Custom Agenda View for Projects

Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Christian Zang]

Dear all,

I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
"tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
the right thing to calibrate...

Any help heartly appreciated!

Thanks,
Christian

-- 
Dr. Christian Zang
Technische Universität München / Chair of Ecoclimatology
Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 / 85354 Freising / Germany
Email: christian.zang@wzw.tum.de
Phone: +49 (0) 8161-714743
Fax: +49 (0) 8161-714753
Web: http://oekoklimatologie.wzw.tum.de/

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Manish]

On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
> the right thing to calibrate...

Could you show a sample outline please?

-- 
Manish

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Christian Zang]

2011/3/15 Manish <mailtomanish.sharma@gmail.com>:
> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
>> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
>> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
>> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
>> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
>> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
>> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
>> the right thing to calibrate...
>
> Could you show a sample outline please?
>
> --
> Manish
>

Sure, here is a sample outline:

* PROJ Write Proposal

** TODO write introduction

* PROJ Clean Lab

* PROJ Get Birthday Present

** TODO get dad's hat size

From that list, only "Clean Lab" will show up in the list of projects.
Below are my settings regarding custom agenda views:

(setq org-agenda-custom-commands
      '(("W" "Weekly Review"
         ((agenda "" ((org-agenda-ndays 7)))
          (stuck "") ;; review stuck projects
          (todo "PROJ") ;; review all projects
          (todo "SDMB") ;; review someday/maybe items
          (todo "WAIT"))) ;; review waiting items

        ("P" "Projects" tags-todo "LEVEL=1"
         ((org-agenda-overriding-header "List of Projects")))

        ("O" "Today-View"               ; like OF "due & flagged"
         ((agenda "Due or scheduled within next week"
                  ((org-agenda-ndays 7)
                   (org-agenda-start-on-weekday nil)
                   (org-agenda-overriding-header "\nDue or scheduled
within next week\n------------------\n")
                   ))
                                        ; due within next week
          (tags-todo "+PRIORITY=\"A\""
                     ((org-agenda-overriding-header "\nHigh
priority\n------------------\n")))
                                        ; pseudo-flagged items
          ))
        ))

Neither "W" nor "P" shows all projects, but rather only the ones
without siblings. This is what I use as TODO kwds:

(setq org-todo-keywords '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)")
                          (sequence "STRT(s!)" "|")
                          (sequence "|" "CNCL(c@!)")
                          (sequence "FXME(f)" "|" "FIXD(x!)")
                          (sequence "PROJ(p!)" "PRSC(u)" "PROH(o)" "|"
"PRDN(r!)" "PRCL(o@/!)")
                          (sequence "LIST(l)" "|")
                          (sequence "SDMB(m)" "|")))

And these are the agenda-relevant settings in custom.el:

 '(org-agenda-compact-blocks t)
 '(org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks (quote invisible))
 '(org-stuck-projects (quote ("+LEVEL=1/+PROJ-PRDN-PROH-SDMB" ("TODO"
"NEXT" "FXME" "STRT") nil "")))

Thanks!
Christian

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Manish]

