tools and have many uses.

09-02-06, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the helpful responses. I downloaded the trial versions and used your comments to consider the several options. I always have trouble with trial software--the good programs have many features, and in a short time for consideration, I usually don't think of enough ideas for potential uses. But your ideas let me see the many uses for this software. Thanks again--this forum and its members are great. It is also nice to have learned here of the 1/2 off offer from PhatWare. Excellent deal on excellent software.

I'd enjoy hearing more responses to gain more ideas how to make the most of the feature rich PhadNotes and PhatPad

cravaus · 09-03-06, 01:54 AM

I am a PhatNotes pro user. The desk top utility is key for me. I have separate databases for clients I consult with to keep progress notes on them. I also use it to jot down phone records. When away from my office it is my handheld and cell phone that do the work for me and I am using the same databases the same way. All the information is in sync. Be sure to back up the data bases on the PC. I learned that the hard way. The program will do it automatically if you set it up to so do it. I use PhatPad with PhatNotes on the PDA. Within phat notes I have a button for launching phat pad so I can quickly hand write notes in meetings and such when I do not have my BT keyboard with me. The translation from PhatPad then automatically is dropped into PhatNotes and the hand written file is attached. I can then refere back to the hand written notes if I need to when editing the note and so on. I also use PhatPad to make drawings to augment my notes in PhatNotes.

At first I thought I would not use them that much because my favorite word processor is TextMaker. PhatNotes fires up quickly and has a much easier file system to look through and find what you want. Also it is set up to organize, group and attach things so phat notes is really my work horse now.

The PC utility for PhatPad is also very nice. I use MightySync to send all my PhatNotes to the PC where they can be easily broused and edited.