Handy Shopper Checklists

  • Thread starter Thread starter ActionGirl
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ActionGirl

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Hi, I'm really just an aspiring "ActionGirl" rather than an actual one at this point, but the name makes me want to get up and do something! Yet I sit, because asking these questions has been on my action list for too long.

1) Can anyone point me to a manual or directions for HandyShopper?

I downloaded it based on raves here, but never really got off the ground with it. I'm sure it's easy and obvious to most people, but I'm a "read the directions" type, and the FAQs I've seen assume that you are already up and running.

I want to make a "Weekly Review" checklist, and possibly many more. I tend to get things kinda-sorta-partly done, which leaves me feeling like I've spent a lot of time doing something important, but I never quite achieve the outcome or get closure of that open loop.

So that is part two:

2) What are your favorite checklists?
How do you maintain them (paper, HandyShopper, other)?
How do you remind yourself to use them?

Thanks!!!
 
I haven't used HandyShopper except for shopping lists. For general checklists there's a freeware program I used to use:

http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&prodID=53583

I'm no longer using my Palm for GTD and now keep my checklists in my GTD binder on notebook paper in a section called "Reference" (except my Weekly Review Checklist, I keep that at the front of my binder). I use the Avery Indexing System, which has a table of contents page, and A-Z tabs.

I have it on my Weekly Review to review my checklists. I keep a list of books I've read, a list of charities for 2005 (I have the name of the charity, the month I plan to contribute to it, and when I contribute I record the amount and date). I have a Gift Idea list, and a list of my goals and roles based on the book "Your Best Year Yet". I'm trying to create a "gardening/lawncare" checklist but haven't figured out what all needs to be on it yet. I also have a few checklists that I don't need to review weekly but just have them on hand: a travel checklist, before leaving on a trip list, and list of stuff needed for tax return.
 
I'm a big fan of Handyshopper and have been using it for about 6 years now. I only use it for grocery and packing lists. I have a couple of other extensive lists in it but I rarely use them. I find the palm memo app and the built-in todo list to be sufficient. I do use datebk5 for repeats and hard landscape but it uses the built in task database.

One thing to consider with handyshopper is the desktop entry. There are some utilities to facilitate this, but they are a bit on the awkward side. To process next actions quickly, the palm desktop (or Outlook) seem to be the quickest method when it comes to digital entry. Although I love handyshopper, it is not quick enough (data entry) to handle the pace of GTD - at least for me. It is great for checklists.

For a simple system - with instructions - try David's palm method.
 
I used to subscribe to a Yahoo group that was pretty active. You might try there for further information.
 
Thanks for the comments. I fiddled with HandyShopper awhile and made it the point where I can probably at least ask an understandable question on that forum. It seems like you have to number the items or it will sort alphabetically.

I have been experimenting with some of David's palm tips, but I think I want the ability to check off a step when it's done--something that will pull me toward getting something ALL the way done.
 
ActionGirl said:
I have been experimenting with some of David's palm tips, but I think I want the ability to check off a step when it's done--something that will pull me toward getting something ALL the way done.
Click to expand...

In ToDo Preferences (ToDo might be Tasks, depending on what version of Palm OS you have), uncheck "Show Completed Items." Then your ToDo will disappear when you tap the checkbox.
 
ActionGirl said:
I want to make a "Weekly Review" checklist, and possibly many more. I tend to get things kinda-sorta-partly done, which leaves me feeling like I've spent a lot of time doing something important, but I never quite achieve the outcome or get closure of that open loop.
Click to expand...

I have a weekly review checklist. I will try to upload it to the HandyShopper file section. I hope this gives you a kickstart.
 
How I integrate HS2 with GTD

I use HS for more than grocery shopping lists; I also use it to create specialized checklists. I'm currently building a database that contains lists of all of the recurring cleaning and maintenance work that I need to do at home. I use the Palm categories to create separate lists of things I need to do weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. When I check an item off as "done", not only does the item disappear from view, the date completed is recorded so I know exactly when I last did a particular task. With one command I can reset the lists so that all of the completed tasks show up as needing to be done again.

I'm actually still building this database. One next action is for me to read every single manual in my general reference material and find recurring actionable things regarding maintenance and cleaning of everything I own (changing filters, changing/testing batteries, cleaning, lubricating, etc). Once I have this list complete I won't have to ever worry that I'll forget to do something because it never got triggered, and I'll have a gigantic mambo list of things which I can do when my brain is toast.

I still keep some checklists in my Memo section of the Palm. I've found that in certain cases HS2 can be more of a burden than a help. I ask myself this key question when I want to create a list: "Do I need or want to physically check items off the list (shopping, housekeeping, books (to read), movies (to rent/see), music (songs/albums to hear), might buy, meals, restaurants (to try)), or do I just need a list to read at a glance to trigger something in my mind (travel checklist, weekly review checklist, etc)?" If the former is true then I create an HS2 database. If the latter is true then I create a Palm memo.

In my experience there are two disadvantages to using HS2 databases. Neither is insurmountable but these "gotchas" can ruin the usefulness of the application.

First, the application only has a Palm interface. A Palm keyboard helps a great deal when initially building the lists, but you still have to use the stylus to enter certain information and navigate the interface. Some companion applications have been made to allow the editing of HS2 databases on the desktop; the best one I've used is HS2Edit, which allows a user to import data from PDB files, edit them in Excel, and export the data back into a PDB files. The data is updated on the Palm during the next HotSync. You can also import and export lists to/from the Memo Pad, but you may lose some record-specific information in the process.

Second, and worst of all, because these lists are not integrated into the regular Palm applications, you must remember to view these lists regularly to keep the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" syndrome from rendering them useless. Park whatever reminders you need in your system to make sure you are viewing these lists. For example, I keep a high-priority to-do item on my @Home list "@See HS2 Housekeeping Database" so that it shows up at the top of the list. This tells me that there's another section of my "@Home" list somewhere else and that I'd better look there. I also added a note in my "Weekly Review Checklist" (located in the Palm memos) to check HS2 databases during my weekly review.

Good luck and have fun!

Related Links:
HS2 Home
HS2 support group on Yahoo! Groups.
 
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