[drmrbrewer]

I am trying to create a filter that will always find ToDos that have already started, i.e. where "Today >= Start Date". I'm surprised not to find such an option, although it might be hiding in a blind spot. I can see how you can filter on ToDos that start by a specified date -- but you have to specify that date when you create the filter, and can't just specify "today", where "today" is a variable date that is determined when actually you run the filter, not when you create the filter.

This must surely be quite a common thing to want to filter on -- "all ToDos that have already started" -- so I must be missing something.

Thanks,

Mike

(Edit: typo)

[slwenglish]

No problem: Try "start within" 0 days. I use that all the time.

(Only thing is that you have to make sure that all of your items have a start date - I have my new item preferences set up so that is always the case).

Stéph

[drmrbrewer]

Hi Stéph

Thanks. Glad to know that it is possible the way you state.

Although it's not too obvious, at least to me, that "start within X days" encompasses also events that have passed their start date.

Maybe I'm thinking too literally here, but "start within X days" means "start within the next X days", which means "start within the period from today to X days from today". Furthermore, the word "within" only encompasses what is inside a range, not what falls outside that range. So past dates should really be excluded just as much as future dates beyond the range.

I also imagine it might be useful sometimes to limit yourself to looking at events that really do start within the next X days, and NOT those that have already started. That's what I had assumed this option did, but now I know that this is not possible (although I'm pleased that what I actually want now IS possible).

I think that this option could do with splitting into "start within X days" and perhaps "started within X days". And while we're at it, what about "start(ed) between Y and Z". And corresponding options for "due" and "completed".

(I can see your reason for giving every item a start date. For my situation, I have things set up so that many of my items don't have a start -- or a due -- date, and I like the fact that these aren't shown with the "start within" filter. These are tasks that I don't yet know when I want to start them or when they will be due!)

Thanks again,

Mike

[JamesHenderson]

' date='Nov 13 2006, 12:29 AM said:

Try "start within" 0 days. I use that all the time.<BR><BR>Stéph<BR>

Can we filter by the opposite ...those projects haven't yet started?

J.

[Richard Murphy]

JamesHenderson, on Oct 3 2008, 12:26 PM, said:

Can we filter by the opposite ...those projects haven't yet started?

That depends on how you define not started. You could use define a filter for "Status" of "Not Started". This would be good if you setup tasks and increment the percent complete as you go (i.e. the filter only shows items that are 0% complete). You could also use a start date filter of "Start within 0 days" and then enable the "Reverse filter action".

[JamesHenderson]

Richard Murphy, on Oct 6 2008, 09:35 PM, said:

That depends on how you define not started. You could use define a filter for "Status" of "Not Started". This would be good if you setup tasks and increment the percent complete as you go (i.e. the filter only shows items that are 0% complete). You could also use a start date filter of "Start within 0 days" and then enable the "Reverse filter action".

Hi Richard,

I mean where the item has a start date, but it is still in the future (therefore it is planned to start, but not yet started).

Regards,
James.

[Richard Murphy]

JamesHenderson, on Oct 6 2008, 03:50 PM, said:

I mean where the item has a start date, but it is still in the future (therefore it is planned to start, but not yet started).

Did you try a start date filter of "Start within 0 days" and then enable the "Reverse filter action"? This will display items with a future start date and items without any start date.

[JamesHenderson]

Richard Murphy, on Oct 6 2008, 11:16 PM, said:

Did you try a start date filter of "Start within 0 days" and then enable the "Reverse filter action"? This will display items with a future start date and items without any start date.

Yes, but that gives me 2 things:
1. Those items that have a future start date (planned, but not started ie. an outlook on the future)
2. Those items that have no future start date ("someday, maybe" in GTD terms)

...I wish to keep these lists seperate.

J.