Forums

One of the "rules" of GTD is, don't set deadlines unless it's really a definite deadline.  Otherwise all it does is punish you for missing them, and goes against the whole idea of reducing task-related stress.

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

Beginning to use this app more and more. It will definitely replace Things when the iPhone version comes out, I am convinced.

FREE Dropbox Storage Use link for EXTRA space for you and me.
15.4" 2.5GHz 4GB MacBook Pro, 32GB iPhone 3GS

The new 0.9.3.6 beta released today fixes this problem of the library not upgrading properly.

Thanks! it worked

Welcome to Purple. Please Buy The Bundle through me: http://www.macheist.com/bundle/u/112726/

Yes, cannot wait for the iPhone app. That will be bliss.

For all that like to check alternatives:
Midnightapps released Inbox beta 3. While beta 2 was not usable at all, the new beta 3 looks quite stable.

www.midnightapps.com

Do something healthy.
Stop eating too many Oranges!

Um. I seem to be missing the Hit List from my bundle. Did i miss something?

I think you meant this Midnight: www.midnightbeep.com

The other Midnight is the Cha-Ching developer.

Here's something I haven't been able to figure out. There's a "Quick Entry" popup available from the Windows menu. But there doesn't seem to be any other way to access it...? I was wondering how exactly you are meant to use that feature.

Go to the Application's preferences and go to the 'Shortcuts' section. Set up a shortcut for the quick entry, and there you go! It is very convenient.

I have been using this for awhile now and its great.  Does anyone have an update on when the iPhone app will be out?  That is the only thing that I would really like to see.

The only official word is that it will come out when it's ready and really good.  I would hope they will finalize 1.0 of the desktop version first though.

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

My favourite shortcut for this is Ctrl+Option+Command+Space.  Quick to hit. 

~Kim
portfolio // blog

Ah thanks, I missed that. Very nice, if I can find a shortcut to use (between Launchbar, Spotlight and others, I'm running out!).

My Quick Entry shortcut cannot be set!? The current version of THL just gives me this when I click on "Shortcuts" (after thinking for quite a while, I might add):

lol, that´s the best shortcut. for the sake of keyboard i have command+ä on my german keyboard. along with command+ö for fresh i am now moving into the realms of productivity app mastery. i love the hit list, best app of the bundle!

jack

Get 2.5GB for Dropbox for free. 1) Use this link to get you and me 250MB extra for Dropbox. 2) Then click  here and become a guru. Thank you.

That's strange... I think I set my quick entry shortcut BEFORE I even put in the license (I could be wrong, though).
Try restarting THL, if that doesn’t work try restarting your computer. If you're still having issues, try posting on the Hitlist Support board http://www.macheist.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=14027

Good luck!

Rather than restarting the computer, I would quit THL, then move the prefs file to the desktop and let it rebuild.  It should be ~/Library/Preferences/com.potionfactory.TheHitList.plist

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

I don't really see any use for this app :-( sorry to be critical.

Maybe there's some cool feature someone could explain to me, I'm hoping I'll have some good use for this app.

http://www.ilictronix.com

Daily tracks and articles

Is any one else having a problem with this app saving? I have had it several times not be able to save when I go to quit the program because of some error.. I only noticed this start happening after the last release. I think I'm going to go back to paper for awhile as I lost some research references and a lot of tasks I put in yesterday..

I will of course report the bug the next time I encounter the errors(as I don't remember the wording of them) I got when it wouldn't save but I'm just to annoyed right now to deal the program..

I do love the program but I just did so much yesterday on it, for it not to save is just to frustrating .

just think of a todo list

and then have a quick search on "getting things done!" and "GTD!" in google. it is a very deep app. like someone said before.

just play along with it. if you can keep track of all your daily tasks and projects, you probably do not need it.

Get 2.5GB for Dropbox for free. 1) Use this link to get you and me 250MB extra for Dropbox. 2) Then click  here and become a guru. Thank you.

why things

know

Can anybody tell me how to use the Inbox compared to the list Someday? Or how do you use it? I haven't figured it out for myself and at the moment I end up having the same things in both lists ...

I presume you made a list called Someday?  Because it's not there by default.

The GTD process first step is "Collect"... this is what the inbox is for.  You put things there without worrying about tagging or filing.  It should be easy to do that step so don't make it too complicated, if you can.

Once it's there, you should "Process".  Go through every item in your inbox and tag it appropriately, give it at least one context, and finally, file it.  "File" it in a list.  Don't get too specific with your lists, as you already have contexts for that.  Give it a fairly broad scope.  If you have a list called "Someday", it should be for tasks with no priority or due date.  DON'T use this term for "ASAP".  In fact, ASAP is a productivity killer...! you should be able to give your tasks either a definite due date (seldom) or no due date at all instead.

Someday is usually called "Someday/Maybe", giving you a better idea of it's generally intended use.  Something like "Learn 'Little Wing'" might fit in here

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

Thx for the answer! If I am understanding you correctly, the Inbox should always be empty because all the things I put there in the first place should be dragged to the correct list?

You are wrong however in one point: There is a list called "Someday" by default ... at least in my THL!

The Inbox is where you collect your thoughts. If you use the shortcut to input data whenever it comes to your mind your inbox gets full and you have to move the items to a specified list at a later moment.
Therefore, you do not forget anything you are thinking off if you are in another workflow at the moment and still have it sorted in a very easy way afterwards.

I also have a list someday in the on-hold folder. i would move stuff in there that have no certain context and are not urgent at all. but this is really individual: the beauty of THL is, that you can arange it to your needs. Come up with the things you need to do and how you best keep track of it. This is very personal. Keep it simple.

Get 2.5GB for Dropbox for free. 1) Use this link to get you and me 250MB extra for Dropbox. 2) Then click  here and become a guru. Thank you.

At the moment I am wondering, why I use tags, when I file an item manually into a list? Any suggestions on that?

you can make a smart folder to search for tags across several lists. i am also not really knowing why i should tag and categorize stuff, but at a certain point i will know why.

you can also file everything out of the inbox in one list and make smart folders according to your tags. then you do not have to file them manually anymore.

Get 2.5GB for Dropbox for free. 1) Use this link to get you and me 250MB extra for Dropbox. 2) Then click  here and become a guru. Thank you.

I seem to use the folder system more than @Contexts and /Tags... It seems like the app is set up to work however you want it to.

@JackV - Not a bad idea to set everything up as a smart folder that searches for certain tags or contexts... An extra step up front to save steps down the road.

Fits well with my system of spending an hour today to save 5 minutes every day after.

http://spigotdesign.com

yeah, i actually do not see the difference between contexts and tags yet or how to set them into place.
you can also have different priority levels as tags/contexts to sort what you have to do first before moving to another task.

placing a task in a list is actually pretty fast via the keyboard shortcuts. so the taging i mentioned earlier is probably a missuse of them.

still: do what works for you, as spigot already said.

Get 2.5GB for Dropbox for free. 1) Use this link to get you and me 250MB extra for Dropbox. 2) Then click  here and become a guru. Thank you.

No I think you got it right.  Keep your lists down to a minimum and use tags to collect and filter stuff.  (Think of a tag called /waiting - it could be added to any individual task in any list without messing up your list based organization)

I can see the confusion between tags and contexts because the program doesn't emphasize the difference.  Once you learn the GTD process it becomes much more clear.  Just treat contexts as... well... contexts.  I'm  guessing the application will develop to the point where it will make a difference.

If you insist on using a dozen lists for tasks, the program will still accommodate you.  In your smart folders just use the condition "List is" rather than "Tag is".

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

So according to that you should stick to the normal list based behaviour and just use tags for special events which are not limited to one list?

How to use contexts correctly?

Is there a special GTD tutorial you especially recommend? Or just read everything Google finds?

I'd be really interested in screenshots of your set up of THL, but I guess that is too personal?

