Feature request: Decision, Resources & auto accumulating counter triggers, Subproject progress bars

[Ben Iti]

Hello MLO users,

My name is Ben and I've been using mylifeorganized on my iPhone and it is one of the best apps that I've come across. Period.

I've got a small number of feature requests.
So I've been playing with a project management app on the iPhone which has this feature I really like and I think is important.

1) Decision tasks

Decision prompts that require you to answer.
Eg. Do you want the fast approach or the more thorough approach?
(Couldn't think of a better question)
The 2 answers to select might be something like: fast approach | thorough approach. (Why stop at 2 answers? why not have 4 or 5? Some questions can have more than 2 answers).

You'll click one either fast approach or thorough approach. This would present you with a list of tasks (processes) that only show when you select the relevant answer. Click the other and another list of tasks (processes) show up instead.

These list of tasks mostly would never reoccur daily, or weekly but there probably is no reason why you couldn't let them reoccur if a user wanted.

A list of tasks or ordered tasks would reappear every time you come across and answer the question task.

GUI wise, there would be no need to bring up a prompt box to foreground. I think the question and answers could be somewhat be contained within a task view. Maybe?. It might complicate the look a bit with a new yet similar task view but I'd rather a similar view than some prompt box that only appears on decision tasks and stands out.

I also think it might be an easy addition to the app because you already have the capability to display a list of task once you've completed a dependant task.

2) my next requests are Resource task and Auto accumulating counter triggers

One thing I really like about that project management app is the idea of resources. So like dependant tasks, some tasks can't be started without the necessary resources to start them.

Got the resource (eg. Part x arrived in the mail), show the list of tasks that you couldn't start until the part or resource arrived.

Now What if you allowed the user to create and name 1 or more number variable(s) as part of a task or a resource task that would accumulate to a target amount (set by the user) by a specified amount(accumulative value). Associate a unit eg ($, kg) to the variable. Once that target amount has been reached, bring up a list of tasks that were dependant on that target value.
Eg. Savings

Another poor example. A resource task might be "Money From Payday " which occurs weekly etc. You've set up a variable for $100.?ive now clicked that task 5 times and now that $500 has been reached. "buy PlayStation" appears lol. the accumulative value now returns back to 0. Let say you don't buy the PlayStation. Well that's also possible too so maybe like a inbox counter, active task counter, why not have a variable counter. Eg. Savings $xxxxx etc.

Why not show the accumulator value in the task view as well for the task that has a accumulator set? It's nice to be able to see how much I've saved so far from a quick glance or how many hours I've put onto some task

3) Subproject progress bars
I've always have had multiple projects. Most times they were always sub projects or sub goals. I love it how you give us the opportunity to see how every task we complete affects the progress bar of the subgoal and the parent goal. Sometimes it just nice to see that overall that we are winning when sometimes it looks like we are making small steps.
Could you also apply it to the folders as well? Sometimes not all of my sub projects need the parent task to be completed. You know what I mean :-)

Well that's all. Keep up the great work. I hope these are good additions to the app as integrated feature or as a pack. I'd be happy for pay for the feature(s). Please vote up guys for any feature that you like that I've mentioned.

Ben

[Dwight]

Hi, Ben. You have a number of interesting requests. I'd like to share a
few tips about getting your suggestions accepted. You can submit your
suggestions directly to MLO support. This works best for obvious
mistakes, bugs, and awkward interfaces that the developers have
obviously struggled with.

If you are proposing something that will make existing customers
happier, or (even better) attract new customers, you may need to prove
that (a lot of) customers or prospective customers really like your
idea. One way to do that is on mlo.uservoice.com - the problem with this
is that it has been around for a few years and some old ideas have run
up some pretty big vote tallies so it can be hard for a new idea to make
a splash.

Another way to show that an idea is popular is to post it here and see
is a lot of people say "me too". Two hints for this: First, pick your
one best idea and make the best case you can for it. Leave the rest of
your idea for later. When you send a bunch of ideas in a single email it
tends to be a less productive discussion. Second suggestion: start by
researching whether the thing you are trying to do is already supported.
Check the documentation, and if its unclear or you cant figure it out,
write to this forum with a question, is there a way to whatever. If the
answer is "no" then its time to suggest an enhancement.

It looks to me as though several parts of your suggestion are
recommending functionality that we already have. The accumulating
resource idea feels new, but the basic "part x arrived in the mail"
scenario is handled well by a "wait for part x to arrive" task with
other tasks set to be dependent on this task. Also, I tried out the
subproject progress bars and it seems to me that the current version
works exactly as you requested. If you need a step-by-step walkthrough
on how to use it, write back and say so.

Good luck and I'm l;ooking forward to seeing your next set of suggestions.

-Dwight