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RightNote Printing Question
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Posted by Ken
Jan 22, 2016 at 09:36 PM
Jon Polish wrote:
I imagine that your list of considered software includes ToDoList (very
>feature rich and intricately customizable) or EssentialPIM?
>
>ToDoList:
>http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/5371/ToDoList-An-effective-and-flexible-way-to-keep-on
>EssentailPIM: http://www.essentialpim.com/
>
>Jon
I have looked at these, as well as a number of other, programs in the past. I am not sure if I would change my assessment of them on a current review. I did not see tags in EPIM, so that would be challenging for me if it was not present. I remembered some comments by Stephen about IQTell and am currently having another look at it to see if it works for me.
—Ken
Posted by Dr Andus
Jan 24, 2016 at 12:57 PM
Ken wrote:
>I feel
>that I am somewhat stuck between task mangers and note-taking
>applications. I am primarily managing projects and need to keep track
>of, and prioritize, tasks, but I also need to keep notes so I am current
>as to the status of each project/task. Task managers are good for
>tracking tasks, but not so good for handling notes and reference
>materials. Note-taking applications are great repositories, but
>horrible for effective task management.
It does sound like you might benefit from combining two or three pieces of software that are best in one thing but link well with each other and so can be assembled into a fluid system.
Let me use my example with ConnectedText, although I know you said you weren’t interested in CT.
The three pieces of the system for me are 1) Google Calendar, 2) WorkFlowy, and 3) ConnectedText. A fourth piece of the puzzle is Chrome, which is always open on my machines, with GCal and WF set to open automatically when Chrome is launched. This is important so that GCal notifications (as pop-ups) are also delivered on the desktop. Although if you have other devices (smartphone, tablet), audible GCal reminders will also go off on those, which is a good fallback solution.
1) Google Cal - needed for scheduling executable tasks and for setting reminders. Cross-platform, automatic sync.
2) WorkFlowy - for task management, work breakdown, quick notes - tasks can be transferred from WF to GCal once they’ve been allocated a time slot. Because every WF task has a unique URL, WF lends itself easily to be intergrated into other systems (e.g. the URL can be pasted into CT or into the note area of a GCal item, if you want to reference it back where it came from. There is also a Chrome add-on that allows you to turn a WF item into a GCal item with a click or two.
3) ConnectedText - for project management and handling notes and reference materials, as a dashboard to files and URLs. Links to WF can be easily dropped into CT, and links to CT into WF, so items can be closely aligned. WF and CT can be used in tandem for distilling actionable items, which then end up in GCal for execution. In turn, the execution can be recorded and archived in WF and CT. CT also has its own internal calendar, so it’s possible to set up a higher level project management calendar and even higher level task tracking.
An additional element to this system, if you do require a Gantt view, would be a dedicated project management tool, for getting that bird’s eye view. I use RationalPlan for that. (I used to like Mindsystems Amode V2, but it’s now defunct, and Twiddlebit’s Plan for Windows does not scale on my hi res monitor, so it’s practically illegible).
Posted by Ken
Jan 25, 2016 at 03:24 AM
Hi Dr. Andrus,
Thank you for elaborating on this three program set-up that you are currently using. I actually did try to go with two programs last fall, but OneNote and I just never clicked. I felt as though things were being stored, but not easily retrievable for me. That was why I gave RightNote a try; it seemed more structured to me. The structure of RN is something that still makes sense (as I guess I prefer a left hand folder pane), but I am just not finding a way to get it to do a few other things I would like. It is still in trial, along with Todoist which I use for my personal tasks, but I am now reconsidering IQTell now that they have committed totwo additional years of funding/operation.
Like work itself, I guess I am finding it hard to find some quiet time/space to focus on how best to make a system work for me. My old boss used to say that this was not unlike changing a tire while driving 55mph, and that seems like a good analogy some days. I truly appreciate everybody’s patience in the forum, as I try to better understand both the art of better managing data, as well as finding the right tool for the task(s) at hand.
I used to wonder if we were a picky bunch with CRIMPing, but after reading an 8-page thread on a photo forum about tilt screens vs. articulated (flippy) screens on cameras, I know that there are a lot of folks out there who take their tools seriously, albeit perhaps a bit too seriously at some times. Still, I am learning a lot from our discussions, and that is important to me.
Thanks,
—Ken
Posted by Ken
Jan 31, 2016 at 11:32 PM
Ken wrote:
MLO seems to keep chugging along. I considered it a number of years
>ago, but have not looked at it recently. It may offer what I need, but
>it does not appear to be a no-install/portable so I will not be able to
>use it at work because of IT restrictions. I like that you have not had
>issue with RN and that is always something I appreciate (although the
>program did lock up on me right after purchase a few times). It is
>wonderful to have so many choices, but I am feeling a bit like “water,
>water everywhere and not a drop to drink”. I truly believe that I am
>capable of being more organized, and hopefully more efficient, but the
>path there does seem to be a bit elusive on some days. I am going to
>reconsider RN setups over the next day or two to see if I can find
Well, another “Thank You” to donleone. I was not feeling well late last week and had some time to spend quietly looking at ways to solve my “organizational challenges”. I looked at 2Do and My Life Organized and my how MLO has come along since v.1.x! They do offer a portable version that does not “phone home”, and it seems to have a large number of features and UI logic that might work well for me. I am currently reading through the manual (yes I do RTFM) and the program has a gracious 45-day trial. It has a different feature set than Right Note, and it has a user forum as well. I am not sure if it is necessarily better than what I have tried, but perhaps its logic willallow me to use it more efficiently. Hope springs eternal!
—Ken
>something that makes sense to me.
>
>—Ken