Project handling questions

[mv1...@gmail.com]

Hi all,

I'm a new MLO user. I've worked with Task apps since 1995 (Yep! I'm that old). Back then I had to program one in Access for our small company, as nothing was existing. It later evolved (2003) to a private web app still in use today. Projects and Tasks dependency were the strongest features, allowing one person to supervise many projects and colleagues without loosing track. Selling a new project was as easy as copying a template, add a few specific notes and everybody knew what they had to do when it was time to do it. Why bill a client if the delivery has not even been done yet etc... I'm now an early retiree but after (25) years of structuring my professional life around such an app, it was only natural that I try to structure my extended personal life with a similar tool.

Strong from that background I'll start by saying that MLO is very well done. Some might say that it is a complicated app compared to all the Toodledo and company. But with complexity comes flexibility and this is where all those To-do apps fall short rapidly. It's only a slitghly steeper learning curve and after that you're rewarded.The UI in MLO, both Windows and iOs are very pleasant to use and this is also important. MLO also has a manual and from having been in a business that required manuals I know that it consumes a lot of time and energy while many will not even take a look at it. To me it was the "no-fun" part of the creation process. However it is Important and MLO does it. Even if I'm still setting-up and moving things around I can definitely confirm at this point that the task dependency ease of manipulation goes far and beyond anything I'm seen so far. Good job MLO!

Enough said and let's go with the questions :

1. Project status : The filtering tools in MLO are fantastic and allows you to slice and dice your tasks in any ways. Still, I find it awkward that tasks under projects that are NOT "In Progress" are computed as "Active". This forces you to make-up filters everywhere while the core views are already well conceived. In the iOs app / Today view I don't even think you can filter the view to include only "In Progress" projects. Is everybody's fine with that? Can you share how you cope with it?

2. Look at the forest. Not only one tree: This is what I was saying while training peoples on our app. Having a list of tasks to handle today really helps you focus on your day. But when you get to a specific task, it is many time prudent or at least helpful to look at the project globally. If other persons are using that philosophy, from a To-do view, how do you quickly look at the project? I would have like to have the possibility click on an hyperlink (project's name) and have a new view with only that project. Ex.: [Project Whatever] Do something with it  Same thing on the iOs version where the project's name is there, almost already looking has something you could hyperlink to.

3. Recursively to all subtasks: Maybe it is because of a language barrier (French Canadian) but I don't seem to understand what is that checkbox in (Right-click/Advanced/Sort sub-tasks...). I could not find anything in the manual either. I taught that by checking this box, the sorting of the target branch would resort itself repeatedly but the few tests I've made don't seem to produce that expected behaviour. How do you use it?

Thanks for your inputs and again, great job MLO!

Michel

[Stéph]

Hello Michel,

Thanks for posting your thoughts. Welcome to MLO and to the forum.

Here's how I deal with the three points you ask about:

1) Project Status: Custom filters and views are easy to set up after a bit of practice, constructing them by setting up Advanced Filter rules. I don't have to keep setting them up, though, because I find myself reusing the same small set of custom views I've set up for myself. These include various filters for excluding an active task from my view, eg because it's in a project which I've tagged as "not started". I can copy my custom views to the iOS version by emailing them to myself and sending them to the MLO3 app on my phone.

2) Look at the forest (task in the context of its overall project): When I want to see a task in the context of its project, in the Windows version I can double-click on the task (not directly on the text, because that selects it for editing) and it shows it in the unfiltered outline view which I have in my first tab. I can quickly collapse all branches except for the one containing that selected task - I've customised the hotkey for that command to Ctrl-Alt-left arrow.

If I double click on the task again, in my outline (again, not directly on the text), it takes me back to the instance of the task in the filtered view I was using.

I haven't looked at the today view for a while but you're right, you can't apply complex or custom filters to it - just select which dates apply and filter by flag or context. I guess the thinking is that if a task has the appropriate due date or start date, then it needs to be looked at sometime today to be actioned or redefined.

3) Sort subtasks: The menu action doesn't set up an automated sort; it's a one-time action and it physically moves the subtasks in the outline.  If you want to view tasks automatically sorted in a particular order all the time, then you need to use the sorting and grouping options in your filtered views. These don't apply to a single branch, though, but I bet you'll find ways to work with that limitation.

All the best,

Stéphane

[mv1...@gmail.com]

Hi Stéphane,

Thanks for the prompt and detailed reply. Over the week-end, I finished transferring my (900+) tasks from Toodledo to MLO. Now adding the mechanics that MLO provides I can't keep noticing how well it is taught, programmed and built. The sum of all the small details makes it addictive to work with and that's the goal.

1) Project Status: I agree that Custom filters and views are easy to set up and that once in place you find yourself reusing the same small set of custom views. Also agree that views can be easily exported to the iOs device altought it would be nice to have these views included in the syncing process.

2) Look at the forest (task in the context of its overall project): You just supplied the missing link by writing about the "fist tab" behaviour. I had tried to double-click on a task but since my first tab was "Inbox" I was not getting any result. I was even wondering why double-clicking was bringing me to the Inbox. Thanks also for "collapse all branches except..."  sub-menu. I had looked at all the menu items but did not pay very good attention to this sub-menu, mainly that exception one. This is exactly what I was looking for.

3) Sort subtasks: That's what I had concluded about using the sorting option in filter for the overall view. But I'm still wondering what the "Recursively" checkbox does?

Regards

Michel

[Dwight]

includes second and lower level subtasks in the sort

consider this hierarchy:

parent
\2
| \22
| \21
\1

sort "parent" subtasks  ascending on "caption" with the "recursive" checkbox clear and you get

parent
\1
\2
  \22
  \21

same sort with the checkbox ticked, you get

parent
\1
\2
  \21
  \22

first time you only sorted one level of subtask, second was you sort all levels of subtask

-Dwight 

[Michel V]

Thanks Dwight.