Don't Select Multiple Tasks by Default
gyarra says:
I've noticed it's unpleasantly easy to select multiple tasks without realizing it and to then apply the same action to all tasks. I've done this several times. I complete or delete a what I think is one task only to realize that the action was applied to several tasks that happened to be selected. This is a usability problem.
I think it would be better if selecting a task automatically unselected any other tasks. If a user wants to select multiple tasks, this should be intentionally done by holding down the ctrl key.
I think it should also be easier to reactivate a completed task (I didn't immediately see how to do this although I assume there is a way if I try). It would make sense to have a trash so that deleted tasks should be recovered.
I'm writing this as an experienced Software Engineer who has worked on many applications and always has an eye for usability issues.
I think it would be better if selecting a task automatically unselected any other tasks. If a user wants to select multiple tasks, this should be intentionally done by holding down the ctrl key.
I think it should also be easier to reactivate a completed task (I didn't immediately see how to do this although I assume there is a way if I try). It would make sense to have a trash so that deleted tasks should be recovered.
I'm writing this as an experienced Software Engineer who has worked on many applications and always has an eye for usability issues.
(closed account) says:
I agree with this request. I've done the unwanted multiple delete Several times. its essentially a gmail interface type feature .
I think a good idea would be to have a pop up message box warning in the case of a multiple delete or complete, as an alternative. Make it REALLY OBVIOUS.
I think a good idea would be to have a pop up message box warning in the case of a multiple delete or complete, as an alternative. Make it REALLY OBVIOUS.
This is a genuine usability issue that has cropped up repeatedly over the past 2 years. The danger area is if your list is long enough that you cannot see the top of it, there is not feedback to remind you that you just deleted or completed multiple items.
Any warning pop-up needs to be front-and-center, and not up top where it might not be visible.
This would save a lot of people from disaster. Anything that appears to the user as data loss needs to avoided like the plague. If someone decides they cannot trust RTM with their data, then they are going to vanish as a user.
Any warning pop-up needs to be front-and-center, and not up top where it might not be visible.
This would save a lot of people from disaster. Anything that appears to the user as data loss needs to avoided like the plague. If someone decides they cannot trust RTM with their data, then they are going to vanish as a user.
cgg123 says:
I also agree with the above commenters. It's far too easy to make unwanted changes to tasks because I didn't first deselect other tasks.
Could a task simply deselect itself after any action? Batch changes could still be effected by selecting the tasks first, then performing the action (after which, all tasks would be deselected).
Please make this a priority!
Could a task simply deselect itself after any action? Batch changes could still be effected by selecting the tasks first, then performing the action (after which, all tasks would be deselected).
Please make this a priority!
fortes says:
Another vote for this from a software engineer :)
Perhaps a sidebar that lists out all the currently selected tasks if there are multiple?
Perhaps a sidebar that lists out all the currently selected tasks if there are multiple?
chris.werry says:
ranbarton is correct. If you search the forums for checkbox, select or selection you will find a hundreds of posts on this topic with about 95% saying they don't like it and the remainder saying they love it or you get used to it. Personally I find it confusing and would prefer it if multiple select required an explicit action (eg. ctrl-click). Perhaps you could configure the default selection style in your options. However it seems to be a bit of a blind spot for RTM - despite all the feedback there seems to be no sign of it changing.
danielpataki says:
I think you can get used to this interface, but the one you are suggesting here is a LOT easier and more intuitive. Since we use "m" to multiple edit stuff, wouldn't it be a good idea, to press "m" if we want to select more checkboxes by clicking through them, and if we just want to select one (even if others are already selected) we just press "m" again.
jwillsfleming says:
danielpataki - couldn't agree more. Multi-edit mode should be used if you want to select (and therefore edit) more then one task. This just seems to make complete logical sense to me.
bzpilman says:
Adding my voice to the crowd.
tzortea says:
I vote for this change too.
burton1064 says:
I posted on the same issue. Completely agree!!
RTM people - please change this!!
