Import-Export?

[MS]

Trying out the latest version of the OneNote 7 Beta, Win XP Pro SP2.

I have not been able to find Import and Export functions in OneNote7? Do
they exist? If so, where?

For instance, being a Note-taking application, if one previously used
Outlook Notes for that function, one might want to import one's Outlook
Notes into OneNote. (It should also import from other programs, other file
formats, including those of other software companies, etc.

I read that one can drag and drop notes from Outlook into OneNote. I
thought--"OK, that's how to import Outlook Notes into OneNote, although
strange that it seems to be the only way, no menu items for import, etc."

Now I found out, though, that this drag-and-dropping of Outlook Notes into
OneNote does not really copy the notes to OneNote, it just creates a link to
those notes in Outlook. Well, what if one decided to start using OneNote
instead of Outlook Notes, as one's primary notes app? In that case, after
importing the current notes into OneNote from Outlook, one might want to
delete them from Outlook, and only have them in OneNote. Then clicking on
one of those links that were dragged-and-dropped will only generate an error
message, as they are not notes in OneNote, but only links to notes in
Outlook, and those notes no longer exist in Outlook.

I hope someone can explain how to import and export notes to and from
OneNote. If that's not possible, IMO that is a serious defect in this
program, which I certainly hope is remedied in the final version.

 

[Patrick Schmid]

OneNote works differently. There is no real import function.
What you can do though is send your items to OneNote from the respective
programs.
In regards to Outlook, did you also install Outlook 2007? The current ON
beta has some issues with Outlook 2003.

If you want to send items from IE to OneNote, you'll find an item in the
Tools menu called "Send to OneNote". For all other programs, you can use
the "Send to OneNote" printer. With this printer, you can get data from
any application into OneNote.

Patrick Schmid

 

[MS]

OneNote works differently. There is no real import function.
What you can do though is send your items to OneNote from the respective
programs.
In regards to Outlook, did you also install Outlook 2007? The current ON
beta has some issues with Outlook 2003.

Nope, still using Outlook 2003.

If you want to send items from IE to OneNote, you'll find an item in the
Tools menu called "Send to OneNote". For all other programs, you can use
the "Send to OneNote" printer. With this printer, you can get data from
any application into OneNote.

Patrick Schmid

That "send to onenote" printer is not at all suitable for importing notes
from Outlook. I tried it, selected all my outlook notes, chose print, and
the "send to onenote" printer. It created one graphic file of all the notes.
Not at all a way to import editable notes from another note application.

The "send to onenote" printer is in no way a substitute for being able to
import and export notes to and from other applications. A note-taking
application should, at the least, be able to import and export notes from
other note-taking applications. In this case, it seems that it cannot even
import notes from a note-taking app by the same manufacturer, MS Outlook! A
very serious flaw, IMHO.

I certainly would not consider purchasing this product, with no import and
export capability, I sure hope they add it by the final version!

 

[Patrick Schmid]

There won't be any feature additions/changes until the final release. I
just checked with Outlook 2007. The only two things you can do with
Outlook notes is to embed them as files into OneNote, or as printouts.
So, this is all you'll get until RTM. Except of course is some 3rd party
add-in developer writes an add-in for OneNote that can import notes from
Outlook.
Btw, if you have PocketPC or Windows Mobile Smartphone, you can get your
Outlook notes via that device into OneNote.

Patrick Schmid

 

[MS]

Btw, if you have PocketPC or Windows Mobile Smartphone, you can get your

Outlook notes via that device into OneNote.

Patrick Schmid

How?

 

[Patrick Schmid]

Via ActiveSync, sync all the Outlook Notes onto the device. Then open
OneNote. In OneNote, Tools, Copy from PocketPC or Smartphone, the
automatic setting might already be activated. Or you can choose the
"now" option. This will copy all the notes from the device into OneNote.
After it is done, take a look in Tools, Options, Filing Rules. Under
Paths, it has an entry "Copied from device". Find the ON section that
corresponds to that path in ON, and you'll see all your notes in ON
right there. Note that this is a one-way sync (into ON) only. If you
want to sync ON notes back to the device, you need to install OneNote
Mobile on the device (you need WM5 though. For smartphones the 2003
version works as well. PPC version has no pen support). However, you
can't get them back into Outlook.
Once you have found them in ON, you can reorganize them any way you
want.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Grant Robertson]

For instance, being a Note-taking application, if one previously used
Outlook Notes for that function, one might want to import one's Outlook
Notes into OneNote. (It should also import from other programs, other file
formats, including those of other software companies, etc.

The best thing you are going to be able to do is just lots of copying and
pasting. Tedious, I know. But it is the only way I know of to get it into
OneNote in text form. Just work on it a little bit at a time till you are
finished. If you only copy the notes over as you find you need them then
it won't seem so much like a chore.

