ZO219  The one thing noone seems to mention is that Journler is a beautiful interface, and the rest are, to coin a phrase, hideous. MacJournal is a workhorse—good looking it is not.

I hope Phil finds someone to carry this great notebook on, and wish him well.  
(Version 2.5.5)

NIGEL2112  Quote: "Journler will always be free".

Statement on MU: "Journler is still free for non-commercial use."

The fact that the developer said these things and then reneged on the promise is reason enough to look elsewhere. There are any number of avenues he could have taken, but to say one thing and do another like that is just bad form.

We expect stuff like this from a company like Micros**t, not a Mac developer.  
(Version 2.5.5)

ZX81  I hope Phil does not sell Journler to Apokalypse Software (The guy who bought Mori...)  
(Version 2.5.5)

MINIMAL DESIGN  Is this app dead? I read somewhere that the dev doesn't work on it anymore and it doesn't seem to have been updated in a while... I'm not an update freak, but since I'm investigating which app to chose from all the options out there, I don't want to start with an app that's not actively developed anymore... Any idea? Thanks!  
(Version 2.5.5)

ONTHESCREEN NAME  You may want to just type (dated) notes, have a place to store research material, articles, files, web archives, links, or keep track of activities.

Well, you can do that quite well with Journler.

You just may need to get used to how and why you're using it.

It's easy enough to use (you'll have to edit the existing database), and make use of the Services Menu Quick/Append Entry feature, while using Journler with other applications you are using for your research or project.

The title is free for personal use, however, there will be a newer version where you must pay a fee to be able to use properly. It very well, maybe worth it.

For now, enjoy this useful note/date/journal/PIM/research nicely Mac OS X application.  
(Version 2.5.5)

DADAMA  This program has so much potential as a file organizer, information manager and note taking/journaling software. It is functions like a hybrid between MacJournal(http://www.marinersoftware.com/) and Together (http://reinventedsoftware.com/together/) and in many ways is superior to both. It has much nicer interface than either, you can embed files with in each other (unlike together), and handles links,images and other file types better than Macjournal.

Having said all that it does not offer synchronization (which MacJounal does well and Together doesn't do well) and it could improve it's file structure. Currently it store it files in obscurely numbered folders in your Documents folder. Unfortunately because of these 2 short comings I still rely on the other programs mentioned for journal and information management. However, as mentioned in my opening sentence this program has a great potential and look forward to seeing it evolve.  
(Version 2.5.5)

WRK24WHEEL  I have tried MacJournal as well as all of the others. I still come back to Journaler. This is the BEST journal and note system I have found out there.  
(Version 2.5.5)

MAR6473  Of all the journal type, info collecting style apps I really like the feel of Journler. It can do a couple of things that MacJournal can't. Namely, the way that Journler attaches files, contacts, exported emails and pictures to a single entry is really handy. The issue is that Journler is kind of quirky. Sometimes, it won't open switch between entries and sometimes it won't delete a note I tell it to delete. MacJournal is incredibly stable and always does exactly what it says. I wonder if my issues with Journler are just a glitch on my Mac but it seems like others say that it is a bit quirky too. It's a good app that does a lot but I'm sticking with MacJournal for now.   
(Version 2.5.5)

JOI  looks like after macjournal 5 i'll be comming over to journler.   
(Version 2.5.4)

SAMRHALL  Journler is one of those apps that can do just about anything you ask it to do. It's a research notebook, a pdf organizer, a journal and a project manager.

Journler 2.5.4 has a lot of good updates. I've been using this program since just after it was first released, and each time it gets better.

Two of the best things the program has going for it is the responsiveness of the developer and the active community of users in the Journler forums.  
(Version 2.5.4)

ASTROBRUCE  oops, forgot to rate it  
(Version 2.5.4)

ASTROBRUCE  I love this thing. It has a few glitches - i can't find how to get text to wrap around images, and auto fill for tags doesn't predict upper/lower case as it does for categories.

BUT - it is just the thing i wished i had a couple of years back when on hols and trying to get ical to give me a tavelogue.

have found it much more writer friendly than the excellent mellel, which is great for turning finished words into a document, but not good for me as a writing app.

Journler helps me write!  
(Version 2.5.4)

MOOGAN  Having tried most of the alternatives I keep coming back to Journler, huge amount of features and very flexible with a lot of depth. In my experience Phil Dow (developer) is extremely helpful and will provide quick support if needed. Quite happy it's turned to a paid for regular shareware model as it's definitely worth the money. I use it as mainly a digital scrapbook and it excels at this. Although I was disappointed that the full encryption feature was dropped in the more recent versions, there are ways around this. A key decider for me was the good export options and the fact the Journler files are basically rtf. This prevents the app. becoming a data island and a liability in the future. Highly recommended - give it a try.  
(Version 2.5.4)

LEESA  I'd love to give this 5 stars but due to performance issues I just can't.