RTM people - please change this!!
bzpilman says:
One thing to consider, though, is that multi edit mode is simply ignored by many users, maybe a majority of us. The hotkey needs more visibility, even if a little dangerous.
wojo says:
This is my #1 complaint with RTM currently.
I design software for a living and the current method utilized in RTM is very dangerous. I find myself completing/postponing items that shouldn't have been because of this.
In non-multiedit mode, only one checkbox should be selected at a time. Adding a task should select that task and uncheck any current tasks.
I also like the idea of using Ctrl-Click to automatically go into multi-edit mode for that duration (not sticky, it would only add/remove tasks when you keep Ctrl held down) to be able to quickly select visible tasks to complete/postpone/etc.
PLEASE change this. It's extremely confusing to myself and everyone else I know using RTM currently.
I design software for a living and the current method utilized in RTM is very dangerous. I find myself completing/postponing items that shouldn't have been because of this.
In non-multiedit mode, only one checkbox should be selected at a time. Adding a task should select that task and uncheck any current tasks.
I also like the idea of using Ctrl-Click to automatically go into multi-edit mode for that duration (not sticky, it would only add/remove tasks when you keep Ctrl held down) to be able to quickly select visible tasks to complete/postpone/etc.
PLEASE change this. It's extremely confusing to myself and everyone else I know using RTM currently.
wojo says:
Oh, and has anyone tried to create a Greasemonkey script to change the default behavior of RTM?
I took a quick 2 minute stab, but realized it'd be a little more complicated that I thought.
I took a quick 2 minute stab, but realized it'd be a little more complicated that I thought.
mugpet says:
Why not make it as in gmail. If you click on the check box it is multi-select. If you click on the text it is single select....
Great work by the way ;-)
Great work by the way ;-)
inbetweener says:
just to join the clamour... i've done this several times... a warning would be incredibly helpful.
psweetma says:
Me too. It's my main bugbear with RTM.
jimjoh says:
Another me too. mugpet's suggestion makes sense to me (have it work like gmail, if you click on the check box it is multi-select, if you click on the text it is single select.)
rmm5t says:
+1 for this. As a newcomer, I found the default behavior non-intuitive as it didn't meet the principle of least surprise. Please require either mutli-mode or the dexterity to click the check box for mutiple selections at once.
progrium says:
I agree, I've been bitten by this usability issue several times since I started using it. I would also prefer EXPLICIT multiple select since that's what most all other apps do. I really appreciate what was intended from this, but I don't think it's going to work. : \
(closed account) says:
I vote for this.
vbonin says:
please just let us select default behavior in settings
(closed account) says:
This is becoming a bigger pain as I transition to using RTM to manage my actual projects.
I've only made one mistake today and actually completed multiple tasks...but, I've only done this once because now I'm so afraid it will happen again and I won't notice. So I now have to be consciously aware of what tasks are selected even when I know that I only want to be editing one task at a time.
Has anyone seen any feedback from the RTM staff regarding this issue? I didn't notice any in this thread.
I've only made one mistake today and actually completed multiple tasks...but, I've only done this once because now I'm so afraid it will happen again and I won't notice. So I now have to be consciously aware of what tasks are selected even when I know that I only want to be editing one task at a time.
Has anyone seen any feedback from the RTM staff regarding this issue? I didn't notice any in this thread.
deterb says:
I haven't done so yet, but I am considering make a short Ghostscript (its a Firefox Extension) which will provide a temporary remedy for this, but it'll take me a few days to get it done. I'll post a link here once done.
mquirk says:
I'd just like to second this idea. It's far too easy to accidentally complete tasks.
angushelm says:
I'm a brand new user, but this is already bothering me. After I added several new items to my list, I ended up with all of them checked. I keep going back to the "select none" link out of paranoia. I'd like to vote for mugpet's suggestion:
If you click on the check box it is multi-select. If you click on the text it is single select....
If you click on the check box it is multi-select. If you click on the text it is single select....
castiron says:
Yes, please! I'm fine with either "can only select one item at once unless you're in multi-edit mode" or "blatant warning box pops up to say 'you are deleting/completing/postponing multiple tasks; are you sure?'", but right now it's far too easy to accidentally mess with multiple tasks.
(The little line from the task to the description box actually makes this worse -- I find myself assuming that only one task is selected even if there's another one off-screen that I've clicked.)
(The little line from the task to the description box actually makes this worse -- I find myself assuming that only one task is selected even if there's another one off-screen that I've clicked.)
wanderaround says:
I agree. Been using it for a while, I accidentally multiple select all the time, the only annoying thing i've found in an otherwise great UI.
We should have to do something specific to multiple select, Ctrl + click seems the most intuitive. Or clicking the check box (vs somewhere else in the row) would work as well.
We should have to do something specific to multiple select, Ctrl + click seems the most intuitive. Or clicking the check box (vs somewhere else in the row) would work as well.
jfriend says:
I posted separately on this and want to add my voice to the long list of folks begging for this change. Multi-select is inherently dangerous and shouldn't happen by accident.
apgordon says:
Another vote. Thanks RTM!
jyan says:
One more vote from me. Thanks!
mk_safi says:
i agree with the OP.
(closed account) says:
This gets my vote too. This is why I try to interact w/ RTM primarily through the RTM for Gmail interface, not the RTM website. It annoys the heck out of me.
jacksondn says:
+1
(closed account) says:
please please please, don't make me grovel ;-)
This would be nice, with a key combo to select multi and an option to keep it as it is for those who love it now.
I am new to RTM and this is a little un-nerving at the start
This would be nice, with a key combo to select multi and an option to keep it as it is for those who love it now.
I am new to RTM and this is a little un-nerving at the start
apgordon says:
I'm still voting +1 for this, but if this isn't possible can there be some kind of change when selecting multiple tasks? Maybe something that pops up above lists and smartlists, where that box comes up when you select multi-edit mode on and off.
Or maybe, when you select one task the background highlight color can be as is (yellow) but if you had more than one task selected it could be a different color, like maybe the blue when you hover over a task. Something so you'd know, even if you couldn't see the second or third task because they weren't in view, that you had more than one task selected.
Or maybe, when you select one task the background highlight color can be as is (yellow) but if you had more than one task selected it could be a different color, like maybe the blue when you hover over a task. Something so you'd know, even if you couldn't see the second or third task because they weren't in view, that you had more than one task selected.
sheiney says:
I absolutely agree that this is a serious usability issue. I have accidentally "completed" or moved the wrong tasks because I didn't realize that they were still selected.
That said, I often find it useful to use the multi-edit feature for applying tags and such. I think the suggestion by danielpataki to allow multiple selections *only* in multi-edit mode makes perfect sense and would alleviate this issue for me.
That said, I often find it useful to use the multi-edit feature for applying tags and such. I think the suggestion by danielpataki to allow multiple selections *only* in multi-edit mode makes perfect sense and would alleviate this issue for me.
apgordon says:
I like that idea, too. That would be very helpful. Good call, danielpataki .
madbadger says:
+1 another vote in agreement.
I think the simplest solution is that if you click the text, select only that item. If you click the checkbox, then it can do multiple select.
I am a keyboard shortcut fanatic, and it really annoys me that I need to press "i" to select the item after navigating to it every time. And then afterwards, I need to press "i" to deselect every time too. So another solution I'm proposing is to have "j/k" shortcuts automatically select whatever item you are on. If you use "i" or "x" to check the item, then it can do multiple selects.
I think the simplest solution is that if you click the text, select only that item. If you click the checkbox, then it can do multiple select.
