I don't think I agree about the comment on gtd, Gary. For its core lists, David Allen just proposes a list of tasks for each context and a project list - You can do this with a few sheets of paper, so you can definitely make your MLO lists match this "strict GTD" system. However, MLO adds a load of other (optional) task parameters, so you can use other systems (I use a combination of Stephen Covery's "7 Habits" and the GTD, to make a system that works for me). You can use as many or as few of the MLO parameters as you need.
*However*, there is next to no scripting or inheritance for new or modified tasks, so each parameter has to be entered or changed manually. Each parameter you have to maintain means that you take longer managing your system, rather than getting on with your tasks, so I'd recommend keeping it as simple and using as few of the different parameters as you can. Other than the flexibility of the task parameters, the great strength of MLO is its search and filtering functions, which mean that you can set up very many detailed, customised views of your task list, to help focus in on just what you need to see at any particular time. I haven't seen more flexible task management software, anywhere else, for this. Regarding John's list of requests. Here are my thoughts on the current state of development (from the point of view of the desktop application, though the mobile ones are similar): 1. Extremely easy/fast data entry - PARTIALLY. There are quiet a lot of shortcut keys and customisable hotkeys. However, data entry is slowed down by the need to manually edit all of the parameters, rather than being able to set up any kind of inheritance. 2. Multi-levels of Projects and Actions - YES. The outline tree can be nested to almost infinite depth. 3. Ease of changing an item between Projects and Actions - YES. Hotkeys for toggling "project" and "folder" statuses, among other parameters. 4. Next Actions - YES, I think - I haven't used "complete actions in order" or dependencies much, but they're available. You can also set up custom filters to narrow down to the important next steps in each project. 5. The ability to send emails into the "In Basket" for processing (ideally with tags embedded in the title) - ?DON'T KNOW. 6. Ability to put Projects (and Actions) into some sort of *priority *that is can be sorted/reported on and which is clearly visible with *colour*.- YES. Importance, Urgency, star, due dates, etc, combined with customer filters, sorting and custom Automatic Formatting rules. 7. "Focus" mark-up. - YES - I review my filtered and sorted task list and use the Star to tag items I want to focus on, for the day. Alternatives are flags or just relying on Importance, Urgency and Due Date to give an automatic Computed Score and sort the tasks into order. 8. The ability do move projects up and down the list of projects FAST using hotkeys - YES. I have the hotkeys set up as Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys. I have hotkey Ctrl+Alt+M set up for the more free-form Move function - In the pop-up Move window, you can select different views, so quickly change to a list of projects or folders (or any other view you like) to help find where to move your task. The F3 window is also very useful if you want to drag and drop a lot of tasks to different locations in your outline. 9. Either a good web or PC application... - YES, the PC-application is pretty good. NO for the web application. 10. ...that syncs well with a mobile app... that works off-line (as well as on-line) - YES (*mostly*). I use PC and iPhone app. However, WiFi sync has always been a bit of a pain to set up and maintain, unless you have a static IP address for your PC and a single WiFi network that you always use. WiFi sync no longer works for me, so I'm soon going to have to start a (cheap) server-sync subscription. Either way, the sync conflict resolution function and automated file backups are pretty thorough, though. 11. Excellent security/encryption of all my project data - PARTIAL. There are other discussion threads on the lack of transport security and the reliance on Amazon web server security for the server-side file. WiFi sync could be more secure, if your WiFi networks are kept private and secure and all the PCs and mobile devices are looked after. 12. A development team that has a history if being responsive to user requests - PARTIAL. Since Alyona was hired, she's worked to respond to questions and problems pretty quickly. Whenever I've had a significant problem, an email to support (or a post to the community) has got a pretty quick response. However, there are complaints that we don't get to see any development plans or timescales (probably because the team don't want to make any promises that they then can't achieve) and that many feature requests don't get a reply. I think we just have to be patient and accept that's how a lot of software companies work. MLO is much more communicative than Microsoft, for example! I hope that some people find this helpful. Stéphane On Sunday, 29 March 2020 17:17:10 UTC+1, boats...@gmail.com wrote: > > I sent MLO a GTD template in February for them to look at and help make > work. I sent them a follow up this week. I think it reinforces a few of > your points because a strict GTD is not possible without some extra > functionality. Some of your other requests are more general MLO > capabilities e.g. project hierarchy, colour coding. I am sure many people > would welcome them. Of course some may be doable now because the manual > lacks examples of how to harness MLO's industrial strength and we rely on > insights from peer users > > Warm regards/gary > > > On 30 Mar 2020 at 1:35 am, John . Smith <shi...@gmail.com <javascript:>> > wrote: > > > It's been a few months since I checked-in. > > Have there been any new developments in any of the areas (which I list > below) when I sought back in 2014. > > With thanks > > J > > > > On Monday, November 24, 2014 at 8:49:00 PM UTC, John . Smith wrote: >> >> >> Hello >> >> I am new to GTD and to MLO. I have been using a web-only app called >> GTDNext. But I am frustrated that there is no mobile app version. I am >> looking for a tool to automate GTD lists (David Allen) >> >> I am looking for a tool with the following features: >> >> 1. Extremely easy/fast data entry (using lots of hotkeys and only minimal >> use of the mouse) >> >> 2. Multi-levels of Projects and Actions (i.e. sub-projects and/or >> sub-action ) >> >> 3. Ease of changing an item between Projects and Actions (and back). >> >> 4. Next Actions - i.e. the ability to generate a queue of future Next >> Actions for a Project, but with the ability to just show one Next Action >> per Project. And as soon as you tick off an action as being complete, then >> the next action in the queue immediately pops up as the official "Next >> Action" for the Project. >> >> 5. The ability to send emails into the "In Basket" for processing >> (ideally with tags embedded in the title). >> >> 6. Ability to put Projects (and Actions) into some sort of *priority *that >> is can be sorted/reported on and which is clearly visible with *colour*. >> i.e. I want to be able to see a screenful of items and without actually >> needing to read anything, to see which are the most urgent (about 4 levels >> of priority/color would be fine). >> >> 7. "Focus" mark-up. >> i.e. Separate from "priority" to have some bright colour mechanism for >> showing "has focus" (i.e. I have decided to do this item today) >> >> 8. The ability do move projects up and down the list of projects FAST >> using hotkeys. i.e. To change the sort order of both Projects and Actions >> within projects very easily >> >> 9. Either a good web or PC application... >> >> 10. ...that syncs well with a mobile app... that works off-line (as well >> as on-line). >> >> 11. Excellent security/encryption of all my project data >> >> 12. A development team that has a history if being responsive to user >> requests. >> >> In your opinion, how well does MLO match up? >> >> Many thanks >> >> J >> >> >> >> >> >> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MyLifeOrganized" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to mylifeo...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9ef5fbad-f8fa-4dfe-b6b7-921508e05853%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9ef5fbad-f8fa-4dfe-b6b7-921508e05853%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mylifeorganized+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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