Hello everyone,

since I was for a similar search for a long time, I'll join the discussion.
Yet I have to say that I didn't find a good solution :)

You may have a look at DAISHO http://www.daisho-blacksmith.com/en.html This is quite expensive but you can plan your week visually and have feedback visually. Everythink you asked for in your first post should be possible :)
I used it. But I am in the need to sync with my mobile devices and I am not on outlook. So I need somethink with syncml or ical. ToDoList is with very nice in this aspect, but not with a good graphical feedback.

So what I do to plan my week/months: I simply address tasks in my thunderbird calender.

Greetings
M.Burg

Thanks for the heads up on DAISHO. It looks interesting indeed. I note that it is German software, as is quite often the case, for innovative management-related software. It is probably unlikely to break into the US market, which would allow it to have higher sales and a lower unit cost, so this could explain the price. In any case it is not unreasonable; DAISHO seems to do more than equally or more expensively priced mind mapping tools. Also, if it can do what it claims to for a professional, it's well worth it.

Regarding Outlook, I had written some time ago (actually a few years ago, here: http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/3911/0/re-a-few-ideas-for-developers-re-my-current-set ) that I don't like it as a PIM, but that it is very useful as a platform. This is now as true as ever: Outlook is effectively my calendar database but I never actually open the application: I view my schedule from RainLendar or DateLens, autosync it with the web via GoogleCalendarSync and sync my phone (Nokia with Symbian OS) with the web via GooSync. I have been using this setup for some months and it worlks flawlessly, no matter which application I use to enter or edit appointments.

Therefore, Outlook integration (syncing, not importing) is for me essential in any application that handles calendar-related data.

M.Burg wrote:

You may have a look
at DAISHO http://www.daisho-blacksmith.com/en.html This is quite expensive but
you can plan your week visually and have feedback visually. Everythink you asked for
in your first post should be possible :)
I used it. But I am in the need to sync with my
mobile devices and I am not on outlook. So I need somethink with syncml or ical.
ToDoList is with very nice in this aspect, but not with a good graphical feedback.

Sorry for this shameless plug, but there's a new software package called Worktime Studio (http://www.worktimestudio.com on the market that performs 1) and 2) of the requirements you mentioned. Version 2 of the package will perform 3), which will allow you to add multiple events and reminders for each 'WorkItem'. One of the main features of Worktime Studio, is that it doesn't restrict you to entering 'projects' and 'tasks'. That is, you can define your own WorkItem 'types'. Some examples of WorkItem types could be 'defect', 'meeting', 'homework', 'class attendance', 'client call', etc.

I've always enjoyed using time/'task' management software, as I'm very nit picky about organizing my work, but it always bothered me to have to classify everything I do as either a 'project' or a 'task'. I could also never really find an outliner/organizer which I really liked which also tracked the time on the activities in my list. These are the main reasons I created Worktime Studio. Of course, it doesn't have all the features of every outliner software package, and I agree there are some very good ones out there, but I believe Worktime Studio does fill a void for anyone looking for the particular features it has.

Thanks, and sorry if my post was out of line,

Mitchel Haas

Considering the title of this post, I can't believe you couldn't find GoalEnforcer yet, http://www.goalenforcer.com/
Goal Enforcer is the only TRULY graphical task management software, supporting multi-level tasks and sub-tasks, hierarchical color coded task status display, and multiple view options (including a timeline/Gantt chart view mode).
It can sync with Outlook if you still need that.
Frank

Shameless plugs welcome as far as I'm concerned, Mitchel! I'm still looking at Worktime Studio - I see what you're trying to do and I hope you continue development as its basis looks interesting.

GoalEnforcer: I've never liked programs that try to link every task to a goal. I know what my goals are and don't want to have to put them into a program, especially when they are as mundane as "fill up my time until I die" and "earn enough to pay the mortgage this month". I have looked at GoalEnforcer in the past, and I seem to remember that it doesn't support reccurrence. Also, I'm not looking for a graphical task manager - I'm looking for a task manager with graphical feedback (specifically concerning time available). Quite different.

Anyway, I'm currently duplicating my tasks in three systems (Sciral Consistency, Zoot and Taskline in Outlook) - maybe one day I'll choose one, but in the meantime it all contributes to my goal of keeping myself occupied until I die :-)

Graham

Hi all,

I don't think this has been mentioned already: http://www.effexis.com/achieve/planner.htm
I've not used it but it looks like it might do some of the things you're looking at.

cheers /jerome

Regarding GoalEnforcer: goals are just an abstraction. You can just view it as tasks=>sub-tasks if you prefer it that way. Also, there is a big difference between "vague goals" (the ones you mentioned), and "specific goals."
Specific goals are very useful for project planning.

Regarding your statement "graphical feedback of time planned and time available after planning in tasks."
What kind of graph would you require? Could you describe it?
As far as I know, that's what a Gantt chart is used for.

Thanks Frank. I can do better than describing the type of graph I require, I can show you - look back at the 16th post in this thread - there are links to some screen dumps.

I don't want to bore everybody by going over my needs again, though don't get me wrong - I really appreciate every lead people have posted. GoalEnforcer just doesn't work for me. In my way of working projects tend to be synonymous with tasks (as, often, are goals), and there is no collaboration with other people, so Gantt charts don't help at all. It's a daily feedback to how much has been planned against how much time is available that I find useful, as shown in those screen dumps.

I appreciate that I'm very much in the minority in my work patterns, which is why finding a killer task manager (which suits me) has been a long trek without an end in sight yet :-)

Just wondering if a GTD application would do it? There are plenty of variants on those around, of course, including Chandler and a number of other open-source options (I'll send you a few links, if you think that's in the ballpark?).

Actually, Graham, given your idiosyncratic requirements, you might want to take a look at TaskMerlin (the tour starts here: http://www.taskmerlin.com/tour/start.aspx?lp=td1 Looks rather nice, and would appear to be vastly customisable...

M.Burg wrote:

[snip]

You may have a look
at DAISHO http://www.daisho-blacksmith.com/en.html This is quite expensive but

We adjusted our price model recently.

you can plan your week visually and have feedback visually. Everythink you asked for
in your first post should be possible :)
I used it. But I am in the need to sync with my
mobile devices and I am not on outlook. So I need somethink with syncml or ical.

A syncml solution is currently in the works.

Regards,
K. Wiedemann
Daisho Blacksmith

DAISHO has indeed developed into a very interesting cross-platform solution; see various developments here:
http://www.daisho-blacksmith.com/en/company/news.html

The price for the professional edition is reasonable and there is a platform-agnostic sync service available, also at a good price.

Apparently, the Linux version is completely free.

I post this here for reference, but I believe the software is worth a separate thread.