Natara Bonsai

I Found A Promising Replacement For Bonsai

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:25:46 +0000

The software is called OmniOutliner but it is designed to run on Mac only.
The best thing is that it can sync with iPad! I think Bonsai is dying (if it is not dead yet) and it is about time for us to move on.

P.S. The functionality of OmniOutliner is probably more powerful than Bonsai.

Bosai For Android??

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:51:11 +0000

Looks like Android is gonna be the iPhone killer eventually - - is Natara going to build a Bonsai for Android?

Outline Bloat

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:13:23 +0000

Due to a corrupted outline I've been poking around inside a .otl file, and noticed hundreds of entries like this:

These entries are taking up a significant portion of the space in the outline. Is it safe to delete them? Is there some way to get Bonsai to do this?

I'm using "desktop only v5.0.1 build 3178".

Thanks,
Tony

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Bonsai For Android Is A Must

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:29:51 +0000

I am another of those palm users who have tried to hang on to that dying platform.
There were so many great things about palm and it will be sorely missed.
In a new age we have Apple and Android phones taking over the role.
I find it almost impossible no incomprehensible to believe there is not a very
lucrative market for Bonsai running on these platforms.
if this information can be shared by multiple users from a central database it would
be an absolute killer.
Is there anybody out there who is prepared to do this ? Step up big guy / gal we so need you.

Merry Xmas to all.

Bonsai For Android And More

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:51:21 +0000

I recently switched from Palm Centro to Google Android Nexus One, although I've been a Palm user since the beginning with Palm / US Robotics. I've been a Natara Bonsai user since the beginning as well. Bonsai became my flat file database on my palm devices. So what I struggle to understand is a product (Bonsai) and company (Natara) with such strong customer loyalty would be so slow to expand to other platforms and OSes when Palm began to decline. It appears decisions were made not to grow the product or business.

There is no comparable product for Android or iPhone/iPad or Blackberry or Windows Mobile or webOs that is as simple to use with a desktop sync option to complement it. I'm not talking checklist, they are a dime a dozen. Simple outlining tools that give the user the ability to customize them the way they wish and which best meets their needs.

Natara has ignored the other mobile platforms too long and needs to move quickly to offer products on Android (growing), iPhone/iPad (maintaining), Blackberry, and webOS. I may eventually go back to Palm/HP and webOs, but once a comparable outlined to Bonsai is available on Android and I convert my data to the new product it's unlikely I'll ever move back to bonsai.

I'm not sure about other Bonsai users, but I'm not interested in moving the data in Bonsai to the clouds (RTM, tasks, etc) I want it with me and able to sync to my pc maybe my iPad but I want it with me. Bonsai is the best simple flat file application in my toolkit, and I'd like to continue using it on whatever platform or OS I'm using but for now I carry my Google Nexus One and my Palm Centro(PDA mode) only for Bonsai. As soon as I find an Android app that will do what I need then I'll switch and not look back. I'm testing mind mapping apps now to see if they meet my needs.

Natara you have a short window of opportunity to keep your loyal customers but you've been slow to adapt to the changing smartphone landscape, get moving!

FoxMulder's GTD 2.0 for Bonsai

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:05:07 +0000

I'm wondering if anyone has a copy of FoxMulder's GTD 2.0 Template for Bonsai (I have the desktop sync version). I posted a request for it on his PalmOrganized.com website a few days ago but he seems to be out right now and I'd like to get a copy to start GTDing right now. If you know of a site on the Internet I could download it, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise if a site does not exist please email it to me. To email me a copy please input the following email address into your email program:

1) first start with the proper name 'David' and then add a dot after it
2) then add the proper name 'Alan' and then add a dot after it
3) then add the proper name 'Hart' and then add the at sign after it
4) then add the name 'gmail' then add a dot
5) finally add com to the end.

