Microsoft Excel tool that I just wrote

[EdLongshanks]

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I previously explained that I had problems with my first year anatomy class. One of my problems was that I use electronic flash cards for my studying and there was no easy way to integrate my previous study methods with anatomy.

So I spent my Christmas vacation programming my own tool. Since I have spent this much time on it, I figure that someone else might be able to use it. This is free for anyone who wants to use it/modify it/ignore it (but not sell it). It is as documented as it is going to get. This is what we would consider an "alpha" release in the software world.

What this excel add in does is give you three buttons at the top of your excel spread sheet that will store images from the clipboard into a hyperlink in an excel spreadsheet. You have three different one-click options, store the clipboard image directly, store the image and then immediately edit it, or store the image in both column A and B and edit column A (to remove the labels, for example). The purpose of this is to use when reviewing the lecture powerpoints. If you see an image that needs memorization, then screen capture it and click the button on the excel spreadsheet to store it.

The documentation on how to create flashcards from the excel spreadsheet is also included.

The documentation/installation instructions/flashcard instructions are at this link.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54700292/PasteImageLibrary.html

I don't think that this qualifies as spam, since I am not promoting anything for my own purposes, but simply giving you all opportunity to use this tool if you want it. My only benefit is the satisfaction of knowing that 3 weeks of effort isn't totally wasted on just me.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

👍

 

[dmf2682]

Wait a second. Aren't you old? I didn't think the elderly could code... (Well, not in the computer sense, anyway)

Just kidding. Thanks for the tool - I'll check it out!

 

[QofQuimica]

It's not spam because 1) you're not selling anything, and 2) you're not promoting anyone else who's selling anything. So you're fine, and thanks for sharing your work with the rest of us. I will add this thread to the sticky at some point, promise.

Now, what *I* really want to know is whether I can use this note card program to make summary files of journal articles I read. Specifically, if it can somehow be adapted for a phone. I have a BB and haven't been able to find a good index card app for it, which is really what I need so I can use the cards at work....

 

[EdLongshanks]

It's not spam because 1) you're not selling anything, and 2) you're not promoting anyone else who's selling anything. So you're fine, and thanks for sharing your work with the rest of us. I will add this thread to the sticky at some point, promise.

Now, what *I* really want to know is whether I can use this note card program to make summary files of journal articles I read. Specifically, if it can somehow be adapted for a phone. I have a BB and haven't been able to find a good index card app for it, which is really what I need so I can use the cards at work....

What exactly are you looking for. I may be able to find a solution.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Q, I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to do, but have you looked at Evernote?
I've been thinking about playing around with that one. Looks like it'd be quite handy for academic stuff.

 

[QofQuimica]

I'd like to be able to make an abstract type of thing, but with bullet points. It would be for summarizing journal articles that provide evidence for evidence-based practice. And then when I'm at work, if I'm trying to decide whether to order a test or how to interpret it for a specific patient, I'll be able to easily find that info. Of course, it's essential that it also be searchable by key word, and highly user friendly, because alas, I'm no techie. 😳

Whole, do you think the program you mentioned would fit the bill? If so, I assume I can just get it in the BB app store?

For the record, I figured out how to install a printer on one of the computers in the residents room today. No one ever wants to use that computer, because it doesn't print. Do you all think I should tell the rest of them that I got it to print?? 😛

 

[DipreSantana]

Look up Mnemosyne, it's what I've always used, and it works very well.

 

[ChemMed]

I'd like to be able to make an abstract type of thing, but with bullet points. It would be for summarizing journal articles that provide evidence for evidence-based practice. And then when I'm at work, if I'm trying to decide whether to order a test or how to interpret it for a specific patient, I'll be able to easily find that info. Of course, it's essential that it also be searchable by key word, and highly user friendly, because alas, I'm no techie. 😳

Whole, do you think the program you mentioned would fit the bill? If so, I assume I can just get it in the BB app store?

For the record, I figured out how to install a printer on one of the computers in the residents room today. No one ever wants to use that computer, because it doesn't print. Do you all think I should tell the rest of them that I got it to print?? 😛

Sure, but maybe not for a while. You deserve a little printing at your leisure for figuring it out. 😀

 

[milski]

For the record, I figured out how to install a printer on one of the computers in the residents room today. No one ever wants to use that computer, because it doesn't print. Do you all think I should tell the rest of them that I got it to print?? 😛

No! 😱 From someone with a long IT career: never ever voluntarily disclose that you can fix computers. Especially so in places where nobody else can do it. 😉

 

[EdLongshanks]

No! 😱 From someone with a long IT career: never ever voluntarily disclose that you can fix computers. Especially so in places where nobody else can do it. 😉

This!!!!

