From Research Software Design

LESLIE BEHM (MS-DOS VERSION)
& JUDY MATTHEWS (MACINTOSH VERSION)

Overview:
Papyrus is a bibliographic management software program available in both MS-DOS-based and Macintosh versions. (The company expects to convert the Macintosh 8.0 version to the Windows platform during 1999.) The Macintosh version is vastly superior to the cumbersome MS-DOS program, but still leaves room for a number of improvements.

Special features:
Both the MS-DOS and Macintosh versions include duplicate entry detection and automatic name standardization that ensures the proper formatting of author/editor names. Both also offer the 'Notecard' feature, which allows one to attach an unlimited number of searchable notes (up to 6,000 characters each) to each reference. The Macintosh version includes 16 predefined reference types, including such useful fields as Internet source, Usenet posting, meeting presentation, slide or visual, and quote.

Strengths:
Both versions are inexpensive.

MS-DOS: This version allows up to two million references of up to 16,000 characters each. Each citation can include up to 100 authors. A fully extended ASCII character set is supported, including accented letters and some Greek and mathematical characters. Users can also freely add superscripts, subscripts, bold, italics and underlining. In addition to a stand-alone version, a network version is available.

Macintosh: This full-featured version can hold up to 16 million records per database. The software allows the output of references in HTML, and the unlimited personal customization of citation types and fields. References can also hold graphics and photos, up to 100 megabytes each. Full boolean search capabilities are supported.

Weaknesses:
MS-DOS: This version was very difficult to install under Windows 95. (At the time of writing, documentation and other associated files such as import and output formats and plug-in filters are available only via download from the RSD Website; this material on CD-ROM and also printed manuals are expected to be available in the near future.) The program has an extremely steep learning curve in comparison with other bibliographic program such as EndNote. Without reading the two manuals almost in their entirety, this reviewer found it difficult to do much of anything. Papyrus supports only eight standard reference types. Mouse support is provided, but mouse command integration could use improvement.

The import feature for SilverPlatter MEDLINE did not work with version 2.0 Winspirs of SilverPlatter. And, although the manual warns users not to use the Grateful Med citation reformatting feature, this reviewer found that the citations in fact do need to be in the NLM tag format to be imported properly.

Using Papyrus 7.0 with a Windows-based word processor is very cumbersome. The program requires the use of the Windows clipboard and the pasting of references into one's manuscript. It is then necessary to use the 'Group' feature to compile references into a bibliography. The bibliography then must be saved as a separate file if the user wishes to save it in a manuscript. However, formatting and printing a bibliography separately from the manuscript did not present any problems.

Although Papyrus with its cut-and-paste approach to managing references might once have been perfectly acceptable to most users, it has been far surpassed by numerous other superior products. This MS-DOS-based software simply cannot compete with the sophisticated features, user-friendliness and versatility of contemporary Windows-based programs.

Macintosh: Although a much more useful and versatile product than the MS-DOS version, this reviewer believes that the Macintosh interface could be more intuitive. Importing records can be tricky and can require considerable consultation of the manuals. In one import test the filter jammed all of the citation data into a single field; the program failed to parse the fields properly. Standard style formats are limited. Downloading the PDF manuals is time-consuming and results in two rather unwieldy documents. These criticisms aside, however, Papyrus is probably a good choice for anyone in a Macintosh-only environment.

Likely users:
Researchers, authors, students and librarians; anyone with a need for bibliographic management. The MS-DOS version is most appropriate for anyone with an old MS-DOS machine.

Platforms:
MS-DOS: Can be run under MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT and OS/2.
Macintosh: System 7 or MacOS8.

Price:
MS-DOS, $99.00 Macintosh, $89.00

Leslie Behm, Health Sciences Coordinator, behm@msu.edu
Judy Matthews, Physics-Astronomy Librarian, matthe20@msu.edu