Decent Bonsai Alternatives

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:36:43 +0000

After literally years of searching (like many of you), I think I have finally settled on my "next" outlining tool. I definitely acknowledge that nothing comes close to Bonsai. Period. That being said - we gotta go somewhere since the Bonsai option seems to be history.

I am heavily using Wunderlist (http://www.wunderlist.com). It syncs: Windows Desktop, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and has a browser UI as well. All synchronized automatically.

Again - it still doesn't match Bonsai for functionality. But I have done a lot of looking, and the synchronization capabilities are the best I have seen. It works.

Win 7 64 Bit Drivers

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:49:35 +0000

This was listed in the Feature Request page: http://www.natarasoftware.com/forums/index.php/topic/6990-bonsai-for-android-and-more/

Win 7 64 bit drivers: http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/10119/aceeca-releases-64bit-palm-os-hotsync-drivers/

Worked well for me.

Alternatives To Bonsai

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:53:14 +0000

As long as for many months there's no official news on future of Bonsai, I think it's fair that community tries to find a decent alternative.

I tried to describe the most viable alternatives to Bonsai [I found so far] for desktop plus either iPhone or Android.
My post is clearly not any complete or precise -- feel free to propose additions/changes (and suggest more alternatives, of course), and I will merge your contribution back to the original post (kinda wiki style using old good forums :-).

If Natara objects, however, I will move this post to other place (Quora? Google Knol?).

=== MyLifeOrganized / MLO (Android, iPhone, Blackberry)
Status: limited-availability Beta (Android), public Beta (iPhone), released (Blackberry, WinMo, Windows desktop)
(all comparison is based on desktop version, as Android beta is still under development and I promised not to comment before it's public; haven't tried iPhone app hands-on)

Advantages over Bonsai:
= unlimited contexts, multiple per item
= sync: cloud or over-WiFi
= computed importance
= advanced rules for auto-formatting and custom filtering, grouping and sorting in tasks plain list (but not for outline tree--see below)
= reminders
= recurring tasks
= dependencies between tasks within one outline
= relative importance of task for a parent project/item
= multiple instances/windows of application allowed

Disadvantages:
= no outline filtering
= somewhat complicated UI, maybe even redundant in features (i.e. same variety of user scenarios could be supported with much simpler UI and less features--see Things for example)

Other:
= no tabbed UI, but each-outline-has-separate window UI
= potential ability to export back to Bonsai with all previously imported metadata preserved (as all Bonsai fields have fields to match in MLO) -- but only if someone create MLO XML > Bonsai XML conversion

How to migrate:
= ask me for full-fields export template (will submit it to MLO team later); or use limited template instead
= with template in hand, invoke in Bonsai: Export > MyLifeOrganized-Bonsai (change Windows Regional Settings: date format to YYYY-MM-DD until this feature request is resolved)

=== Android Outliner (Android)
Status: public Beta

Drawbacks:
= no desktop client
= need manual export-import from-to Bonsai desktop for every sync (planned: normal sync with desktop app)
= no categories/start dates (only due date and completion flag)
= non-ASCII characters are imported from Bonsai incorrectly (but typed in Android app just fine)
= no drag-n-drop moving of items/branches
= no filters whatsoever (even hiding completed/future Start Date)
= poor performance for large outlines (for an outline with 5k items, every edit item dialog ends with 10sec delays)

Potential advantages (planned in the roadmap):
= reminders
= option to sync with could

Advantages:
= pretty simple UI

=== LifeBalance (iPhone)
Advantages:
= also Mac desktop application (in addition to Windows)
= computed importance (sortable by in plain list)
= calculates how efforts are actually balanced between top-level outline items ("goals"); auto-prioritize basing on desired balance (and how actual doesn't match it)
= importance of task for a parent project/item
= sync over wifi

Disadvantages:
= no Android app yet
= somewhart complicated UI (but not as much as MLO)

=== CarbonFin (iPhone)
Disadvantages:
= no categories/tags; filters; start/due date
= no filters whatsoever
= web-only on desktop side (and no Windows application); not available offline
= sync via cloud only

=== Things (iPhone)
Not exactly an outliner, but some users find it a good alternative.

