ArtPlus EasyNoter

Personal Information Manager!
Windows 7 / 8 / 10

 

ArtPlus EasyNoter 4 Help:

01. About This Help

EasyNoter was created having two thoughts in mind - Simplicity and usability!

Though simple to use, this tool is still very powerful. To learn more about its features, click on the help topic listed below.

02. View Options

Working view of the program is - Open booklet view.

However, you can choose to close covers if you don't want visitors to your office to see your notes...

You can close covers by clicking the red button in upper left corner with arrow showing to the right.

You can choose to minimize program and put it to your task bar, or to switch to "CLOCK ONLY" view, to hide booklet but display time.

Reminder will work in all views!

You can choose preferred view that will be used at computer startup, or after clicking the tray icon. By default, EasyNoter runs to tray at startup but you can change this and open it to any other available view. Also, by default, EasyNoter opens to cover when clicked from the tray. If you prefer to have it opened directly to some section, you can select the proper option from OPTIONS menu.

03. Diary Section

This section of the program is designed for simplest scheduling of your office hour or free time.

Unlike other sections, this one doesn't include the "NEW ENTRY" button. You are opening a new note in diary simply by clicking on a new date on the calendar.

First line of the note in your diary is always listed as a sort of a title in the list on the left.

You might want to put some daily highlights in the first line for easier locating.

Note: If you're using Larger Type settings (Control Panel > All Control Panel items > Display) and there is not enough space for the calendar display, you will see a pull down date picker that will pop a calendar when clicked.

04. Notes Section

This section of the program is designed for keeping and easy retrieval of short notes.

To create a new note, simply click the "NEW ENTRY" button.

First line of the note is always listed as a sort of a "headline" in the list on the left (similar to this help).

Once entered, the note will be listed at left after a click on the "ALL ENTRIES" button.

You can embed OLE links within your notes. More about this option read in "OLE Linking and Embedding" section of Help.

More information about finding notes can be found in "Finding Information" section of this help file.

05. Address Section

This section of the program is designed for keeping and easy retrieval of contact information, phone numbers and addresses of your business partners or friends.

To create a new note, simply click on the "NEW ENTRY" button.

You should put the name of the person in the first line because the first line of the entry is also listed as a sort of a "headline" in the list on the left. Entries are sorted by first letter of the first line.

Hitting any key while the list is active (some entry is selected), will automatically scroll to the first address beginning with typed letter.

You can embed OLE links within your addresses. More about this option read in "OLE Linking and Embedding" section of Help.

More information about finding addresses can be found in "Finding Information" section of this help file.

06. Reminder Section

In this section you will be able to set unlimited number of pop-up reminder notes with (if wanted) custom recorded audio notification.

After clicking "NEW ENTRY", initial information about the reminder is displayed on the right page.

You should enter the reminder text in a field right below the "NEW ENTRY" button, and adjust timer.

By default, the note will pop-up only ONCE. However, you can choose to repeat notification hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly, by clicking on appropriate button.

The reminder can be only textual or followed by default sound notification or even custom message recorded using available recording controls (length of the message is limited to two minutes).

Sound can be played once or in continuous loop if you select "LOOP UNTIL DEACTIVATED" option.

Once the reminder is activated, you can close it or snooze it. Default snooze period is five minutes.

Also, you can open external files or run programs instead of simply displaying reminder popup message. Click "FILE" button to select file or program to be launched.

07. Photo Album Section

Use of Photo Album is fairly straight forward.

Click "NEW ENTRY" to pick image from your hard disk to be included in your album. After choosing the image, you can type a few lines of comments. Comments can be formatted and used just as any other textual entry in Notes or Address sections.

You can change view options by right clicking the image, or selecting "Photo Album" tab within "Options" dialog. "Best fit" and "Normal size view" are available.

To remove the entry, select it and click "Delete" on your keyboard. This will remove the entry from your Photo Album but will not delete the image from your hard disk. To actually remove images from hard disk, use Windows Explorer.

NOTE:
Images chosen for your album are NOT moved nor copied to your EasyNoter directory! They will remain where they are. If you accidentally delete image from hard disk, your note will remain in Photo Album but "Missing Image" button will be displayed instead of your image.

NOTE 2:
If you use password protection, your notes about the image will be encrypted but your images will remain unchanged on your hard disk!

08. Spelling and Live Spelling

Spelling can be used in all EasyNoter sections.

You can either use Live Spelling and have the text checked as you type, or simply select Check Spelling when ready.

EasyNoter is being shipped with American English dictionary but other dictionaries are available for download free of charge from here.

09. Using Folders and Subfolders

You can organize notes within custom folders and subfolders. To create new folder move your mouse to the left hand page (list) and click-right mouse button. This will open pop-up menu with options to create new folder or subfolder within existing folder.

Folders can be used within Notes and Address sections of EasyNoter.

