My workaround for start dates
(closed account) says:
I like the concept of having a start date since I really want to begin working on things well before the actual "due" date of an item. But I want to see different things at different intervals, so just setting up something like dueWithin:2 weeks didn't work for me.
As such, I have created a workaround for this.
On all my due tasks, I have created a tag, using (alt+7) • as my identifier.
I think use d1, d2, d3 through d10 and w1, w2, w3, w4 and m1, m2, m3.
I use these as my due in 1 day, 2 days, etc.
Then I created a smartlist called "Start Dates" which I re-use anytime I want something that's started and due "today". (Note: I have a separate list that includes "overdue" items. Below list only shows future due items.)
The text of my smartlist is as follows (feel free to copy and paste):
( (tag:•d1 and dueWithin:"1 day of today") OR (tag:•d2 and dueWithin:"2 days of today") OR (tag:•d3 and dueWithin:"3 days of today") OR (tag:•d4 and dueWithin:"4 days of today") OR (tag:•d5 and dueWithin:"5 days of today") OR (tag:•d6 and dueWithin:"6 days of today") OR (tag:•d7 and dueWithin:"7 days of today") OR (tag:•d8 and dueWithin:"8 days of today") OR (tag:•d9 and dueWithin:"9 days of today") OR (tag:•d10 and dueWithin:"10 days of today") OR (tag:•w1 and dueWithin:"1 week of today") OR (tag:•w2 and dueWithin:"2 weeks of today") OR (tag:•w3 and dueWithin:"3 weeks of today") OR (tag:•w4 and dueWithin:"4 weeks of today") OR (tag:•m1 and dueWithin:"1 month of today") OR (tag:•m2 and dueWithin:"2 months of today") OR (tag:•m3 and dueWithin:"3 months of today") OR due:today ) AND not list:'
Long, huh? The nice thing is by creating the smart list, I only had to do this ONCE, and now it's there for all time. By utilizing my tags and my smart list, I have created a workable list that shows me only things I actually WANT to see.
As such, I have created a workaround for this.
On all my due tasks, I have created a tag, using (alt+7) • as my identifier.
I think use d1, d2, d3 through d10 and w1, w2, w3, w4 and m1, m2, m3.
I use these as my due in 1 day, 2 days, etc.
Then I created a smartlist called "Start Dates" which I re-use anytime I want something that's started and due "today". (Note: I have a separate list that includes "overdue" items. Below list only shows future due items.)
The text of my smartlist is as follows (feel free to copy and paste):
( (tag:•d1 and dueWithin:"1 day of today") OR (tag:•d2 and dueWithin:"2 days of today") OR (tag:•d3 and dueWithin:"3 days of today") OR (tag:•d4 and dueWithin:"4 days of today") OR (tag:•d5 and dueWithin:"5 days of today") OR (tag:•d6 and dueWithin:"6 days of today") OR (tag:•d7 and dueWithin:"7 days of today") OR (tag:•d8 and dueWithin:"8 days of today") OR (tag:•d9 and dueWithin:"9 days of today") OR (tag:•d10 and dueWithin:"10 days of today") OR (tag:•w1 and dueWithin:"1 week of today") OR (tag:•w2 and dueWithin:"2 weeks of today") OR (tag:•w3 and dueWithin:"3 weeks of today") OR (tag:•w4 and dueWithin:"4 weeks of today") OR (tag:•m1 and dueWithin:"1 month of today") OR (tag:•m2 and dueWithin:"2 months of today") OR (tag:•m3 and dueWithin:"3 months of today") OR due:today ) AND not list:'
Long, huh? The nice thing is by creating the smart list, I only had to do this ONCE, and now it's there for all time. By utilizing my tags and my smart list, I have created a workable list that shows me only things I actually WANT to see.
Actually you have re-invented the Sleeper tag method, described here:
blog.rememberthemilk.com/2009/04/tips-tricks-tuesday-using-sleeper-tags/
It really is a powerful method and easy to use.
My zzz list criteria (I exclude these tasks from my normal smart lists):
(tag:zzz AND dueAfter:now) OR
(tag:z1h AND dueAfter:"1 hour of now") OR
(tag:z2h AND dueAfter:"2 hours of now") OR
(tag:z1d AND dueAfter:"1 day of now") OR
(tag:z2d AND dueAfter:"2 day of now") OR
(tag:z3d AND dueAfter:"3 day of now") OR
(tag:z4d AND dueAfter:"4 day of now") OR
(tag:z5d AND dueAfter:"5 day of now") OR
(tag:z6d AND dueAfter:"6 day of now") OR
(tag:z1w AND dueAfter:"1 week of now") OR
(tag:z2w AND dueAfter:"2 weeks of now") OR
(tag:z3w AND dueAfter:"3 weeks of now") OR
(tag:z1m AND dueAfter:"1 month of now") AND
addedBefore:tomorrow
addedBefore:tomorrow forces the added date to be shown in the task details box.
blog.rememberthemilk.com/2009/04/tips-tricks-tuesday-using-sleeper-tags/
It really is a powerful method and easy to use.
My zzz list criteria (I exclude these tasks from my normal smart lists):
(tag:zzz AND dueAfter:now) OR
(tag:z1h AND dueAfter:"1 hour of now") OR
(tag:z2h AND dueAfter:"2 hours of now") OR
(tag:z1d AND dueAfter:"1 day of now") OR
(tag:z2d AND dueAfter:"2 day of now") OR
(tag:z3d AND dueAfter:"3 day of now") OR
(tag:z4d AND dueAfter:"4 day of now") OR
(tag:z5d AND dueAfter:"5 day of now") OR
(tag:z6d AND dueAfter:"6 day of now") OR
(tag:z1w AND dueAfter:"1 week of now") OR
(tag:z2w AND dueAfter:"2 weeks of now") OR
(tag:z3w AND dueAfter:"3 weeks of now") OR
(tag:z1m AND dueAfter:"1 month of now") AND
addedBefore:tomorrow
addedBefore:tomorrow forces the added date to be shown in the task details box.
(closed account) says:
Spiffy. I guess I didn't search far enough back when I was looking for info on due dates. And here I thought I was creating something new and interesting. LOL. In any case, it has made my "today" list SO much more useful and relevant. Now I just have to go back and re-tag all my tasks so they show up properly.
techlifeweb says:
Thanks, both of you for sharing and revisiting this. Didn't quite "get it" until I plugged it and and started to try it out. Very very cool.
I have a smart list showing my work tasks and those due in the next 7days. While this is fine, often I don't need to be reminded about a task until the day or so before it is due. Now, with this method simply changing up some tags makes this smart list even smarter.
One example: I keep a list of people's birthdays in RTM. Now with this method I can change up the tags so that I can be reminded on the day or the day before if it is someone who I just want to be sure to say 'happy birthday' to or maybe a week or two before if it is someone I might actually need to get a gift for.
I have a smart list showing my work tasks and those due in the next 7days. While this is fine, often I don't need to be reminded about a task until the day or so before it is due. Now, with this method simply changing up some tags makes this smart list even smarter.
One example: I keep a list of people's birthdays in RTM. Now with this method I can change up the tags so that I can be reminded on the day or the day before if it is someone who I just want to be sure to say 'happy birthday' to or maybe a week or two before if it is someone I might actually need to get a gift for.
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