Advantages:
= extremely GTD-friendly: most GTD needs are solved, with extremely simple and elegant user interface
= recurring tasks
= multiple contexts per item
= context hierarchy

Differences:
= sync: cloud, ?over-WiFi

Drawbacks:
= Mac-only desktop application, no Windows desktop app; only iPhone, no Android app
= no unlimited hierarchy, three fixed levels instead: Areas > Projects > Tasks (both Areas and Projects are optional)
= no easy way to convert Task to Project and vice versa
= no import from Bonsai

Syncing With Windows 7

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:24:14 +0000

I'm a long-time Bonsai user, and I'm in the process of migrating to a new PC, which is Windows 7. Anyhow, I'm trying to get my PDA software set up, and I haven't gotten Bonsai to sync. I can create outlines on both the desktop and the PDA, but neither gets synced to the other. (I'm guessing that this has something to do with the fact that the Palm Desktop's data is now in AppData\... instead of C:\Program Files\...) Oh, yeah -- I'm using Bonsai 4.2.5.

Anyhow, is there something I can do about this? Go to a newer version of Bonsai? Some special configuration of the Palm software?

Q:sync To File With V4.2.7?

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:33:34 +0000

Can I setup Bonsai Desktop V4.2.7 to sync to a file instead of a device? I have moved away from Palm and I have another App that mostly works, but I need to be able to configure to sync to a file and not a Palm User.

TIA,
Larry

How To Import Icon Gallary In Bonsai Destop

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:08:28 +0000

I am a new user using Bonsai 5.04 syncing with my windows mobile smartphone. How can I import icons for categories and keywords? The option in global setting for icon location is unable to edit.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Bonsai For Iphone

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:16:08 +0000

I posted my thoughts about Bonsai for iPhone here - http://www.natarasoftware.com/forums/index...ost&p=25662 and hope to get a feedback from other Bonsai users and Natara.

I think that Bonsai is a superb application both for personal and business needs and can't understand why Natara totally ignores iPhone market. I'm sure that this market has a huge financial potential for the company but still we don't have Bonsai for iPhone. Why?

Bonsai Beta For Wm

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 07:39:41 +0000

Is there ever going to be another update for the 'evaluation code' for Bonsai's WM Beta? It has been months. It looks like the project is finally well and truly dead? Devs, please at least let us know if we should keep some hope, or if it's time to have the funeral and start looking for a replacement product.

a 6+ year Bonsai User

Crash Importing Palm No_*.pdb Files

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 08:28:13 +0000

Bonsai Desktop (just installed as trial today) crashes immediately when I import a Palm pdb file created by Bonsai Palm version 2.8.1.

I'm trying to get off this ancient Palm device (Zodiac Z2), but I've got huge amounts of precious Bonsai outlines. The aim here is to export to Outliner for Android. (I would have preferred an Android version of Bonsai!)

I don't even have working hotsync. I use a file manager (FileZ) to copy the NO_*.pdb files to an SD card, and read the card on my Windows Desktop.

Would an upgrade to a more recent version of Bonsai Palm solve this problem?

Please help, there is far too much data here to enter manually.

Thanks.

Future Of Bonsai Desktop

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:57:23 +0000

I'm wondering what the future holds for Bonsai Desktop. To be blunt, I love this software and consider it tops in its category. However, it seems the development has stopped. I have left this software probably 5 times and have returned every single time! It's simple and powerful and full of features. I know you guys don't like to announce your plans (not sure why?), but I hope I'm not alone in encouraging you to take this software to the next level.
The desktop software is really really good, but could use some additional features and some visual upgrades.
I'm not sure where the handheld market is going. I still use my Treo 700P even with some of its limitations. Windows mobile seems stuck in the mud. Seems google android, Apple Iphone, or Blackberry are the most popular. I know there are many Bonsai handheld users who are wanting to upgrade their hardware, but want Bonsai to go with them.

