Research webpage design: including word processor and web page frames

[Pat Sheen]

I'm a novice at designing web pages so I'm not sure how complicated
this is. I'd like a page that helps me take notes for research. It
would have something like two frames. One with a word processor
running for my notes. It would allow editing, saving a file,
selecting a new file, pasting urls. The other frame is the website
I'm researching. If possible it would use the URL typed in the usual
place for addresses. If this can't be done then the URL would be in
this second frame or perhaps a third frame spanning the top of the
page.

Can anyone offer any help for designing this?

TIA,
Pat

[Spartanicus]

ps****@mailinator.com (Pat Sheen) wrote:

I'm a novice at designing web pages so I'm not sure how complicated
this is. I'd like a page that helps me take notes for research. It
would have something like two frames. One with a word processor
running for my notes. It would allow editing, saving a file,
selecting a new file, pasting urls. The other frame is the website
I'm researching. If possible it would use the URL typed in the usual
place for addresses. If this can't be done then the URL would be in
this second frame or perhaps a third frame spanning the top of the
page.

I've no idea what made you think that a web page would be the way to do
this.

It couldn't be more simple: open your favourite browser and text editor,
size and position their windows to your liking on your screen: voila.

--
Spartanicus

[Pat Sheen]

I'd like this because it's simpler to manage a single window of
related tasks than two. It's also easier to move a frame bar between
two frames than resizing two windows to fill the screen. I imagine at
various times I might want to see more of the URL I'm investigating
and others more of the notes.

Pat

[Spartanicus]

ps****@mailinator.com (Pat Sheen) wrote:

I'd like this because it's simpler to manage a single window of
related tasks than two. It's also easier to move a frame bar between
two frames than resizing two windows to fill the screen. I imagine at
various times I might want to see more of the URL I'm investigating
and others more of the notes.

It's not functionality to create with a web page. Look into maximizing
the 2 application windows and learn how to copy information between
them, look at window organizing features offered by your OS or via 3rd
party utilities.

Alternatively Opera has a side panel with a notes function, Mozilla and
Firefox probably have something similar available via a plugin.

--
Spartanicus

[psheen]

Hi Spartanicus, thank for you comments. What is the problem with using
html to create this functionality? Is there another way to implement
this. I've used the Quicknote plugin with Firefox and it's similar to
what I want but doesn't have the outlining facilities of Word which I
find really useful. I've done the multiple windows but it's a hassle
resizing windows because you've got to resize both and it's more
difficult because much of my work is on the train on a notebook. It
seems to me that html and a web browser are so close to being able to
provide the functionality I need but I'm not quite sure what prevents
it. Glad of any comments.

Thanks,
Pat

[Spartanicus]

ps****@mailinator.com wrote:

Hi Spartanicus, thank for you comments. What is the problem with using
html to create this functionality?

The message you are replying to is no longer part of my newsbase, since
you've not quoted anything I have no idea what it is about.

--
Spartanicus

[psheen]

Summarising:
I want to be able to take notes when I'm researching on the web. I
like using outlining in Word. It seems like frames in html are a very
close fit to what I want. e.g. a frame on the left with Word in
Outline View and a frame on the right pointing to the Web Page I'm
researching. This has fairly good usability being able to resize
frames by moving a single bar, being able to see both pieces of
information simultaneously. I've used the QuickNote extension in
Firefox but it doesn't have the outlining functionality I'd like.
Using html and a browser relies on commonly available facilities with
lots of flexibility.

While multiple windows provides similar functionality - it's time
consuming adjusting window sizes on two windows instead of moving a
frame bar and then having to flick through other windows I have active
to get where I want. Also most of this I'm doing on a notebook while
travelling on the train so fine adjustments are even more difficult.

Spartanicus said
I've no idea what made you think that a web page would be the way to do
this.

It's not functionality to create with a web page.

So I'd asked:
What is the problem with using html to create this functionality? Is
there another way to implement this. It seems to me that html and a web
browser are so close to being able to provide the functionality I need
but I'm not quite sure what prevents it. Glad of any comments.

Pat

[Spartanicus]

ps****@mailinator.com wrote:

I want to be able to take notes when I'm researching on the web.
Crickey that's an old thread you are resurrecting.
I like using outlining in Word.
I don't use Word, I've no idea what "outlining" refers to.
It seems like frames in html are a very
close fit to what I want. e.g. a frame on the left with Word in
Outline View and a frame on the right pointing to the Web Page I'm
researching.
I'd still maintain that this isn't the right way to go, one practical
drawback being that a framed "solution" will disappear when you
encounter a frame "breakout" function, or any link with a target="_top",
both are frequently found on web sites.

Other issue is that unless you can use IE & ActiveX to launch Word into
a frame (doubt it), it would require writing a custom "notes" web
application (loads of work).
While multiple windows provides similar functionality - it's time
consuming adjusting window sizes on two windows instead of moving a
frame bar
IIRC I recommended looking into window manager utilities to make that
easier.
and then having to flick through other windows I have active
to get where I want.

Navigating frames takes an equal number of steps.

--
Spartanicus