[dIR]

In my GTD implementation I am using one outline with the categories for NAs, Projects, Someday/Maybe and the keywords for the contexts. Projects are on the second and third levels of this outline.

I've set up all the filters I wanted already, but have some difficulties with the filter showing the projects without next actions.

So now I can only use a visual search for these projects, having different colors for NAs and Projects. But because of the large number of projects, I am loooking for a simplier solution.


Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[TMDH]

If you have a category called Projects, then create a filter to show only that category. This will show only the projects without the next actions (assuming your next actions are set to @work, @home, etc.)

[dIR]

TMDH

Thank you for your fast reply.

I did the filter you suggested, however it will show both projects with and without next actions as both have no keywords.

You gave me an interresting idea:
1) Filter projects which have next actions.
2) Add any keyword to these projects.
3) Filter projects which have no keywords, thus obtaining projects without next actions.

But how to filter projects which have next actions ?

[TMDH]

dIR,
I don't know how you have your items & categories set up. I have several filters to show projects with next actions, BUT.....there are several methods available to display these based on each users preferences. Experimenting with editing filters is the best way and you should focus on testing the many combination of settings for you. For example, a filter could be named "@Office" and you set it to show (outline/filter/edit filter) incomplete items only, type=to do, categories = "@office", scope = apply to every item in outline. This should show you all of your TO DO's with a category of "@office" and it will show the branch leading to it. You should try this also with using the zoom feature. Then, experiment with the many edit filter options.
FYI, are you also aware that an item can be SET as a Next Action Parent (Alt+X)? If an item is a next action parent, then you can create a filter to show next actions only base on even more preferences. The idea is to show only one next action for an item because you can only do one thing at a time and subsequent actions are irrelevant until the Next Action is performed. It's there if you want it.

[dIR]

TMDH

Thank you for your reply and suggestions.

I have the filters you suggested already: next actions incompleted or first next action of a project. But I also need the filter for projects without any next actions.

Maybe I should have explained why I need the filter showing the projects without next actions - during my Weekly Review I want to see all projects which have no next actions, so I can add NAs to these projects. I also have filters for finding NAs without keywords, items with no category assigned etc.

I did a lot of experimenting already, but still didn't find a way to filter just projects without next actions (without any other attributes).

[TMDH]

My misunderstanding. I thought you wanted to show projects and not show any next actions. You want to show projects that do not have any next actions at all....projects(parents) without children. The simplest way does not require a filter but it's a tradeoff. Bonsai automatically applies a record icon of a diamond (like a baseball diamond). This indicates there are no children. When you add next actions (children items), then that icon changes to a Triangle. Further, the triangle points right when there are children, but they are not displayed, and points down when that branch is expanded. Additionally, the triangle changes color from Blue to orange (user settable?) if the parent is a Next Action parent.
So for you to see which projects do not have any children, look for the baseball diamond. However, if you have children that are completed, they still count as children and will show the triangle.
FYI, I use 3 primary outlines. My main outline is called GTD and it has over 500 records. In order to keep it manageable, I had to plan a structure that works within the bonsai framework. If you haven't done this, you might find it very helpful. There are several very good threads in the community discussion forum that explain how others have tackled this. Find what works for you. Good luck.

[dIR]

Here is the solution for this problem (adapted for the GTD)
(thank you thread http://www.natara.com/forums/messageview.c...1&threadid=5379)

1) Outline preferences (ALT-P) - Calculated tab:
ON custom numeric field
set "Count" | "incomplete children"

2) Outline preferences (ALT-P) - Columns tab:
a) rename the custom label field: "NAs" (or "incomplete NAs")
B) add the custom label field to the displayed columns

3) create a filter nemed eg "Projects_noNAs" showing projects only
[I use categories for Projects, NAs, SomedayMaybe and keywords for contexts]
Filter options:
ON display results as a flat list
sorted by "Custom"

Scope: apply filter to every item in the outline.


Done!. This filter will show all projects, and all the projects without NAs to do (NAs=0!) will be shown on the top.

BTW I also have another filter for showing my all my projects (=my project list) which is almost identical except it is sorted by "Text".