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Mendeley Desktop

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December 31, 2010 - 5:53am
#1
mary007
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Last seen: 13 years 11 months ago
Joined: 2010-12-31 05:48
Mendeley Desktop

Hey can anyone make a portable version of Mendeley Desktop.It is a free app available at "www.mendeley.com"

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April 4, 2011 - 2:57pm
mitchbw
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Last seen: 13 years 5 months ago
Joined: 2010-09-01 07:33
Works!(ish)

Hi Mary007,

Defiantly a worthy cause.

I have found Mendeley (Almost) works 'as is'.

You'll need to:

    - 'install' or extract the install '.exe' file.
    - Copy the directory to a pendrive.

    C:\Program Files\MendeleyDesktop\

    (- Create a shortcut to it) or
    - If it is in your PortableApps file structure it'll show up in your portable apps menu e.g.

    F:\PortableApps\MendeleyDesktop\

    Making sure "MendeleyDesktop.exe" is in the correct place

    F:\PortableApps\MendeleyDesktop\MendeleyDesktop.exe
    - Run and reference away! Smile

There are only a few 'minor' problems I have encountered (and I've been using it on my preliminary MSc Thesis!)

Problems:

    - Sync Dir:
    If you use the 'sort papers for me' option (which I do recommend) you'll need to change this to a directory on your pendrive. So as to stop it making a 'local' copy (unless that's what you want. It'll create an 'Offline Database'-like scenario)
    I can see this being easily resolved

    - MS Word Addons:
    These will not work as they will need to be added by a system Administrator
    (most work places/Libraries/Schools/Universities will not allow users to do this.)
    I can see this being tricky to solve

If someone more 'knowledgeable' about compiling these portableApps could do it.

This has potential to become 'most used' App Wink

mitchbw

--------------------

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April 18, 2011 - 3:40pm
(Reply to #2)
Kevin Paul
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Last seen: 13 years 6 months ago
Joined: 2011-04-18 15:04
I third this request

The previous poster says Mendeley Desktop only needs a few tweaks to work as a portable.

This free program has become THE hot app for its purpose and has been praised in the New York Times, BBC, lifehacker, Wired and elsewhere (www.mendeley.com)

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April 19, 2011 - 4:28am
mjashby
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Last seen: 9 months 2 weeks ago
Developer
Joined: 2008-09-19 13:35
Closed Source?

Haven't downloaded this application, but it appears to be closed source (freeware) and so specific permission would be required from the Developer before attempting to create a PortableApps version.

From looking at the Developer's website, it also appeared that you have to be registered with them before you can download the software. However, after checking a little further, it does also appear to be available elsewhere without registration, e.g. CNET - http://download.cnet.com/Mendeley-Desktop/3000-18495_4-75181236.html

MJA

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April 19, 2011 - 1:34pm
(Reply to #4)
3D1T0R
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Developer
Joined: 2006-12-29 23:48
Partially.

I've not used (or even downloaded) Mendeley myself, but from the Download page (the link is found in the footer) you can download the free version for Windows, Mac, or Linux, as well as the "Mendeley Open Source Library" (link on right side) which apparently is the sections of Mendeley which are based on OpenSource software (i.e. Qt & kdelibs). Also there appears are "premium plans", on top of the free version, which you can upgrade to with "additional features" for a "very reasonable" fee.

As far as needing permission goes, I'm not entirely sure, but I'd certainly recommend it before anybody tries Portablizing this.

Mendeley Terms of UseTerms of Use
...
4.5. We hereby grant to you a non-exclusive, personal, non-transferable licence to use or distribute to other users our Software in accordance with this EULA and Terms of Use.
4.6. You may:
...
     4.6.2. distribute our Software so that other users may install and use the Software for the purposes of cataloguing and managing their Academic Papers;
...
4.7. Except as we permit in this EULA or as permitted by any local law, you undertake:
...
     4.7.3. not to ... merge, adapt, vary or modify our Software (though you may contact us at office [at] mendeley [dot] com to obtain a written permission from us to do so);
     4.7.4. not to make alterations to, or modifications of, the whole or any part of our Software, nor permit our Software or any part of it to be combined with, or become incorporated in, any other programs (though you may contact us at office [at] mendeley [dot] com to obtain a written permission from us to do so);
     4.7.5. not to disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer or create derivative works based on the whole or any part of our Software nor attempt to do any such thing except to the extent that (by virtue of section 296A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988) such actions cannot be prohibited;
...
     4.7.7. not to provide or otherwise make available the Software in whole or in part.

Also it seems "Mendeley" is TradeMarked, so even if we can legally distribute it, AFAIK we'd need there express permission to use the name.

Mendeley Terms of Use18. TRADE MARKS

18.1. "Mendeley™" is a trade mark of Mendeley Limited.

~3D1T0R

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