"J. David Boyd" <dboyd2@mmm.com> writes:

> Tom Baker <tombaker17@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 12:05:39 -0500
>> From: dboyd2@mmm.com (J. David Boyd)
>> To: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org
>> Subject: Re: [O] relative deadlines
>>
>> J. David Boyd < dboyd2@mmm.com > wrote on Dec 9:
>>> Jeffrey Brent McBeth <mcbeth@broggs.org> writes:
>>> > From time to time (each time I delve into using org-mode for
>> deadlines
>>> > before my habits fall apart), I find the desire to have some form
>> of
>>> > relative deadlines. By this I mean, that there are often sequences
>> of
>>> > tasks that I know the time required to complete and when things
>> are
>>> > due. These tasks may repeat (usually do).
>>> >
>>> > It would be awful helpful to me, but I would guess few others, as
>> a
>>> > search didn't find much, for there to be some annotation like this
>>> > (example is farcical, notation is notional)
>>> >
>>> > * Go on date
>>> > DEADLINE: <2014-12-25>
>>> > ** Ask Girl #<-3w>#
>>> > ** Wash Hair #<-2w>#
>>> > ** Make Money #<-1w2d>#
>>> > ** Get in Car #<-0d>#
>>> > ** Call her back #<+1w>#
>>> >
>>> > that in the agenda view would show as a sequence of tasks with the
>> following dates
>>> > Go on date <2014-12-25>
>>> > Ask Girl <2014-12-04>
>>> > Wash Hair <2014-12-11>
>>> > Make Money <2014-12-16>
>>> > Get in Car <2014-12-25>
>>> > Call her back <2015-01-01>
>>> >
>>> > I have a python function that can take a stripped down org file
>> and
>>> > places an active date after each #<block># (or inactive after
>>> > #[block]#), that I hacked up today to see if it would really be as
>>> > useful as I thought, but I keep thinking that someone somewhere
>> must
>>> > have scratched this itch elsewhere, and having to partially parse
>> org
>>> > in python and modify the text rather than having my agenda smart
>>> > enough to figure it out gives me pause...
>>> >
>>> > If nobody have better ideas, are the block delimiters I'm using
>> going
>>> > to conflict with some other feature in org that I'm just not using
>>> > yet?
>>> >
>>> > The main functuionality I'm stumbling toward is having an easily
>>> > moveable end date (so replacing the block with absolute dates is a
>>> > nono).
>>> >
>>> > Thanks for your attention,
>>> > Jeffrey McBeth
>>> 
>>> I think like that as well. I know when some _thing_ has to be done.
>> Then I
>>> start thinking of all the support items in relative terms to the
>> main one.
>>> 
>>> You should add this to org mode, if able. It would be a nice
>> addition...
>>> 
>>> Dave
>>
>> The relative deadline part should be implemented, I agree.
>>
>> I also like the collection of intermediate tasks. Does Emacs have a
>> name for that? Because I used to call that a "constellation" of
>> deadlines, and if we have the relative timestamps, the constellation
>> would be easy to implement on the fly.
>>
>> This addresses Jeffrey's original intention, you see, if I explain. If
>> I have an appointment at 4pm and I know it is a 40m drive AND I may
>> need to get dressed formally (that takes 30m), then I really can't
>> tell the Org system "Notify me at 4pm". Instead, I *need* to have it
>> say, "Get me driving by 320pm, and if I need to dress up, then get
>> that started by 250pm". Really, for me, the "appointment at 4" starts
>> much earlier. Also, keep track of the fact that I will probably come
>> right back, so if the appointment ends at 530, then I won't get back
>> until 610pm.
>>
>> Now if Jeffrey wants to schedule something like this BUT needs to take
>> into account that he already has a 6pm appointment, then his request
>> for an "easily movable" end is reasonable. When he is setting up the
>> appointment, Org needs to tell him, as soon as possible, that there is
>> a conflict, and so when they suggest "330pm instead of 4pm?" he can
>> try that.
>>
>> Tom
>
> Yup, exactly what I would like.  I hate modern appointment calendars, as they
> have no means of accomplishing this...
>
> Dave

I also think I would use such feature.

-- 
Konubinix
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