From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Ethan Brown Subject: Re: Best way to use org-mode as a work log Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:48:30 -0800 Message-ID: <68c616490912191048w7873eedx619583b2ea717abb@mail.gmail.com> References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1NM4M6-00078X-TP for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:48:42 -0500 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1NM4M2-000784-4y for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:48:42 -0500 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=53732 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1NM4M2-000780-06 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:48:38 -0500 Received: from mail-pz0-f181.google.com ([209.85.222.181]:47793) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1NM4M1-0004dB-Fj for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:48:37 -0500 Received: by pzk11 with SMTP id 11so2594045pzk.14 for ; Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:48:30 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: Matt Lundin Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 8:07 AM, Matt Lundin wrote: > Ethan Brown writes: > >> I've been an emacs user since about 1990, but have just recently >> discovered org-mode. =A0It seems as if it would be very well suited to >> use as my work log--I currently just use a regular text file. > > Would you mind explaining what you mean by a work log? Org-mode has > built in logging and clocking features to track when you worked on > something and how long you spent on it. Using the agenda, you can easily > review all your work from any past date, week, etc. But perhaps you mean > something more like a diary? > >> Since a work log is based around daily entries, I'm wondering if >> anyone can recommend the best way to use org-mode for such a purpose. >> I perused the FAQs but didn't see anything. Org-mode apparently >> integrates with the emacs calendar/diary so there is probably a "right >> way" to do this. If there's a FM out there that deals with this I'm >> happy to RTFM. > > These sections of the manual should be of interest: > > =A0- http://orgmode.org/manual/Progress-logging.html#Progress-logging > > =A0- http://orgmode.org/manual/Agenda-commands.html#Agenda-commands (see > =A0 the command vl or l - toggle logbook mode) > > =A0- http://orgmode.org/manual/Clocking-work-time.html#Clocking-work-time > >> I read the excellent tutorial at >> http://www.newartisans.com/2007/08/using-org-mode-as-a-day-planner.html >> about using org-mode as a day planner, but a work log is somewhat >> different, as it's a recount of the events and tasks worked on during >> the day. > > You might want to check out Bernt Hansen's nice walk-through, which > deals extensively with clocking: > > http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html > > Best, > Matt > Thanks Matt, and also Mueen for the responses. I have a work log spanning the last 5 or so years on my current project. It's a plain text file that I just edit in emacs, plain and simple. Here is how my work log is organized and how I've done my initial conversion to org-mode. My current format is of the form: =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 05/14/09 Accounting system: Work on CSS for tables ** Use standard fonts! Design schema for SAP integration. .... 05/15/09 ..... 05/16/09 ..... =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D So when I start my work day, I just add the current date to the end of the file and type away. After reviewing the Org-mode docs and playing around a bit I decided to just start simple and work my way slowly into the more complex features. I decided that my implementation would set a top-level outline for each day and then set the daily tasks with appropriate tags. I needed to convert my current work log, which contains entries from the last 5 or so years. The conversion was quite simple: (1) Replace all lines with "*" in the first character to "+" as the first character so as not to inadvertently create an outline entry. M-x replace-regexp RET ^ *\* RET + RET (2) Replace all daily start entry lines with top-level outline entries. So lines of the form: 05/15/09 would be transformed to to lines of the form * Day Entry [2009-05-14] M-x replace-regexp RET ^\([0-9]\{1,2\}\)/\([0-9]\{1,2\}\)/\([0-9]\{2\}\) RET * Day Entry \[20\3-\1-\2] RET And voila! My work log was converted to org-mode format and I'm ready to go. Here's my work log for today in my new format, previous days collapsed: * Day Entry [2009-12-17] ... * Day Entry [2009-12-18] ... * Day Entry [2009-12-19] ** DONE Convert worklog to emacs .org file. :work_organization: CLOSED: [2009-12-19 Sat 09:23] *** DONE Replace all lines with * in the first character to +. CLOSED: [2009-12-19 Sat 09:10] *** DONE Change all lines with starting entries XX/YY/ZZ to day entries of = the CLOSED: [2009-12-19 Sat 09:23] form * Day Entry [20ZZ-XX-YY] Use emacs replace-regex ^\([0-9]\{1,2\}\)/\([0-9]\{1,2\}\)/\([0-9]\{2\}\) =3D> * Day Entry \[20\3-\1-\2] I'm currently using KTimeTracker for doing my project time tracking, but I'm going to read up on the org-mode timers and perhaps switch over. Thanks again, --Ethan