DIY Notes - v1.1i - One Page at a Time
This is the yet another installment of the Digital Dynamic Templates, a series of cross platform applications that should ease the load on the folks who make templates. This program generates all the different "Notes" pages (like in this template collection) using the basic D*I*Y Planner look and feel.
- Plain Lined
- Plain Lined with a Grey Column
- Grey Lined with a Grey Column
- Cornell Notes (plain)
- Cornell Notes with Grid and Lines
- Grid
- Dots
When I previewed these to Doug, he said:
Heh, soon you're going to give me no reason to update the DiyP at all.
Of course, that might make me very happy. ;-)
You betcha ! This will allow folks like Doug to move on to other tasks and eliminate the drudgery of producing multiple versions of the templates for all the different paper sizes.
This is multi-platform software. Below are download links for pre-built, static, binary applications for both Windows and Mac OS X as well as the source code. Through the Nordic Magic of the Qt Libraries, both of these applications were built from the same source code. This source can be built on any platform supported for Qt 4.3
Here's a shot of the Mac version:
And here's the Windows version:
Basic instructions:
- Be sure you have the font "Blue Highway" installed as it is hard coded into the application
- Use the "Page Setup" button to set paper size
- Use the Margin controls to set your margins
- Set your line width to look good on the display.
- Set the page title and the title alignment (left, centered, right)
- The "Print" button will send the page through your printer drivers.
- The "Save PDF" button will create a PDF file.
- INTERNATIONALIZATION: Two simple changes -- the addition of translation files, and the addition of a locale string in parentheses in the title bar. The string in the title bar lets you know what your system is looking for. The translation file name is "DIY_Notes_LOCALE.qm" For the translations to work, the string in the title bar has to match the LOCALE part of the translations file and the translation file needs to be located in the same directory as the application. A slight renaming of the translation file may be necessary as the locale consists of both a language and a country indicator.
And here's the French version:
And here's the Dutch version:
Please let me know if you encounter problems. More to come....
Version History
- 1.0 initial version
- 1.1i International Support !! and PDF button
License:
License granted to me (Dan White) by Douglas Johnston to duplicate the D*I*Y Planner forms look and feel under the Creative Commons NC-ND License. The source code is declared under GNU GPL.
Language:
That's part of the Nordic Magic. It should be multi-lingual. Please let me know if you have any language related difficulties
Current known problems:
On the Mac, there is an issue with PDF's and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use Preview to view/print any PDF's you create. Based on some of the feedback at Big Nerd Ranch about PagePacker, I suspect Apple's PDF drivers. Part of the issue is the embedding of fonts, but that is not the entire problem.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| DIY_Notes v1.1i Macintosh | 6.85 MB |
| DIY_Notes v1.1i Windows | 2.7 MB |
| DIY_Notes v1.1i Translation files | 1.99 KB |
| DIY_Notes Source v1.1i | 17.85 KB |
What about Hipster PDA sizes?
Having programs for these DIY planners is great, especially for quickie forms, but I use the hipster format, and I wonder if you'll be able to have a hipster setting for these programs? Or would that be more of a printer function I need to use?
Thank you very much for your answer in advance.
I haven't tried these yet
I haven't tried these yet but I'm pretty sure they are adjustable for any size. Right ygor?
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Save the dodo!
Interesting conundrum
I haven't tried scaling to 3x5 yet, but I have tried it with other templates, and there is a potential pitfall. If you simply scale the pdf from A5 to 3x5 (for example), what happens is that everything gets small and scrunched up. Specifically, the lines get too close together. The HPDA templates are scaled for human use.
Like I said, I haven't tried it with ygor's templates yet, so he might have build this sort of scaling it, which it would need to have. I expect it would be rather complicated, not allowing line sizes to get too short, or some-such. The same would hold true for enlarging too much. Blow up a hpda template to A4, and you have lines seperate enough for a first-grader. ;-)
It will be fun playing with these to see how they work! (Especially because, for me, the notes pages are far more useful!)
-Jon
You do not have to scale
The software draws the template for the specified size paper.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
And not only!
I finally launched the app, and you did one better! The user gets to select how many lines per inch! Very nice touch... This is so much better than scaling a pdf! :-) Thanks! (BTW, I printed out a note onto a 3x5 with no problems!)
-Jon
Keep watching...
More to come.
Feature requests and suggestions are welcome.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Checkboxes
Hi.
Ability to turn on/off checkboxes, aligned left or right on the page. Ability to move shaded column to the left, right, or center.
That would replace darn near every simple checklist anyone's posted here.
