How best to archive MarginNote-annotated files?

Feature Requests
61

Yes, that’s what I mean. But again, we’d like the links in MN3-exported PDFs to work offline / disconnected from the iCloud, and in other PDF apps, such as native MacOS apps like Preview.

Per my earlier post…

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62

Hi @Sushi_Support-Team, Do you now have a full understanding of what we’re seeking – and why?

Please let me know if I can answer any more questions about this. And please let us know when MN3 can implement these features.

Thanks!

63

Just chiming in here. Thank you @Sushi_Support-Team for the kind shout out.

I’ve reviewed the exchanges between you and @jprint – and I’d say that @jprint perfectly summarized the problems we face with MarginNote PDF exports, and how best to address them with fixes in future versions.

As I said, in my previous posts, I’d suggest that MarginNote at least consider ways to open and use its MarginNote-exported PDFs in apps like DEVONthink Pro, especially considering how many MarginNote users work between the two apps. Also, as I’ve repeatedly said, we’re desperate for MarginNote to produce PDF exports in more manageable file sizes.

Thank you again for hearing our concerns. Do you have you any idea when you might be able to address these changes? I ask because I, too, have been putting my MarginNote work on hold until certain core features have been fixed (e.g., syncing, as well as the export and tagging features).

Thank you.

64

Hello, jprint,
I have understood your requests generally.
However, one more question, could you explain this sentence in detail.

In fact, currently, links in MN3-exported PDFs can work offline and disconnected from the iCloud. If it’s possible, you are also expected to use some pictures. Thanks.

Regards,
Bryan

65

Hello, Journoprof,

JournoProf:

DEVONthink Pro

Only after I using this software do I realize why you and some other users want to improve MN3’s hashtag and its export method:How export notes with select hashtags?

Thank you for showing me such a great software, I will seriously consider your suggestion.

By the way, Developer-min once wanted to introduce one program to improve PDF export(especially the size of PDFs), but at that time we didn’t think many users need this function. As a result, we didn’t buy the PDF export program from one well-known software vendor. If you indeed want this function to be implemented, please tell me why you want this function in detail (maybe later I will send a questionnaire about feature requests to your email, it may waste your some time, say sorry in advance)

In this winter holiday, I will try my best to write a report to developer-min about a few of your urgent features，such as hashtag, PDF export etc…

Regards,
Bryan

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66

Hi @Sushi_Support-Team – I’ll do my best to explain. Earlier, we exchanged messages in which I said that the current configuration of MN3-exported files (including PDFs) was that when users clicked on MN3 URL links, it would re-open the original MN3 file – thereby opening the file in MarginNote and, by extension, opening it in the iCloud.

We’re trying to explain that after we’re done annotating a MN3 file, we’d like to archive it so that we don’t have to re-open it in MarginNote again – and have it add to space that’s crowding out iCloud drive.

I understand, as you’ve said, that…

Again, we’re hoping that we can still make use of the the MN3-created URL links in other apps – including others beyond expensive 3rd party apps! – so that when we click on MN3-created URL links they’re not opening MarginNote again, and once again opening that file online via the iCloud.

Does this help answer your question? Thanks!

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67

Hi @Sushi_Support-Team – thanks for your message.

Ok, so you’re trying to understand why we still want to be able to have the PDF export functions that we’ve outlined – especially with the reduced file size. Is that correct? If not, please clarify what you’d like us to answer.

Re: file size, it’s quite simple – the current MN3-exported PDF file size is enormous, and therefore we can’t save them to databases (e.g., DEVONthink Pro) which have limited file size capacity.

So, right now the MN3-exported PDF files:

  • Are too big, and cannot be properly archived in our databases;

  • Can only be opened through expensive 3rd party apps so that users can use MN3-created URL links – if that’s even the case;

  • There are other limitations with how MN3-exported PDFs are formatted – and the options available for making those formats – as I’ve pointed out in other posts (and can outline for you again, if you wish);

Let me know if I can provide you with any additional answers and input. Maybe other users can chime in here…

Thanks!

68

@Sushi_Support-Team – you addressed your reply to me, but I think you meant to send it @jprint.

@jprint has articulated his answer to you better than I could have, but please let me know if I can answer or address any other questions that you might have.

Thank you.

69
2 Likes
70

Data exporting is the primary concern. We are looking for testers who got experiences with AppleScript. And help us check what the API could do or optimize. Please click the link to join: Extstester - Marginnote

Regards,
Lanco

71

Dear all,

apologies as, like I stated at the beginning of this thread, after earnestly playing with it for several weeks, I had given up on MarginNote because I couldn’t find a viable outline/ annotation export possibility. I’ve only checked this forum again today.

I see now there is a plan for OPML format export. That would be perfect and exactly solve my problem. With OPML:

  1. I can shorten our workflow with large PDFs enormously and maintain only the information we need: annotated and reorganised outline with highlighted text excerpts, and links to the original sources.
  2. The resulting files are very light, and can be parsed in python, etc any way we want.
  3. We are not locked to a closed-source proprietary format (eg Omni Outliner).

Can you confirm that OPML export is a possibility? Is there an update I should download for that? Thank you very much!

3 Likes
72

I have spent quite a bit of time reading through this very interesting post. Great to see the developers actively collaborating with their users/customer base.
I have been using MN for about 2 years now, and while its functions have been sufficient during this time, after some changes in what I am required to do, I now also have a critical requirement for a viable export option of outline/annotations.
I am looking firstly for a way to be able export only those annotations that I have filtered, while not having to first copy the filtered annotations to a new notebook. Doing it this way is not really feasible. I will sometimes need to include the parent note, and only some of the child notes in my final annotation document for export, but if the parent note is selected and copied to a new notebook, the entire tree is copied as well.
Is there not an easy way to filter notes in order to select the important information you want to retain in external apps like DTP without first having to delete all ‘less important’ notes?

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73

For instance, a game changer for me, would be the ability to export only the emphasized text from my outline/annotations. Since we are not able excerpt from within an excerpt or note, the ability to export only the emphasised text will work very well in a progressive summarization workflow

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74

Nothing?

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75

“Says solved by support team in post 69“

Funny, I do t see a solution at all in here or in post number 69. I’ve came up against similar about archiving outside of MarginNote with annotations. I need to start sharing some research I’ve been doing and currently that’s not possible. Is anything in development?

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76

Did you ever get an answer to your question? I’m trying to solve the same problem, myself.

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77

Wish I could say I did. I looked at post 69, “the solution” and it seems that it was a call for beta-testers with Apple Script knowledge for OS X . I only use MN on mobile so not sure if that’s even relevant and haven’t seen anything implemented on the mobile front.
My workflow is still manual and inefficient with MN/PDF/Sharing. Currently have been moving most research related annotations to Roam Research. Would be interesting to see MN3 get bi-directional links like Roam and better export and sharing. I’d do most everything in it.

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78

Got it. Thanks.

Yeah, ditto that sentiment. Big time.

Thanks!

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79

Dear @Lanco_Support-Team / @Sushi_Support-Team Has there been any development with this issue?

Thank you.

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80

All your notes can be converted based on the MN plugin.

We’ve been working on the instructions for these interfaces for the last few months, and have almost completed the main documentation, which we are now working on proofreading and translating into English for the community of developers. Introduction | MarginNote Addon Developing Guide (Preview Edition)
You will then have a high degree of data customization to suit the needs of different format conversions.