Maple is intended to help you write long documents, particularly those that require extensive research and data collection. If you have experience using word processors, you will not have any difficulty to start using Maple right away. It is a good idea to check one of the downloadable sample databases, though.
At first sight, Maple’s interface resembles that of a word processor, except for the left panel, in which items are organized as a hierarchical tree. Starting from a common root, you can start adding branches and nodes that respond to the desired organization. Each node contains an article. In this respect, articles can be of various types, including images, notes and enriched-text documents. It is also good to know that it allows searching for text within the document.
As it was explained before, articles are like information containers. To create articles, there is a built-in word processor that supports most of the features you can find in other similar tools. For instance, you can format text, insert tables, use bullets and align paragraphs. Fortunately, you can start not only from scratch but also from any of the various templates available. It can also import various popular document formats, such as DOC, PDF, RTF, WRI and HTML.
All in the information is stored in a single document, which you can protect by performing frequent backups. Likewise, it is possible to restrict access by encrypting the file with powerful algorithms. The resulting tree can be shared with others thanks to the support of two commonly used formats. You can use HTML to help others view the tree in a web browser. Similarly, exporting as CHM files lets you create Windows help files. It is also excellent that it supports collaborative work as various users can work on the same source files simultaneously.
Besides the basic cataloging and word processing features, Maple also comes with other handy features. In this respect, it comes with a calculator and a password generator. It can also perform spelling checks and make screen captures at regular intervals.
All in all, Maple comes in particularly handy for writers, scientists and students looking for a tool that simplifies their work. The product is shareware so it can be tried at no cost. Luckily, there is a free companion, called Maple Reader, which you can use to distribute your work. This way, your friends and colleagues do not need to pay for the full product to be able to read Maple tree files. However, it does not support modifying their contents.
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