In theory Journler has everything I want BUT its really wonky and unstable for me.

I wanted to use it to be able to insert pictures into a single entry and put notes next to them- but when I did so it kept switching the inline images that were in the entry with other images from the same post. When I'd click on an image it would bring up a larger version of a different image altogether- seems it was losing the link information.

I didn't want to create a separate "entry" for every image I imported into the program... though that seemed to work fine when I did do that.

Also, when I tried to select multiple images in the Finder and drag them into an entry it could not maintain the links to the original images, clicking them in the entry brought up a blank window.

Another thing I didn't like was that the preferences and help file seemed to suggest that media (images) would be left in place on my harddrive and merely linked to, when in actuality they were being copied into the Application Support folder for Journler. I'd hoped they'd be left where the were on my harddrive and linked to, not copied. What bloat!

Overall the app was unstable, freezing, quiting and also needing to be restarted to reflect my preferences changes.

I love the concept of this program and I'll download a new version once these kinks have been worked out.  
(Version 2.5.3)

ALJUK  This is an absolutely stunning app. Don't get it confused with GTD, that's not what this is. Think of it as a multiple-topic cross-referenced diary and notebook, which can include any kind of link or reference (like webpages, other documents, audio files, movie clips), for organising your information and ideas. For pure GTD, there are dedicated apps, such as the brilliant iGTD, which can go hand in hand with this. Once again, this app is stunning, very straightforward, and extremely clever.  
(Version 2.5.3)

JOHN F.  Very good app for GTD. Easy to set it all up with smart folders. Now I have an overview of everything I want and have to work on. Thanks! Right now, I'm a little broke, but I won't forget donating in the near future. I hope this app can help me to get some extra work done. :)  
(Version 2.5.2)

MUDFLAPPER  The only reason I'm sticking with Yojimbo for the moment is because that app takes advantage of automatic .Mac syncing. It works flawlessly.

Once Journler supports automatic .Mac syncing of its data between Macs (not backup to .Mac, not export to .Mac, but fully automatic syncing) I'm making the switch to Journler.

You have an fantastic app here, guys. Keep up the great work!   
(Version 2.5.2)

FAKE IT  Good program with single database, Jojimbo is actually much better than this interm of ease of use, this software does have nest folder, i like that. the problem with this software is when exporting document, it won't export, i export my pdf files and i got nothing, i a pdf and icon of that pdf inside the pdf file, i hate it.   
(Version 2.5.1)

SKYHORSE  This is a superb application that keeps getting better and better, and 2.5.1 continues the major improvements of version 2x. I have fourteen years of entries, 5080 total, in this app so far--and replaced MacJournal with this one for reasons of quality, not price. It is now quite fast to open even with this many entries, less than four seconds (was 17 seconds with 1x versions). I haven't lost anything yet in about three years of use. Search is extremely fast and relevancy based--excellent! There's a lot of additional information pertaining to entries now that is available to the user. I've also always found Phil Dow to be extremely responsive and user-oriented. In short, I'd rate it as best of its class, just as he intended it to be.   
(Version 2.5.1)

HMURCHISON  I'm totally new to Journaling myself but this application has made my babysteps easy. I like the fact that rather than bookmarking pages to retain information I can just use the Services menu to save a page or selected text into my Journal and then add other links or pieces of media later. All with the ability to search and find this data later via Spotlight. The media handling is nice with the iMediabrowser and the UI is solid. Phil Dow has an eye for what looks good as well as what is functional.

He has totally busted his arse on version and it shows. I haven't even used %50 of what this app can do yet I'm very impressed with what I've seen. I will be donating the $25 and I'll probably donate again to help Dow get Journler up to speed with Leopard. He listens to users and fixes stuff like a madman. Clearly he has no wife or gf ;)

I noticed that Journler 2.5 is Apple's "Featured Download of the week" looks like others are beginning to notice this app and what makes it special.   
(Version 2.5)

SYHARRIS  Absolutely outstanding......a beautiful piece of work! As good as any journal software out there and better than many.

It's still free for personal use although a donation is suggested, but for non-personal use the price is $24.95....a very fair policy.

