Hi All,

I'm an extensive checklist user. Every week I have lots of jobs that follow the exact same workflow. I have one checklist with about 70 items.

Can anyone recommend a good macOS app for checklists?

It would be great to be able to just duplicate the list and change the title and move into the workflow.

I use AnyList for that sort of purpose, and lots of others. Lots of useful list features, and available on macOS, web, iOS, Android, etc., plus Alexa integration. I'm always finding more uses for the app.

AnyList does not support templates, but you can either duplicate a list (making the original the template), or just uncross all items to restart the list.

https://www.anylist.com

Todoist has a template function.
Dynalist has the ability to create templates as well.
Those are my two favorite apps for making lists, and both have generous free tiers before you have to pay.
You can also maybe use some scripts to send templates to Apple Reminders, for instance by saving a list in the Drafts app. See here for instance:
https://forums.getdrafts.com/t/using-reminders-with-drafts/81

Thanks guys.

I like anylist, but don't want another subscription. I use Todoist, but hit the 300 tasks per project buffer using it for checklists within a project.

I've got OmniOutliner and am giving that a bash and it seems to be working ok.

I'm moving from OmniFocus to Taskpaper. If you look at is and it seems to be underpowered, it supports Javascript extensions.

I'm using a Javascript file to provide automatically repeating tasks. It works great.

Taskpaper files are plain text using light markdown tags. That offers possibilities, too.

If you use the editor of kings (emacs), then org-mode might be a candidate.

I’d be very interested to learn more about how you do this. I’ve loved the simplicity of TP and its reliance on text files. I use it on a per-project basis, but lack of repeating tasks makes it difficult to commit to for daily/weekly task management.

OmniOutliner seems like a good solution. Numbers also has a checklist template with check boxes, and it allows template creation, so that's another possibility.

Simon,

I'm interested to learn more about your needs. I guess I should say that I don't know anything about Apple products, so I won't be able to help with that aspect.

What you describe that you need, seems to require a copy machine or printing press to print a form.

I assume there is something that requires a computer of some kind to be involved? Does the list change? Are you trying to store and analyze something about the data checked off? Is it just a memory aid to ensure all the steps are accomplished?

Just curious about the actual requirements that might not have not been specified.

Lack of repeats was why I set Taskpaper aside, then I discovered its Javascript support.

I use this script for repeating tasks - https://github.com/dannynelson/taskpaper-repeat/releases

You put that in Taskpaper's script folder. After starting Taskpaper, run the script. Any done tasks with a repeat tag will repeat, and the script will keep watching tor things getting completed. You only need to run the script once.

So, I made a Keyboard Maestro macro that runs when Taskpaper launches. It runs the repeat script for me. The only glitch is the script will terminate if there isn't an open file to work on. Easy fix. Instead of launching Taskpaper and then opening a file, I double click on a taskpaper document. Works great.

Other things that make it work better for me are native Taskpaper preferences to include the date when an item is checked off and to add an @project tag when a done task is moved to the archive.

There are trade-offs. Taskpaper doesn't have an IOS version, but there is another project that works there (Taskmaster?) and uses Taskpaper files. I don't bother, though. Taskpaper integrates with Apple Reminders and I don't walk out the door without my laptop.

OmniFocus will fire off reminders based on your location. You could do that in a Taskpaper extension, but since you'd have to wander the streets with your laptop up and running, there's probably no point. Reminders will do that for you.

Here's Hog Bay Software's wiki of Taskpaper extensions - https://support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/taskpaper-extensions-wiki/1628

Note these are user contributions. They aren't all perfect. Try them out on throwaway Taskpaper documents first.

On another note, my outlining process has kind of morphed into ordered notes, sort of like post-it storyboarding, and I don't need all that something like OmniOutliner does. Taskpaper will work as a simple outliner, too.

steve-rogers wrote:

I’d be very interested to learn more about how you do this.
I’ve loved the simplicity of TP and its reliance on text files. I
use it on a per-project basis, but lack of repeating tasks makes it
difficult to commit to for daily/weekly task management.

I create and upload 3 videos a week. As part of the process I need to process the videos and place them online, plus create a new blog post etc. These are repetitive tasks. My current list for one of the videos is 97 items. I find having a list avoids making mistakes and ensures consistent output. The lists do change over time with new requirements, new software, so I don't want to set them in stone. I'm just looking for a simple checklist that allows me to check off items done and make notes if needed.

David Garner wrote:

Simon,

I'm interested to learn more about your needs. I guess I should say
that I don't know anything about Apple products, so I won't be able to
help with that aspect.

What you describe that you need, seems to require a copy machine or
printing press to print a form.

I assume there is something that requires a computer of some kind to be
involved? Does the list change? Are you trying to store and analyze
something about the data checked off? Is it just a memory aid to ensure
all the steps are accomplished?

Just curious about the actual requirements that might not have not been
specified.

Amontillado wrote:

Lack of repeats was why I set Taskpaper aside, then I discovered its
Javascript support.

I use this script for repeating tasks -
https://github.com/dannynelson/taskpaper-repeat/releases

You put that in Taskpaper's script folder. After starting Taskpaper, run
the script. Any done tasks with a repeat tag will repeat, and the script
will keep watching tor things getting completed. You only need to run
the script once.

So, I made a Keyboard Maestro macro that runs when Taskpaper launches.
It runs the repeat script for me. The only glitch is the script will
terminate if there isn't an open file to work on. Easy fix. Instead of
launching Taskpaper and then opening a file, I double click on a
taskpaper document. Works great.

Other things that make it work better for me are native Taskpaper
preferences to include the date when an item is checked off and to add
an @project tag when a done task is moved to the archive.

There are trade-offs. Taskpaper doesn't have an IOS version, but there
is another project that works there (Taskmaster?) and uses Taskpaper
files. I don't bother, though. Taskpaper integrates with Apple Reminders
and I don't walk out the door without my laptop.

OmniFocus will fire off reminders based on your location. You could do
that in a Taskpaper extension, but since you'd have to wander the
streets with your laptop up and running, there's probably no point.
Reminders will do that for you.

Here's Hog Bay Software's wiki of Taskpaper extensions -
https://support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/taskpaper-extensions-wiki/1628

Note these are user contributions. They aren't all perfect. Try them out
on throwaway Taskpaper documents first.

On another note, my outlining process has kind of morphed into ordered
notes, sort of like post-it storyboarding, and I don't need all that
something like OmniOutliner does. Taskpaper will work as a simple
outliner, too.

steve-rogers wrote:
I’d be very interested to learn more about how you do this.
>I’ve loved the simplicity of TP and its reliance on text files. I
>use it on a per-project basis, but lack of repeating tasks makes it
>difficult to commit to for daily/weekly task management.

I hadn't thought of Taskpaper and do have a licence. I stopped using it as most of my tasks are entered via iOS and there isn't really a good app to do this. Will take a look, thank you!

SheetPlanner is good for project-oriented lists
OmniOutliner is good, but I hate futzing with the settings so that it formats them (with numbers, etc.) the way I want.
Aquaminds NoteTaker can hold a lot of lists, and double-clicking the left of a list item checks it off.

I have always like NoteTaker, but it isn't as popular as I predicted it to be. Circus Ponies Notebook was prettier, and when it folded up shop, many have migrated to Notetaker.

If you haven't done so already, this is a good resource for opinions on apps for list-happy folks like us:

https://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com

Curio is good for this sort of thing, but probably has too much other functionality

I started using Checkvist in a Fluid.app wrapper. Works well for checklists, acts like a Mac app, and has great keyboard shortcut support.