The research log is the record of what you actually did: where you looked, what you were after, and what came of it. Most of it writes itself.

Entries write themselves #

Captures, imports, transcriptions and promotions each write their own log entry as a by-product of the action, marked as automatic. You never have to remember to log the routine things; you only top an entry up when there is something worth adding.

Negative results are first-class #

A search that found nothing is as much a part of the record as one that succeeded, and the log treats it that way: a negative result is a normal, visible entry, never an error or something to be tidied away. Future you - looking at the same source for the second time - is the person this feature is for.

Adding your own entries #

Write an entry whenever you search somewhere the plugin cannot see: an archive visit, a microfilm, a conversation with a relative. Record what you sought and what the result was, and the log holds the whole picture rather than only the parts that happened at your desk.