Help
Dear Stuart,
Sorrry for the belated reply. I'm in Beijing now. The internet connection is not stable in my hotel and can't connected to the forum.
Yes, thanks for your help and I finally make it. As Kai has pointed out, the to-do filter never works until I choose the "show all" instead of "show incomplete only" - the problem I supposed to ask for help again.
And now, of course, your filters work like a charm.
Can't thanks more !
Best Wishes
My GTD system using Bonsai
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#42
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Posted 11 May 2006 - 09:57 AM
Wow, thanks for the detailed explanation of your set-up! I only have one question.
How do you determine your Next Actions? At first I thought you were using the "Parent of Next Action" which would make the first sub-task the NA. But then I saw that you sometimes had more than one NA on the same level. Do you have two different rules for this? Please elucidate, because I'm trying to figure out how best to mark my "NA" without spending more time finding them than actually doing them!
Right now I use keywords for my contexts, and only use one category NA, and set that category on what I want to be the next action. But it's a bit cumbersome.
How do you determine your Next Actions? At first I thought you were using the "Parent of Next Action" which would make the first sub-task the NA. But then I saw that you sometimes had more than one NA on the same level. Do you have two different rules for this? Please elucidate, because I'm trying to figure out how best to mark my "NA" without spending more time finding them than actually doing them!
Right now I use keywords for my contexts, and only use one category NA, and set that category on what I want to be the next action. But it's a bit cumbersome.
#43
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Posted 13 June 2006 - 04:29 AM
Apologies for the very late reply - been a bit busier than normal over the last few weeks.
I only use the 'Parent of' when needed rather than mark every project with it. There are usually two reasons why there are two children at the same level: (i) I can do both of them at the same time so want both to appear in the relevant filters (so 'Parent of' is off), or (ii) I know the next action to do after I complete the first next action or I put a reminder to think of the next action after the first next action is complete ('Parent of' is on).
Yeah, you shouldn't really need to explicitly mark Next Actions if you're using the 'Parent of' to its full usefulness - I tend to think of this setting as 'Complete my sub-tasks/children in order'. Keywords work for contexts, and have the advantage of being able to set multiple contexts, but take longer to set than categories on both Palm and Desktop.
Quote
Originally posted by: FarmGrrl
Wow, thanks for the detailed explanation of your set-up! I only have one question.
How do you determine your Next Actions? At first I thought you were using the "Parent of Next Action" which would make the first sub-task the NA. But then I saw that you sometimes had more than one NA on the same level. Do you have two different rules for this? Please elucidate, because I'm trying to figure out how best to mark my "NA" without spending more time finding them than actually doing them!
Originally posted by: FarmGrrl
Wow, thanks for the detailed explanation of your set-up! I only have one question.
How do you determine your Next Actions? At first I thought you were using the "Parent of Next Action" which would make the first sub-task the NA. But then I saw that you sometimes had more than one NA on the same level. Do you have two different rules for this? Please elucidate, because I'm trying to figure out how best to mark my "NA" without spending more time finding them than actually doing them!
I only use the 'Parent of' when needed rather than mark every project with it. There are usually two reasons why there are two children at the same level: (i) I can do both of them at the same time so want both to appear in the relevant filters (so 'Parent of' is off), or (ii) I know the next action to do after I complete the first next action or I put a reminder to think of the next action after the first next action is complete ('Parent of' is on).
Quote
Originally posted by: FarmGrrl
Right now I use keywords for my contexts, and only use one category NA, and set that category on what I want to be the next action. But it's a bit cumbersome.
Originally posted by: FarmGrrl
Right now I use keywords for my contexts, and only use one category NA, and set that category on what I want to be the next action. But it's a bit cumbersome.
Yeah, you shouldn't really need to explicitly mark Next Actions if you're using the 'Parent of' to its full usefulness - I tend to think of this setting as 'Complete my sub-tasks/children in order'. Keywords work for contexts, and have the advantage of being able to set multiple contexts, but take longer to set than categories on both Palm and Desktop.
#44
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Posted 15 June 2006 - 01:46 PM
This is very cool Stu.
It took me a while to figure out the Dummy "priority" headers but that's neat too.
it seems each time I read it, I gain clarity
the problem I'm having is I have a few recurring and/or long term reminders that I want to show up on my Action list when its time and not before.
