I like using PDF to package my research results. It's easy to deliver via email and I can use bookmarks and annotation tools without disfiguring the original. Using Adobe Acrobat I can combine search results from other resources on the web, and even incorporate scanned items. Now I just want the major online services to make things even easier for me.
Both Lexis and Westlaw have offered PDF as a download option for a while now. Westlaw even offers PDFs of cases as published in the hard copy reporters. But not all PDFs are created equal.
Westlaw already offers much more functionality than Lexis in their PDF downloads by providing live links in their results list, as well as links within PDF case downloads to other cases, keynote searches and footnotes.
These links are great for librarians, since we often want to provide results lists for our users to peruse. With the live links they can easily pick which articles/cases/items they would like to see in full-text by just clicking, then entering their user name/password. Lexis provides no such live links in PDF files or otherwise.
But wait, I want even more. How about the ability to download a group of documents, such as cases, in PDF format, with bookmarks automatically created using the case name or article title? PLEASE??
Considering how ubiquitious PDFs are, especially in the legal world, the more features in PDF downloads, the better!
Enhancing you PDF legal research results. Look at CaseSoft www.casesoft.com download free trial and go to RESEARCH Database. Then download
Send to CaseMap Adobae Acrobat "plug-in"
I will add notes, highlight, make comments in PFD and organize results in Adobe Acrobat.
DIGEST - Select critical passage text and go to Send to CM plug-in on Toolbar. There you can customize the "Field Headers" and organize. I use WestLaw terminology KeyCite-Headnotes-Key Numbers) to create NEW Field Headers. I have a sample Template that I developed. Call or e-mail will send. Open to further discussions RE: PDF and CaseSoft
George Tanguay
Legal & Business Resources, Inc
businesslegal@hotmail.com
303-751-9286
www.business-legal.com