Hope all is well with you guys. I appreciate your software. Hope you continue to develop it or pass it on to someone who will. My intent is not to criticize, but to motivate. Thanks for listening to this one "power user's" opinion.

Expired Registration Before 30/11/2010

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:01:14 +0000

Hi.
I am running Bonsai 5.0.3.3463 version. Normally Bonsai should expire at November 30 but it has expired today.Changing the date to an earlier date, Bonsai will display that it will expire in XX days where XX the remainder until 30/11.
Any Ideas?

Thanks

Bonsai For Windows Mobile Beta (V5.0.3)

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:59:43 +0000

The first public beta of Bonsai for the Windows Mobile platform is now available. Please read this entire message before downloading and installing this beta.

***** Important *****
This is an early beta of the product. It is not feature complete! Many features are missing, incomplete, or simply do not work. The interface is not �polished� or optimized. As such, expect the software to crash. Expect possible data loss and/or outline corruption. Make sure you keep backup copies of your outlines and preferably such that you have a history of the last few versions of these files.

Beta Screencast:
To get a quick intro to this beta, please watch the screencast.

Requirements:

Windows Mobile based 2003, 2003SE, 5.0 Pocket PCs
Windows Mobile 6 Classic, Standard, and Professional
Requires .NET Compact Framework 2.0 (will be downloaded and installed if not present via the Natara Updater app but only after user confirmation)

Download Link:
The full setup which includes the Bonsai Desktop, sync component and Bonsai Windows Mobile can be found here:
http://www.natara.com/public/Betas/BonsaiPPC503BetaSetup.exe
CAB File (for OTA installation)
http://www.natara.com/public/Betas/BonsaiP...3Beta.ARMV4.CAB

Evaluation Code
New users will have an automatic 30 day evaluation period. If the beta reports that it has expired, refer to this thread to obtain an evaluation number to continue using Bonsai. There is also links to purchase the software rather than enter the evaluation number.

Installation (Windows Setup):
Download and run the setup to install Bonsai. The installation wizard will lead you through the installation of the Bonsai Windows Mobile application as well as the optional Bonsai Desktop and ActiveSync/WMDC sync software. Once Bonsai is installed, please check back periodically for program updates. You can also subscribe to the Natara blog to receive product update notices.

Installation (CAB/OTA Installation):
Download the CAB to your handheld and use File Explorer to launch the CAB file to start the installation. Once Bonsai is installed, use the �Check for updates� menu to periodically check for program updates.

Why are we making this beta available if it is not feature complete?
Most of the core features of Bonsai are in and working. I am sure some users will find this beta useful while others will feel it is too incomplete to be worth the effort. Given that synchronization is not supported in this initial beta, you will need to either create the outline on the handheld or copy it from your desktop to access it on your handheld. If you have a massive outline with several thousands of items, performance maybe become an issue until we performance tune the software.

What feedback are we looking for?
I am sure there are many cosmetic issues with the Bonsai interface still to be addressed and a list of un-implemented features to bring it to the level of the current Palm product. I do not encourage discussion about these minor issues as I most likely already know about it. Once the beta has matured, then feel free to discuss it in the beta forum. When reporting an issue, it is generally best to start a topic for each issue rather than lumping several into one.

At this time we are most interested in:

Reports of any crashes (Log of crash can be found in the \Program Files\Natara\Bonsai\BonsaiLog.txt file)
Details about any outline corruptions
Top three �most missed features� from the Palm version (to help prioritize our development)

List of major features not yet implemented (not necessarily a complete list):

Support of linking to calendar, task and other outlines
Undo
Cut and Paste of Outline Items
Multi-Select of outline items and any operations that can target this selection
Drag and drop of outline items
Saving of filters (now fully supported in build 2810)
Find
Views (now fully supported in build 2810)
Toolbars, Context Menus, etc � This beta is focused on Smartphone devices; WM devices without a touch screen. Features that are Pocket PC specific will come later in the beta.

