The happy users are usually quiet and enjoying the software. The
unhappy are posting new feature requests :-)

So let’s keep the balance here – say us what you are using in MLO and
what we did right. Your posts in this thread will help us to
understand what features are frequently used and implemented the right
way.
Newbie may get new information from real users about MLO from this
thread!

Since then, the improved filtering options in ToDo view and the
possibility to save personal ToDo-Views made me really happy, like the
formatting options which help to have a more clear outline view. And
not to forget, the possibility to flag items I want to keep an eye on.

Susanne

On Sep 16, 10:55 am, "Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)"

On Sep 16, 11:04 am, MLOSus <susanne.a...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have been a very satisfied user since April 2005. I really like the
basics of MLO.

I like how the default To-Do view (Active Actions with Action Filter:
Active) produces only what I can do right now through the judicious
use of the "Complete subtasks in order" field, start dates and
contexts.

The implementation of recurring tasks is superb and is a feature that
I rely on heavily throughout my outline.

I like how easy it is to enter new tasks into MLO either through the
Rapid Task Entry dialog box or directly into the outline.

I like how quick and responsive MLO is to use even after entering
mountains of data over the last 4.5 years.

The search function is quick and well designed, and is indispensable
for those few times that I have asked myself, "Where did I put that?"

I am the kind of person that is always looking for the next best thing
so I have burned through many applications, particularly task managers
after a few short months. The fact that I have stuck with MLO for 4.5
years is testimony to how well MLO was initially designed and to how
well the application is being constantly improved with new features.
This developer truly listens to his user base.

Thanks for the great product!

Ron Stockfleth

On Sep 16, 3:55 am, "Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)"

My current MLO file is over 1000 items long. My archive is many times
that.

Yes there is a lot of whining from people on the group, but hopefully
others will speak up with how happy they are with MLO!

I don't need any new functionality, but I'd love to see a Mac and
iPhone version! :)

On Sep 16, 10:55 am, "Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)"

I particularly like the flexxibility of MLO and the customisation
options. As pottster said (above), MLO provides the tools that someone
can use, in their own way, to reduce just about any goal to a process
of 'cranking widgets'.

The ability to generate customised todo lists from the outliner is
fantastic and is core to the success of MLO.
Both outline and todo list functionality is very intuitive and cleanly
presented.

The custom formatting options are great. I can't think now, how I ever
got on without them.

The Rapid Task Entry is extremely important, I think, to the success
of MLO in normal usage as it ensures that tasks etc (or even small
reminders) are captured very easily.

Also, it feels lightweight and fast to use, which I also like.

And it's important that I can run it from a USB key.

And as my wife likes to rebuild and redecorate one room in our flat every half a year, some glitch in my thinking makes me to feel the same need in regards to my organizing system, though I'm usually way less radical then wife is with the room changes. Thanks to MLO for allowing that.

Back to specifics, what I like most (that comes to mind right now):

I like outline vs. todo view, having complex outline view and simple to-do view.

Custom formatting came to my saving with latest version. And visual progress indicator.

Zoom-in. Flags. Auto-archiving.

Rapid tasks entry is so handy sometimes.

Adding tasks through command line.

Columns I wish and where I wish them.

Recurrence, just great and so well thought out.

Search. So obvious and ubiquitous feature, I like how it's done in MLO.

Again, nowadays I'm in as-simple-as-possible and don't play in the most-
complex-setup league anymore, still MLO caters my needs best out of all the
alternatives, because it allows me to simplify as I wish, and configure
pretty much everything.

Most of these have already been mentioned:

- The separation between Outline and To-Do.
- Lightweight/High Performance feel
- Rapid Task Entry
- Flexible recurrence options

One that has not been mentioned: Small File size.  I keep my MLO
install out on DropBox (the free 2GB version) and therefore I can use
it from anywhere and any computer.  It is kind of like the USB except
I never forget the USB stick still plugged into my home or work
(depending upon where I am not) computer.

I have tried many different task management tools and keep coming back
to MLO.  It is not perfect but with the way you guys keep improving it
who knows??