I am a keyboard shortcut fanatic, and it really annoys me that I need to press "i" to select the item after navigating to it every time. And then afterwards, I need to press "i" to deselect every time too. So another solution I'm proposing is to have "j/k" shortcuts automatically select whatever item you are on. If you use "i" or "x" to check the item, then it can do multiple selects.
madbadger says:
I have a partial solution for keyboard navigation (j/k) using an existing greasemonkey script. If you use j/k shortcuts, it will select one and only one item as you move up and down. (sorry, I was not able to figure out how to do with mouse, the javascript is really obfuscated).
see the comment that gives the example for j/k configuration:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/22582
see the comment that gives the example for j/k configuration:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/22582
(closed account) says:
Totally agree with this!
ycros says:
I agree, this is the single really annoying thing about RTM
finny388 says:
I am getting uneasy about the lack of feedback we are receiving in these forums...
apgordon says:
@finny388
+1. I don't mind not hearing back about most things, but this multiple tasks select on default is becoming especially annoying lately, and it's clear a lot of people are interested. What's up, RTM team? Any chance some of the ideas laid out here will go into effect? My favorite is the toggling of multi-edit mode on and off for selecting multiple tasks.
+1. I don't mind not hearing back about most things, but this multiple tasks select on default is becoming especially annoying lately, and it's clear a lot of people are interested. What's up, RTM team? Any chance some of the ideas laid out here will go into effect? My favorite is the toggling of multi-edit mode on and off for selecting multiple tasks.
karamonroe says:
I agree that this needs to be addressed. I would love to have a multi-edit mode where I could edit due dates, tags, etc. for multiple tasks at the same time, but would prefer that multi-edit NOT be the default.
aroussos says:
I TOTALLY agree that the multi select is confusing. My suggestion would be a separate mode like some other users have suggested
kenshin122 says:
+1 - This has happened to me so many times! I click on another task thinking the other selected one will be automatically selected... but it's not! So I have to go back an unselect the first task in order to edit the second one... THANKS :)
rcamner says:
I'd add my voice to this. It's quite the annoyance (and dangerous!). Presumably, though, the RTM design folks did this on purpose, not to annoy their userbase :) So, does anyone know the rationale for the behavior?
apgordon says:
... Emily? :)
Any word on this issue?
Any word on this issue?
treecarr says:
i add my vote
aranha says:
I add my vote. I find the multiple selection very annoying even with small lists.
james.rayner says:
I'll add my vote too. It's rather annoying.
davidtbeckwith says:
This is my #1 complaint with RTM. It is way too easy to delete multiple reminders. This has caused me many problems. I would like to see this corrected since otherwise RTM is a really great product. Thank you.
alexisa says:
Agree with this too!
misha.glouberman says:
I'll add to this, too. I'm pretty new to RTM. I've been using it for just a few weeks. I mostly love it, but the multiple-select thing feels like a dealbreaker to me.
I've had it happen many times that I accidentally delete an item, or mark it as complete, or postpone it, without meaning to. That's bad bad. I imagine it'll happen less as I get more used to the system, but I don't see it going away...
I'll look around the forums and see if anyone has any advice on how to minimize this problem.
I've had it happen many times that I accidentally delete an item, or mark it as complete, or postpone it, without meaning to. That's bad bad. I imagine it'll happen less as I get more used to the system, but I don't see it going away...
I'll look around the forums and see if anyone has any advice on how to minimize this problem.
dustinblack says:
What mugpet said.
alexgieg says:
I agree. +1 vote here.
sam.fong says:
Agreed.
daecabhir says:
Yes please, this would be helpful.
jay.herman says:
Add my vote to the list.
(closed account) says:
Agreed 100%
(closed account) says:
Back to the top. This would be my preferred default action as well. In the meantime, I'll continue to press 'n' before doing anything to my tasks.
sfcrotty says:
+1,000,000. Bad UI. No donut.
mike.polis says:
+1. Very unintuitive.
carlos1vallejo says:
+1.Please change it.
psweetma says:
Well, I happened to stumble upon my own post on this thread from back in Dec 2007 requesting this feature and I see it still hasn't been implemented, people are still asking for it, and the RTM team have posted nothing on this thread. What a shame.