A big thank you to the developer for creating this gem, and for constantly improving it!  
(Version 2.5)

SLOB  This is one of those great programs that makes the Mac what it is. I know how pompous that sounds but too bad - it ranks with VoodooPad, OmniOutliner, Scrivener, Devonthink, Textmate - all of which I've registered with no regrets at all and am happy to do the same now with Journler. In fact relieved - I was actually feeling guilty using such a fine piece of software for free - it's way beyond that in value. Problem solved. And a lovely program.  
(Version 2.5)

HOWARD KAUFMAN  After having owned and tried virtually every notebook and journal available to OSX, Journler has become my everyday virtual assistant. 2.5 has really taken it to new heights and the developer is a remarkably talented coder who really listens to user input. It's one of a few "donationware" programs I've been compelled to send a donation to. Try it - you obviously have nothing to lose!  
(Version 2.5)

ASDFASD  Just great! It does everything you want from a notebook and more! Complete integration with the iLife suit... Its the notebook that Apple forgot to make!

Thanks Phi!

Details on the License here:

http://www.journler.com/blog/2007/03/20/understanding-the-journler-license-v25-podcast/  
(Version 2.5)

BILLWEST  Journler ----Free as a beta --Accepts all kinds if files --and exports most of these. Unique interface that has everything. Entry window left, listings and many other features right. The Gold Standard of note pads, journals. And it's still free. I put all my keeper formatted, HMTL, pics on Journler. Search/Find results do not hilite the search string --so doesn't seem to move --jump --to other page occurrences at all. But does list all notes with the search word. So we manually select each listed note --what I do anyway. Email via toolbar button uses my Mail.app. All Services work including the pearCalc launch. Will do Services/Mail/Send Selection only if Mail.app is already open. Has own Services --Make entry of selection.

Because the Search/Find does not hilite string word and jump to next occurrence note --I don't rank Journler's Search/Find --that is vital to finding your notes --even among the 20 Best Search Finds of the 46 note pads I've demo-ed. But Journler has listed every note containing my search string entry --very complete Search/find results. Journler is of the 'style' that is very dependent on it's Search/Find feature --less so than the date of entry, a folder and note organization, or hard drive independent note files. But see what the database is below for us.

Datasbase --notes --location ---/Users/billwest/Library/Application Support/Journler/Journler Entries/0.jobj this Journler file is one of 64 I currently have. Each file icon here opens one of your Journler entries.

The original OS7-9 Note Pad idea was reliance on the great mac dragndrop and Copy/Paste to Clipboard. No other write out provisions --Mac SaveAs or Export. But many OSX note pads offer much more --like the editors and word processors ---Journler offers Import --Comm-O --almost any kind of file. Export Shift-Comm-S entry as appropriate file. Export Journal --your entire Journal database, I guess. :)

Of the 46 OSX note pads I've evaluated --I include Journler as one of the most used top four --with Notational Velocity, VoodooPad Lite, and MacJournal. I've got hundreds of big and little notes on Journler --which I wont put onto short lived or crippled demos. So many good note pads have no chance of becoming my most used favorite.   
(Version 2.0.2)

IGG SOFTWARE  I agree with the last post, bring .mac syncing to it please!

Otherwise, I'm sticking with Yojimbo (whose name I don't really like).  
(Version 2.0.2)

MUDFLAPPER  I like this app a lot, but I just can't justify switching from Yojimbo because Journler doesn't support .Mac or any kind of syncing between multiple macs.

Unfortunately, that's the deal breaker for me.

Incorporate sync and I'm in.

Otherwise, great job.  
(Version 2.0.2)

JUKI  Journler is every bit as good as any other journal software out there, and certainly better than many, with some costing $35 and more.

I still can't believe that the developer is offering this beautiful piece of work for free.

Journler absolutely rocks! eeehaaa!!!  
(Version 2.0.2)

TUNER EQUALIZER  This is great and can only get better. I've already emailed the author with a couple minor suggestions.

I don't keep a lot of apps in the dock, but this one is for keeps.  
(Version 2.0.2)

ZX81  Dans la profusion des logiciels de gestion de notes personnelles, d'informations, capables de gérer les fichiers les plus divers et de les retrouver (!), Journler me semble avoir un statut à part.

D'abord, pour deux raisons égoistes : il est gratuit (ou plutôt, c'est un "donationware") et il est francisé, ce qui n'est pas si fréquent.

Ce qu'on peut faire avec :

Tenir un journal personnel et retrouver ses notes par sujet, date, contenu,etc.

Créer des "dossiers intelligents" (smart folders) comme dans Mori ou Process

Importer des documents de différents formats (soit par glisser/déposer), soit en PDF, via un plugin, par le menu imprimer (Formats : text, rich text, pdf, word, html, archive web, jpeg)

Il possède des fonctions avancées d'éditeur de texte, d'export vers iPod

Pour les accros des applications Apple, il intègre les logiciels iLife (iWeb, iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, Mail, Carnet d'adresses) et supporte Applescript. Dommage qu'on ne puisse pas configurer cette fonction et choisir les applications auxiliaires.