On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
> 2011/3/15 Manish:
>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>> Dear all,
>>>
>>> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
>>> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
>>> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
>>> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
>>> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
>>> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
>>> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
>>> the right thing to calibrate...
>>
>> Could you show a sample outline please?
>>
>> --
>> Manish
>>
>
> Sure, here is a sample outline:
>
> * PROJ Write Proposal
>
> ** TODO write introduction
>
> * PROJ Clean Lab
>
> * PROJ Get Birthday Present
>
> ** TODO get dad's hat size
>
> From that list, only "Clean Lab" will show up in the list of projects.
> Below are my settings regarding custom agenda views:
>
> (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
>      '(("W" "Weekly Review"
>         ((agenda "" ((org-agenda-ndays 7)))
>          (stuck "") ;; review stuck projects
>          (todo "PROJ") ;; review all projects
>          (todo "SDMB") ;; review someday/maybe items
>          (todo "WAIT"))) ;; review waiting items
>
>        ("P" "Projects" tags-todo "LEVEL=1"
>         ((org-agenda-overriding-header "List of Projects")))
>
>        ("O" "Today-View"               ; like OF "due & flagged"
>         ((agenda "Due or scheduled within next week"
>                  ((org-agenda-ndays 7)
>                   (org-agenda-start-on-weekday nil)
>                   (org-agenda-overriding-header "\nDue or scheduled
> within next week\n------------------\n")
>                   ))
>                                        ; due within next week
>          (tags-todo "+PRIORITY=\"A\""
>                     ((org-agenda-overriding-header "\nHigh
> priority\n------------------\n")))
>                                        ; pseudo-flagged items
>          ))
>        ))
>
> Neither "W" nor "P" shows all projects, but rather only the ones
> without siblings. This is what I use as TODO kwds:
>
> (setq org-todo-keywords '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)")
>                          (sequence "STRT(s!)" "|")
>                          (sequence "|" "CNCL(c@!)")
>                          (sequence "FXME(f)" "|" "FIXD(x!)")
>                          (sequence "PROJ(p!)" "PRSC(u)" "PROH(o)" "|"
> "PRDN(r!)" "PRCL(o@/!)")
>                          (sequence "LIST(l)" "|")
>                          (sequence "SDMB(m)" "|")))
>
> And these are the agenda-relevant settings in custom.el:
>
>  '(org-agenda-compact-blocks t)
>  '(org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks (quote invisible))
>  '(org-stuck-projects (quote ("+LEVEL=1/+PROJ-PRDN-PROH-SDMB" ("TODO"
> "NEXT" "FXME" "STRT") nil "")))
>

Here's what I did:

I started Emacs with -Q, eval'ed the variables and custom agenda
commands you sent set up the org-agenda-files and ran the custom
commands `W' and `P'.  Both listed all the items marked PROJ where
they should have.  So it worked for me.. I am not sure what could be
wrong in your setup.  I know it's a non-answer but FWIW, removing
everything and add bits and pieces in steps could help.

HTH
-- 
Manish

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Christian Zang]

2011/3/15 Manish <mailtomanish.sharma@gmail.com>:
> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>> 2011/3/15 Manish:
>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
>>>> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
>>>> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
>>>> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
>>>> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
>>>> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
>>>> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
>>>> the right thing to calibrate...
>>>
>>> Could you show a sample outline please?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Manish
>>>
>>
>> Sure, here is a sample outline:
>>
>> * PROJ Write Proposal
>>
>> ** TODO write introduction
>>
>> * PROJ Clean Lab
>>
>> * PROJ Get Birthday Present
>>
>> ** TODO get dad's hat size
>>
>> From that list, only "Clean Lab" will show up in the list of projects.
>> Below are my settings regarding custom agenda views:
>>
>> (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
>>      '(("W" "Weekly Review"
>>         ((agenda "" ((org-agenda-ndays 7)))
>>          (stuck "") ;; review stuck projects
>>          (todo "PROJ") ;; review all projects
>>          (todo "SDMB") ;; review someday/maybe items
>>          (todo "WAIT"))) ;; review waiting items
>>
>>        ("P" "Projects" tags-todo "LEVEL=1"
>>         ((org-agenda-overriding-header "List of Projects")))
>>
>>        ("O" "Today-View"               ; like OF "due & flagged"
>>         ((agenda "Due or scheduled within next week"
>>                  ((org-agenda-ndays 7)
>>                   (org-agenda-start-on-weekday nil)
>>                   (org-agenda-overriding-header "\nDue or scheduled
>> within next week\n------------------\n")
>>                   ))
>>                                        ; due within next week
>>          (tags-todo "+PRIORITY=\"A\""
>>                     ((org-agenda-overriding-header "\nHigh
>> priority\n------------------\n")))
>>                                        ; pseudo-flagged items
>>          ))
>>        ))
>>
>> Neither "W" nor "P" shows all projects, but rather only the ones
>> without siblings. This is what I use as TODO kwds:
>>
>> (setq org-todo-keywords '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)")
>>                          (sequence "STRT(s!)" "|")
>>                          (sequence "|" "CNCL(c@!)")
>>                          (sequence "FXME(f)" "|" "FIXD(x!)")
>>                          (sequence "PROJ(p!)" "PRSC(u)" "PROH(o)" "|"
>> "PRDN(r!)" "PRCL(o@/!)")
>>                          (sequence "LIST(l)" "|")
>>                          (sequence "SDMB(m)" "|")))
>>
>> And these are the agenda-relevant settings in custom.el:
>>
>>  '(org-agenda-compact-blocks t)
>>  '(org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks (quote invisible))
>>  '(org-stuck-projects (quote ("+LEVEL=1/+PROJ-PRDN-PROH-SDMB" ("TODO"
>> "NEXT" "FXME" "STRT") nil "")))
>>
>
> Here's what I did:
>
> I started Emacs with -Q, eval'ed the variables and custom agenda
> commands you sent set up the org-agenda-files and ran the custom
> commands `W' and `P'.  Both listed all the items marked PROJ where
> they should have.  So it worked for me.. I am not sure what could be
> wrong in your setup.  I know it's a non-answer but FWIW, removing
> everything and add bits and pieces in steps could help.
>
> HTH
> --
> Manish
>