About use of forms within folders check out Help section: "Using Forms"

10. Using Forms

Each folder can be used in "free form", without any labels, where you simply type your information freely on the page, or you can decide to use "Forms" and add labels, thus creating some sort of simple entry form.

When creating new folder with forms, you will be offered a choice to create new FORM or USE EXISTING FORM.

The first option is fairly obvious. It will open the FORM CREATION dialog box where you can create and add fields (labels).
If you choose USE EXISTING FORM option, this will open file browser with form definitions listed (*.FLD files).

*.FLD files (Field definitions) are having the same name as the folder that is using it. DO NOT RENAME THESE FILES!

11. OLE Linking and Embedding

You can add links or objects (like images or other files) by clicking "Insert Object".

BMP images can be directly embedded within the text of each note or address entry. You can embed other type of images if you open them in some image editing software, copy it to clipboard and then use "Paste" or "Paste Special" within EasyNoter note. Image will be embedded at current cursor location.

While image embedding may be a nice addition, the greatest use of OLE functionality is to help you keep track of other documents that you use in everyday work. For instance, you can link Excel, Word or other important documents to some note within EasyNoter, or some person or a company within address book...

You will be able to open these documents in appropriate applications simply by double clicking their icon in EasyNoter!

If you create a page with links to your most important programs, you will be able to run those programs from EasyNoter too.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Copying images from some programs may result with error - strange looks or image sizes - If that happens, try opening the image in Windows Paint and then copy it and paste to wanted place within EasyNoter note.

12. Importing to EasyNoter

EasyNoter supports three basic import standards. You can import one or multiple notes as plain text or RTF documents simply by selecting files that you want to import. Two other formats, importing from comma separated and tab separated files can be used for transferring data from other programs, like Outlook or other PIMs. Once you export your data (either to comma or tab separated file) from such programs, click IMPORT and then appropriate import format (comma or tab separated) from the pull down menu in EasyNoter.

If you're importing to free form folder each field from your existing data base will simply be imported into a new row. Each note (or address) will contain as many rows as there are fields within the notes.

If you prefer to import data to formatted folder (using forms) you should first create fields to match your existing data base. For instance, if you are importing base of books where you had fields like: "Name", "Author", "Year", you should first create the same three fields within EasyNoter and then use IMPORT function!

 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT IMPORTING FROM EARLIER VERSIONS OF EASYNOTER

- You can import version 2.x, 3.x or 4.x *.dat files only to Notes and Address section!

- If you used PASSWORD protection with EasyNoter 2.x, 3.x or 4.x, you will need the SAME PASSWORD to import or open files in EasyNoter 4!

13. Exporting from EasyNoter

You can export files from EasyNoter as TXT or RTF documents. You can choose to export all notes from some section (all notes or all addresses), notes from a current folder, or set of notes selected by use of FIND (search) function.

When you choose your preferences, simply select a folder where you would like to have your documents exported and click OK. If several notes with the same name exists, they will be automatically numbered keeping the same name before numbers.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you have a lot of information within your EasyNoter, EXPORTING can take a lot of time--up to several minutes.

EXPORTING is not available from Reminder section!

14. Changing Font Style

One of the weaknesses of similar programs was inability to highlight parts of the text for easier visual "scanning" and reading entered information.

That's why we decided to give this ability to EasyNoter users.

All textual information entered in Diary, Notes or Address Book, can be marked by custom font style.

You can either open the "FONT" dialog to change more settings at once, or click shortcuts to increase or decrease size (+/-), toggle bold (B), italic (I), underline (U) or color for selected text.

15. Printing

Click on "PRINT" to open Print Setup dialog, choose printer and send selected note to the printer.

You can print a single note, set of notes matching some criteria (use FIND and then print found set), all notes from current folder or all notes from all folders.

You can choose to print each note on a separate sheet of paper or print them all in a row with multiple notes on each paper.

You can also set all four margins through Print dialog.

16. Opening Web Sites

Each properly formatted URL that starts with "http://" will automatically be recognized as web link if it is used out of EasyNoter forms fields. Simple click on the link will open your browser and jump to the given web location. If URL is used within the entry form field (folders that use forms), you will have to click on the link in the given field and then click your right mouse button to get access to "Open Web Site" command.

17. Sending Mail

Each properly formatted e-mail address that starts with "mailto:" will automatically be recognized as e-mail address if it is used out of EasyNoter forms fields. Simple click on the link will open your default e-mail software. If address is used within the entry form field (folders that use forms), you will have to click on the link in the given field and then click your right mouse button to get access to "Send Mail" command.

This option will open your default e-mail software with selected e-mail address as recipient.

To use this option you must have e-mail software properly installed on your computer!

18. Deleting Entries

To delete any entry in any section, simply select entry and hit delete on the keyboard. This action CANNOT be undone!

By default, you will be warned before deleting any entry. You can uncheck this option from within OPTIONS dialog.

To delete part of the note, select text and hit delete on the keyboard.

