MLO Desktop & Mobile - Suggestion for new 'complete' functionality

[Joel Azaria]

Many times when I complete a task, I need to create another (usually related) task.  It would be nice to have a quick way to do this from the reminder dialogs. 

For example, just now I had:

Task - call dell pro support re: bad power adapter. 

So, I make the call and task is finished.  I want to mark complete and I need to create the next task:

Task - Receive -dell pro support re: bad power adapter @waiting remind 2 days 3pm.

What I typically do now is open the task, select/copy the task text and then ESC.  Create a new task at the same level, paste the text and edit, set reminder, etc. and then check off the done task.

I think it would be easier if, like we have now there's a 'complete' button on the reminder dialog - (on Win and Android, I assume ios too) -  I suggest to add a button that completes the task, creates a new task in the same place in the global outline and starts with a copy of the previous task text.

I do this very often to track/enter tasks that come out of other tasks.   I've gotta believe others would have tasks that come out of other tasks too.   Do you?   Is this useful to you too?  Is there a better suggestion?

Please discuss. 

[pottster]

You could try Ctrl+d to duplicate the task prior to completion or use "alternate complete" (ctrl+click on the checkbox). Then edit the duplicate.

[Joel Azaria]

Thanks Pottster for the suggestion.  The problem with keyboard 'workarounds' is that it won't carry to the mobile side.  And imo this is core to the workflow and should/has to work everywhere.  In fact I might argue this is even more important on mobile - when I'm on the go my attention span is even shorter and being pulled in more directions at once.  

For me it's about speed of entry and not forgetting to enter that follow up task.

Do you also find yourself making a lot of follow ups like I describe?  Do you think what I'm describing would be useful/make life easier?

J.

[Dwight Arthur]

Hi, Joel. I think that it would be very reasonable for you to request implementation of "alternate complete" on mobile platforms. Regarding your question of whether this is a frequent need, my answer is, it depends. For tasks within a repeating task or project it may be important that the original task in its completed state, and the followup task(s) in active state all exists together at the same time. But for normal tasks I will just edit the original, for example changing "order storage box" into "received storage box", clearing context @calls and setting context @waiting, setting start date to 10d and adding the order number to the note field. 

-Dwight

[Lisa]

If we could find a good place / keybinding for it, I would find this feature (complete and add sibling starting with text and all attributes of current task) a good extension of the existing use model. Even though the feature is possible with a little work using existing functionality, it would encourage me to keep better records and to actually complete and begin a new task rather than being lazy and leaving the one I already have in my task list, leading to better productivity.

 

I'm not sure about having it be only from the reminder window though. I rarely would use it there. Also I'm not sure it's valuable enough to have on mobile platforms (meaning it would have another menu item and the list is already really long). I don't think we even have duplicate task there yet, at least on Android.

 

Also, I think attention would need to be given to the order in manually sorted lists for it to truly be useful. I would use this most often from the Active Starred list, and adding the new task at the bottom wouldn't work well for me.

 

So, maybe too much design required to make the cut but I do think the idea has value.

 

Lisa /  lstr...@gmail.com

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[Stéph]

I manage my tasks slightly differently, which means I don't often find I have to regenerate a task once I complete it - Once I've made the call, I'd add a date-stamped note (Ctrl-D on the PC, sadly no date stamp shortcut available on the mobile version) "06/06/2014: called Dell", then change the task context from @call to @waiting for and the due date to "next Monday". My task text would remain as something like "replace faulty laptop power supply".

 

Basically, what you record as tasks are steps in my tasks. My records of the steps I went through get kept together in the note (which is useful if there's an argument about who did what, when, because an activity is running late...).

 

I don't know whether this would work for you, but do let us know if you try it.

 

Regards,

Stéphane

 

On Thursday, 8 May 2014 17:52:11 UTC+1, Joel Azaria wrote: