Existing users, 
 Sente - 6.0.21Academic reference manager. |
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Feedback Summary:
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| Overall Rating: | Not rated (0.0) | Features: | Not rated (0.0) | Support: | Not rated (0.0) |
| Ease of Use: | Not rated (0.0) | Quality / Stability: | Not rated (0.0) | Price: | Not rated (0.0) |
Key to Types of Feedback:
Reviews 
Troubleshooting 
Usage Tips 
Developer Notes 
Commentary 
Featured Reviews
Sente now is up to 5.7.8 
- Version: 5.7.4, 7/9/2009 05:11AM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
John Petty
Lovely reference managing software - Version: 5.7.4, 4/16/2009 02:46PM PST
CauseyPike
I got fed up with EndNote a few years ago, when versions 8 & 9 seemed to constantly hang and crash. Since then, I have used Bookends extensively, and now use Sente. This review is for Sente 5.7.5 (this version not yet being listed on Versiontracker).
Both Bookends and Sente are excellent programs. I have used Bookends for a couple of years, with a large reference library (>6,000 references, >1,200 downloaded pdfs), and have been impressed at wonderful support from the designer. However, the fact that Pages 09 has opened to EndNote integration made me look at all the reference managers again. Whilst I think the EndNote integration in Pages 09 is very effective, I still find the EndNote interface and user features clunky. Bookends has a straightforward interface and many lovely features for updating references, downloading and filing pdf files, and importing references from PubMed or pdfs. However, it can only scan saved Pages files. I sometimes find myself saving a Pages file, formatting it, then exporting it to Word to share with colleagues or publish, which is a drag. Sente, on the other hand, has some lovely lovely features for searching and importing references from pubmed or pre-downloaded pdfs. It's easy to use, and looks lovely. Even more handy, it can scan open Pages files, reducing somewhat the effort of formatting bibliographies. It's still not the full integration with Pages that EndNote X2 offers (how I wish Apple would open up Pages to other developers), but it is easy and helpful. In summary, if you're frustrated with EndNote, or just wish your reference manager could do more and help you handle all your pdfs more easily, then Bookends and Sente are both great programs. For Pages 09 integration, though, Sente just edges Bookends so far.
Both Bookends and Sente are excellent programs. I have used Bookends for a couple of years, with a large reference library (>6,000 references, >1,200 downloaded pdfs), and have been impressed at wonderful support from the designer. However, the fact that Pages 09 has opened to EndNote integration made me look at all the reference managers again. Whilst I think the EndNote integration in Pages 09 is very effective, I still find the EndNote interface and user features clunky. Bookends has a straightforward interface and many lovely features for updating references, downloading and filing pdf files, and importing references from PubMed or pdfs. However, it can only scan saved Pages files. I sometimes find myself saving a Pages file, formatting it, then exporting it to Word to share with colleagues or publish, which is a drag. Sente, on the other hand, has some lovely lovely features for searching and importing references from pubmed or pre-downloaded pdfs. It's easy to use, and looks lovely. Even more handy, it can scan open Pages files, reducing somewhat the effort of formatting bibliographies. It's still not the full integration with Pages that EndNote X2 offers (how I wish Apple would open up Pages to other developers), but it is easy and helpful. In summary, if you're frustrated with EndNote, or just wish your reference manager could do more and help you handle all your pdfs more easily, then Bookends and Sente are both great programs. For Pages 09 integration, though, Sente just edges Bookends so far.
Solid program 
- Version: 5.6.3, 8/28/2008 08:59AM PST
(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)
FloridaLaura
I’ve never used a bibliography tool before, but then contracted for a book project that will require works to be cited. Thus launched a search and demo period between Bookends and Sente. Sente’s price turned me off, but its interface and excellent customer support turned me right back on. For instance, I asked whether this program could be made to interface easily with Scrivener. In only the 13 or 14 days I used the demo, the developer made that happen. And he was quickly responsive to other questions I had during my trial period.
Mind you, if you’ve never used any kind of citation program before, I think you’ll find Sente and probably all the others daunting. I still have much to learn. But Bookends crashed for me when I only had three references added. Sente is still going strong. That was another defining point for me.
I still think the price of Sente should come down some. But if you need this kind of program, great technical support, and an interface that has a genuinely Mac feel, you owe it to yourself to give the 30-day demo a spin.
Mind you, if you’ve never used any kind of citation program before, I think you’ll find Sente and probably all the others daunting. I still have much to learn. But Bookends crashed for me when I only had three references added. Sente is still going strong. That was another defining point for me.
