Overview

Bookends Plus 5.0.1 is the latest release of Sonny Software's reference managing and bibliography formatting program (formerly sold by Westing Software). Bookends provides an all-in-one screen environment with an accessible tool palette for frequently used features (figure 1). For Microsoft Word 6 and 98 users, a Word add-in module allows Bookends to be used seamlessly from within Word. For easy access to Bookends from other word-processing programs and Web browsers, an auto-switching option may be set in Preferences to allow users to go between windows rapidly; two different hot corner and key combinations may be designated to invoke either the auto-find or the auto-import reference function. References copied from online databases may be imported from the clipboard without saving to a text file. Direct importing of references from BioMedNet's Evaluated MEDLINE is also possible.

Figure 1

Automatic assembly of term lists including journal names, authors, and keywords occurs upon reference import. To make references more complete, any type of file(s) may be attached to a reference and either opened directly (video and graphics) or by the application that created it. Bookends offers a variety of ways to access, retrieve, and edit Internet reference libraries by using a Web browser. HTML-encoded bibliographies are generated using the Bibliography Formatter. Documentation is example-driven and easy to follow.

Overall, Bookends Plus offers a unique working environment and extensively customizable features, placing it above many other competing programs. A free evaluation copy is available for download at the Sonny Software site.

How Long Did It Take to Learn to Use It Productively?

The tutorial takes about two hours to go through for those already familiar with basic features of reference managing and bibliography programs, and is well worth the effort in order to discover many of the unique features offered by Bookends. Novice users will find the example-driven tutorial easy to follow and well written. However, it would be wise to set aside two days - one day to master basic concepts and a second day to tackle the more advanced features.

Product Quality

Customizability

One of this program's strongest aspects is the ability to customize extensively all of its features. The manual provides an excellent description of how to accomplish this, along with examples of user-encountered applications. The Show Example feature allows users to view immediately a customized output format without having to test it by creating a mock bibliography, which speeds up the creation of customized formats considerably. Sonny Software also provides free assistance to registered users in creating import and export formats.

Ability to Program in Scripts, Add Extension Modules, etc.

An add-in module and template for Microsoft Word allows writers to access Bookends from within Word and then automatically switches back to Word once citations are inserted. This module provides increased flexibility and "Cite While You Write" convenience.

Ability to Import and Export in Different File Formats

Available built-in import translators exist for Bookends files, tab-delimited files, BRS (MESH format), BRS (generic format), Chemical Abstracts/STN, Compact Cambridge, MEDLINE, Dialog, MEDLINE/Medlars, SilverPlatter/MEDLINE, and SilverPlatter/generic database providers. User-defined import translators currently exist for CD Plus, Grateful Med, PubMed, EndNote~Refer, ERIC Assess, Evaluated MEDLINE/HealthSTAR, Oberon's Citation, Publish or Perish, and Uncover Web.

Useful or Unusual Features

Data Entry

The Open URL command allows users fast access to online reference databases. Frequently used Web sites may also be bookmarked. References copied from the remote database to the clipboard may be imported directly into a Bookends database. This option eliminates the need to save references to a text file prior to import; however, an appropriate import translator is still required. This is automatically configured when Bookends is installed; however, it may also be set up manually using the directions provided in the Bookends manual and at the Sonny Software Web site. It is possible to import references directly from BioMedNet's Evaluated MEDLINE by setting up your Web browser to use Bookends as a helper application. Manual entry of references is facilitated by accessing Term Lists of journal names, authors, keywords, and editors. In addition, information from a previously entered reference field may be copied to a new reference using the Peek function. Duplicate reference entry detection may be customized based on author's name; last name only; title; volume; ignoring issue number; pages; or first page only. After detection, duplicates may be automatically deleted, or each verified prior to deletion.

Database Searching

Two options exist for locating references within a database - find (slightly faster but more limited) and search. Writers may find references using Words Beginning With, Characters, Word, Whole Word, or String, whereas searches may be performed using Boolean operators. In either case, the results may be put into a subset called a Hits List, which allows multiple finds or searches to be performed and saved to yield the desired reference list. Search strategies may be saved and applied to other databases.

Manuscript Processing

Often writers must work while separated from their reference database, which means having to locate where references need to be entered in the manuscript at a later date. A unique and powerful feature of Bookends is its ability to detect manually entered references from a variety of cues provided by the writer - which may be as diverse and as limited as author/year, a few words from a title, or a keyword and author. Later, when the document is Scanned to format citations, Bookends searches the database for the most appropriate references matching the information within the citation place-holders and provides the writer with a list of best matches to choose from, to facilitate insertion of the correct reference. This function works very well. Output styles requiring the title to be put into title case are accommodated by an option that recognizes prepositions and articles and will not capitalize them. This recognition list can be modified as needed. The caveat to this feature is that it will work only if the database entries were properly entered in sentence case.

Bookends "links" to any word processor for inserting citations into manuscripts; however, it only reads, writes, and preserves styled text in files saved in the following formats from these programs: Microsoft Word 5, MacWrite, WriteNow, and ClarisWorks, or AppleWorks saved as RTF (rich text format), FrameMaker (saved as MIF) and native WordPerfect (v. 2.x and 3.x) files. In addition, a Word add-in module allows Bookends to be used from within Word 6 and Word 98 to "Cite While You Write" and produce bibliographies without leaving the word processor. Documents may be Scanned to format references and generate a bibliography at any time or Unscanned to revert back into unformatted references with no bibliography.

Web Features

Bookends allows Web users access to reference databases to retrieve formatted references, and to enter or edit references into a database with password protection. The Bibliography Formatter generates HTML-encoded bibliographies ready for Web publishing. Hypertext links to another URL found within a reference may be returned to remote users to provide links to full articles available on the Internet.

None apparent.

Bookends provides unique features that set it apart from other programs in this class. Examples of specifically impressive features include: the smart reference detection ability for locating manually entered references, correct footnote handling when using the Microsoft Word add-in, RTF (rich text format) or MIF (FrameMaker) files, attaching any type of file to references, linking to any word processor, auto-switching to facilitate faster access to word processing programs other than Microsoft Word and Web browsing software, direct import of references from the clipboard and viewing formatted references or customized formats directly. In addition, all features are extensively customizable, lending flexibility to users. No option currently exists for spell checking as Papyrus provides, although global find and replace is present, which may be used to change misspelled words in the entire database or within a subset of the database called a Hits List. Both Papyrus and Bookends are WorldScript savvy, allowing them to make use of the foreign character set recognition of the script system installed on the user's computer. While EndNote provides direct modem connections and search routines to online databases from within the program, Bookends approaches this instead by using the Open URL command. This eliminates the need for connection filters. It also takes advantage of the database provider's search engine for obtaining references, and hastens reference retrieval by copying references to the clipboard for import into Bookends.

Technical Support and Documentation

The downloadable manual and tutorial are easy to follow and well written. Critical information is emphasized with a "pointing finger" icon. The appendixes offer guidance for program installation, feature shortcuts, and tips for using existing import/export formats as well as for customizing formats. A searchable Bookends Guide accessible from the help menu provides fast basic assistance for program features. Sonny Software gladly offers assistance in customizing import and export formats upon email request to their support address.

Target Users

Students and professionals will find Bookends offers a value-packed program at an affordable price.

Comments

Bookends was developed by Jonathan D. Ashwell in 1983 for the Apple II. Version 5.0.2 will be released shortly, and will provide integration between Nisus Writer and Bookends similar to that already available to Microsoft Word users with the add-in module.