I tried using Priorities to control them, but when they come due they'll be 1's, till then they are 5's...
I tried using dates but then I lose my "dummy headers"
I tried using Keywords but there doesn't seem to be a way to put a sophiscate filter together. You either always get them or always don't...
Can you do a filter like, "do not show if Keyword = @reminder, unless Due date is within 2 days" ???
How do you handle recurring or long term reminders?
or maybe better asked
How do you apply your "tickler" category????
It took me a while to figure out the Dummy "priority" headers but that's neat too.
it seems each time I read it, I gain clarity
the problem I'm having is I have a few recurring and/or long term reminders that I want to show up on my Action list when its time and not before.
I tried using Priorities to control them, but when they come due they'll be 1's, till then they are 5's...
I tried using dates but then I lose my "dummy headers"
I tried using Keywords but there doesn't seem to be a way to put a sophiscate filter together. You either always get them or always don't...
Can you do a filter like, "do not show if Keyword = @reminder, unless Due date is within 2 days" ???
How do you handle recurring or long term reminders?
or maybe better asked
How do you apply your "tickler" category????
#45
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Posted 16 June 2006 - 03:37 AM
Hi Daryn,
Have you tried using Start Date for this? If I want to add a tickler action, I change the start date to the earliest date I want to start dealing with it. I then set all my filters with the option "Start Date within 0 days" (or within 7 days, if I want to see upcoming items). The only disadvantage is that you can't leave start date blank for any items, or they don't show up in the filters - To overcome this, I set my new items preferences with "start date = Today".
I haven't sat down and read all the details of Stu's system, so I'm not sure whether this will work for you, but it may be worth a try.
Stéph
Have you tried using Start Date for this? If I want to add a tickler action, I change the start date to the earliest date I want to start dealing with it. I then set all my filters with the option "Start Date within 0 days" (or within 7 days, if I want to see upcoming items). The only disadvantage is that you can't leave start date blank for any items, or they don't show up in the filters - To overcome this, I set my new items preferences with "start date = Today".
I haven't sat down and read all the details of Stu's system, so I'm not sure whether this will work for you, but it may be worth a try.
Stéph
#46
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Posted 16 June 2006 - 04:07 AM
Hi Daryn,
Steph has a good option if you're date based.
I just use a separate Tickler category which I don't include in my action filters - basically you can't 'do' a tickler so it's not in my @Office/@Home/etc filters. I usually give these a date and link them out to a todo, which are displayed in my calendar using Agendus/Datebk. That way they don't interfere until I need to be reminded of them - you could use a 'Dated items' filter in Bonsai to see any upcoming Ticklers too.
Stuart
Steph has a good option if you're date based.
I just use a separate Tickler category which I don't include in my action filters - basically you can't 'do' a tickler so it's not in my @Office/@Home/etc filters. I usually give these a date and link them out to a todo, which are displayed in my calendar using Agendus/Datebk. That way they don't interfere until I need to be reminded of them - you could use a 'Dated items' filter in Bonsai to see any upcoming Ticklers too.
Stuart
#47
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Posted 16 June 2006 - 06:54 AM
Thanks both of you, good ideas.
It seems the "start date" version (sorry, I can't see your post from here, Steph is it?) do you then lose all your "dummy headers" when you filter on "start date" since you can't assign dates for those?
Stu,
I Like your suggestion,
a similar idea I had was just to leave them as items in "ToDo" database
but then (either way) when you are looking at your daily action list, they aren't on it.
you have to flip back to your Calendar to see them...
that seems wrong too, though maybe necessary
It seems the "start date" version (sorry, I can't see your post from here, Steph is it?) do you then lose all your "dummy headers" when you filter on "start date" since you can't assign dates for those?
Stu,
I Like your suggestion,
a similar idea I had was just to leave them as items in "ToDo" database
but then (either way) when you are looking at your daily action list, they aren't on it.
you have to flip back to your Calendar to see them...
that seems wrong too, though maybe necessary
#48
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Posted 16 June 2006 - 07:28 AM
I think the best thing to do for ticklers is to use your calendar for them (ticklers are date-based). Each day you need to review your calendar anyway. Then use an app like Datebk6 or Agendus and you can even make them tasks which sit in your calendar. You can export and import to/from Bonsai and everyone is happy.