I still think the price of Sente should come down some. But if you need this kind of program, great technical support, and an interface that has a genuinely Mac feel, you owe it to yourself to give the 30-day demo a spin.
Goodbye to MS word and EndNote! - Version: 5.6.1, 6/30/2008 11:57AM PST
(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)
wgscott
I've been using this for about four hours now to reference my NIH grant in Pages. I imported my endnote library (via XML export from EndNote and imported that into Sente -- the native import failed). Word X/EndNote X works ok on my PPC but on intel it is an impossibly sluggish combination.
This does everything that I need.
Searching 1120 reference database is more sluggish than EndNote, however.
This does everything that I need.
Searching 1120 reference database is more sluggish than EndNote, however.
Wrong link - Version: 5.3.4, 3/15/2008 04:26AM PST
(0 of 1 users found this comment useful)
stam
FYI:
Versiontracker advertises 5.3.4 but the download link is to 5.3.2.
The developer's website links to 5.3.4.
Versiontracker advertises 5.3.4 but the download link is to 5.3.2.
The developer's website links to 5.3.4.
Most Recent Replies: View All 1 Replies
- Fixed Link!
Great! - Version: 5.2.0, 1/28/2008 12:00AM PST
(3 of 3 users found this comment useful)
asobanet
I use Sente every day and it is great. I have a fairly large library of references (just over 2500) and it works well with this much data. Beyond the nice search interface (which works very well in my experience, even for large searches), being able to organize my library with deeply-nested smart collections is wonderful. Some time ago, Sente had only limited bibliography support, so I continued to use EndNote in addition to Sente, but that changed with v5. And with the recent addition of Pages support (yes!), I can finally use something other than Word for those documents that require complex formatting. I recently converted a 70 pages document (with Chicago style footnotes and lots of figures) from Word to Pages and scanned it with Sente and the results were beautiful.
My biggest complaint is probably that Sente no longer comes with a PDF user manual. Instead, there is now good on-line help, but I often find it easier to read a traditional manual, so I am hoping they will bring this back.
My biggest complaint is probably that Sente no longer comes with a PDF user manual. Instead, there is now good on-line help, but I often find it easier to read a traditional manual, so I am hoping they will bring this back.
Hangs on 10.4.10 - Version: 5.0.19, 9/18/2007 08:35AM PST
(6 of 7 users found this comment useful)
chdwyer
This app hangs on large re-searches of PubMed. (around 3400 entries) On a new search occasionally it quits with a 'terminalplugin3" error.
Also the report to the developers always returns (null).
We have emailed the company on 3 occasions and have received no response.
While this application might be useful in formatting etc. it really doesn't do very much when you think about it. It is easy to do a search and download all hits from PubMed.
Also, top price for this should be $50, if it worked correctly.
Also the report to the developers always returns (null).
We have emailed the company on 3 occasions and have received no response.
While this application might be useful in formatting etc. it really doesn't do very much when you think about it. It is easy to do a search and download all hits from PubMed.
Also, top price for this should be $50, if it worked correctly.
Most Recent Replies: View All 2 Replies
Too bad... - Version: 4.1.0, 2/4/2007 08:58PM PST
(1 of 3 users found this comment useful)
sherman1
it can't format according to APA standards.
Most Recent Replies: View All 1 Replies
Version 6 is in Beta. With that paid upgrade, there will be better access to your linked pdfs when you sync between multiple computers. (Sente allows up to 3 computers on 1 license for the mobile student/researcher). Great app!
With this app and Adobe Acrobat Pro, I can find just about anything I need for my research. I make sure all downloaded, associated, linked pdfs are ocr'ed via Acrobat. I can do a search within my entire library in Sente, or specific collections. From the identified citations, I can then open up the pdf(s) and search individually, or within a folder of pdfs, for specific terms/phrases within the pdf articles. Sente inserts the citation in your document where you specify, using the format you specify--such as APA 5. If you cut and paste and move stuff around in your article, it will automatically refresh so the format of the citation is correct. When the paper is complete, I “refresh” Sente once from the menu and then turn refresh off. I double check any specific page references made it through the refresh. I scroll down to the designated place in my paper for references and choose “insert bibliography.” It cranks it out. What a timesaver!
It is possible to currently sync among your computers, there is just a two step process you need to know to do it correctly so that you can open pdfs in the other computers. See the forums on the site, or contact the developer. Very helpful person.
I export my citations from my research library via the Endnote format, but several others possible, and then import into my collection(s). Everything comes through.
BTW, discounted price for students... As a doctoral student I paid $69. Check out the price for Endnote for PC.... $250. And Sente if a better program to boot.