En résumé, c'est un logiciel remarquable, croisé de Macjournal et des gestionnaires de données personnelles tels que Yojimbo et ceux que j'ai mentionnés plus haut.

Extrêmement recommandable.  
(Version 2.0.2)

LOMOVOGT  Best journaling application I know. I use it for GTD purposes and can recommend it to anyone. The management of smart folders is even better than in Apple's iApps.   
(Version 2.0.2)

JAZZADDICT  I love Journler! It's packed with great features. Is has a very tastefully selected combination of features - some inspired from other .apps, some Mac OS X standards, and some which are very unique. My favorite original feature is the method of resource managment. Resource management can be one of the biggest pains with Journal/PIM .apps. Journler has an original approach. It has a clean and elegant way of displaying all the files linked to or embedded in a paticular entry. It takes some getting use to at first, but that is not so much a fault of the program, but more of what comes with switching to an .app with a different way of doing things. It is much more intuitive than Devonthink. (Not to knock Devonthink; it is an excellent .app.) As mentioned in other reviews, the developer is a really benevelent guy, who is very open and responsive to feedback and support inquiries. The forum for this .app is very active, and willing to help newbies. The program is still a little bit buggy, and has some stability issues, but the developer is very passionate about his program, and with every release it gets better and and better. Don't let the current price fool you! This .app is a worthy competitor to other .apps of the same category, though I must say, defining what exactly that category is can be diffcult. Journal has all the features of a great "Journaling" application, yet the some of the goodness of Personal Info Managers, and Word Processors. I look forward to future releases!  
(Version 2.0.1)

MORANNON  When I first discovered this application (version 1.1.6), I did not find it very usefull. This because I used MacJournal for years and was accustomed to it. But when version 2.0.1 came up, it was a great pleasure to see that Journler grew up. In fact I was enthusiastic so that I decided to write the german localization of the project. The developer is very responsive and is putting a lot of work and energy in this project. Please support Journler and/or the developer. It would be a pity if this great piece of software or all of its features would not stay free.  
(Version 2.0.1)

ARES  Journler is the best notebook / data organizer / blog editor. It is elegant, stable and free. It deserves the best rating: 5/5.  
(Version 2.0.1)

TFINDLAY  I own copies of StickyBrian, DevonThink, Mori, Curio, Dossier, and Formation. I have used them all but for one reason or another have kept looking for a program with just the right combination of features. I have just started using Journler but I think I may have found it at last. Journler is the most powerful data organizer I have ever used. It is fast, clean, efficient and intuitive. The support is excellent and the price (free) is incredible for such a sophisticated application.   
(Version 2.0.1)

CHRIS REED  Ditto comments below

i wanted to use this for recording client notes for an upcoming therapeutic project and worries i had about stability on upgrading were well supported by developer who was very responsive. super app. version 2 works very well on my emac and macbook.  
(Version 2.0.1)

STEVEN JAY COHEN  I just converted to Journler from MacJournal (very simple actually, just export your macjournal entries to RTF documents and then import to Journler).

This app does everything I need. The developer is incredibly responsive (added my request [Full Screen mode] to the current beta).

I enjoy it so much that I download the beta's from Phil's site and submit feedback to the forums there.

Support good developers/software like this! Use it, submit feedback, tell your friends about it. All in all, a wonderful product!  
(Version 2.0)

JOSE 1234  Is it so hard to maintain 10.3.* compatibility?  
(Version 2.0)

PHILCOZZ  Love it. A great Mac app from a very responsive and engaged developer.   
(Version 2.0.2)

ARES  Journler is an ideal tool to note ideas or write a blog. The GUI is very Mac like, clear and easy to use. The application is stable. Thank you for making this one.  
(Version 1.1.6)

JENNSEN  This program makes me happy. It's well-written, easy enough to understand, and very conduscive to actually recording my life. I haven't had any problems with the software at all, and I find new reasons to use it regularly. I'll be donating to this one.  
(Version 1.1.6)

MACSMILEY.JR  PS. You can back date to your hearts content, so feel free to write your autobiography, too, with Journler!!  
(Version 1.1.5)

MACSMILEY.JR  OK, time to put my stars where my mouth is.

Along with Safari and iChat AV, this app is *always* open on my desktop.

I'm no developer, so my review is purely from the standpoint of a consumer. And as I said before, this is the very first donationware I have *ever* paid for.

