Quick Tip: Using Evernote as a Document Drawer
Obsession, for me, comes in two week streaks. Four weeks ago, I was reading up on my chess strategies and playing games daily over email. Two weeks ago I was into file tagging again, and I wanted to use a tagging system that didn’t rely on a separate application; I ended up using Automator, which has been a solution to a lot of my OS X challenges. This week, I’m into finding a syncing solution for my documents on my iPhone and two desktops. Though it doesn’t serve as a be all end all solution, Evernote has become a great document drawer. Here’s a method of integrating your web browser to drop files into Evernote and save a couple of clicks.
Evernote is a multi-platform note application sent to us from the productivity gods. The benefit of Evernote is that one can access and upload notes from a Mac, a PC, a Windows Mobile or iPhone, and anything with a web browser. Evernote can even recognize handwritten or printe text from photos and scanned notes, making them searchable. This functionality will aid me significantly in my two week quest to bring my document clutter to more machines.
It should be “noted” that at present, Evernote only handles the following imported file types: GIF, JPG, PNG, WAV, MP3, PDF. This doesn’t allow Evernote to handle all documents, but there is hope. Evernote Support’s public notebook suggests more file type support for arbitrary file attachments for Premium accounts by the end of this year. Thus, I will be adding a premium account to my Christmas wishlist for this year.
My web browser piles the majority of files into my document drop box. Step one is to channel the majority of this pile into Evernote.
For starters, add the Evernote webclipper to your browser bookmark bar or install the firefox extension and use it frequently.
Next, if you use Firefox, open up your preferences window and click on the Applications tab. Search for supported file types and select the “Use Evernote” option.
Finally, instead of using the nifty Save to PDF option in your print window, why not use the Save PDF to Evernote option and save a step?
These three tips are just the beginning of using Evernote to your synchronization advantage. I’d love to read some comments on unleashing the potential of this note storage monster.
Evernote provides a free maximum montly upload of 40mb with no storage limit as well as free clients for desktop, web browser, and smartphones. You can upgrade to a 500mb maximum monthly upload for either $5 per month or $45 for the year.
DevonThink is the “Mac” Daddy of document organization and notetaking! I have looked everywhere and tried everything
I love Evernote and am using it more and more
It works great to store reference docs and I’m using it as a to do manager (GTD-ing)
Just need to save up for an iPhone to really start making the most of it ! ! !
I was wowed by DevonThink’s feature list, but in practice, found it unwieldy. I hope Mac Evernote gets some of the features its Windows brethren has!
It’s easy to import stuff into Evernote. But how do you export them?