Thanks

Mike

On Sep 16, 3:55 am, "Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)"

MLO strikes the perfect combination between power and simplicity: it's
probably the most full-featured task outliner that I tried (and I
tried MANY) and, at the same time, it never gets in my way --- it just
works.

Andrey always implements new cool stuff, but is also always very
vigilant to not bloat the software.

In short: I've been using MLO since 2005 and couldn't be happier.

Luciano Passuello
http://litemind.com

Cheers
ToesNZ

MLO allows me to build my own organizational system.  And then change
it when my thinking changes.

MLO is a dream come true for tinkerers, for Lego builders, for
programmers, for engineers, for people to whom "other's ideas are
never good enough - I can always improve on them."

MLO is a large toolkit, with powerful tools for task definition,
powerful tools for task organization, and even powerful tools for UI
layout, look and feel.

With MLO, I design and decorate a home for ALL my tasks, from dire
urgencies to silly dreams, never fearing that one will clutter out the
other, never fearing that I'll have to start all over, move every one,
if this floor plan doesn't work out.

In the past 6 months of using MLO  (inside the past 14 years of
seeking out good time management tools, both on paper and in software)
-in the last 6 months, I have tried no less than 5 drastically
different methods of my own invention, different strategies and
different tactics, different approaches to my tasks  -all within the
same application,  never having to re-enter any tasks, or delete any
tasks that "don't quite fit the system", or which I don't know where
to put into the system yet.

---
From: Victoria Macklin <vickimack...@googlemail.com>
Subject: MLO Feedback
---
I have been using MLO probably about 18 months now. I love so many
thangs about this tool it's hard to pick the best bits.

I have not missed a birthday since I installed this. I love the fact
that its simple, yet powerful and you can customise it so much to fit
your needs.

I read David Allens "Getting things done" and that is what prompted me
to find the right tool. I got lucky - I hit on the perfect tool first
time, and haven't looked back.

I love the way you can get everything down into the tool, but only see
what actions are relevant / necessary / doable at that moment in time.
The comfort of knowing you will reminded when something needs doing
and that you haven't got to try to keep it all in your head is very
comforting!

I am starting to get the hang of using the rapid entry. Great to know
thatyou can just at least put a place holder in quickly so you don't
forget when someone has just given you a new action as you are about
to run off to a meeting.

I keep mine on a USB stick, and back it up to a hard drive, again very
convenient. #

I'd be lost without this tool now!

All of the great things about MLO have already been mentioned by other
posters so I won't be going through them again. For me it's the very
high level of customizations allowed that have made me stick with the
program through all these years - I do tinker with my organizational
system every now and then and MLO is easily adaptable to whatever
approach/methodology I try to use at a given time (GTD, DIT etc.). MLO
have grown from strength to strength adding very powerful filtering,
formatting, task dependencies and many other features that make the
application extremely versatile.

I still miss a few things (e.g. ability to manage workload a bit
better by showing the total duration of all tasks scheduled for a
given day to avoid overscheduling) but so far MLO has proved to be the
best task manager application I've seen. I really hope it will
continue to be actively developed further (it's been a bit quiet on
that front recently) as, with a few additions, it can really become
almost perfect.

Thank you Andrey!

On Sep 16, 10:55 am, "Andrey Tkachuk (MLO)"

Key things I find invaluable.

Rapid Task Entry!
Rapid Task Entry!!
Rapid Task Entry!!!
Ability to Parse (in RTE and Outline.)
Pocket PC client is fantastic.
Ability to get reminders
Ability to hide tasks in the outline.
Recurrence.
Responsiveness of Developers.
New feature requests are well scrutinized, and the ones that are added
always seem to make sense.

It let's me do what I need to do, the way I need to do it, without
getting in the way.  That speaks volumes about the thought that has
gone into it.

Cheers,

On Oct 1, 7:37 pm, Philb <levon...@gmail.com> wrote:

MLO fills an important niche between a heavy project tool (like MS
Project) and the light (dumb) tool like the Outlook Task product.