:)
shris
Check !! :)
Checklists are on my list of Things To Do. I will add your request to the list
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
I'm sure some of these are also on your list of things to do...
but here are some ideas, based on what I wanted to do with my failed attempt to make a custom template replacement that never got further than drawing a few lines on a page:
- first, combine all the different template programs into one so you can create multiple template types with one program.
- add some more complex notes templates like the project planning templates, with the ability to edit any of the text like you can with the title so people can put them to other uses.
- Perhaps make a variation on the widget set to let people design their own template types, clicking buttons to add 'widgets' from top to bottom. For example:
Title of the page
Two equal width columns, both lined, for 5 lines
One column, grid, for 10 lines
Lined, with a grey left column, for the rest of the page
A much more complicated one would be to allow people to make their own variant of the multi-field widget, allowing anything from a customize Personal Information page to a meeting notes taker or whatever the person can come up with. Of course, then it would turn into a template design program too, and I'm not sure if that's a direction you would want to go in.
- add the ability to save your settings (margin, page setup, title etc.) to a file. As well as being convenient for printing the same templates over and over, if the template design features are implemented above, this could be used for people to make and distribute their own customized DIY planner templates, and also complete template sets using the program.
I'm great at coming up with great sounding ideas that are a real pain to implement it seems, but it's food for thought. You know vaguely where I live if you wish to shoot me.
Response: Some of this is already available
That would introduce a level of complexity that I would prefer to avoid. Different setups require different controls. My "School of GUI Design" says "Thou shalt not rearrange widgets on the fly". You can do this yourself by combining PDF's. Multivalent is a freeware PDF manipulation package that has been discussed several times.
Save to a PDF
...takes time. I'm the only person working on this code. No one else has volunteered to help (yet). Apparently there are not many other software developers round here :(
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Not quite true just quite quiet
There are some other developers here, well okay maybe only one. But while a re-convert to Mac (solely because of Darwin) my real programming experience is on other platforms, e.g. VAX/VMS and DECsystem-10s.
Having installed Xcode on my MacBook Pro I could volunteer to help but ... I'm working 12-hours days at the moment so can't offer more than the occasional QA comment.
You are welcome to tinker...
Contact me offline thru the tab and I will help you set up so you can use the source code posted.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
More features wished for
Dynamic templates are a nice help for everybody using something else than the "standard" formats, thank you very much!
It would be nice to have a dynamic template with, say 4 fields (like in Crossroads). Either 2x2 or then 4x1. Or why not 3x1 (for some sizes that might be better).
This template could be used for many things - different contexts or mini-projects in different fields, Crossroads or whatever. You could let the used decide how it is named... Check-boxes could be included too.
I also hope the becoming dynamic checklist template includes a version with 2 rows for each item.
It would be nice ...
to have some help with them.
I find myself with less and less spare time to work on this software. Forgive my blunt, but your choices are either wait patiently for me to get round to it or lend a hand and help it happen faster.
Again, I apologise for blowing a bit of steam, but this past weekend was absolutely futile and unproductive and frustrating. Top that off with trying to deal with a brainless customer disservice rep for insurance claims, and AAAAAAAAH !
I feel much better now. :)
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Use the Page Setup, Luke !!
A limitation in Qt says that I can only use a paper size available to the printer. I am hoping this will change in the next minor revision of the libraries.
In the meantime, it means you have to be able to specify Hipster size paper in your printer setup. Look for something like a custom page size config. It varies by OS and specific printer.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
pdf issue
Love this! But there is one issue I've found quickly this morning. While trying to save cornell notes to pdf, I only got an empty page. When printing cornell notes it works, but it does not seem to want to save as a pdf through the mac print menu. It works for the lined and grid note pages though.
Thanks for the report. I'll look into it.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
I got (sorta) the same result
Use Preview. You are on Mac, yes ? This is that PDF bug again.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Yes Mac
Will check and report.
Worked in Preview
You were right. It worked fine in Preview.
woah
I take a small break from the computer and Ygor goes and ... posts THIS!!!
I think a "we're not worthy" Wayne's World style is in order :P
my artwork | my blog
We're Not Worthy! We're Not Worthy!
And a SCHWING! just cause custom made programs are the HAWT!
suggested addition to the Cornell notes
ygor, these are great! I've got one feature I'd like to see added: in the Cornell notes, I like the Cornell w/Grid & Lines but I'd prefer to have ruled lines in the Notes section rather than the grid.
Here's an idea: would it be possible to chose what you want in the 3 sections of the Cornell notes pages: the Cues, Notes, and Summary sections? What would be really cool: if you could chose what kind of layout you want in each of the sections: plain, ruled, or grid. Even better if you could chose how big the grid squares are or how far apart the lines are.
-Kenny
I agree wholeheartedly that
I agree wholeheartedly that these are fantastic! My only request is to be able to have a blank white space at the top. When i delete the title, the gray bar shifts upward.