 

[MS]

The best thing you are going to be able to do is just lots of copying and
pasting. Tedious, I know. But it is the only way I know of to get it into
OneNote in text form. Just work on it a little bit at a time till you are
finished. If you only copy the notes over as you find you need them then
it won't seem so much like a chore.

I doubt it's worth that much trouble (I have a lot of notes), just to try
out OneNote. I get the impression that program still needs a LOT of work.

 

[Grant Robertson]

I get the impression that program still needs a LOT of work.

It kind of does. And at Microsoft's pace I can see them thinking about
maybe ignoring most of the requests and putting out yet something else to
satisfy the marketing department in about another 3-5 years. But it is
still way better than everything else I have looked at for what I want to
do. So, what the heck, you decide it it does enough of what you want and
you either pay the money or not. If I had all the time in the world I
would develop something that would kick OneNote's proverbial a**. But I
don't so I won't. I complain a lot, but, in the end, I just work with
what is available to me.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

There won't be any feature additions/changes until the final
release.
I just checked with Outlook 2007. The only two things you can do
with
Outlook notes is to embed them as files into OneNote, or as
printouts.
So, this is all you'll get until RTM.

Does Copy+Paste not work anymore?
That's what I used with OL 2003 so far.

Btw, if you have PocketPC or Windows Mobile Smartphone, you can get
your Outlook notes via that device into OneNote.

Yes, this works even with older versions of the PocketPC OS (in my
case PPC2002).
But I could not yet find out how. :-( :-(

The notes get copied over several times and I always have to delete
the duplicates ...

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I complain a lot, but, in the
end, I just work with what is available to me.

Same with me ...

Rainald

 

[Patrick Schmid]

The notes get copied over several times and I always have to delete
the duplicates ...

Deactivate that automatic syncing of it or delete the notes in Outlook
once they are in OneNote.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Patrick Schmid in (e-mail address removed) shared these
words of wisdom:

Deactivate that automatic syncing of it

I'll have to check for that.
Not yet found how to do that.

or delete the notes in Outlook once they are in OneNote.

Sorry, no way this way.
Deleting the notes from Outlook will remove them from the PDA too. And
that's where they are needed.

Rainald

 

[Patrick Schmid]

In English: Tools, Copy From PocketPC or Smartphone, Copy Notes and
Records Automatically.
Deactivating that should solve the issue.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Patrick Schmid in (e-mail address removed) shared these
words of wisdom:

In English: Tools, Copy From PocketPC or Smartphone, Copy Notes and
Records Automatically.
Deactivating that should solve the issue.

Thanks a lot, Patrick.
Once again: I can pretty dumb :-( :-(

It is still a mystery, however.
If I use the option "copy ... now" for the notes from the "device" it
cerates dupliactes too.

It seems that there is no system of checking what is already there.
Will have to do a bit more testing.

Rainald

 

[Patrick Schmid]

FYI, this feature already existed in ON 2003.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Patrick Schmid in (e-mail address removed) shared these
words of wisdom:

FYI, this feature already existed in ON 2003.

The worse! So no reason for mitigation of punishment <bg>

Spent quite time on testing. I don't think that I really got behind
it.
It's really awful.

Obviously ON collects everything that it thinks is new.
And there's no sufficient checking.

If a note is changed, it's copied.
If the previous version exists already, it's copied again. And then
there is a duplicate or triplicate or ...

If the new import is deleted, next time the thing is copied again. The
old one remains.
If an unchanged note is deleted in ON, it is *not* copied again.

So anything but synching properly [siiiigh].

Rainald

 

[MS]

In what ways do you find it better than Outlook, for example?

 

[Rainald Taesler]

MS in %[email protected] shared these words of
wisdom:

"MS", who are you?

Using this alias is misleading.
And it does not comply with the nettiquette valid for this
newsgroup/forum.
It's laid down in the rules that users shhould us etheir *real* name.

Rainald

 

[MS]

MS in %[email protected] shared these words of
wisdom:

"MS", who are you?

Using this alias is misleading.
And it does not comply with the nettiquette valid for this
newsgroup/forum.
It's laid down in the rules that users shhould us etheir *real* name.

Rainald

I am using my initials. Many newsgroup posters use their initials, as well
as others who use nicknames, etc.

Why do you say my initials are "misleading"? When you see those letters, do
you think "Microsoft"? Well, I'll put on the record, I have absolutely no
affiliation with that company, of any sort. OK? Are you no longer mislead? I
also do not have the disease, nor any connection with, the disease Multiple
Sclerosis, although that also shares my initials.

I've used my initials to post to newsgroups for years. My use of them has no
other connotation. I don't see why anyone should be mislead, or consider it
poor etiquette.

(By the way, I had those initials long before there was a company called
Microsoft.)