Can I tell RTM to ignore dates when I want it to?
pwolchak says:
Hi.
Whenever I get a phone call I need to act on I use RTM for Gmail to enter the call details as a task.
Recently I was invited to attend a media event taking place on April 28. So what I typed into RTM was:
3M CEO here April 28 Sutton Pl. Hotel, Jackie ###-###-####
I'm sure you can guess the problem. RTM took April 28 as the due date, deleted that section of the task and moved the task to April 28.
Now, I realize that picking up on the date is usually a good thing, because most of the time these are due dates or event dates and it's useful that RTM automatically employs them.
But is there a way -- a symbol or something that can be typed before the date -- that tells RTM that this is part of the task's information and that the date should be ignored?
(I hope this isn't one of those questions that everyone but me knows.)
Thanks.
Peter
Whenever I get a phone call I need to act on I use RTM for Gmail to enter the call details as a task.
Recently I was invited to attend a media event taking place on April 28. So what I typed into RTM was:
3M CEO here April 28 Sutton Pl. Hotel, Jackie ###-###-####
I'm sure you can guess the problem. RTM took April 28 as the due date, deleted that section of the task and moved the task to April 28.
Now, I realize that picking up on the date is usually a good thing, because most of the time these are due dates or event dates and it's useful that RTM automatically employs them.
But is there a way -- a symbol or something that can be typed before the date -- that tells RTM that this is part of the task's information and that the date should be ignored?
(I hope this isn't one of those questions that everyone but me knows.)
Thanks.
Peter
aaronhh says:
I don't know the answer to this one either.
aaronhh says:
When I do an example similar to yours, it doesn't erase the april 28 and enter it as the due date. Maybe it only does that in Gmail. Is that a function of google calendar, I wonder?
The idea of parsing task text for attribute information is revisited over and over - so much so I am hopeful that Bob's working on it as we speak. E.g.,
The idea of smart syntax has been around a long time, e.g.,
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/211/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/1633/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/1923/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2229/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2270/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2393/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2425/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2580/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2650/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/help/3017/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/3126/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/3414/
I think it's a great idea.
The idea of smart syntax has been around a long time, e.g.,
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/211/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/1633/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/1923/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2229/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2270/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2393/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2425/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2580/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/2650/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/help/3017/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/3126/
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/forums/ideas/3414/
I think it's a great idea.
pwolchak says:
Agreed. As I said, the natural language component is good and useful ,except when a date is part of the task you are entering.
And yes, I should have specified: this occurs in the RTM for Gmail add-on.
Peer
And yes, I should have specified: this occurs in the RTM for Gmail add-on.
Peer
pwolchak says:
Emily, this does seem like a valid question, or perhaps it's a feature idea?
Peter
Peter
johnwin says:
a special character to stop the gmail parsing would be very useful, how about "~" or some other, globally, infrequently used character?
pwolchak says:
Yes, exactly, and the choice of ~ is perfect.
So the RTM for GMail task could be: plan birthday party for Mabel on ~May 7.
That would tell RTM for Gmail not to make the task due on May 7 but rather to ignore the date, as it is just a note to the user.
Peter
So the RTM for GMail task could be: plan birthday party for Mabel on ~May 7.
That would tell RTM for Gmail not to make the task due on May 7 but rather to ignore the date, as it is just a note to the user.
Peter
pwolchak says:
So...I guess the answer from RTM is that this is not possible?
Will it be someday?
It's a good idea.
Will it be someday?
It's a good idea.
johnwin says:
I'd be suprised if parsing is on the roadmap - time will tell
johnwin says:
is NOT in the road map {I'm such a Dufus!]
aaronhh says:
There is only one dufus here, and that is me. get it strait.
johnwin says:
Hey - I paid in hard work and ext ream embarrassment to be 'chief dufus' - get back in line!
aaronhh says:
Dude, I am so sorry to hear that. I don't know from personal experience, but I heard that the external ream version of embarrassment is absolutely the worst. Almost as bad as the internal ream version. My hat is off to you if you suffered through that, and made it out alive. ;-)
(You have to admit that with a joke like this, I might seriously qualify for the title of chief dufus. ;)
(You have to admit that with a joke like this, I might seriously qualify for the title of chief dufus. ;)
pwolchak says:
It's a darn good idea, and it seems like it might be easy to do.
Also, an alternate way of working it would be that anything surrounded by square brackets be taken as text, and not as instruction.
So you'd write this: Elaine's birthday [May 2] order cake Tuesday
and that would generate a reminder due on Tuesday to order the cake for the event on May 2
Peter
Also, an alternate way of working it would be that anything surrounded by square brackets be taken as text, and not as instruction.
So you'd write this: Elaine's birthday [May 2] order cake Tuesday
and that would generate a reminder due on Tuesday to order the cake for the event on May 2
Peter