Let me back off the list & tag talk a bit, contexts are the most important.  Contexts are usually locations, but can also be what you might call "resources" - something you need to accomplish the task.  Two basics are @home and @work but can also be things like @computer @phone @car @shopping @errands.  Another thing is to look at it in a subtractive way.  "I cannot accomplish this task unless I am at @___________" or "I cannot accomplish this task unless I have @____________"

Tags are usually just like little sticky file tabs.  "If I want to find everything to do with _________ I'll want to see this"

As for references... Get the book, everything else is just interpretation... even davidco's own site.  It's not a difficult read!  Once you read it, try it and settle into whatever pattern gets things done... don't get lost in searching for the next greatest thing.  That being said, bookmark lifehacker.com

Yeah it is a little personal...   read over this thread and you'll get an idea.  One bonus tip I LOVE is to use tags for energy levels like /challenging /medium /simple and /idle.  That usage of tags has persisted over my changes in THL use. It also fits in to the fact that tags are easily applicable across lists.

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

Just received another update for The Hit List.

Version 0.9.3.10
April 22, 2009
Smart folder condition for "tag is not set"
Offer to upgrade the app when encountering a library created with a future version
Command-shift-left and right arrow keys now change the current tab in card view
Indent a task when the tab is pressed when the text cursor is at the beginning of the line, not just when the task is empty
Apply the same tag and title filter when printing
Made "Expand All" work again
Fixed a hang that could happen when deleting a list that contains a repeating task
Fixed a crash that can happen when adding a new task after undoing

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action. - Benjamin Disraeli
BundleSite.com
Twitter
JD's Complete MacHeist Desktop Wallpaper Collection

Anyone else having the problem, that THL automatically changes the importance to "5", when assigning a number which is not 1, 5 or 9?

Or is that a feature I dont understand?

It's a bug related to Mail.app... check out this thread on the Google Groups..

Do you have sync settings configured?

"You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss?"
Get Dropbox. You need it!

What does it have to do with Mail? Oo

But yes, I have sync settings configured ... guess I just have to wait for a fix then (not using priority very much yet, so this is not a big problem).

Found some other bugs concerning estimated time - already sent an email.

I'm slowly getting into THL and the whole GTD thing - really liking it. Contexts are great, at the moment I like them even more than normal tags. Started playing with estimated times and difficulty tags today ... let's see how this works out.

I believe it has to do with the fact that there are only 3 priority settings for Mail/iCal to dos - Low, Medium, and High. When syncing with THL, these correspond to 1, 5, and 9. So when syncing occurs, any THL priorities that aren't 1, 5 or 9 get goofed up and reset to Medium (5).

Oh, that sounds very reasonable indeed!

I confess that I didn't think I would find THL that useful, but now I consider it one of the best parts of the bundle. (Right alongside Espresso and Wiretap.) I'm finding it vary useful in managing my overload of coding and design projects.

"A wizard is never late. He always arrives exactly when he means to."
http://www.webmaster-source.com
http://www.fantasyfolder.com

I'm still trying different ways to use this app. I really like it, but have a couple questions in regard to usage options.

I have a folder called "Clients" which has lists of what I do: audio, consultation, graphics, and websites.

Then I also have a folder called My projects with lists like website, ideas, research, etc.

My personal folder has bills due, appointments, household, errands, [things I need to] watch, read, correspondence, write.

It seems contexts could be @phone, @car, @computer as it would be nice to see what I can group together while in that location.

The reason I was using lists was because I could move a task (from inbox) to a list with the "F" key, like "put it away where it belongs". This has brought up my questions:

I know THL is flexible so you can do whatever you want, but I'm wondering whether to use tags instead of lists and use smart folders to collect them. Right now, when I am in folder view, there are the same things in tag view. It doesn't seem like I need this overlap.

With that said, I also get emails from clients asking for things to be done, and I make it a to do which imports into THL. Fine. I'd really like to also tag it according to client name. Where I get baffled is whether to tag it according to client or according to website, graphics, etc. or have both tags?

Part of the dilemma is if I have to manually put a task into a list, then why do I need tags?

Do appointments that I entered in iCal import into THL or do they have to be To Do's (from iCal)? Or should I just enter them in THL instead?

So, these are some questions in my head.  Any suggestions for my above scenario, and how you are handling it? Thanks.

