Frustrated with losing important notes, I decided to search for an application to start capturing all my notes onto my Mac. My search requirements was for an application that would allow me to keep track of everything in one simple location along with the ability to capture snippets of information that came to mind throughout the day and be able to organize my notes when I had time. I’ve tried several applications, which were all great but required time consuming learning curves.  Then, I found ShoveBox, which meets my needs and is very easy to use right out of the box.

Here is a little information on ShoveBox:

CAPTURING ITEMS

• Drag information from almost any application into the ShoveBox in the menubar (you will see a + sign when it is being saved).
• ShoveBox stores text, image, bookmark, web archive, and PDF clippings.
• You can add data to ShoveBox by either ‘dragging it in’ or by composing from scratch.
• Items that can be dragged in are clippings, which can be dragged in from another program (a word processor, IM conversations, URLs, and bookmarks from your web browser). You can also drag files (plain text, rich text, Word documents, PDFs, weblocs, text clippings and most images formats supported by Preview like JPEG, TIFF, etc.
• Quick Jot catches scraps of information that you don’t want to forget. You can create a keyboard shortcut in ShoveBox’s preferences.
• Import Clipboard creates an entry based on the contents. You can also set up keyboard shortcuts in the preferences.
• New Text Note allows you to write longer notes without having to worry about hitting the return key (used in QuickJot, which automatically closes the note and saves to your ShoveBox). It allows for more detailed note taking.
• Using iSight to create image entries from the video.
• System-wide service. You can choose to add items from the ‘services’ function of Mac.
• Print to PDF allows you to add data by selecting ‘save PDF to ShoveBox’ saving the printout as PDF. (This function doesn’t really work for me – I may have settings wrong or something though).
• Browser Bookmarklet allows you to add a script to your bookmarks toolbar for quick saving to ShoveBox.

ORGANIZING YOUR NOTES

• You can create your own folders by pressing the ‘+’ button in the lower left-hand corner. You can also delete a selected folder by pressing the ‘-‘ button.
• To view an entry in your Inbox, double-click it.
• To move an entry (or multiple entries), highlight, then drag them to a folder you want to designate those items to.
• To rename an entry, right-click and choose ‘Rename.’
• To delete an entry, click the ‘Delete’ button in the toolbar.
• To export an entry, click the ‘Export’ button in the toolbar and you will be asked where you want it saved and what format to save it in.
• To label an entry, click on the ‘Label’ button in the toolbar and choose the color you want.
• To search for a certain entry, just type in what you want to search in the search field. You can search All Folders or the Inbox (if there are items that aren’t placed in folders) or search in a folder that you are in.
• You can also change the columns at the top of the organizer by right-clicking on the headings and check off the columns you want.

PREFERENCES

• You can have ShoveBox start at Login so that it is ready for you when you log into your Mac.
• Import URLs as either a bookmark or a web archive or have ShoveBox always ask you what you want to do. In the General tab in Preferences, you can decide how you want to import URLs.
• You can have ShoveBox check your spelling as you type in the General Preferences.
• Also, you can have ShoveBox ask you if you’re sure you want to delete an entry or folder. This can be changed in the Preferences.
• You can change the default font, decide if you want to show item counts, or use small icons in the Appearance tab.
• Use the Hot Keys preference tab to define your own key combination to invoke actions in ShoveBox. What is cool is that you don’t have to be in ShoveBox for them to work.
• In the Labels tab, you can enter names to go along with the different-colored labels.
• Rules allow you to set up rules to automatically filter incoming data.
• Syncing allows you to set up syncing with the iPhone/iPod Touch application.

Here’s are some examples of how I use ShoveBox:

1. When I have ideas for new articles that pop up in my mind and I’m working on other things, I just hit  ctrl+space and it opens up the QuickJot box (which is a black transparent window) to enter the idea that I want to capture. Then, later in the day, I just organize my thoughts into my AV Articles folder that I have set up in ShoveBox.
2. There are times when I find a really good article on the Internet that consists of tips and tricks that I want to use for my Mac. I just click on the ShoveBox bookmarklet in my bookmarks toolbar and the web archive is automatically added to my ShoveBox. (The web archive is basically a web snapshot of the page you are archiving.)
3. There are days when I’m browsing the Internet (Window Shopping), for things that I would like to have one day. So I have a My Wishlist folder in my ShoveBox and again, I just click on my ShoveBox in my bookmarks toolbar and it gets added to my items.
4. During the day, I find items that I need to pick up the next time I go out for errands. So, I just open my QuickJot and add it to my ShoveBox.

By the end of the day, I just go through all the items I’ve added to my ShoveBox and move them to folders I have set up. I have folders for AV Articles, Apple Tips, Applications, Bills, Inspiration, Music, My Wishlist, Phone Calls, Recipes, Shopping List and my list grows more and more as time goes by.

I know that using ShoveBox has greatly improved my notes. I no longer need dozens of notebooks. I’m down to 2…one I carry with me everywhere and one that stays in my vehicle…just in case. You can get ShoveBox by WonderWarp Software for $24.95 and they offer a 30-day free trial. You can also get the application for your iPhone for $3.99. Click on the ShoveBox icon to view their site. If anybody uses ShoveBox, feel free to leave a comment on how you use it, what you wish they included in the app and share the wealth with our fellow readers.