I have no idea what you mean by 'dummy headers'.
I have no idea what you mean by 'dummy headers'.
#49
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Posted 16 June 2006 - 08:21 AM
Thanks FarmGrrl
I'm coming to the same conclusion
the "dummy headers" are the ones that Stu uses to make his Priority Lists "Pretty"
took me some time to figure them out, but if you read carefully its all there.
I'm coming to the same conclusion
the "dummy headers" are the ones that Stu uses to make his Priority Lists "Pretty"
took me some time to figure them out, but if you read carefully its all there.
#50
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Posted 21 June 2006 - 05:35 AM
Sorry, I don't use "dummy headers", so I don't know if they'd get filtered out by using a start date filter. If they're parents of items which match the filter then I guess they would still be visible....
Stéph
Stéph
#51
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Posted 03 August 2006 - 05:37 AM
Hi!
I am not sure if my question belongs in this thread, but the thread spawned it though.
I have recently read "GTD" and am very eager to start implementing it using Bonsai, inspired by this great "article"/thread.
I just want to ask... Using Daynotez as "Inbox", how do yoy "file" your input in Bonsai? Is there a clever way like "Export to Bonsai"/"Import from Daynotez" or is it simple copy/paste?
Thanx
/Mich
I am not sure if my question belongs in this thread, but the thread spawned it though.
I have recently read "GTD" and am very eager to start implementing it using Bonsai, inspired by this great "article"/thread.
I just want to ask... Using Daynotez as "Inbox", how do yoy "file" your input in Bonsai? Is there a clever way like "Export to Bonsai"/"Import from Daynotez" or is it simple copy/paste?
Thanx
/Mich
#52
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Posted 09 August 2006 - 02:05 PM
Mich
There is an "import" function, have you found it yet?
"Options/Import todo's"
Daryn
There is an "import" function, have you found it yet?
"Options/Import todo's"
Daryn
#54
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Posted 18 September 2006 - 01:42 PM
Stuart,
This thread is excellent - thanks for sharing your methods with us. i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif
Now a question. How do you reconcile projects with priorities and todo's with prorities?
...isn't a project simply a series of todo's grouped together for a common aim? So therefore don't the priorities of the Todo's automatically dictate the priority of the project? If the project has no NA then there is nothing to be done anway and so a Priority is irrelevant ?????
Thanks and Best Regards,
James.
This thread is excellent - thanks for sharing your methods with us. i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif
Now a question. How do you reconcile projects with priorities and todo's with prorities?
...isn't a project simply a series of todo's grouped together for a common aim? So therefore don't the priorities of the Todo's automatically dictate the priority of the project? If the project has no NA then there is nothing to be done anway and so a Priority is irrelevant ?????
Thanks and Best Regards,
James.
#55
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Posted 19 September 2006 - 04:22 AM
Quote
Now a question. How do you reconcile projects with priorities and todo's with prorities?
Now a question. How do you reconcile projects with priorities and todo's with prorities?
Hi James,
Quote
...isn't a project simply a series of todo's grouped together for a common aim? So therefore don't the priorities of the Todo's automatically dictate the priority of the project?
...isn't a project simply a series of todo's grouped together for a common aim? So therefore don't the priorities of the Todo's automatically dictate the priority of the project?
Yes a project is just a set of related todos to reach the project outcome. My priority scheme was a bit experimental - the reason I came up with different schemes is that my projects were often longer-term activities, but the NAs may need doing sooner, so one didn't necessarily inherit the other. Top of my head example - I have a project to specify a new feature that's important but doesn't need completing for another few weeks. But, the person I need to speak to about it is on holiday next week, so the NA to speak to them becomes more urgent than the project. I also gave them different schemes because I tend to review them at different times - review my NAs every day to see what I have to do, review projects less often to make sure they're progressing quickly enough depending on its priority.
Quote
If the project has no NA then there is nothing to be done anway and so a Priority is irrelevant ?????
If the project has no NA then there is nothing to be done anway and so a Priority is irrelevant ?????
