Does IA Writer Need to “Clean Up Its Act?”

Software
21

Bob, I think you just spawned a new thread. How many apps do you have installed that you actually use.

My count will be in the nutty end of the spectrum.

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22

Bob, I think you just spawned a new thread

I can’t speak for “Bob,” but the apps I use almost exclusively show up in the dock. I’m just messing with you. :wink:

Not counting utilities like Files, Preview, Calculator, and the like:

  • DTTG
  • Kindle
  • Logos
  • Journal
  • Photos
  • Numbers
  • Keynote
  • Freeform
  • Claude
  • Zotero
  • Ulysses
  • Pages
  • Notes
  • Messages
  • Safari
  • Reminders
  • Calendar
  • Mail

Eighteen apps.

I will occasionally need to open a Word or Excel document, and sometime a Google Doc or Sheet, but only if someone creates them and I need to open them. I never create Word or Excel documents at this point and very rarely a Google Doc or Sheet.

I do 98% +/- of all my work with the apps showing on the doc.

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23

@Bmosbacker sorry for getting your name wrong: Failure Bow

24

No worries, I’ve been called a LOT worse than Bob!! :rofl:

25

Dang, and I just paid $60 for the discounted annual subscription. (But, also, as someone on the verge of leaving the academy, maybe I should stick with a subscription.)

26

Mail / Calendar / Reminders
Safari
1Password
Day One
Craft
Scrivener
Keynote
Word

… and done.

1 Like
27

I’m curious about the organisation in Ulysses. I find the group and sheet structure more rigid than using regular folders and files. For example, in Ulysses you can’t move files from the inbox to the archive; anything to the archive must be a project. In contrast, in IA Writer you can use files and folders as you like. Am I missing something? If you’re not using all the «filters» and stuff following the «sheets»/database setup, are not files and folders as good? Also, using Apple’s own writing tools to fix the grammar, is there any use for ulyssses built-in language tools? Ran into a few «ah-has» this weekend, thought I wanted to air it to have some expert opinions.

28

I don’t claim to be an expert, but I’m a competent user of Ulysses. Here are a few thoughts.

  • Regarding the inbox, I’d recommend you create an Archive Group in the library as a workaround. You can collapse it so it would be no less intrusive than the Project Archive folder.
  • I don’t use Ulysses for short-form writing, I only use it for book-length manuscripts or white papers. I find the outlining feature to be indispensable.

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  • The ability to manually reorder sections of a long article or chapters in a book (and slip, merge, or glue) is extremely helpful and not available in an app like iA Writer.
  • I make extensive use of keywords in Ulysses, e.g., the status of chapters or sections.

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  • The Revision Mode in Ulysses goes beyond grammar checking and is useful, but I now rely on Claude for this work.

I hope this is at least somewhat helpful

1 Like
29

Looks like you win the minimalist prize! :clap:t2::slightly_smiling_face:

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30

Very helpful, thank you!
It just dawned on me that I rarely use all the stuff that comes with Ulysses, and the basic stuff all of a sudden seemed so rigid.

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31

How do you interface with Claude and Ulysses to do the grammar checking? I’m looking at whether to renew Grammarly, but if I could make Claude do the work that might tip me over the edge.

32

I use a very sophisticated “automation” process. I copy the text, paste it into Claude, copy the revisions I want and then paste it back into Ulysses. :laughing: