New GTD Template, 1.6

[wussery]

Just wanted to let everyone know that my GTD template has gone through a couple of enhancements since my last post. I have added considerably more functionality to the template. It currently is at 1.6, which I will be uploading to the Yahoo Newsgroup today.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eccopro/

Some of the enhancements are Forms for data entry, additional filters (Anything Pending, Overdue, Remind Me) that can be used in multiple notepads, a Delegated Projects Notepad to monitor projects you have assigned to someone else, with additional filters (Delegated Project1, Delegated Project2) for this view, added Planning as a Deferred Action. There is more, but the template is really looking pretty good right now.

I wish the there were more people on the GTD forum that use Ecco Pro, because alot of the functionality that you're looking for is embedded within my template AND with the ability to use Ecco Pro's Outlining capabilities makes implementing GTD a no brainer. Check it out and drop me a line, if there's something you think is missing or is not working properly.

 

[jddqr]

Nice, but too much complexity

Hi,

I really admire what you've done with the Ecco platform. It's quite impressive to screw on so much functionality to a 7+ year old program!

Having said that, I don't think this is the right solution (at least for me). There is so much complexity inherent to the Ecco program (with a large learning curve). While your template goes a long way towards streamlining the GTD-ish things, it's the streamlining that scares me. Too much automation on automation and I start questioning/doubting whether the software is really doing the right thing for me. (I felt the same way with Life Balance.) This doubt causes me more stress than anything else.

So, I've found that the best approach for me is as close to plain vanilla as I can get... Outlook and a Palm. Any extra complexity layered on top of that, and I start doubting whether the system is really 'working' or not.

Just my $0.02... glad you've found a platform that works well for you!

 

[wussery]

Re: Nice, but too much complexity

Hi,

I really admire what you've done with the Ecco platform. It's quite impressive to screw on so much functionality to a 7+ year old program!

Having said that, I don't think this is the right solution (at least for me). There is so much complexity inherent to the Ecco program (with a large learning curve). While your template goes a long way towards streamlining the GTD-ish things, it's the streamlining that scares me. Too much automation on automation and I start questioning/doubting whether the software is really doing the right thing for me. (I felt the same way with Life Balance.) This doubt causes me more stress than anything else.

So, I've found that the best approach for me is as close to plain vanilla as I can get... Outlook and a Palm. Any extra complexity layered on top of that, and I start doubting whether the system is really 'working' or not.

Just my $0.02... glad you've found a platform that works well for you!

jddqr, thanks for the feedback on the template. You are right that Ecco Pro can be a program that has a steep learning curve, but the whole point of creating templates is to give one some "training wheels" while they use the program. I understand the KISS principle, and that IS the reason why I do what I do. My goal is to make your initial encounter with Ecco Pro as painless as possible.

By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by too much automation? In one sentence you say the program is too complex and in the other you don't want any tools to mitigate the complexity? This is the elegance of Ecco Pro, it allows you to have it your way.

 

[Arduinna]

jddqr, thanks for the feedback on the template. You are right that Ecco Pro can be a program that has a steep learning curve, but the whole point of creating templates is to give one some "training wheels" while they use the program. I understand the KISS principle, and that IS the reason why I do what I do. My goal is to make your initial encounter with Ecco Pro as painless as possible.

Will, I believe I'm using one of your templates--tweaked--right now in EccoPro. It works just fine, but I'd like to try "Getting Things Done Version 1.3," which is significantly different from what I'm using. Which brings me to the problem I have with updates and different templates: How do you transfer data in one template to one that has a different structure and different fields? While your templates may be "training wheels" for EccoPro, when used to facilitate GTD, they become the structure that organizes masses and masses of data--basically, they are the "trusted system." Unless it's relatively easy to port the data from one EccoPro file into another, switching templates can become the rabbit hole to China. If the process is simple, I guess I just haven't figured out how to do it. I'd be very grateful if you'd provide guidelines on how it can be accomplished. If this isn't the place, you could do it on the Yahoo board (I'm a member).

Thanks,
Arduinna

 

[wussery]

jddqr, thanks for the feedback on the template. You are right that Ecco Pro can be a program that has a steep learning curve, but the whole point of creating templates is to give one some "training wheels" while they use the program. I understand the KISS principle, and that IS the reason why I do what I do. My goal is to make your initial encounter with Ecco Pro as painless as possible.

Will, I believe I'm using one of your templates--tweaked--right now in EccoPro. It works just fine, but I'd like to try "Getting Things Done Version 1.3," which is significantly different from what I'm using. Which brings me to the problem I have with updates and different templates: How do you transfer data in one template to one that has a different structure and different fields? While your templates may be "training wheels" for EccoPro, when used to facilitate GTD, they become the structure that organizes masses and masses of data--basically, they are the "trusted system." Unless it's relatively easy to port the data from one EccoPro file into another, switching templates can become the rabbit hole to China. If the process is simple, I guess I just haven't figured out how to do it. I'd be very grateful if you'd provide guidelines on how it can be accomplished. If this isn't the place, you could do it on the Yahoo board (I'm a member).