19. Finding Information

After selecting one headline, you can easily browse through all the notes using up and down arrows on your keyboard.

Above method is best for visual "scanning" for wanted information.

The other method is to use full text search capabilities available in Diary, Notes and Address Book sections.

Simply enter the search string and click the "FIND" button.

Program will search through all the notes in chosen section for the correct match of entered string. Search is not case sensitive.

To highlight the found string in the note, click F3 or choose "Find Next" in pop-up menu opened by right mouse click.

You can toggle found/all notes by clicking "ALL ENTRIES" or "FIND" buttons respectively.

You can choose to search within all or only current folder matching exact phrase, any or all given keywords.

If searching for multiple keywords they must be separated by comma.

20. Use of Right Mouse Click

Right mouse click functionality is very important part of EasyNoter!

It would be best for you to experiment by clicking right mouse button on various places in the program until you become familiar with all available functions.

Right mouse click opens different menus in different sections of the program. For instance, if you right click mouse on the right page within Notes or Address section, this will open menu with basic editing functions, saving, pasting, embedding object and links etc.

If you click on the left page of the same sections, you will get another menu with options to create new folders, subfolders, collapse or expand folders or edit forms. In some cases some options may be unavailable (displayed in gray).

21. Saving

Though you do have a "SAVE" option at the bottom of the right page, you don't have to use it because - All notes are saved each time you switch to another section or exit from the program.

However...
While in normal operation saving is triggered automatically before closing the program so you can't lose information by mistake, it might be wise to click "SAVE" from time to time just to be safe from loss of data in case of power failure!

It's also good idea to backup files periodically.

22. Backup & Restore

You should create a backup of your files periodically.

Depending on your needs you can do it on a daily, weekly or monthly basis by simply clicking on "BACKUP" and choosing the destination disk and folder. After clicking "OK" all the needed files will be copied to chosen destination.

To restore, you should click "RESTORE" and choose the source disk and folder containing your backup files. All needed files will be copied to working directory.

In either case you do not have to select any files, only destination (or source) folder.

23. Installing to USB Key

EasyNoter 4 can be used from USB Key or memory card or just any external drive.

To set this functionality simply install EasyNoter to a folder on USB key and use it as long as the key is plugged in.

Note: Please remember that Reminders will not work when USB key is unplugged!

If you wish to use the program both on PC and carry it around on USB key, you can do that too. To set this option copy complete EasyNoter working directory (with all files and folder structure within) from your PC to USB key that you plan to use for this purpose.

Note: Data will NOT be synchronized automatically!

Each time you decide to switch from PC installation to USB, or vice versa, YOU MUST MANUALLY BACKUP DATA TO THE SECOND LOCATION!

Note: Safer solution is to run EasyNoter always from USB key only! Constant switching may cause loss of data if you're not careful!

Consider using Cloud options instead.

24. Using Cloud (Google, Dropbox, etc.)

You can use EasyNoter 4 with various Clouds like Google Drive, Dropbox etc.

Depending on the Cloud you normally use simply install EasyNoter to a LOCAL folder that you're syncing over to the cloud. Same EasyNoter with all the data will always sync as long as your Cloud control software is running and connected to Internet. With this setup you'll always have all the data on all computers automatically synced.

This setup is ideal if you plan to use your EasyNoter on two or more computers, like for instance your home PC and workstation in your office.

25. Options (Customizing)

- Preferences
Through Options dialog you can choose the default font for all new entries. Also, you can enable or disable hints (short notes that pop up if you hold your mouse over a menu), change clock settings from 24-hour clock format to 12-hour clock format, turn on/off word wrap and live spelling.

- Password
You can use password to protect your data with encryption. If you're setting the password for the first time, skip the "EXISTING PASSWORD" field and enter new password in fields below.
If you want to change existing password, you must first enter the existing password to the first, and then new password to second and the third field.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you don't forget the password!
If you do, your data may be irreversibly lost!

- Design
To change EasyNoter cover design (skin) click "Options" and choose tab "Design". You will be able to load some of existing EasyNoter skins or download new ones from our website.

- Diary
You can change the first day of the week, choose to display week numbers and adjust sorting order.

- Quick Launch
By default, EasyNoter is offering four Windows programs that are installed on most systems. calculator, media player and Windows Explorer. However, if you would like to have some other programs accessible through this quick launch buttons, you can enter program locations within Options/Quick Launch tab.

26. Closing Program

To close the program click on "EXIT" in the upper left corner, or "X" sign in the bottom right corner.

This will actually minimize EasyNoter to tray!

If you want to exit from EasyNoter fully, you should click your right mouse button over EasyNoter tray icon and then click "Exit" from the menu.

If you fully exit from the program, reminder will not work!
To use Reminder function EasyNoter must run at least in the tray!

27. Licensing Options

There is a special page dedicated to ArtPlus EasyNoter Licensing Options.