On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Bernt Hansen <bernt@norang.ca> wrote:
Hi David,

Answers are inline.

David Frascone <dave@frascone.com> writes:

> I've been using a lot of the great info at this site
> (http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html) , and I have some questions:
>
> When using timestamps, I like the time in there too.  And, I like to
> stamp every entry, so my status looks nice.  But, I'm having a couple
> of problems:
>
>  1. Can I make all timestamps put the time?  In other words, can I
>  make C-c ! always do the same thing as C-u C-c !
>

I use a key binding for this:  f9-t which creates a timestamp like this
at point.  [2010-05-03 Mon 14:52]  The binding for that is documented at
http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html#sec-15_21

Duh.  Sorry.  I thought there would be a way to do it with just a command, and, at first glance, didn't grok what you were doing with the func.  Consider it stolen.  I'm going to re-map something to it.  I don't like using Function keys, because when I am using my macbook w/o a keyboard, I have to hit a Fn button to get those.  But, I'll map it to something.  I do like your f9 map, so, maybe I'll use M-9 or something like that.

 

>  2. Where should I put the timestamp?  Where do you guys think it
>  looks best?  Before the text?  After?  Still getting a feel for
>  things.

Anywhere in the body of the text works fine for me.  My remember
templates put the timestamp after the clock drawer

 * TODO blah
 :CLOCK:...
 [2010-05-03 Mon 14:59]
 [[link to stuff]]

but anywhere will work - it's just text.

Right.  I understand where it gets put.  But, now I want to add some notes.  Where would you put it?  (And, I know I'm just asking your opinion, because it is all just text -- I just really like your setup, so I'm using it as my starting point.

So, for example, here's an entry I took today with a call, refiled it, then re-edited it.  Names have been changed to protect the guilty

some_company.org:
-----
* Title for issue customer is having
** WAITING Phone %:name - %:Some Company -                       :PHONE:WAITING:
   - State "WAITING"    from ""           [2010-05-03 Mon 11:19] \\
     Waiting on data from Customer
   :CLOCK:
   :END:
   Got a call from Customer this am.  He is having problems blah blah.
   Will call him back in 10-15
   Contact Info: 800-555-5555
   [2010-05-03 Mon]
** Talked to Customer again.
[2010-05-03 Mon 11:19]
Conclusion:  Probable Diagnosis here.  Customer is going to reboot and send
me more data.
*** System Information
**** Some System
     1 Gb Data File
     60 Threads
     Other System Data
**** Performance
     9-20 Mb/Sec
**** Configuration
     Raid 0 over 4 drives
     16 Gb RAM
     Blah Blah
**** Symptoms
     computer hangs.  windows Explorer hangs trying to look at filesystem.
-----

So, this was the result of two calls, captured with remember-phone, then re-filed into the some_company.org file.  I put the datestamps up top, but I'm not sure if I like them there.
What do you think of that setup? 
 

>
>  3. Clocking.  That site does a lot of it, and I mostly like it.  But,
>     I'm not sure how I should clock in in the AM.  Almost always, I
>     try to enter something quickly with remember, and I haven't
>     started a clock yet.  I'm considering taking out the timing stuff
>     now . . . any pointers?

The first thing I do when I clock-in in the morning is hit either f9-o
or f9-m to clock in my organization or read mail task (depending on
which one I start first).  From there remember tasks interrupt the clock
temporarily and clocking continues on whatever I work on until I
manually clock out.


I will re-read the clocking portion . . I really like stamping EVERYTHING, so that I can generate weekly reports easily (This is where I wasted my time)

I've also got to integrate, somehow, references to my livescribe pen (annotated conference call notes).  And, it'll be nice to backdate conference calls so that even if I dont' log them, I can log them later.  I know I can . . it's just coming up with an easy way to do it.