Colored Tabs

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:05:56 +0000

I often keep multiple outlines open on my Windows Bonsai, and switch between them as part of my work flow.
It would be super if I could set a "Tab Color" in the Oultine Prefs. Alternately, Tab Style (bold|italic|etc) would be good.
Thanks for considering this! -steve
EDIT: Actually, right-clicking a tab to access the outline 'properties' would probably be the way to assign a color(?) ...

Use Bonsai With Ipad Is Easy!!

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:44:42 +0000

I do not know if this has been discussed but here it is anyways.

I reciently upgraded to the ipad with 64 gig and always connected 3G and I LOVE IT!!!! But..... I love Bonsai Desktop also and really wanted it on my iPad but, of course, that was not going to happen - that is until I purchased an app calles CarbonFin Outliner. It is similar to Bonsai but just not as advanced yet.

The way Carbonfin Outliner syncs with the PC is by creating an account with Carbonfin(free). Next you sign in and then got to the "Outliner Outline" section where you create and save outlines to their website. Once you save an outline all you have to do is start the app on the iPad and hit the sync button and it syns all notes between the iPad and your account.

Now to use Bonsai with Carbonfin is easy even though they both use different file extensions - Bonsai uses .otl file extension and Carbinfin uses .opml file extension. Bonsai can import .opml files but cannot export .opml files. To get around this, all you have to do is go to Carbonfin FAQ page and look for the subject that talks about using Carbonfin with Bonsai. There you will find a littile utility that you place in the Natara/Bonsia folder. This gives Bonsai the ability to export in the .opml file format. After you export any of your Bonsai outlines, go into carbibonfin and import the outlines and hit the save button. Now on the iPad just hit the sync button and your good to go.

This may sound like alot of work but it is not. Once you have a Carbonfin account it will take you about ten minutes to set up everything to use Bonsai with the iPad.

It is great!! I love it!!

Side note: DocsToGo now works really well with the Ipad so you can import all your MS documents including excell. You can even use formulas in excel documents.

Also iSilo now works great with the iPad.

Hope this is of help - Jim Ringgold

All this is very easy except it is not as nice as using Bonsai....

Bonsai & Agendus Cooperate Well Enough?

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:02:46 +0000

I run agendus premium on my treo 680. If I install bonsai as well, to what extent will the two interfere with each other? (Any gotchas?)

I get from reading the forum that there are reminder issues, but don't expect that to be in play for the purposes of this question.

I'm thinking Bonsai as a 'mind space' place to wrap my head around things, perhaps tag an item with a date (causing it to go into tasks), then see it appear in agendus. When completed, I'll mark it so in agendus. I can live without bonsai getting updated.

Thus my question - to what extent will the two interfere with each other?

Can't Install Hotsync Conduit For Bonsai 4.2.7

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:00:22 +0000

Hi...

I am using Bonsai version 4.2.7 because of the "find" issue with the newer versions about which I previously posted.

I need to reinstall the Bonsai conduits for Hotsync for this version and can't seem to do it. Isn't all you're supposed to do is just install the Bonsai.prc file on your PDA?

Mac Export Opml? How?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:22:11 +0000

From what I read on the CarbonFin website, it sounds like one needs Windows to export OPML from Bonsai.

Well, I do not have Windows, I have a Mac. (Powerbook G4 to be exact.)

How on Earth do I export OPML? What is the solution?

(Of course my first choice would be a Garnet emulator iPhone app with stylus support, but that appears highly unlikely. Well, actually my first choice would be for Natara to bring Bonsai to iPhone natively, but they seem to have resistance, puzzlingly.)

I don't know how much longer my Sony Clie will last.

Help? Natara?

Restore A Backup To Palm Device

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:59:48 +0000

I have a backup of a Palm database, in my case NO_To_Do.PDB. How do I restore that to my Treo 680 so Bonsai sees it? I don't have Bonsai Desktop, just the mobile version.