Thanks, Manish,

I'll try that. Thanks a lot for your efforts!

Best,
Christian

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Christian Zang]

2011/3/15 Christian Zang <christian.zang@googlemail.com>:
> 2011/3/15 Manish <mailtomanish.sharma@gmail.com>:
>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>> 2011/3/15 Manish:
>>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
>>>>> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
>>>>> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
>>>>> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
>>>>> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
>>>>> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
>>>>> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
>>>>> the right thing to calibrate...
>>>>
>>>> Could you show a sample outline please?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Manish
>>>>
>>>
>>> Sure, here is a sample outline:
>>>
>>> * PROJ Write Proposal
>>>
>>> ** TODO write introduction
>>>
>>> * PROJ Clean Lab
>>>
>>> * PROJ Get Birthday Present
>>>
>>> ** TODO get dad's hat size
>>>
>>> From that list, only "Clean Lab" will show up in the list of projects.
>>> Below are my settings regarding custom agenda views:
>>>
>>> (setq org-agenda-custom-commands
>>>      '(("W" "Weekly Review"
>>>         ((agenda "" ((org-agenda-ndays 7)))
>>>          (stuck "") ;; review stuck projects
>>>          (todo "PROJ") ;; review all projects
>>>          (todo "SDMB") ;; review someday/maybe items
>>>          (todo "WAIT"))) ;; review waiting items
>>>
>>>        ("P" "Projects" tags-todo "LEVEL=1"
>>>         ((org-agenda-overriding-header "List of Projects")))
>>>
>>>        ("O" "Today-View"               ; like OF "due & flagged"
>>>         ((agenda "Due or scheduled within next week"
>>>                  ((org-agenda-ndays 7)
>>>                   (org-agenda-start-on-weekday nil)
>>>                   (org-agenda-overriding-header "\nDue or scheduled
>>> within next week\n------------------\n")
>>>                   ))
>>>                                        ; due within next week
>>>          (tags-todo "+PRIORITY=\"A\""
>>>                     ((org-agenda-overriding-header "\nHigh
>>> priority\n------------------\n")))
>>>                                        ; pseudo-flagged items
>>>          ))
>>>        ))
>>>
>>> Neither "W" nor "P" shows all projects, but rather only the ones
>>> without siblings. This is what I use as TODO kwds:
>>>
>>> (setq org-todo-keywords '((sequence "TODO(t)" "WAIT(w@/!)" "|" "DONE(d!)")
>>>                          (sequence "STRT(s!)" "|")
>>>                          (sequence "|" "CNCL(c@!)")
>>>                          (sequence "FXME(f)" "|" "FIXD(x!)")
>>>                          (sequence "PROJ(p!)" "PRSC(u)" "PROH(o)" "|"
>>> "PRDN(r!)" "PRCL(o@/!)")
>>>                          (sequence "LIST(l)" "|")
>>>                          (sequence "SDMB(m)" "|")))
>>>
>>> And these are the agenda-relevant settings in custom.el:
>>>
>>>  '(org-agenda-compact-blocks t)
>>>  '(org-agenda-dim-blocked-tasks (quote invisible))
>>>  '(org-stuck-projects (quote ("+LEVEL=1/+PROJ-PRDN-PROH-SDMB" ("TODO"
>>> "NEXT" "FXME" "STRT") nil "")))
>>>
>>
>> Here's what I did:
>>
>> I started Emacs with -Q, eval'ed the variables and custom agenda
>> commands you sent set up the org-agenda-files and ran the custom
>> commands `W' and `P'.  Both listed all the items marked PROJ where
>> they should have.  So it worked for me.. I am not sure what could be
>> wrong in your setup.  I know it's a non-answer but FWIW, removing
>> everything and add bits and pieces in steps could help.
>>
>> HTH
>> --
>> Manish
>>
>
> Thanks, Manish,
>
> I'll try that. Thanks a lot for your efforts!
>
> Best,
> Christian
>

