From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Jambunathan K Subject: Re: still struggling with workflow Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:37:40 +0530 Message-ID: <87a9x2rbr7.fsf@gmail.com> References: <5048EFE0.4080702@binghamton.edu> <4614.1346960604@alphaville.americas.hpqcorp.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:40944) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1T9lA1-0007gG-0c for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:06:58 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1T9l9z-0007qq-H7 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:06:56 -0400 Received: from mail-pb0-f41.google.com ([209.85.160.41]:61385) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1T9l9z-0007qg-7o for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:06:55 -0400 Received: by pbbro12 with SMTP id ro12so3548548pbb.0 for ; Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:06:54 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <4614.1346960604@alphaville.americas.hpqcorp.net> (Nick Dokos's message of "Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:43:24 -0400") List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: "Christopher W. Ryan" Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org Nick Dokos writes: > Christopher W. Ryan wrote: > >> I've been using org-mode for, oh about a year now, and it seems like a >> very useful tool. But I'm still struggling to understand and implement >> effective workflows for projects, re-using bits and pieces of text. >> >> For example, I have a general project related to heat wave morbidity and >> mortality, and indoor heat index. Hopefully I can parlay it into a >> number of distinct studies, each with IRB applications, grant >> applications, and papers (all pdf output), and presentations (beamer pdf >> output.) For example, all my stuff for the first study is in a single >> org file, HeatWaves1.org. The second project's documents will need to >> re-use much of that material, but not all of it; and there will be some >> new material. >> >> Is it viable to keep everything related to my heat wave work, for all >> substudies, in the one org file, and customize the output to my needs at >> different times, via judicious use of headlines and :export tags? Or is >> it best to start a new org file for each substudy and copy/paste what is >> needed from the old? >> > > I should think you can do it either way: only you can decide what the > best way is. If you decide to go the second way, you might want to > investigate the #+INCLUDE mechanism: maybe you can use it to reduce > duplication. Mind map - Freemind, maybe ========================== Create a mind map - preferably *NOT* using Org - with Pen and Paper or Freemind. Mind map for the underlying form ================================= What you describe is map of your body of work. Now that the body of work is complete, what you need is a map of of how the body of work could be re-purposed. You need an Org file for the meta-map. Transcluding data ================= If you are transcluding data, graphs or bibliographies then there is not much. They are set in stone and are not fluid. They could be selected and transcluded. not same as transcluding basic forms or ideas ============================================== Transcluding ideas (not just literary text) and delivering it in plain text is a different beast. We select a theme. Narrate it with a tone. Choose a point-of-view. Order variously. Emphasize selected aspects. Leave out things on purpose. Strive to achieve various goals. Create a specific impression. Organize multi-dimensionally ============================ It seems you are trying to re-purpose your body of work to various ends. What you need is a multi-dimensional approach. Create an one or more Org file. I believe it doesn't matter. Start with what is natural. What is important is that you invent tags for each of the dimensions X dimension => technical axis => morbidity, mortality and head indices Y dimension => goals => grant-seeking, IRB applications Z dimension => Target audience => a specific conference, journal or a sponsoring/funding institution. Tag items on different dimensions ================================== Now invent headlines and try to tag each piece in each of the independent dimensions. Use global agenda. Create custom queries for selection ======================================================== Use global agenda commands and complex tag queries to select the pieces you want. Transcribe (not transclude) ========================== Once you have identified the source material, you can *transcribe* the way you want or the way the audience wants or the way your employer wants. Use Zotero or Org-bibtex ========================= Try Zotero. It is the third software that I actually liked in first run and which seemed natural - first two being Emacs and Org in that order. Share your suggestions ====================== Mind map could be a meta-one - try to articulate how Org was helpful and where it was a misery and what is confusing to you. Share the result with community and make recommendations on how Org could be improved. Ps: Not a power-user. But a sleepless one here. > I'm not an org "power user", so take the following with the > appropriately-sized grain (or boulder) of salt: I would start with a > single file and try to organize it in a way that encourages reuse, and > be able to do what you need to do today and possibly tomorrow; don't > worry too much about the day after tomorrow. If/when you find that the > process is broken, or the processing takes too long, then reorganize it, > massively if necessary; splitting it into multiple files might be the > more natural thing to do at that point, but with the experience you have > gained, you will probably be able to do that more reliably than when > starting. > > Obviously, this is my personal biased view, and others might disagree. > > Bernt Hansen's write-up (http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html), as well as > some of Tom Dye's project write-ups (check the "Reproducible Research > Examples" section of > http://orgmode.org/worg/org-contrib/babel/uses.html) might be good > bedtime reading material: it's unlikely that they will answer your > specific questions, but they might inspire you to come up with better > solutions to your problems. > > Nick > > > > > > --