Implementing Mark Forster's Autofocus/Superfocus on MLO

[daneb]

I would like to share how I implemented Autofocus/Superfocus system
from Mark Forster. Some ways how to do it were already posted here
(e.g. with AF1 tags). I took different approach:

1) Set new view „Autofocus“, Group by none, manual sorting on, filter
on (set to filter out everything you do not want to see in your
Autofocus view – e.g. I do not want to see any tasks with due date,
any goal etc – for these I have other views. It is also helpful to
make „no AF“ context to tag all other tasks not suitable for this view
– you mark them later case-by-case when you will review your Autofocus
„pages“)
2) In tree view, make new folder „Utility“ with several child tasks
containing dashes as a title (---------------) and several tasks
containing equal signs as a title (=============). These new tasks
should appear at the bottom of your new Autofocus view (in similar
way, any new task should now appear at the bottom of the view – as
Autofocus/Superfocus requires.)
3) Set up phase (necessary to do just from time to time): count
exactly 20 tasks (or how many tasks you want to appear on one „page“ –
see Autofocus system for more info) and move first dash task
(------------------------) bellow them. Immediately below put equal
signs (================). (If you do not want to have Superfocus, but
only Autofocus system, do not use equal signs tasks at all). Do the
same with next 20 tasks etc etc. So your list should look like:

Task1
Task2
...
Task20
----------------------------------------
=====================
Task21
Task22
...
Task40
-----------------------------------------
=====================
etc.

That’s all. You can start using your SF/AF system! As you surely
understood the space above dashes (-----) is "column 1" as Mark
Forster described it. The space between dashes and equal signs is
"column 2" = must be done before going to next page. See more
information about rules of SF in http://markforster.squarespace.com/.
If e.g. Task2 is partially done, it must go to column 2 of next page
according to SF system - you just easily move it to new place (and
edit its title text if necessary) - remember you have "manual sorting"
on in Autofocus view:

Task1
...
Task20
---------------------
=====================
Task21
Task22
...
Task40
---------------------
Task2 (task moved to "column2" of "page2")
=====================
etc.



If you use only AF without Superfocus, all the system is even easier:

Task1
Task2
Task3
...
Task20
---------------------
Task21
Task22
...
Task40
---------------------
etc.

and after working on Task2:

Task1
Task3
...
Task20
---------------------
Task21
Task22
...
Task40
---------------------
etc.
Task2 (moved at the bottom, as older version of AF requires, you can
use also ctrl+space)


That’s it. If you create new task (or duplicate a task) it appears at
the bottom of the row - in the "new page" as AF names it. If "new
page" has already 20 tasks, you put new dashes below and start a new
page. All other AF/SF functions (e.g. dismissal) are easily adopted
using formatting/highlighting of the tasks or by using flags. Please
let me know if I was unclear or if you have any questions.

Daneb

[Grant]

Daneb, how do you deal with sync between devices?  Manual sort is not synced... for me its a must to use my mobile devices for MLO too.

Grant