If a project has no NA then I'd suggest it's probably a someday/maybe, or can be dumped, or needs an NA defining?
#56
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Posted 07 August 2008 - 03:34 PM
Natara, is there any way to get the pictures back up in this post? It's a great detailed post that I like to refer back to sometimes. StuGib's earlier GTD implementation still seems to display all or most of the images, but there's many missing in this one.
#57
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Posted 07 August 2008 - 04:16 PM
(I'll see about fixing up the image links when I get some time)
#58
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Posted 19 March 2009 - 03:42 PM
:blink: I sent the below to a yahoo-palm-gtd group. I thought i posting it here might be helpful as well:
Hi.. my husband & i have decided we like Bonsai and are anxious to get started organizing things. I have listened to the GTD book on CD & also actually physically read some chapters over.
I thought i had a pretty good idea of the thought on taking everything out of your mind & put on 'paper' or a system. I've started to do some in Excel spreadsheet, anxious to put it on the computer until finally settling on using Bonsai. I saw the screen shots on Natara's website & thought it would be pretty easy/self explanitory. I have read a few people's websites w/tips and downloaded this manual: http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/file...ai_with_GTD.pdf as well as Bonsai's manual.
Now i'm a little confused. I thought the basics were to set up contexts which i thought are like categories? In my mind, I thought i would just be creating 'lists' under the different contexts/categories. Then i start reading the SimpleProductivity manual & look at Bonsai... and you have to start off with an Outline? SimpleProductivity also uses Focus Areas. (which i like the idea because i do like merging Franklin Covey with GTD)
My questions:
-What is the outline part on the left side of the screen? ...how do you set this up/organize?
-any suggestions for just starting off w/Bonsai & how to start off?
--i have about 9 context/categories (the traditional "@" contexts plus a couple additional ones mostly used to distinguish contacts.
-I want to use Bonsai for everything.. keeping track of customers i want to call (i have a home based busines), Spring Cleaning checklist, books to read, DVDs to watch, household projects.. just about everything :-)
-anyone have any good templates? or screen shots? :-)
I am a hands on learner & learn from seeing. I have a hard time focusing my thoughts & getting concepts organized like this. Once i have some basics & physically see how to set things up then i'm good at tweeking to how things work best for me. (A guy/palm organized posted videos on youTube for setting up some thing w/Bonsai & GTD-- very helpful, however i need basics first like list/outlines.)
Thanks for any help!!!
thanks for any help!
Hi.. my husband & i have decided we like Bonsai and are anxious to get started organizing things. I have listened to the GTD book on CD & also actually physically read some chapters over.
I thought i had a pretty good idea of the thought on taking everything out of your mind & put on 'paper' or a system. I've started to do some in Excel spreadsheet, anxious to put it on the computer until finally settling on using Bonsai. I saw the screen shots on Natara's website & thought it would be pretty easy/self explanitory. I have read a few people's websites w/tips and downloaded this manual: http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/file...ai_with_GTD.pdf as well as Bonsai's manual.
Now i'm a little confused. I thought the basics were to set up contexts which i thought are like categories? In my mind, I thought i would just be creating 'lists' under the different contexts/categories. Then i start reading the SimpleProductivity manual & look at Bonsai... and you have to start off with an Outline? SimpleProductivity also uses Focus Areas. (which i like the idea because i do like merging Franklin Covey with GTD)
My questions:
-What is the outline part on the left side of the screen? ...how do you set this up/organize?
-any suggestions for just starting off w/Bonsai & how to start off?
--i have about 9 context/categories (the traditional "@" contexts plus a couple additional ones mostly used to distinguish contacts.
-I want to use Bonsai for everything.. keeping track of customers i want to call (i have a home based busines), Spring Cleaning checklist, books to read, DVDs to watch, household projects.. just about everything :-)
-anyone have any good templates? or screen shots? :-)
I am a hands on learner & learn from seeing. I have a hard time focusing my thoughts & getting concepts organized like this. Once i have some basics & physically see how to set things up then i'm good at tweeking to how things work best for me. (A guy/palm organized posted videos on youTube for setting up some thing w/Bonsai & GTD-- very helpful, however i need basics first like list/outlines.)
Thanks for any help!!!
thanks for any help!