Thanks,
Arduinna

Arduinna, have you looked into the Copy Notepad option in the Help Section of Ecco Pro. If this does not work, I have detailed instructions that I will have to dig up that explain how to Export data from one file to another. However, I am pretty sure the Copy Notepad option should work.

 

[wussery]

jddqr, thanks for the feedback on the template. You are right that Ecco Pro can be a program that has a steep learning curve, but the whole point of creating templates is to give one some "training wheels" while they use the program. I understand the KISS principle, and that IS the reason why I do what I do. My goal is to make your initial encounter with Ecco Pro as painless as possible.

Will, I believe I'm using one of your templates--tweaked--right now in EccoPro. It works just fine, but I'd like to try "Getting Things Done Version 1.3," which is significantly different from what I'm using. Which brings me to the problem I have with updates and different templates: How do you transfer data in one template to one that has a different structure and different fields? While your templates may be "training wheels" for EccoPro, when used to facilitate GTD, they become the structure that organizes masses and masses of data--basically, they are the "trusted system." Unless it's relatively easy to port the data from one EccoPro file into another, switching templates can become the rabbit hole to China. If the process is simple, I guess I just haven't figured out how to do it. I'd be very grateful if you'd provide guidelines on how it can be accomplished. If this isn't the place, you could do it on the Yahoo board (I'm a member).

Thanks,
Arduinna

Arduinna, have you looked into the Copy Notepad option in the Help Section of Ecco Pro. If this does not work, I have detailed instructions that I will have to dig up that explain how to Export data from one file to another. However, I am pretty sure the Copy Notepad option should work.

Arduinna, I should have also added that I would download the latest version which is 1.6. It has more GTD functionality than 1.3.

 

[tfadams]

The copy notepad function works - sort of. It copies, but doesn't append the info. So you end up with duplicate notepads (2 Next Actions, 2 Waiting For, etc.) in the same file. Also, it doesn't copy Calendar or Phonebook.

Any ideas?

 

[wussery]

The copy notepad function works - sort of. It copies, but doesn't append the info. So you end up with duplicate notepads (2 Next Actions, 2 Waiting For, etc.) in the same file. Also, it doesn't copy Calendar or Phonebook.

Any ideas?

tfadams, I have uploaded my instructions for importing one's phonebook and Ecco Pro data from one file to another on Ecco Pro's yahoo newsgroup, which can be found at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eccopro/

The file is called expimp.eco.

There does not seem to be a means of uploading any files to this group.

 

[Arduinna]

Arduinna, have you looked into the Copy Notepad option in the Help Section of Ecco Pro. If this does not work, I have detailed instructions that I will have to dig up that explain how to Export data from one file to another. However, I am pretty sure the Copy Notepad option should work.

Thanks very much for getting back so fast. Duh me, I didn't know about this feature at all. I've read the directions and they make sense, so I'll give it a try tonight after I've dl the updated template. I liked a lot of the features in the new template and was disappointed when I thought it would take a marathon cut-and-past session to use it.

 

[wussery]

Arduinna, have you looked into the Copy Notepad option in the Help Section of Ecco Pro. If this does not work, I have detailed instructions that I will have to dig up that explain how to Export data from one file to another. However, I am pretty sure the Copy Notepad option should work.

Thanks very much for getting back so fast. Duh me, I didn't know about this feature at all. I've read the directions and they make sense, so I'll give it a try tonight after I've dl the updated template. I liked a lot of the features in the new template and was disappointed when I thought it would take a marathon cut-and-past session to use it.

Arduinna, I look forward to your review of the template and whether the expimp instructions work. Let me know, if I can help with any questions you may have.

 

[wussery]

Re: New GTD Template, 1.6

Just wanted to let everyone know that my GTD template has gone through a couple of enhancements since my last post. I have added considerably more functionality to the template. It currently is at 1.6, which I will be uploading to the Yahoo Newsgroup today.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eccopro/

Some of the enhancements are Forms for data entry, additional filters (Anything Pending, Overdue, Remind Me) that can be used in multiple notepads, a Delegated Projects Notepad to monitor projects you have assigned to someone else, with additional filters (Delegated Project1, Delegated Project2) for this view, added Planning as a Deferred Action. There is more, but the template is really looking pretty good right now.

I wish the there were more people on the GTD forum that use Ecco Pro, because alot of the functionality that you're looking for is embedded within my template AND with the ability to use Ecco Pro's Outlining capabilities makes implementing GTD a no brainer. Check it out and drop me a line, if there's something you think is missing or is not working properly.

Just posted version 1.7 to the Ecco Pro Forum in the files section.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eccopro/