InfoQube IM - Community

Submitted by WayneK on 2016/01/15 16:20

I'm increasingly moving reference material into InfoQube, including a lot of file links. I know Pierre added some fixes to insure that PDF's will display properly even when they're located on another drive, which is nice. But now i'm wondering if I should be moving all my reference material to the same drive/folder as InfoQube for other reasons.

I believe file links have relative paths. If I have my reference material in the same folder (drive?) as InfoQube, I can move everything together to another drive and everything will still work. This isn't the case if I have reference material linked on other drives (unless I recreate the same drive number relationships from the new locations).

Is my understanding correct? Are there any other caveats to consider in setting up links to reference files and embedded PDF's?

Wayne

Comments

[quote=WayneK]

I believe file links have relative paths.[/quote]

Note there's two different methods of making file-links (see the dialogue when you drag a file onto the grid):

one uses the full path
the other creates a windows shortcut in the IQ folder

I've heard the windows shortcut can find a file if it is moved, but cant remember offhand if I've ever tested that - and have no idea what would happen if you moved the whole shebang to another PC...

The documentation is not up-to-date (Link to Files, Folders and URLs).

Thanks, Tom. I think I'll do some testing.

Wayne

[quote=Tom]

the other creates a windows shortcut in the IQ folder

I've heard the windows shortcut can find a file if it is moved, but cant remember offhand if I've ever tested that - and have no idea what would happen if you moved the whole shebang to another PC...

[/quote]

I use this all the time. Windows usually does find moved files reliably through this strategy, with a few exceptions (can't remember exactly what they are; along those lines : several operations performed on a file before its shortcut is reused -- e.g. move, rename and remove -- would confuse the NTFS file tracking system, or something like that.)

The only "problem" with linking files to IQ is that it's easy to relink the same files to IQ more than once**... Unless one has a system to avoid that (I do have one, but it involves some scripting and some file name convention that's observed consistently).

** Which could be ok, depending on the goal

Disclaimer: "Testing IQ with the most advanced/complicated IQBase in the world". I.e. slower than average.

Windows 8.1

CPU: Intel i5 2.6ghz

[quote=Armando]

The only "problem" with linking files to IQ is that it's easy to relink the same files to IQ more than once*

[/quote]

It is quite easy to detect that and offer a choice to the user (new item, link to the existing item, cancel). I'll add it to the wish list...

Pierre_Admin

Couldn't get link to work if file is moved. Am I selecting the right options?

Wayne

Hi Wayne, Almost there,

You need to check the top right checkbox.

Pierre: am wondering if that check box should be checked by default, and placed somewhere more visible? The meaning of a Windows shortcut (VS the other options in the dialog) is also probably not obvious for everybody.

(Maybe IQ could always use that option + the "no windows shortcut" option and use one, then the other if the file isn't found??)

Disclaimer: "Testing IQ with the most advanced/complicated IQBase in the world". I.e. slower than average.

Windows 8.1

CPU: Intel i5 2.6ghz

Wow, it was staring me right in the face. It was impressive in a quick test. Not only can it find the file no matter where you move it, but it can still find it if you give it a completely different name.

Wayne

Yes, it mostly works really well.

Disclaimer: "Testing IQ with the most advanced/complicated IQBase in the world". I.e. slower than average.

Windows 8.1

CPU: Intel i5 2.6ghz

I like this, and I like the description - thanks!

What determines where the shortcuts are stored? That seems to be a bit arbitrary in my testing so far.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[quote=gregory]

I like this, and I like the description - thanks!

What determines where the shortcuts are stored? That seems to be a bit arbitrary in my testing so far.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[/quote]

The Windows shortcuts created by IQ are stored in your *.SNDB.files\ folder.

Disclaimer: "Testing IQ with the most advanced/complicated IQBase in the world". I.e. slower than average.

Windows 8.1

CPU: Intel i5 2.6ghz

Thanks Armando; how right you are

The combination of Windows shortcuts that follow a file around and the kinds hierarchy that I've established in IQ means that I can design and carry out file / folder reorganisations that I have dreaded doing for literally years. I shall experiment with this further once I have submitted my thesis at the end of February. In March and April I hope to get round to documenting some of the very useful things I have been able to do with InfoQube as a major part of the prototype personal information management system that I have been evaluating as part of my doctoral research. Heartfelt thanks to Pierre, to you and to all the other members of the InfoQube community who have helped me over the last few years. Best wishes to you with your work on your thesis.

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[quote=gregory]

Thanks Armando; how right you are

Mark GREGORY, Redon, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6

[/quote]

Thanks Mark.

Good luck with the last miles!

All the best.

Disclaimer: "Testing IQ with the most advanced/complicated IQBase in the world". I.e. slower than average.

Windows 8.1

CPU: Intel i5 2.6ghz