John’s Tech Blog for Lawyers

Post-It notes are one of the most used pieces of office ‘equipment’ that I used from day to day. My desk, my monitor, and even my office are all dotted with spots of color, tidbits of information that help me remember what I did, what I learned, and what I need to do next.

Tomboy notes is a small applet that puts these notes in my screen instead of on my screen. Plus, it has the added bonus of cross referencing all notes to make digging for information, a simple and efficient task. I leave the unobtrusive icon in the corner of my main monitor. When I receive, or make a phone call, all I have to do is type a simple subject line, jot down the information I need, and voila: any time that subject line comes up again in any other note, it is automatically linked and cross-referenced back to the original note with the subject line.

For example, say I am tracking down a new computer supply shop. I make note with the subject line computer supply, and put down all of the information I need in the note. Then if I make a later note (it also cross-references prior notes), and mention the phrase “computer supply”, that phrase is highlighted and automatically linked back to the original note.

This applet is not a panacea to rid my desk of Post-It notes. The catch is that it has to be used on a regular basis to be an effective tool, and moreso, the subjects must be organizationally intuitive. I admit that I use the applet mostly when organizing case information, or when doing cursory research. And, even though I spend my time with technical issues, I often find a pen and paper to be more reliable, and more accessible. But, for those who are fastidiously organized, and tech addicted, this may just be one of those little apps that makes life a bit easier.