Re: [PATCH] Separate file time from its tasks times

["Sebastien Vauban" <wxhgmqzgwmuf-geNee64TY+gS+FvcfC7Uqw@public.gmane.org>]

Hi Bastien,

Bastien wrote:
> "Sebastien Vauban" <wxhgmqzgwmuf-geNee64TY+gS+FvcfC7Uqw@public.gmane.org> writes:
>
>> This can be best understood with an [updated] example...
>
> I've been thinking about this again and I made up my mind with a clearer
> argument.
>
>> Before:
>>
>>   #+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 4 :scope ("file-tom.org" "file-ann.org") :block 2012-04
>>   Clock summary at [2012-04-19 Thu 17:02], for April 2012.
>>
>>   | File         | Headline                      |  Time |      |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------|
>>   |              | ALL Total time                | 14:51 |      |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------|
>>   | file-tom.org | File time                     |  7:41 |      |
>>   |              | Planning                      |  3:17 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Arrange meetings         |       | 0:34 |
>>   |              | TODO List skills required     |       | 1:27 |
>>   |              | TODO Organize interviews      |       | 1:16 |
>>   |              | Reporting                     |  4:24 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Make report              |       | 1:57 |
>>   |              | TODO Present report           |       | 2:27 |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------|
>>   | file-ann.org | File time                     |  7:10 |      |
>>   |              | Analyzing                     |  3:47 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Analyze investment risks |       | 2:28 |
>>   |              | TODO Perform QC               |       | 1:19 |
>>   |              | Testing                       |  3:23 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Testing A side           |       | 2:17 |
>>   |              | TODO Testing B side           |       | 1:06 |
>>   #+END:
>>
>> Now:
>>
>>   #+BEGIN: clocktable :maxlevel 4 :scope ("file-tom.org" "file-ann.org") :block 2012-04
>>   Clock summary at [2012-04-19 Thu 17:00], for April 2012.
>>
>>   | File         | Headline                      | Time  |      |      |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------+------|
>>   |              | ALL Total time                | 14:51 |      |      |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------+------|
>>   | file-tom.org | File time                     | 7:41  |      |      |
>>   |              | Planning                      |       | 3:17 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Arrange meetings         |       |      | 0:34 |
>>   |              | TODO List skills required     |       |      | 1:27 |
>>   |              | TODO Organize interviews      |       |      | 1:16 |
>>   |              | Reporting                     |       | 4:24 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Make report              |       |      | 1:57 |
>>   |              | TODO Present report           |       |      | 2:27 |
>>   |--------------+-------------------------------+-------+------+------|
>>   | file-ann.org | File time                     | 7:10  |      |      |
>>   |              | Analyzing                     |       | 3:47 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Analyze investment risks |       |      | 2:28 |
>>   |              | TODO Perform QC               |       |      | 1:19 |
>>   |              | Testing                       |       | 3:23 |      |
>>   |              | TODO Testing A side           |       |      | 2:17 |
>>   |              | TODO Testing B side           |       |      | 1:06 |
>>   #+END:
>
> If we go for the second solution, the next step would be to put the "ALL
> Total time" into a different column than the "File time"...

That could be an option, yes[1].

> because it can look illogical to have both in the same column, for the same
> reasons it can look illogical to have a file's tasks times in the same
> column than the "File time" itself.

No; it is totally different. Thanks to the *separator hline*, you clearly see
the compartments (showing that times are not on the same level), and the "ALL
Total time" stands out, alone on its own.

> So I'd rather stick to the current behavior, which I find more readable in
> the sense that it adds less columns. I hope you can explain this to your
> collaborators :)

Please take a look at the following image:

  http://i.imgur.com/0dfsl.png

where you can easily compare the readability of the tables (before and after),
both in the Org buffer, and as exported PDF document.

The goal of the above is to be able to output nice bills directly from Org.
I've not yet finished but will share my output once to the point (in a couple
of days or weeks).

The above is a basecamp for reaching that goal, together with the ability to
extract the grand total time from the dynamic block[2], to be multiplied by an
hourly rate for displaying the price to be paid by the client... (not only for
collaborators!).

Best regards,
  Seb

Footnotes:

[1] I'm open to rewrite a patch with an option for separating the "ALL Total
time" from the "File times".

[2] Hence, I'm currently forced as well to disable the bold property on the
totals. See thread "Referencing a cell from a clockview table looks
impossible" (http://www.mail-archive.com/emacs-orgmode-mXXj517/zsQ@public.gmane.org/msg53315.html)
for your precious workaround.

-- 
Sebastien Vauban