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Save the dodo!
Have you tried...
...putting spaces in the title?
-Jon
Brilliant!
Works like a charm! Thanks for the tip.
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Save the dodo!
Linux Version
Is there any way to get a Linux version of the app?
Use the Source, Luke !!
I'm working on a Mac and I have a virtual XP machine to do the Windows version. I have not yet set up a Linux VM, but if you have a Linux playground, help yourself to the source and compile it yourself. You will need to build Qt 4.3.0. Contact me offline if you need help doing that.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Ooh.
I run Linux. Maybe I'll do a compile if I can find the time...
--
Steff
[ blog | photos ]
Linux version?
I'm assuming that to get a Linux version you'd just need to compile from source? I've worked with Linux and other open source Unix operating systems for years. If I have time this weekend I'll see if I can get some Linux packages together. BTW: I'm using the latest version of Ubuntu on my Linux server.
Is this a case of installing the right dependencies and doing "./configure && make && make install" on the source?
-Kenny
well...
That would get a build that would work on _your_ computer, but wouldn't be portable to any other--you will have dependancies, and all that rot. The thing to do would be to figure all this stuff out, and find a way to add it to your distro's packaging system. Sadly, every one will need its own. Linux is still a bit too complicated in this area.
I think the best thing to do would be to create a web page with explicit instructions on what will be needed (QT, for instance), with links, and help walk people through an install from source. Shame I'm using Darwin now for my *nix needs, or I would try it.
(not that I could guarantee success! I just tried to build Firefox 2 for Darwin, and got a weird pseudo Carbon version instead!)
-Jon
Thanks, ygor, these are
Thanks, ygor, these are amazing. I love being able to create versions with different spacing and different titles. Looking forward to whatever comes next. . .
Very useful, thanks! For
Very useful, thanks! For those who want Cornell with just lined, and without all the cues, check out the "Web 2.0" similar app at: http://eleven21.com/notetaker/. It only does cornell, but might do some things that people here are requesting. Thanks again.
"things that people here are requesting" ???!
Who is requesting what, please ?
You want "just lines" ?
I can add that. As for "the cues", I am obliged to keep the DIYPlanner style.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Thank you for this link.
I love it. What makes the app great for me is that it is sooo simple. Limited? Yes. But useful and needs no previous programming knowledge. Much of the discussion in this topic set off my "computer jargon alert" and is rather meaningless to me. I read it but my brain registers "blah, blah, blah, Mac (have seen those at the Apple store), blah, blah, blah, Linux (have heard the word before but never seen whatever it is), blah, blah, template." For many discussion here I feel like I'm in the Gary Larson cartoon with the split drawing where on one side the owner is saying "good dog, fetch and you'll get a treat" and on the other side the dog is hearing "treat" and can't understand why the treat isn't forthcoming.
BTW
I was referring to the Cornell app link. Sorry not to have specified.
to ygor
Hi Ygor. First, thank you for all these great things! I love it.
I want to ask how difficult it would be for you to add a size to it. I am using filofax personal size, and I would love to have these in that size to print. Is that possible? The other thing is that I want to offer my help. I have done some programming before, and if there is anything you want to get done by somenone else, just use my contact form and ask me if I can do it.
If you can print it, you can printit
Can you define the page size in your printer driver ?
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
Thanks so much!
I used your template today on Cornell notes with grid to create a gradebook for my 23 classes of elementary art students.
After vainly trying every possible trick to do grades on a pda as I used to when teaching high school with 6 classes, I finally had to concede that a paper-based system would now be less cumbersome.
Your templates work beautifully and look quite elegant. Just wanted to let you know your efforts are much appreciated!
Julie
Major improvements !! Check it out !!
If anyone wants more language support, I need volunteer translators or I will use The Babel-Fish
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
2 questions
Hi. I have two questions for you.
1) is it possible to print two-up? Or do I make a pdf file first and print that one two on a page?
2) the column names in the cornell pages are not translated. Is there something you could do about it? Not a big problem, but I thought you should know.
Answers
1: How to utilize Dynamic Templates and Multivalent: Example 1 - January 2008 classic booklet
-- This is the second option
2: I will fix it. Thanks for the feedback
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)
In French
Cues = Repères
Notes = Notes
Summary = Sommaire
"It's better to be a pirate than to join the Navy." -- Steve Jobs
And where is the Linux
And where is the Linux version :(
I hope I can get it to work with Wine. And no, VMWare is not an option even though I run it - I can still only print in Linux (due to a printer problem).
DIY
Get the source and build your own version. I do not have the resources to make a whole boatload of Linux binaries.
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"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)