From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Matt Lundin Subject: Re: contact management in org-mode? Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:18 -0500 Message-ID: References: <878wfoc5ao.fsf@cuma.i-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me> <87iqerzvm2.fsf@gollum.intra.norang.ca> <20091025023410.GK2357@thinkpad.adamsinfoserv.com> <87pr86tywd.wl%ucecesf@ucl.ac.uk> <87zl7arynb.fsf@dynapse.com> <20091029173640.GM28398@thinkpad.adamsinfoserv.com> <7bef1f890910291300o2e063d58h9d620278a6472032@mail.gmail.com> <20091031031059.GF23167@thinkpad.adamsinfoserv.com> <87skcp4kw7.fsf@benfinney.id.au> 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 1N7980-0003PQ-PF for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:28 -0500 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1N797u-0003Lv-JF for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:27 -0500 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=60386 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1N797u-0003Lp-Bs for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:22 -0500 Received: from out4.smtp.messagingengine.com ([66.111.4.28]:50885) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1N797u-0003b9-04 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:52:22 -0500 In-Reply-To: <87skcp4kw7.fsf@benfinney.id.au> (Ben Finney's message of "Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:59:20 +1100") 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: Ben Finney Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org Ben Finney writes: > Russell Adams writes: > >> Given the discussion about a "simple" database [for storing contacts], >> it struck me that I might just use properties and column mode. Dynamic >> fields and views, hotlinks, VC, text file... > > Thank you, Russell, for the BBDB rant (which I quite agree with) and for > giving your current solution based on Org items with properties. > > I'm dipping my toes into Org and, for contact data, BBDB seemed the > natural way to go; I'm glad I looked around to find alternatives before > dumping too much data into BBDB. Everyone's responses in this thread > have saved me a *lot* of time and effort. I'd agree with Russell's conclusion that if one does not use an emacs mail client, then there is not much point to using BBDB. But if one uses Gnus or the like, the integration BBDB offers (e.g., automated addition of new addresses, auto-notes, TAB completion for addresses, etc.) is still difficult to surpass. Until someone codes some nice integration between an org-mode address database and emacs mail clients, switching to an org database would require one to forgo all the nice automation that BBDB offers. (Do you really want to enter all new email addresses manually in an org file?) I've found BBDB to be incredibly convenient. But I use Gnus for email. If I were using Gmail or Thunderbird or Mutt, I wouldn't use BBDB at all. Just a few thoughts... - Matt