From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Matthew Lundin Subject: Re: GTD question - how to create Reference and Ticker files Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:32:46 -0500 Message-ID: References: <57AC2FA1761300418C7AB8F3EA493C9702D238C3@HQ-EXCH-5.corp.brocade.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Lv9j5-0006Mw-D5 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:32:55 -0400 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Lv9j1-0006Kl-Tp for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:32:55 -0400 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=33336 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Lv9j1-0006Kf-RD for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:32:51 -0400 Received: from out2.smtp.messagingengine.com ([66.111.4.26]:50934) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1Lv9j1-0001sY-J3 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:32:51 -0400 In-Reply-To: <57AC2FA1761300418C7AB8F3EA493C9702D238C3@HQ-EXCH-5.corp.brocade.com> (Varnit Suri's message of "Fri\, 17 Apr 2009 09\:23\:01 -0700") 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: Varnit Suri Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org Hi Varnit, "Varnit Suri" writes: > Hello, > > I 'm trying to implement the Getting Things Done approach using Org-mode > (like many others!). > > I 've been thinking of the best way to implement GTD's Reference and > Tickler folders in Org-mode. I have a few thoughts of my own, but wanted > to check with the community, in case anyone else has a better solution. > > My solutions are pretty 'raw' - just a text file (with links, etc) for > the Reference and a Someday list for the Tickler. Anyone else has more > sophisticated solutions? Any comments are appreciated. The wonderful thing about org-mode is that there are many ways to accomplish the same thing. For instance, one could have a file for active projects and another file for someday/maybe items. Or one could use tags to indicate someday/maybe items. I myself use an inactive todo keyword (SOMEDAY) to remove items from my active todo list. E.g., --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- (setq org-todo-keywords '((sequence "TODO(t)" "STARTED(s)" "|" "DONE(d)" "WAITING(w)" "SOMEDAY(s)"))) --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- With this setup I do planning in multiple org files, each of which corresponds to an area of responsibility (household, finances, work1, work2, family, friends, etc.). Thus if I want to mark something as someday/maybe, I simply switch the todo to SOMEDAY. As a bonus, org-mode inserts an inactive timestamp that lets me know when the item became inactive. During reviews, I use the agenda to look over the SOMEDAY list and switch any important items to TODO (and vice versa). I use the agenda view to as my tickler file. I use timestamps as follows: 1. Active timestamps: For appointments or things that have to be done on a particular day. 2. Scheduled timestamps: To postpone an item until a certain date - i.e., make an item show up on my agenda on x date and every day thereafter. 3. Deadline timestamps: To mark when an item is due. I can change the amount of warning time with a negative interval indicator in the timestamp. E.g., the following will start warning me about a deadline ten days in advance: ,---- | * PROJECT Project due | DEADLINE: <2009-06-01 Mon -10d> `---- Hope this helps, Matt