PaperToolsPro: Frequently asked questions

PAPERTOOLSPRO™

RESEARCH PAPER TOOLS FROM SOURCE TO CITATION

Downloading PaperToolsPro...

Question: Can I use the PaperToolsPro.com website without allowing cookies on my browser?

Answer: No, pages involving the specification of PaperToolsPro versions and other items do not work if cookies are turned off in the browser.

Running PaperToolsPro on your computer...

Question: When I return from the Organize Notes screen after doing a search query, I cannot access all of my notes. What has happened and what can I do?

Answer: Do not panic; you haven't lost any records! PaperToolsPro returns to this screen with the same records that your last query returned on the Organize Notes screen. Two solutions: 1. Click File / Open on the menu, then reopen the same database; 2. Return to the Organize Notes screen and click Clear Clipboard, Copy all notes to Clipboard. Click OK, then File / Close to return to the main screen.

Question: PaperToolsPro seems to run fine except that Quick Start, Resources and Tutorial pages won't display. What is wrong?

Answer: The browser in your computer displays the Quick Start, Tutorial and Resources files. It is important that you upgrade the browser if this is happening. For Mac users, upgrade to Netscape 7 or Internet Explorer 5; for Windows users, upgrade to Netscape 7 or Internet Explorer 6.

Question: I have a PC and I lose my taskbar whenever I click anywhere on the PaperToolsPro window. What should I do?

Answer: This is definitely a quirk in the PC version. Whenever you need to see your taskbar again, simply click on a point just above the bottom of the screen. It does reappear!

Question: My PaperToolsPro screen is too big. I can't see the whole screen and there are no scroll bars. What can I do?

Answer: PaperToolsPro was designed to operate at a PC screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and a Mac screen resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. In certain cases it may be necessary for you to change your computer's screen resolution. For a PC, right click a clear area on the desktop and click Properties, then Settings. If your PaperToolsPro window is too large, increase the resolution of the PC screen. Likewise, if the window is too small on the desktop, decrease the screen resolution. To change the resolution of a Mac OS10 desktop, pull dow the Apple menu to System Preferences. Click Displays and similarly click a higher resolution if the PaperToolsPro window is too large and a lower resolution if it is too small.

Importance of viewng Tutorial and Quick Start...

Question: How important is it to do the Tutorial or Quick Start assistance that comes with PaperToolsPro? Can I just figure out how to use the program on my own and get down to taking notes?

Answer: The Tutorial and Quick Start are VERY important to your successful use of the program. PaperToolsPro is quite different from other programs you have used, such as a word processor or a multi-media presentation program. Quick Start shows you step by step how the program works and the Tutorial explains how to use the program to write a good research paper. If you do not use the program correctly, you could lose data and/or the opportunity to properly append citations, format documentation correctly, avoid plagiarism, create an accurate bibliography, save your work, and organize your information effectively. Therefore, make sure you read and understand both Quick Start and the Tutorial before you begin using the program.

Creating note cards and bibliography...

Question: Can I hand in my notes and bibliography entries electronically with my research paper?

Answer: Yes, your database file (with the suffix .ptp) can be sent as an attachment to an email. Anyone with a copy of PaperToolsPro who receives it can save and open it.

Question: I still feel more comfortable using paper note cards to organize my information than organizing them on the computer. Can I create paper note cards?

Answer: Yes! Click Organize Notes/Copy all notes to Clipboard. Copy/Paste the notes into a word processing program, print them out and cut them into individual cards. To prevent plagiarism, each paper card will also have the citation information you will need to create in-text citations in your paper.

Question: How many notes and bibliography entries does PaperToolsPro allow me to make?

Answer: There is no fixed maximum number of note card or bibliography entries.

Question: I mistakenly entered the wrong reference category for my note card. Now my Citation reference shows as a book instead of an anthology. How can I correct this?

Answer: To edit bibliography information in any panel, got to the note from which you originally made that entry and click Update. The screen will display the old entries. Either edit these entries or click Source to choose a new category to make entirely new entries. If you want to choose a category that is not on this tab, then you must add a new record and that bibliography information, then delete the original one.

Merging data...

Question: Can I merge my notes and bibliography PaperToolsPro database with a collaborator’s PaperToolsPro database on a research project?

Answer: No, two or more people using their own computers are not provided the capability of merging individual PaperToolsPro databases into one larger database. However, an entire database can be shared with a collaborator: either email your project (.ptp) or transfer it by disc to the collaborator's computer.