Update: I found the culprit in "org-enforce-todo-dependencies", set to
nil and all projects labeled as PROJ are displayed again. Have to
think about why this affects the agenda views in that way...

thanks for listening,
Christian

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Jason McBrayer]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 583 bytes --]

I can see the same behaviour here. I only get a few of my PROJECT headlines
if org-enforce-todo-dependencies is t; I get all of them if it is nil.

My value for org-todo-keywords is:

((type "TODO" "NEXTACTION" "INPROCESS" "WAITING" "NEEDSPREREQ" "|" "DONE"
"DELEGATED" "CANCELLED")
 (type "PROJECT" "|" "COMPLETED")
 (type "SOMEDAY" "MAYBE" "|" "CANCELLED"))

The odd thing, to me, is that this doesn't seem to affect e.g. WAITING or
SOMEDAY tasks, though those are not likely to have children, which PROJECT
headlines certainly will.

-- 
Jason F. McBrayer
http://jfm.carcosa.net/

[-- Attachment #2: Type: text/html, Size: 830 bytes --]

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Josh Berry]

On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 14:35, Christian Zang
<christian.zang@googlemail.com> wrote:
> 2011/3/15 Christian Zang <christian.zang@googlemail.com>:
>> 2011/3/15 Manish <mailtomanish.sharma@gmail.com>:
>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>>> 2011/3/15 Manish:
>>>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM, Christian Zang wrote:
>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I might be overlooking something very obvious, but I cannot find the
>>>>>> solution: I have various org files, in which "projects" (anything
>>>>>> requiring more than one action step...) are first level headings
>>>>>> marked using the TODO kwd PROJ. If I tell my agenda to list all items
>>>>>> with kwd PROJ (either via C-a T PROJ or as a custom agenda view via
>>>>>> "tags-todo "LEVEL=1""), only the ones without siblings are returned.
>>>>>> I've looked into "org-tags-match-list-sublevels" but this is not quite
>>>>>> the right thing to calibrate...
...
> Update: I found the culprit in "org-enforce-todo-dependencies", set to
> nil and all projects labeled as PROJ are displayed again. Have to
> think about why this affects the agenda views in that way...

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but:

I think org considers child tasks to be dependencies of the parent
task -- so if a parent task (such as your PROJ) has children, it won't
be displayed in a tags-todo agenda view, because that takes
dependencies into account.

Have you tried just a "tags" view with a match of "TODO=\"PROJ\""?
IIRC this will do what you want.

So it would be:

       ("P" "Projects" tags "TODO=\"PROJ\""
        ((org-agenda-overriding-header "List of Projects")))

-- Josh

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Bernt Hansen]

Jason McBrayer <jmcbray@carcosa.net> writes:

> I can see the same behaviour here. I only get a few of my PROJECT headlines if org-enforce-todo-dependencies is t; I get all
> of them if it is nil.
>
> My value for org-todo-keywords is:
>
> ((type "TODO" "NEXTACTION" "INPROCESS" "WAITING" "NEEDSPREREQ" "|" "DONE" "DELEGATED" "CANCELLED")
>  (type "PROJECT" "|" "COMPLETED")
>  (type "SOMEDAY" "MAYBE" "|" "CANCELLED"))
>
> The odd thing, to me, is that this doesn't seem to affect e.g. WAITING or SOMEDAY tasks, though those are not likely to have
> children, which PROJECT headlines certainly will.

