I just started using a couple of new tools from JGSoftware as programming utilities:

AceText is  like Windows clipboard on steroids.  It enables the user to make libraries of snippets and other notes.  You can create a library for each project.  This saves repetitive referring to lists of attributes, database references, stored procedures, etc  during development.

You organize the snippets or notes in collections.  Within a collection, you can add notes (clips) as well as folders.  Of course, you can nest notes in the folders to keep these clips organized.

One really cool feature is that AceText can be run from a flash drive.  This means snippet collections and project notes are close at hand whether at work or home.  For me – I don’t need to install AceText on my work computer – hooray – boycott workplace software nazis!  (full disclosure – I’m a workplace software nazi.)

EditPad is my new text editor.  I used to use TextPad for my text editor, but EditPro has more sophisticated search and replace functionality.   It  can also search folders and process multiple text files in the folder at the same time.  EditPro works with AceText, so my project collections are available in EditPro.  For me this is helpful since I’m constantly accessing my snippet library – very helpful for vbscript, VBA, and CSS programming.   Both products are available as a package for $80, but I spent a little more because  of buying them separately.

For massive note taking, my favorite tool is OneNote.  It’s part of certain distributions of Microsoft Office 2007.  OneNote is great for keeping disparate data  to keep data organized – usually with the objective of creating documentation.  AceText has taken the place of OneNote for my snippet library, but OneNote is great for organizing research, graphics, and lists, links, etc.   It won’t run from a flash drive, although you can store OneNote files on a flash drive to carry back and forth from work.

I would certainly encourage you to check out the products at JG Software.  I use nearly all of them, and they save me tons of time.