I have been evaluating software for use as a research tool and note-taker for work on a book manuscript. I have settled on DEVONThink as the ‘master data warehouse’ but really like the lightness and ease of use with DEVONNote. I use 'Note for note-taking (obviously) and as a daily journal as well as a temporary reservoir of information and pictures. I’m reserving 'Think for the data reduction, extraction of quotes, and as a repository of all the individual research notes for the book. Every few days I copy the accumulated notes over to 'Think.
I’m sure that someone will question why I am using two separate programs. The reason is that my data reduction will come later on, after I have gathered my raw information. Being faced with seeing the accumulation daily while doing research and wanting to edit may be more tempting than my will to do the raw work itself. Second, I prefer working with the comparatively sparse view of 'Note. I also feel like if I make a newbie blunder, I’ll screw up much less on the comparatively small database of 'Notes as opposed to the Master Files accumulated in 'Think.
I have both programs running, seemingly happily, on my MacBook but have a niggling worry that there could be some possible conflicts in databases, services or other internal agent that could conceivably cause damage to data or outright loss. I back up frequently so any disaster should have few consequences.
Please advise me if this is something to worry about or am I just being overcautious.
Cheers,
Ron