Hi Jason,

I think this is org-mode's normal dimmed blocked blocked task handling.
Do you by any chance have it set to invisible which will hide the
blocked tasks completely?

Regards,
-- 
Bernt

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Jason McBrayer]

On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Josh Berry <des@condordes.net> wrote:

> I think org considers child tasks to be dependencies of the parent
> task -- so if a parent task (such as your PROJ) has children, it won't
> be displayed in a tags-todo agenda view, because that takes
> dependencies into account.

That's a logical explanation, but shouldn't this only be the case if
the parent has the :ORDERED: property set?

> Have you tried just a "tags" view with a match of "TODO=\"PROJ\""?
> IIRC this will do what you want.

I gave this a test, and apparently it does not. What's shown is still
dependent on the value of org-enforce-todo-dependencies.

--
Jason F. McBrayer
http://jfm.carcosa.net/

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Josh Berry]

On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 10:57, Jason McBrayer <jmcbray@carcosa.net> wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Josh Berry <des@condordes.net> wrote:
>
>> I think org considers child tasks to be dependencies of the parent
>> task -- so if a parent task (such as your PROJ) has children, it won't
>> be displayed in a tags-todo agenda view, because that takes
>> dependencies into account.
>
> That's a logical explanation, but shouldn't this only be the case if
> the parent has the :ORDERED: property set?

No, if :ORDERED: is set, then each child is a dependency of the next
child.  So if you have:

* TODO top
   ... :ORDERED: t ...
** TODO a
** TODO b
** TODO c

Only "a" will appear in your agenda view.  But if you have:

* TODO top
** TODO a
** TODO b
** TODO c

All children of "top"--that is, "a", "b" and "c"--will appear.
However, in neither case will "top" appear, because it has children
that are not yet completed.

>> Have you tried just a "tags" view with a match of "TODO=\"PROJ\""?
>> IIRC this will do what you want.
>
> I gave this a test, and apparently it does not. What's shown is still
> dependent on the value of org-enforce-todo-dependencies.

I see, it does not, my bad.  I tried experimenting a bit on my own,
and didn't find an easy way using just agendas.

You might consider experimenting with Stuck Projects though.  If you
consider all projects to be "stuck", you could probably build an
agenda view that shows you all projects regardless of what's in them.
(I don't use stuck projects myself, so YMMV.)

-- Josh

Re: Custom Agenda View for Projects

[Christian Zang]

2011/3/18 Josh Berry <des@condordes.net>:
> On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 10:57, Jason McBrayer <jmcbray@carcosa.net> wrote:
>> On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Josh Berry <des@condordes.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I think org considers child tasks to be dependencies of the parent
>>> task -- so if a parent task (such as your PROJ) has children, it won't
>>> be displayed in a tags-todo agenda view, because that takes
>>> dependencies into account.
>>
>> That's a logical explanation, but shouldn't this only be the case if
>> the parent has the :ORDERED: property set?
>
> No, if :ORDERED: is set, then each child is a dependency of the next
> child.  So if you have:
>
> * TODO top
>   ... :ORDERED: t ...
> ** TODO a
> ** TODO b
> ** TODO c
>
> Only "a" will appear in your agenda view.  But if you have:
>
> * TODO top
> ** TODO a
> ** TODO b
> ** TODO c
>
> All children of "top"--that is, "a", "b" and "c"--will appear.
> However, in neither case will "top" appear, because it has children
> that are not yet completed.
>
>>> Have you tried just a "tags" view with a match of "TODO=\"PROJ\""?
>>> IIRC this will do what you want.
>>
>> I gave this a test, and apparently it does not. What's shown is still
>> dependent on the value of org-enforce-todo-dependencies.
>
> I see, it does not, my bad.  I tried experimenting a bit on my own,
> and didn't find an easy way using just agendas.
>
> You might consider experimenting with Stuck Projects though.  If you
> consider all projects to be "stuck", you could probably build an
> agenda view that shows you all projects regardless of what's in them.
> (I don't use stuck projects myself, so YMMV.)
>
> -- Josh
>

Dear Josh, dear Jason,

thanks a lot for evaluating the options! That makes things a lot
clearer for me, and for the moment I'll stick with
org-enforce-todo-dependencies nil.

Cheers,
Christian