Upgrade StorageBatch import browser tabs
This question has been discussed on and off since 2016 with various approaches. I'd like to define my stated goal, perhaps more specifically than earlier discussions.
I respect the various replies such as:
"We rarely if ever get this request from others";
"Some people have dozens, hundreds, thousands ... of tabs open";
However, suppose, the end-user were limited to certain conditions. Consider the following scenarios:
- There are multiple browser apps (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
- A given app may have multiple instances (windows).
- A given instance may have multiple tabs.
EPLICIT BATCH IMPORT:
- Imports ALL TABS from ALL instances of a given browser app.
- The USER must establish a 'clean slate' before beginning a search session.
- Clean out and restart the current browser, OR ...
- Select a different browser app
CURRENT PUBMED WORKFLOW: (** Suggestions Welcome!)
- During a search I open a set of initial target refs (e.g. Ref-A... Ref-J) in individual tabs.
- I may or may not import to Zotero at this point.
- Then, browsing Ref-A I find 'related papers', e.g. A1, A2), which I save as new tabs. Sometimes these are appended to end of the tab list (although descendant from Ref-A); sometimes (?) they are inserted into the existing tab list.
- So is the next tab Ref-B? Or is it Ref-A2? Have I already imported it into Z?
I typically keep the Zotero toolbar open at the bottom of my screen to display refs by Date Added. This allows me to reduce (but not eliminate) importing duplicate copies as I work my way through the remaining tabs.
Sometimes (if I remember), I will detach tab Ref-A to create a new window. Then all descendants are clearly awaiting Z import. However, I have also just created a new instance of the original situation!
PROPOSED WORKFLOW:
A: Start with a CLEAN COPY of BROWSER X.
B: Save initial search results as individual tabs.
C: ** Do NOT import refs as they are discovered/identified/selected).
D: (Optional) As desired or convenient, detach tabs to create new BROWSER X windows.
E: Continue browsing, searching/identifying/selecting related references.
F: Save each descendant reference in a new tab (in any number of new windows).
G: To close the search session, IMPORT ALL TABS.
- NO NEED to keep track of descendants, generations, or family trees.
- No confusion as to which refs have been imported and which have not.
- No duplicate references imported.
Having thought through these various scenarios and clarified my thoughts, I am now thoroughly convinced ...
THIS FEATURE WOULD BE ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL!
Thanks for reading.
I respect the various replies such as:
"We rarely if ever get this request from others";
"Some people have dozens, hundreds, thousands ... of tabs open";
However, suppose, the end-user were limited to certain conditions. Consider the following scenarios:
- There are multiple browser apps (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
- A given app may have multiple instances (windows).
- A given instance may have multiple tabs.
EPLICIT BATCH IMPORT:
- Imports ALL TABS from ALL instances of a given browser app.
- The USER must establish a 'clean slate' before beginning a search session.
- Clean out and restart the current browser, OR ...
- Select a different browser app
CURRENT PUBMED WORKFLOW: (** Suggestions Welcome!)
- During a search I open a set of initial target refs (e.g. Ref-A... Ref-J) in individual tabs.
- I may or may not import to Zotero at this point.
- Then, browsing Ref-A I find 'related papers', e.g. A1, A2), which I save as new tabs. Sometimes these are appended to end of the tab list (although descendant from Ref-A); sometimes (?) they are inserted into the existing tab list.
- So is the next tab Ref-B? Or is it Ref-A2? Have I already imported it into Z?
I typically keep the Zotero toolbar open at the bottom of my screen to display refs by Date Added. This allows me to reduce (but not eliminate) importing duplicate copies as I work my way through the remaining tabs.
Sometimes (if I remember), I will detach tab Ref-A to create a new window. Then all descendants are clearly awaiting Z import. However, I have also just created a new instance of the original situation!
PROPOSED WORKFLOW:
A: Start with a CLEAN COPY of BROWSER X.
B: Save initial search results as individual tabs.
C: ** Do NOT import refs as they are discovered/identified/selected).
D: (Optional) As desired or convenient, detach tabs to create new BROWSER X windows.
E: Continue browsing, searching/identifying/selecting related references.
F: Save each descendant reference in a new tab (in any number of new windows).
G: To close the search session, IMPORT ALL TABS.
- NO NEED to keep track of descendants, generations, or family trees.
- No confusion as to which refs have been imported and which have not.
- No duplicate references imported.
Having thought through these various scenarios and clarified my thoughts, I am now thoroughly convinced ...
THIS FEATURE WOULD BE ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL!
Thanks for reading.
-
prabeenYes, this would be a great time-saver!