I think the best way to use a program like this is to use lists for individual, discrete projects, so once the project is finished it can be filed away forever in a "Finished" folder, and use tags to describe elements of all your tasks so that they can be gathered in Smart Folders that can give you a new view of what you need to do. For example, use a List for a project such as "Design Website A". Then tag each task with pertinent info such as what applications you need to use, whether you need to be online or offline, client names, website names, and anything else you can think of. There's no need to be baffled about how to tag something - you can tag things with as many tags as you want, and generally, the more the better. You can refine your smart folders with more accuracy when you use a lot of tags. For example, you can then make a Smart Folder to gather all the tasks you can complete offline using a certain application. This will gather tasks you can do in the moment from ALL your projects, regardless of the list it's on. You can get really creative with your combinations of tags using Smart Folders. Smart Folders like these will never need to be "filed away" permanently like an individual project list will be. That's the fundamental difference between organizing your tasks with lists and with tags/smart folders.

About iCal, THL only syncs to do items, not events.

Thank you, gbuell. You gave me good ideas there. Applications... I hadn't thought of that, and yes, that would be a time-saver to lump all my i.e. Photoshop work so that I don't have to revisit the app several times a day for different things. That would change the way I work, since now, I take one job and complete it, then another, and so on. But this way, I could do all the stuff that requires Photoshop together, even if from different jobs. Hmmm.

Now when the stuff on a list is completed, you move it to a finished folder. For a Smart folder, when you say these will never need to be filed away permanently like a project list, does the stuff in them disappear when the task is finished?

I think THL is the kind of app that people reconfigure several times before coming up with the system that works for them. This has given me good food for thought.

THL is telling me my time has expired -- and yes, I submitted the registration key.  ???

maybe it's the beta time limit (it was made so the users are forced to use the most recent versions (for our own good)), you might need to download the latest version

http://www.potionfactory.com/thehitlist

Thanks a Lot

How are you guys and girls setting up THL.  I have the inbox where everything starts. Then I have a list for school, my website, things around the house, and so on.  How is your lists set up to maximize your workflow?

Pretty similar to yours - I have smart list for college (I use class abbreviations for this), website deadlines for a website I'm working on, a work list for stuff to get done at work, a study (separate from college since it's for job training / tests), and things to get done at home.

▛▞▞▟ Proud Member of the BLUE Team™ ▙▚▚▜

The Hit List had another update

Version 0.9.3.11
May 4, 2009

• When specifying "the last n days" or the "next n days" in a smart folder rule, include today
• Reverse the order of the priority numbers in the column pop up button and the smart folder editor sheet
• Made wording for priority conditions in smart folder editor a little clearer
• Improved parsing of partial weekday names when setting start and due dates
• Parse "11 april" correctly when parsing dates
• When not all subtasks have time estimates, show a "+" sign next to the task's estimated time to indicate that the amount is the minimum amount of time required
• Restoring from backup now takes about half the time
• Better handling of linked files that are no longer there
• Fixed dock badge count being incorrect sometimes
• Fixed smart folder source list count being incorrect sometimes
• Fixed license information and library location getting wiped when resetting preferences
• Fixed Asian language characters being typed in twice in card view's task title field
• Fixed a crash that happened when typing in "@" followed by a Korean character in Go To
• Fixed a crash that happened sometimes when removing start or due date from a task in a smart folder
• Fixed a crash that can happen when changing a task's tag while viewing that tag
• Fixed multi-line text paste from Pages not creating multiple tasks
• Fixed tasks being sorted incorrectly in the Upcoming list within a section
• Fixed Core Data validation error that happens when dragging a new empty task
• Fixed modification date of everything getting set to today when restoring from backup
• Fixed the main window not coming to the front sometimes after closing the Quick Entry window
• Fixed the Quick Entry window flickering when opening sometimes
• Fixed the estimated time pop up window opening even when the value is not editable
• Fixed being able to set the estimated time of parent tasks
• Fixed some minor issues that occur when resetting preferences

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action. - Benjamin Disraeli
BundleSite.com
Twitter
JD's Complete MacHeist Desktop Wallpaper Collection

How does it get imported? Or do you copy and paste into THL

Also, has anyone gotten iCal sync working yet?

Thanks

There you go, lad, keep as cool as you can

Version 0.9.3.12

Do something healthy.
Stop eating too many Oranges!