Suggestion: Export, Transform, Import RTF Comments

[Tony G]

Ref: This discussion about RTF comments.

I've created this separate thread for consideration of a specific enhancement.


1) In Export and Transform, for all formats where possible, on the form that requests "All tasks" or "Filtered tasks", I'd like to see under "All attributes" a checkbox for "Include Rich Text Comments (encoded)".
-- For CSV this means a new final column "Rich Text Comments".
-- For other formats where the data is first exported into a ".intermediate." file, save the CUSTOMCOMMENTS node there.
-- The HTMLCOMMENTS node is already created in the intermediate file in an attempt to render some of the RTF data. But the encoded data includes object definitions which could be used to extract images and other binary information of value, and that data is not included in HTMLCOMMENTS.
-- For a HTML export I'd like to see both the CUSTOMCOMMENTS XML node and in the HTML perhaps that node can be added as a comment:

<!-- RTF FwIAAHicZZG9bsMgFIU7R8o73LHtkAD+Vy1LXaoO7VJ1ZCE... -->

-- For iCAL, note that there is a RFC2445 provision for attaching Base64 data: See section "4.1.3 Binary Content".
-- For a GanttProject and other exports this probably doesn't apply.

2) Corresponding option on Import.

3) Default option in Preferences.

"What would someone want to do with RTF data?" ... "It will bloat the export file."
That's up to the user. I don't think we need to come up with a use case for rich text. Tools are available for converting RTF to/from other formats. For example:
https://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Converting-between-RTF-and-aaa02a6e
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/27431/Writing-Your-Own-RTF-Converter
And RTF is used to/from Word and PDF as well.

Thanks.
T