What appealed to me first with your product was the ability to:

1. Create sub-tasks (and keep nesting them) easily
2. Light, responsive software
3. Ability to drag from Outlook and create a task
4. Ability to easily outline a series of tasks
5. Ability to import templates. This was very interesting at first as
it showed me quickly how I could use the software. We could expand on
this as a community.

As I used the software more I appreciated:

1. Rapid task entry. I have this mapped to a mouse button and can
bring it up quickly. Love the smart parsing and ability to easily
create a reminder
2. The To-do view. I have explored this more and have set up a
"Flagged view" that let's me see everything that is flagged (and can
be a basic To-do list for the day)
  I also have a "Done Today" view that let's me see what I have
accomplished today. A shopping list view (using contexts) to view and
synch with my Blackberry.

3. I like the email reminders. Use this to send an email to my wife to
remember to do something. Had a hard time using Gmail...but finally
got it to work using a service (see thread on this site)
4. Recurring reminders. I have them set up in weekly, monthly and
seasonal reminders (like change oil, pay bills etc.) which I really
like for my personal things.
5. I like how you respond to your customers and this forum. That is
really important..as we want to see the product change and grow based
on our needs as well. Please don't change this...there are plenty of
businesses that ignore their customers.

I could write more....thanks again.
Quinton

On Oct 1, 4:38 pm, Philb <levon...@gmail.com> wrote:

-----
I like that the application does not get sticky. Everything I need it
to do, it does, or does it without me asking.

 I probably don't use it quite to the extent that I could, but the
simple outline, utilizing projects and having the ability to instruct
it to sync with my Outlook for a daily updated task list is fantastic.

Sort

It is almost impossible to get a software task planner to get the
order of the tasks in the way you prefer.  This is because priority of
tasks is such a uniquely personal preference.  What should be listed
first "the task that will save your company the most money?" or "the
task you committed to having accomplished by a certain date to some
mid level manager in some random department?"

In the filter section of MLO you can select "sorting" by a number of
different methods.  I want to see tasks that I committed to being
completed by certain dates first and then see tasks by importance.
You can do that by the "sort" feature.  Of course there are a lot of
other options for people that need prioritization using other
methods.  This one just works really well for me.

Advanced setup feature

The first rule on organization I learned in high school was "write it
down".  The second rule I learned was to take my individual "things to
do" and put them in two piles; "things I am working on" and "things to
be done in the future."  The second pile I was taught to not worry
about  (or even look at) until I had finished enough things in the
first pile to need to add something to it.  MLO gives you that ability
to filter out "@someday" context projects.with the advanced filter
feature "context does not contain".  You can then have another select
view that only shows the @someday context tasks and projects.  The
technique of "not getting any visual reminders for things you aren't
working on to help you not stress out about them" is a good one and
MLO helps you do that.

Groiup

I originally purchased MLO for helping me at work.  But I soon found
that I liked the "recurrence" ability to schedule "home stuff".  As an
example,  I hate having to remember to pay the second property tax
bill in September when you get both bills in March.  There is too much
added stress with me when I start getting afraid of forgetting to do
something.  Now with recurring tasks set for the correct days or
months with enough lead time I no longer worry about stuff like
that.

----------
What I really like about MLO is the sophisticated prioritization of
tasks which helps me in keeping a better work-life-balance. What's
been also quite helpful for me is the colored sidebar which allow me
to see at a glance which 'hat' I need to give more focus on that day
(such as business, family, community, sports etc.). One of the first
reasons I bought MLO, however, has been the ability to sync with a
Palm PDA. I got rid of that way of organizing my life in the meantime,
but since then MLO has become even more important for me.

I also like a lot the different views, the filtering and especially
the filtering using functions. I also use quite often the context and
plan to use icons more in the near future. However, it took me some
time to find out how these icons work and where they are placed. If
you have worked it out it's a very nice feature though.

I used to be very chaotic in task management, changing between brain
memory, paper, some PC applications and whatsoever almost every day
(believe it or not - it worked for me very well on the short-term).
Now with MLO I got more structured and a working task management not
only for short-term but also for long-term and routines. Thanks for
that, Andrey!