OmniOutliner Pro 4
The definitive software for outlining gets an update. But is it worth it?
Some kinds of writing are about free-flowing streams of words, while others need structure, whether that’s making a list of things you want to sell or creating the next great novel.
OmniOutliner Pro is all about structure. It’s like a combination of a word processor and the list- and table-making capabilities of Excel. In fact, if you commonly use Excel as a simple list-based database, you’ll find OmniOutliner a more powerful dedicated option. Likewise, if you want to create long documents that depend on a rigorous application of structure, such as technical documentation, OmniOutliner is a great option.
Version 4.0 features a redesigned interface and is now Mavericks-only. As with previous versions of OmniOutliner, it makes it easy to create consistently styled outlines. Unlike the outliners built into word processors, there’s a strong focus on keyboard commands, which for the professional writer, is a huge advantage. Features such as Focus view, which let you display only the current row and all its ‘children’, are great when you’re working on a lot of information.
OmniOutliner Pro is powerful, but the features in the Pro version are probably not worth the extra £35. It exports as DOCX, though, but then again the regular version exports in Word-readable RTF.
It’s not easy for novices to get used to, and while it provides good templates, there aren’t enough to show what it can really do. That said, this app will still make your writing life much easier. Ian Betteridge