 

[wholeheartedly]

I've only played around with Evernote a little bit, but it looks pretty cool and versatile. Supposedly you can even take a picture of words on a white board or other handwritten text (say via camera phone or something) and it can find that text in a keyword search. It might be overkill for what you need, or might take some time to learn how to most effectively use it. I think they talk about it a little more in some of the other forums and in some med student blogs and I've read about some people using it on wards awhile back. I believe it's compatible with most devices, and you can sync across things pretty easily. There's a free version and a pay version. There are some similar programs too. I actually purchased something different to try and archive some of my course notes and interesting journal articles and stuff.

I'm not real tech savvy though.

My vote on the printer thing: enjoy the fruits of your labor for awhile before saying anything.


Also, Ed thanks for sharing. I'm guessing that'll be a very handy tool when the time rolls around where I'll (hopefully) need it. 👍

 

[Tiercelet]

never ever voluntarily disclose that you can fix computers.

Yup. Interesting fact about societies: we think that if you give people things, that makes you respected. But what actually happens is that over time, repeated gifts become obligations, as gratitude becomes expectation... I've yet to hear of a workplace that's any different!

 

[EdLongshanks]

I've only played around with Evernote a little bit, but it looks pretty cool and versatile. Supposedly you can even take a picture of words on a white board or other handwritten text (say via camera phone or something) and it can find that text in a keyword search. It might be overkill for what you need, or might take some time to learn how to most effectively use it. I think they talk about it a little more in some of the other forums and in some med student blogs and I've read about some people using it on wards awhile back. I believe it's compatible with most devices, and you can sync across things pretty easily. There's a free version and a pay version. There are some similar programs too. I actually purchased something different to try and archive some of my course notes and interesting journal articles and stuff.

I'm not real tech savvy though.

My vote on the printer thing: enjoy the fruits of your labor for awhile before saying anything.


Also, Ed thanks for sharing. I'm guessing that'll be a very handy tool when the time rolls around where I'll (hopefully) need it. 👍

I use OneNote (which does all of that). It is definitely what you need in medical school to keep track of all of your notes. Using the folder system of Windows gets real old real fast.

 

[mauberley]

Yup. Interesting fact about societies: we think that if you give people things, that makes you respected. But what actually happens is that over time, repeated gifts become obligations, as gratitude becomes expectation... I've yet to hear of a workplace that's any different!

Mmhm. And it's all about managing expectations. 🙂

 

[Neurocentric]

I use OneNote (which does all of that). It is definitely what you need in medical school to keep track of all of your notes. Using the folder system of Windows gets real old real fast.

How is OneNote working for you? I have it on my laptop, and I used it a few times.. but I haven't seen any real change in it versus my other Word programs. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[QofQuimica]

No! 😱 From someone with a long IT career: never ever voluntarily disclose that you can fix computers. Especially so in places where nobody else can do it. 😉

See, the irony here is that I *can't* fix computers. My method for dealing with a computer that won't work is to hit control-alt-delete and shut the malfunctioning program down via the task manager. If that doesn't work, I turn the whole computer off and restart. If that still doesn't work, I call the IT department.

In this case, the IT department was "working on it," which they'd been doing for a while, from my understanding. I figured out how to install the printer when I printed from another computer and the printer's name came up. That made it possible to find the right printer using the install wizard, and voila, score one for Q versus eleventy-zillion for the computers of the world.

Whole, I tried One Note my first year in med school and did not like it at all. It wasn't very user friendly, not the least of which was because it constantly kept freezing up or crashing. Maybe what I needed was for Ed to write me a Q-to-One Note translation program. 😉

 

[wholeheartedly]

Yeah, I don't use One Note anymore and I think it is quite a bit different from Evernote, I mean similar features I guess but different user platform and setup. Evernote seemed a lot easier and more intuitive to me. I don't know if OneNote can search handwritten text on images or is accessible across devices like that.

There are a lot of tools out there, it can be kind of hard to figure out which works best especially when it takes time to figure out how to use them.

Maybe what I needed was for Ed to write me a Q-to-One Note translation program.

Here you thought you were escaping the computer world, Ed.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Here you thought you were escaping the computer world, Ed.

Well, every once in a while I need to do something that makes me feel competent again.

 

[mauberley]

Well, every once in a while I need to do something that makes me feel competent again.

So true.