Seperate "do on this date" and actual due date
axis304 says:
I know I have seen something similar to this before but can't find the thread.
Basically what I'm suggesting is that items have a date at which you plan to complete or start the task, and another day which is the day its actually due.
Basically what I'm suggesting is that items have a date at which you plan to complete or start the task, and another day which is the day its actually due.
dr.vermeulen says:
I strongly confirm this idea as "a good idea" :)
(closed account) says:
Yes!
iamjud says:
+1
cellosubmarine says:
+1
arjen.stolk says:
I too think this would be a great idea
axis304 says:
Glad to see the support, maybe the idea will be implemented?
We can only hope
We can only hope
michael.vastola says:
+1
tom.fennell says:
+1
danep says:
Any updates on this? I am constantly trying to figure out how to manage both the "do date" and "due date" of a task. I would love to see this feature implemented or learn how others have worked around it.
In case anyone needs a motivating example, take doing taxes for instance. How do you schedule preparing tax returns, which can take several days or weeks, using RTM? Technically the due date is Apr 15, but if you just create a task "Do taxes" that's due on that date, you aren't going to even notice it until there's nowhere near enough time to actually complete it. Similarly, there's no reason you can't finish them sooner and get your refund sooner.
My current strategy is to make the task called "By Apr 15: Prepare tax return" and make the due date whenever I plan to actually work on it, so it will show up in my daily agenda on that date, but that's a bit of a hack.
In case anyone needs a motivating example, take doing taxes for instance. How do you schedule preparing tax returns, which can take several days or weeks, using RTM? Technically the due date is Apr 15, but if you just create a task "Do taxes" that's due on that date, you aren't going to even notice it until there's nowhere near enough time to actually complete it. Similarly, there's no reason you can't finish them sooner and get your refund sooner.
My current strategy is to make the task called "By Apr 15: Prepare tax return" and make the due date whenever I plan to actually work on it, so it will show up in my daily agenda on that date, but that's a bit of a hack.
(closed account) says:
+1. Would be very useful. Due dates mean nothing to me for long tasks if I haven't started them already.
(closed account) says:
+1
This is an idea and disucssion that has taken place so many times I have lost count, which suggests it is likely a good idea and also likely not a high priority for the RTM staff.
Google search
While those who desire this wait for its implementation, they have a few choices - they can stop using RTM, they can use it as they do now and be irked by the site's behavior every time they use it, or they can try a workaround while they wait. Rajjan's suggestion above is a great way to tailor what you see just as you wish, but it requires (in my opinion) more overhead than I am willing to spend, and so my suggestion for those vexed by this is to take advantage of smart lists to handle this for you.
For example, you can have a list that is things due just today, or just today and overdue and due tomorrow, or you can have a clever one that is all due and overdue, plus anything due tomorrow, and any priority 3 task due in the next 3 days, or priority 2 in the next week, or priority 1 due in the next 15 days. Lists like this are fiddly to write, but after you have them setup as you wish, you can then use them without needing to add any housekeeping tags your tasks. I think tags and smart lists are the soul of RTM and form the basis for all sorts of workarounds to address individuals' frustrations with the site's shortcomings as they relate to each user's desired behavior.
Google search
While those who desire this wait for its implementation, they have a few choices - they can stop using RTM, they can use it as they do now and be irked by the site's behavior every time they use it, or they can try a workaround while they wait. Rajjan's suggestion above is a great way to tailor what you see just as you wish, but it requires (in my opinion) more overhead than I am willing to spend, and so my suggestion for those vexed by this is to take advantage of smart lists to handle this for you.
For example, you can have a list that is things due just today, or just today and overdue and due tomorrow, or you can have a clever one that is all due and overdue, plus anything due tomorrow, and any priority 3 task due in the next 3 days, or priority 2 in the next week, or priority 1 due in the next 15 days. Lists like this are fiddly to write, but after you have them setup as you wish, you can then use them without needing to add any housekeeping tags your tasks. I think tags and smart lists are the soul of RTM and form the basis for all sorts of workarounds to address individuals' frustrations with the site's shortcomings as they relate to each user's desired behavior.
(closed account) says:
My workaround for this tends to be to use repeating tasks. I'll create one with the due date of the day I want to start the task, then set an appropriate repeat that goes on until the date the task is due for completion. If I finish it before the deadline I just take off the repeat and mark the last one as completed and won't see it again.
It's not perfect, since it doesn't have the "deadline" date in your face to remind you. And indeed you could get there and not realise today IS the deadline, rather than just another repeat to do some work on this today. But I guess that's where frequent reviews of current projects come in to make sure I'm tracking those deadlines.
It's not perfect, since it doesn't have the "deadline" date in your face to remind you. And indeed you could get there and not realise today IS the deadline, rather than just another repeat to do some work on this today. But I guess that's where frequent reviews of current projects come in to make sure I'm tracking those deadlines.