Send to Evernote or Add to Evernote?

In my last two posts, I discussed:

• Using the Bcc field to send a message to the Evernote inbox and create a note.
• Using the "Add to Evernote" Outlook Addin to create a note.

Are you confused about when to use one and when to use another? I encourage you to use each to see how if feels for you, but here is how I am currently using *both*. (Editorial note, this usage came out of my desire to apply the GTD (Getting Things Done) and TSW (The Secret Weapon) approach to Outlook and Evernote--EN).

Add to Evernote Button -- I use this when:

1. I am not immediately responding to an e-mail, but I know that I will want to later. I use EN to prioritize and make sure I don't forget.
2. I will not be responding at all, but I want to save it in EN for archival.

Bcc to Evernote Inbox -- I use this when:
I am responding immediately, and I would like it in EN either because:

1. I think I will need to respond later.
2. I doubt I will be responding later, but I still would like to archive it in EN.

I should add that both are functionally equivalent when it comes to putting the note into any folder or adding any tags that you would like. Although sending to your Evernote Inbox requires that you add folders and tags to the subject line in the correct order, which I sometime struggle to remember.   You also might get questions about what the folder and tag items on are on the subject line.

Bcc Can Be Your New Best Friend

In a recent post I queried for ideas around tools to manage my calendar. Specifically, I was looking tips around Outlook, Evernote (EN), and "Getting things Done" (GTD). The most helpful sources I found focused on:

Evernote Discussion Forums -- Very helpful community of EN users
"The Secert Weapon" -- specific techniques around using EN for GTD

The most useful tip (that I had been using intermittently) was the use of Bcc to get e-mail into Evernote. I found that I was doing this so frequently that I was willing to give the screen real estate in Outlook by having the bcc field visible all the time. Like most things in Outlook, you have to dig to find it. Here are those instructions in a nutshell for Outlook 2010:

1. Open a new New E-Mail message
2. Click Options menu to display the Options ribbon
3. Click "Bcc" on the "Show Fields" section of the Options Ribbon

Here is the link to the Microsoft KB article for various version of Outlook.

Using the Outlook Addin for Evernote

My last post talked about how I frequently "Bcc" my Evernote mailbox. That doesn't mean I don't use the "Add To Evernote" Outlook Addin -- in fact I use it quite a bit as well. Don't have this addin? If you are running the Evernote Windows client, you already have the addin, all you need to do now is enable it. Here is the basic process for enabling the Evernote for Outlook addin.

1. File
2. Options
3. Addins
4. Manage "COM add-ins" turning the checkbox on
5. OK

At this point the Evernote button should appear.  Your mileage may vary as discussion forums on this topic seem to be extensive.

Once you have this successfully working, you have two basic configuration options:

• Do you want a the note creation dialog to appear?
• Do you want the created note to appear as a New window?

Both of these are set within Evernote:
Tools -> Clipping Options (shown below). I prefer to see the creation dialog, but not the created note. Choose what works for you.

In my next post, I write about when I use "Bcc" vs the Add to Evernote Command Button