Calling all techie types

[icepixie]

I need a database program. Or something. See, I downloaded the university copy of EndNote I'm entitled to, and while I'm sure it's wonderful and all for, say, scientists or other people who don't use MLA, it is DRIVING ME CRAZY.

I am attempting to type up my notes on all the hundreds of poems I will be reading for my thesis, and what I DON'T want is a big, unwieldly Word file with all my notes scattered around in it as I get to each poem. What I WANT is all the functions of EndNote (searchability of all fields, organization by author, title, keyword, etc.), but with a way to not have all the extra fields I'm not using hanging around in each reference entry. ("Packaging Type"? Seriously? Who even needs this?) Since the program doesn't let you rearrange the fields (which, WTF? HOW HARD CAN THAT BE TO IMPLEMENT?), I've attempted to create my own custom entry, and while that works at getting me the relevant fields without having to scroll forever between the main bibliographic data and my notes, it messes up the ability to alphabetize in the library frame, because I'm not using the fields in the prescribed order. (Is it really so much to ask to have the poem title come first rather than the author? Really?) Also, the damned program has a tendency to not allow me to close windows unless I quit out of it and reopen it, which is perhaps the real reason I want an alternative.

So, suggestions? Are there even such things as freeware database programs that non-technically-inclined folks like myself can use? (I attempted to use the OpenOffice database. It laughed at me. Well, technically I managed to make myself...a table, I think? Anyway, I was able to enter things all right, but it failed when I got to entering notes. Besides, I want something that will give me an abbreviated entry in a library-type window, then when I double-click it will open into a new window with all my notes and stuff.)

Comments

[wintercreek]

I haven't played with this enough to be able to say how well it does what you want, but have you looked at Zotero? It is, IMO, like EndNote but better. And it's free! And it lives in Firefox, so grabbing content in electronic form is super easy.

[icepixie]

HOLY CRAP THAT'S AWESOME! So much better than EndNote! So much more functional!

It still won't let me make my own custom entry style, but at least here all the fields I want are only a tab away instead of what felt like miles of scrolling. Plus, you know, it gets info for me. And searches PDFs. And has tags. And allows me to make "related to" links--my GOD, that will be so useful. Buh-bye, EndNote!

Thank you!

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Ugh, sorry. Would some sort of wiki work? You can set them up on a local machine and I think they would cover the functions you need.

Also, have you tried asking in gradstudents? I bet they might have some good ideas.

Good luck!

[icepixie]

wintercreek just told me about Zotero, which, while it doesn't do exactly what I want, does do it better than EndNote, and has amazing functionality to boot. But thanks for the suggestion! If I run into problems with this program, I may look into wikis.

[tarzanic.livejournal.com]

Oooh, looks great! I'm glad you found a solution!