Journler has been an eye-opener for me. It has gotten me to think of communicating not only with myself, journal-wise, but with others more creatively (with voice emails, for example) that are recorded right into my entries and then emailed from Journler. (No more worrying about accidental deletions in Mail.)

With blog support, highlighters, tabs, word processing, password protection, encryption... well, there just isn't enough room to write it all here. You'll just have to try it. It's better than any commercial app out there... period.

And, of course, it's very "Mac-like", as it should be.

Phil Dow is also one of the most pleasant developers I have ever had the pleasure of corresponding with. He's one of those developers who takes good care of you. He makes me pround to be a Mac user.   
(Version 1.1.5)

MACSMILEY.JR  I have a confession to make. Journler is the first donationware I have *ever* paid for  
(Version 1.1.5)

WJB3WVU  Great program. Thanks for providing it for free. Like the previous writer, it's worth a donation.  
(Version 1.1.4)

MNYSTEDT  This is a little gem of a software application. It's very "Mac-y" and is just a delight to use. I wouldn't mind paying a bit for it but of course I appreciate it being available for free.  
(Version 1.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  Nice little program, just the sort of thing I was looking for. Only two little things I'd change:

1. I want to skip the whole "create an entry" and just type freely when I have a date selected. If I don't have an entry selected a new blank titled one should be created.

2. Weeks start on Sunday, not Monday as the calendar in the program displays.  
(Version 1.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  Works fine as a journal and a blog editor with LJ. Free.  
(Version 1.1.1)

CHIPSTER  Just curious why a reboot is needed after installation.

Thanks!  
(Version 1.1.1)

TOMAS  Absolutely refuse to test and try apps that come bundled in an installer. You should make it simpler for people to see what's inside!!!

Tomas  
(Version 1.1.1)

ANONYMOUS  Works fine with LiveJournal. It is free and it is the best blogger for OS X. Thanks.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  I have a problem with accents when I publish the blog.  
(Version 1.0.2)

SKYHORSE  I tried this out in the hopes of replacing MacJournal, which I've used for years. It isn't quite ready.

The appearance and features are decent to excellent, and well organized to my thinking, but there's a few more things needed before I could use it as a replacement. Stability appears OK, but I didn't get an opportunity to stress it because of the import issue I note following.

To begin with, you can only import entries (which appear to be references to the separate .rtf files, not actual imports) into Journler one at a time. Not an option for someone with 13 years worth of daily .rtf files. Although you can easily add new categories and topics, Journler can't yet find existing ones, so you end up with a category (e.g., Work) that has in the import four other categories as well. I'd like to organize entries by year and use my categories within it, like I do in MacJournal. If you can do this in Journler, it's a little too subtle to find.

I also had real problems getting rid of some test entries: they appeared as items in the box above the main text box, but didn't appear (or I had deleted them earlier) in the box to the right of the text box, which is where you're supposed to delete entries from. The entry was deleted, but the item above the text box remained, and you still recovered everything in it if you clicked on it. I found that I could kill them by using Searchlight to find the entry and killing them from there, but that's not the way it should work.

In short, this is a very promising app that I'll be watching carefully. I just wish that I could actually use it now.  
(Version 1.0.2)

@@@  Nice app, and free.  
(Version 1.0.2)

JJS1138  I really like this application. It is highly versatile and the design is very intuitive. The dev is doing some really great work here and I'm sure the app will only grow to be even better.

There are a few bugs in the most recent version, but nothing to hinder normal use.  
(Version 1.0.2)

ANONYMOUS  Downloaded installed no problems at all tried everything in it and still works great

Running

500MHz PowerPC G3 B/W 1GB ram 10.3.9  
(Version 1.0.1)

DOUGLAS   Looks to be a great application. However it crashes on startup every time. Downloaded to several copies and still crashes on startup. Have emailed the developer.  
(Version 1.0.1)

AMY  this is an absolutely wonderful app! extremely easy to use. thank you so much to the maker of it. i have always wanted something like this! :-)  
(Version 1.0)

ANONYMOUS  This may be the next MacJournal (freeware) replacement. Excellent application esp the iPhoto integration. Many thanks to the author. This is DEFINITLY worth a check out by former MacJournal people.  
(Version 1.0)

ANONYMOUS  Fantastic application. Very feature full, allows audio journaling which is great for disabled individuals or those who just want to dictate their thoughts.

in the past I used MacJournal, but with it going pay, I decided to dump it. I found this and the author states he will never charge for it. I would feel better if he made it an OSS project, but I think he is telling the truth.

thanks for the great software.  
(Version 0.9.9)