SOFTWARE: What specialized software do you use?

[Barbara Conn, CPCUG]

Hi, all,

I'd like to update my list (*really* old) of specialized software for
writers--both fee based and free.

I'm looking for software in addition to the powerhouses--the Adobe
products (and MS Office products) that we all use.

I'm looking for more specialized software that helps writers complete a
specific type of writing product--perhaps for a type of project they don't
do regularly--such as a product to help create a screenplay in a useful
format.

Also small utilities that help a writer perform a small function, and do
it well.

What software do you use and like--and how does it help you in your work?

Thanks,


Barb

Barbara Conn, Director of Corporate Communications
Chair, Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG
Capital PC User Group: "Users Helping Users"
bc...@cpcug.org | http://cpcug.org | http://Twitter.com/cpcug

[GabeGold]

Utilities for productivity
* Screen capture – CaptureWizPro – www.pixelmetrics.com
* PC index/search – built-in/add-on – File Locator Pro – www.mythicsoft.com
* 1-4a for file renaming – www.1-4a.com/rename
* URL shortener – tinyurl.com, etc.
* WinZip for file compression – www.winzip.com
* Beyond Compare for file compare – www.scootersoftware.com/

...and many, MANY Firefox and Thunderbird add-ons and settings which
make the Mozilla twins sing and dance. See

Firefox, Thunderbird tweaks and add-ons worth looking at
http://www.itworld.com//software/76807/firefox-thunderbird-tweaks-and-add-ons-worth-looking?page=0%252C1

Which Firefox and Thunderbird Extensions Should I Install?
http://tiplet.com/tip/which-firefox-and-thunderbird-extensions-should-i-install/

[Ken Norkin]

On Dec 9, 8:42 am, "Barbara Conn, CPCUG" <bc...@cpcug.org> wrote:

> What software do you use and like--and how does it help you in your
work?

Timeslips: Time tracking, billing and receivables system. Records
the time I spend on client projects. Generates invoices with any level
of detail I need to show clients -- such as number of hours at what
rate or no hours and just a flat fee. Can also bill multiple jobs to
a single invoice, which few (or none?) of the lower priced billing
products can manage. I totally credit Timeslips with earning more
money for me by (a) making sure that I bill for every minute on hourly
rate jobs and (b) showing me how much time various jobs take so that I
can quote flat rates that compensate me at or above my hourly rate.

I've been using Timeslips since I went freelance in 1991.
Unfortunately, the Mac version was abandoned about 10 years ago. For
those who know the Mac, TS continued to work in the "Classic" (System
9) environment in OS X (System 10), though a few minor features
stopped working correctly. Then it finally stopped working altogether
when Apple switched to Intel processors and a version of the OS that
doesn't include Classic. Not finding any Mac-based billing software
that I liked, I bought a year-old Windows version of Timeslips on
clearance, and run Windows XT Home Edition on my iMac in a virtual PC
under VMWare Fusion. Sort of an expensive solution. But as long as
this continues to work, I have no need to upgrade either Windows or
Timeslips. It's the only thing I do on the Windows side of my Mac.


TextSoap: This is a handy utility for the Mac that cleans up text
that you copy from Web pages, emails and PDFs. Yes, you can
accomplish the same thing in most word processing by just saving the
pasted material as a text-only document. But TextSoap lets you clean
(or "scrub") selectively. Take out MIME encoding or html; straighten
quotes or turn them curly; remove extra spaces, tabs or line returns;
replace all caps with lower case; capitalize sentences. And more.
For example, I typically use TextSoap just to take out MIME and html
and use regular old search and replace or formatting tools in Word for
everything else. A real time saver.


Ken