Linking mindmaps to GTD projects in outlook

[rwichmann]

I sometimes use mindmaps on my GTD projects where I feel I need to plan the project out. I created this macro, and then a create a button on my tasks that allows me to create/open a project mindmap from any Outlook task that is part of a GTD project. You will have to customize a couple of values (where you store your maps on your PC for instance), but this may be of use to some folks.

Create a new VBA module in Outlook for this code. Next add these lines to the top of the new module:

Option Explicit

Private Const MindMapFolderPath = "Cocuments and SettingsREW05My DocumentsMy Maps"

Private Const MindMapTemplate = "Cocuments and SettingsREW05My DocumentsMy MapsGTD TemplatesGTD Template.mmap"

The first variable is the directory where I store all my mindmaps. The second variable is the storage location and the name of a mindmap template I use for every GTD project. This map has one branch attached with three nodes:

Base Node: Vision
Branch 1: Vision: What does wildly successfull look like?
Branch 2: Completion: What does completion look like
Branch 3: Resources: What people, dollars, etc do I need to complete this project?

Add these macros:

Function GetProjectName() As String

Dim itmTask As Outlook.TaskItem
Dim objProperty As UserProperty
Dim projectName As String
Dim i As Integer

If ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Class = 48 Then
Set itmTask = ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
GetProjectName = ""

Set objProperty = itmTask.UserProperties.Find("Project")

If Not objProperty Is Nothing Then
GetProjectName = itmTask.UserProperties("Project")
End If
End If

GotTheProjectName:
End Function

Sub OpenProjectMM()

On Error GoTo Err_OpenProjectMM

Dim strMindMapName As String
Dim folderPathName As String
Dim projectName As String
Dim fileExists As Boolean
Dim fso 'As FileSystemObject

Dim itmTask As Outlook.TaskItem
Dim objProperty As UserProperty

If ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Class = 48 Then
Set itmTask = ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
Else
Exit Sub
End If

Set objProperty = itmTask.UserProperties.Find("MindMap")

If Not objProperty Is Nothing Then
strMindMapName = itmTask.UserProperties("MindMap")
Navigate (strMindMapName)
Exit Sub
End If

strMindMapName = MindMapFolderPath

projectName = GetProjectName()
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

If projectName = "" Then
GoTo Exit_OpenProjectMM
End If

strMindMapName = strMindMapName + projectName + ".mmap"

fileExists = (Len(Dir(strMindMapName)) > 0)

If fileExists Then
itmTask.UserProperties.Add("MindMap", olText) = strMindMapName
Navigate (strMindMapName)
Else
If (vbNo = MsgBox("No mindmap " + strMindMapName + " exists! Create a default MindMap?", vbYesNo)) Then
GoTo Exit_OpenProjectMM
End If

If (fso.CopyFile(MindMapTemplate, strMindMapName)) Then
MsgBox ("Error creating MindMap!")
Else
Navigate (strMindMapName)
End If
End If

Exit_OpenProjectMM:
Exit Sub

Err_OpenProjectMM:
MsgBox Err.Description
Resume Exit_OpenProjectMM

End Sub

I use Outlook 2003, MindManager Professional 6, and the newest Netcentrics GTD application, and it works for these versions, your mileage may vary...

Roger Wichmann

 

[rwichmann]

The rest of the story....

Sorry, I forgot a little bit of code to make this all work...

Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib _
"shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" _
(ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal lpOperation As String, _
ByVal lpFile As String, _
ByVal lpParameters As String, _
ByVal lpDirectory As String, _
ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Private Const SW_SHOW = 1

Declare Function SHGetFolderPath Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "SHGetFolderPathA" _
(ByVal hwndOwner As Long, ByVal nFolder As Long, ByVal hToken As Long, _
ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal lpszPath As String) As Long

Private Const S_OK = &H0
Private Const S_FALSE = &H1
Private Const E_INVALIDARG = &H80070057
Private Const SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT = 0
Private Const SHGFP_TYPE_DEFAULT = 1
Private Const CSIDL_PERSONAL = &H5

Public Sub Navigate(ByVal NavTo As String)
Dim hBrowse As Long
hBrowse = ShellExecute(0&, "open", NavTo, "", "", SW_SHOW)
End Sub

Put this in the same module...

 

[jvw]

macro code

Roger, I'm having trouble piecing this all together, so it isn't working properly. Could you please post the whole macro together in form that works for you?
thanks
Jim

 

[info@totalbalance.us]

Roger,

Can't seem to get it to work, the error seems to resolve around the Dim fso As line. Any thoughts?

Lars

 

[Burtonpd]

fso (FileSystemObject)

Check to see if you have the .net framework installed. I haven't run the code but that should clear up the fso (FileSystemObject) error.