As for me, I got fed up with multi-select ages ago and have been using Toodledo very successfully for the last six months. I can highly recommend it. And it has no stupid auto select! http://www.toodledo.com/
As for me, I got fed up with multi-select ages ago and have been using Toodledo very successfully for the last six months. I can highly recommend it. And it has no stupid auto select! http://www.toodledo.com/
(closed account) says:
+1
kebe says:
+1
cswrcole says:
I agree
castiron says:
I'd still like this too. It's especially annoying when I accidentally complete repeating tasks, because "undo" uncompletes the task but doesn't delete the newly created future task. A warning that I'm deleting or completing multiple tasks, or requiring the multitask mode; either of those would help.
naomi.blackburn says:
--A colour change in the screen for multi edit would be good too---
I add my vote to the multi select - changing it to like google is great. I'm a new user (2days in and it's changed how I work) but i've already managed to wipe an entire project of tasks by forgetting multi edit was on, editing the name of a task using key short cuts and moving on to do something else before I realised I'd renamed 15 projects tasks all to the same name - totally wiping my memory of what needed doing.
I'd love it if multi select was accompanied by a screen colour change, like a pink background or something so there was a really obvious reminder it was switched on.
I add my vote to the multi select - changing it to like google is great. I'm a new user (2days in and it's changed how I work) but i've already managed to wipe an entire project of tasks by forgetting multi edit was on, editing the name of a task using key short cuts and moving on to do something else before I realised I'd renamed 15 projects tasks all to the same name - totally wiping my memory of what needed doing.
I'd love it if multi select was accompanied by a screen colour change, like a pink background or something so there was a really obvious reminder it was switched on.
dave.kandz says:
I agree. +1
virat.kadaru says:
Why not try something similar to gmail, by default only one is selected (the one that the arrow points to) and incase you want to do multiple you can use the checkboxes.
For Example:
when I move the arrow up or down using 'j' or 'k' I would like to see the details of that particular task without the need to press 'i'. On the other hand, if I want to perform an action on multiple tasks, then I could go about selecting them using 'i' and details box to the right should show common things and any actions on it should apply to all tasks.
For Example:
when I move the arrow up or down using 'j' or 'k' I would like to see the details of that particular task without the need to press 'i'. On the other hand, if I want to perform an action on multiple tasks, then I could go about selecting them using 'i' and details box to the right should show common things and any actions on it should apply to all tasks.
maxmuller says:
I agree as well +1! This is a real usability issue for me. I've lost work and wasted serious amounts of time due to this problem.
dan.browne says:
I agree with this too - Did anyone get greasemonkey to patch this in the mean time?
mosius says:
Agreed!
cshonea says:
yeah, this is driving me insane..
svmii says:
Single task edit mode - radio buttons on the left column.
Multi edit mode - check boxes.
Very attractive IMHO.
Multi edit mode - check boxes.
Very attractive IMHO.
marmarou says:
+1
torfason says:
+1
Sheez, it's been a year and a half since ranbarton noted that "This is a genuine usability issue that has cropped up repeatedly over the past 2 years".
Sheez, it's been a year and a half since ranbarton noted that "This is a genuine usability issue that has cropped up repeatedly over the past 2 years".
graith says:
I agree too. Default must be single select and if user needs, can select multiple tasks
paul.perger says:
Ctrl for multi-select is pretty standard across the board...
I agree 100% with this request.
I agree 100% with this request.
jaap.kramer says:
Adding my vote for this request
(closed account) says:
Agreed - this screws with me every time i use the web interface
frankhebbert says:
+1.
Making the orange status box float would also be useful.
Making the orange status box float would also be useful.
cahorton says:
I agree, this should fixed. I won't consider upgrading to pro until this is addressed.
(closed account) says:
+1 This needs to be changed.
(closed account) says:
+1 it's so counterintuitive
rossellab says:
i'd like this to be changed too
demod says:
+1
The current behavior is counterintuitive and dangerous.
The current behavior is counterintuitive and dangerous.
foosel says:
+1 from my side as well
nikunj says:
+1 vote
zyclops says:
New version of remember the milk fixes everything. Thanks guys!!! :)
jonty1982 says:
no it does not. the issue still seems to be there. or have I missed something?
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