Documenting your Work

I have tried various methods in the past, including a Notes layer in the design.

Here is something seemingly bullet-proof.

Somewhere accessible on your local device, save a file called log with a txt extension (log.txt) or as I do log.xara.
If your default text editor is Notepad, use log.txt.
If in my case it is Notepad++, use log.xara and associate Notepad to .xara files (not XAR, do note).
Open your log file and add .LOG and save and close it.

This is a Notepad feature that admins have always used to record the date and time every re-opening of the file. Notepad++ does not have it.
I use this when I am working on the clock.

Otherwise, omit the .LOG or, as I do, create log.md, for posher Markdown-formatted documenting.

Back to Xara.

Off the design page, create a line of text, labelled LOG and in Web Properties > > Link > Link to file > Browse to your log.txt/md/xara file > OK.
Save your design file. What you now get is <design file>.xar and a new folder <design file>_xara_files. In the folder is your log file.

When working, select LOG and in the pop-up click on Link to file: log.txt/md/xara
The text editor kicks in.
Add your update and Save and Close.

When you Export or Publish, the log.txt/md/xara file is put in the index_htm_files folder.
log.txt is viewable through URL/index_htm_files/log.txt.
Other extensions are downloadable: URL/index_htm_files/log.md & URL/index_htm_files/log.xara.

If you don't want the log to be published, rename the <design file>_xara_files folder or move the <design file>.
You could put the above LOG link(s) on the design page and when rendered, they will show or download as above.


tl;dr:
All you are doing is linking to an empty file (or with .LOG) in it and Xara does the rest.

Acorn

Okay Acorn, lost already.

Quote:

---

Somewhere accessible on your local device, save a file called log with a txt extension (log.txt) or as I do log.xara.
If your default text editor is Notepad, use log.txt.
If in my case it is Notepad++, use log.xara and associate Notepad to .xara files (not XAR, do note).

---

In Notepad++ if I try to save as 'log.xara' it saves as 'log.xara.txt' Is this what you mean?

Further:

Quote:

---

If in my case it is Notepad++, use log.xara and associate Notepad to .xara files (not XAR, do note).

---

Is that associate Notepad to .xara files OR associate Notepad++ to .xara files?

wow:eek:

I think my needs be simple...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill

In Notepad++ if I try to save as 'log.xara' it saves as 'log.xara.txt' Is this what you mean?

---

As in most progemas, File > Save As > All types (*.*) allows you to save a NotePad++ file as log.xara, where xara is an extension I made up and should have no associations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill

Is that associate Notepad to .xara files OR associate Notepad++ to .xara files?

---

Associate .xara files to Notepad if you want to use .LOG in the first line. (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...b-d5ae203c4e12).

Notepad++ does not include this feature, only Notepad.

Acorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

wow:eek:
I think my needs be simple...

---

Working with web design requires a lot of discovery and friction with a client, good or bad. To be professional, document everything.

Problems arise when you have a host of emails and other documents then recording as you go along is vital.
A recent good client wanted a multi-language, variant site and well-rated SEO using meta descriptions, keywords, alt text and hover text.
I created a clutch of Markdown files but keeping track of all texts become quite complex: Xara doesn't have search into meta-texts like the above and opening a file to recheck changes were in place is not a happy workflow.

Acorn

I create a virtual yellow post it and place it off the page and add my notes to self.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gwpriester

I create a virtual yellow post it and place it off the page and add my notes to self.

---

Gary, used that but it adds to the design file size. Also if you have many pages and variants do you have a Post-it a page, as collation becomes harder.

I just set the LOG text to be a Repeating Object - self-collation.

Acorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Acorn

Working with web design requires.....

---

boy am I glad I don't then....

Acorn, that's a clever idea - a bit beyond me but I can appreciate the principal.

As I don't often do paid digital work (and don't do websites) my problem is not keeping track of editing time and version control, but just remembering how I did something in the first place.

To that end, I've been experimenting using SimpleMind (mind mapping app which I use to hold my life together!) to keep a basic step-by-step record things. I'm not sure if this is overkill - time will tell, but I do like the idea of having a collection of these to refer back to in years to come.

Attachment 129269

The alternative is a basic text file or like GP said a 'post-it note' on the pasteboard.

Attachment 129270

If you are really economical the Document information Comment field can hold 256 characters of text.

Attachment 129271

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonopen

Acorn, that's a clever idea - a bit beyond me but I can appreciate the principal.

As I don't often do paid digital work (and don't do websites) my problem is not keeping track of editing time and version control, but just remembering how I did something in the first place.

To that end, I've been experimenting using SimpleMind (mind mapping app which I use to hold my life together!) to keep a basic step-by-step record things. I'm not sure if this is overkill - time will tell, but I do like the idea of having a collection of these to refer back to in years to come.

Attachment 129269

The alternative is a basic text file or like GP said a 'post-it note' on the pasteboard.

Attachment 129270

If you are really economical the Document information Comment field can hold 256 characters of text.

Attachment 129271

---

Jono, all worthy approaches that I have used in the past. I still use the Notepad approach but include Markdown to format, include graphics and link to assets all the more readily.
I have MindManager but as you say it is a large hammer to crack a small nut (no acorns though). I would recommend FreeMind (free and uses Java) as it has HTML outputs.
I have also used Gliffy (on-line Visio).

The point with the LOG file is it is not intrusive, adaptable to structured data, versioning, random jottings & a quick dumping ground, only a click away, coupled with the design without any further action and highly searchable.

Acorn

but does it do character sheets :p