[deanloh]

Hello all

I'm a freelance web designer. I needed a tool that helps me keep track of tasks at hand, and respective due dates.

I tried Project@Hand first, it is undoubtedly good software, but the timeline part is making things difficult for me as often my tasks cannot keep up with the planned deadline (usually due to clients' delay in submitting their contents etc), hence I ended up spending more time adjusting the timeline than doing some real work. It just defeat the purpose.

Then I discover Bonsai and I have fallen in love with it since.

Currently I'm trying out the desktop version, and I'm hoping if it can do this one thing I have in mind, then I will not hesitate to pay for the lisence right away. I hope someone can give me some advise if what I'm thinking here can be achieved...

First of all, let me explain my current workflow:
I have a web based project management application (phpCollab), which is supposed to help me manage and sort out my tasks. I have tried to encourage my clients to use this tool to submit website update requests but they always ended up sending me emails. So I will go through the emails, and insert the tasks to phpCollab on their behalf.

There are two reason why I use phpCollab:
1. So that I can always have an overview of all tasks at hand
2. I have written a simple script to retrieve data from the database and updates my work load status on my website so my clients can see if I'm currently available for assignment or they'll have to wait longer (see it in action here, look at Current Status on the right column: http://deanloh.com/?projects)

What the status bar does is really straightforward: it counts the number of tasks at hand, then adjust the length of the red bar according. i.e. if I have 1 task, the length of bar will be 10% (free); 2 tasks - 20%; 5 tasks - 50% (occupied) and so on, and when I have more than 10 tasks, the bar will be at 100% (busy) and wont go any further.

Unfortunately, phpCollab doesn't have the capability to export data to my Palm, so I usually enter selective tasks in my Bonsai, and keep track from there. And once I have completed some tasks, I will checkbox my Bonsai, then go update phpCollab.

I reckon this is not an effective system. I am spending more time managing projects than executing them.

Now what I'm wishing is: if I can just insert all my tasks directly to Bonsai, then by using the export function in the desktop version, export my outline to a format, which my server can pick up and reflect it on my website. This way I can ditch phpCollab and sorely work on Bonsai.

What I can think of now is:
Bonsai -> Bonsai Desktop -> Export to XML/CSV/text -> upload to my web server -> publish to my web site

What are required:
1. Bonsai and Bonsai Desktop: already available.
2. Exporting: can be done manually after each sync.
3. Uploading: can be done automatically (I have this backup tools that can upload selected files to remote server via FTP)
4. Publish to my web site: which is my big problem as I have little clue how I can extract data from either XML, CSV or text and relected it on my website

As you can see now, item 4 is what I need help with. If you are an expert in retrieving data from either of these export format, I would realy love to hear from you.

[deanloh]

Update: I just realised I could customize the export template (how marvelous). With this, I can export just the list of items, upload to server, then have a PHP script to count the number of roles and decide how many tasks I have at hand. Problem is: how can I possibly export ONLY the undone tasks?

[slwenglish]

Aha, that's not a problem - Just set up a filter with Status set to "Incomplete", then filter your list with it before you run your custom export (Bonsai applies the current filter to your export).


By the way, if you want to look at what others have done for publishing exports in html format, there's a couple of threads in the "templates" forum you'll be interested in (Link to thread). (Link to other thread here). - Maybe there's an opportunity for a collaborative project here?

Cheers,
Stéph