newbie questions

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marilynj55

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I'm just getting into this stuff, and am on overwhelm at the moment! A couple of questions (actually, five!):

1. I have a home computer, a desk computer, and a handheld. My Activesync tells me I can only sync to one computer so I have to make a choice (and I feel like Sophie :) ). Can this really be true? Has anyone solved this problem so that all systems are synched and operational?

2. In the "GTD and Outlook" whitepaper, the calendar configuration has some tasks at the top of the calendar. I can't figure out how to get those up there. They are not appointments per se, just things like "Susan out of town," "Erin's soccer game," etc. Can anybody help me with that?

3. The notes concept for keeping track of things seems a bit clunky. Does anyone have any ideas on making it a bit more elegant, like being able somehow to add bullets or boxed checkmarks for checklists?

4. As far as using Notes for lists of ideas, would you have one idea per note, or just a separate note for "Bright ideas" or what? Also, when would be the time to refer back to them? Putting ideas there leaves me feeling a bit fearful that I would lose track of them...

5. Can anyone tell me how to exclude certain categories of Tasks from appearing on the calendar?

Thank you for your patience with a newbie to this wonderful system.

Marilyn
 
In answer to #2, I know that All-Day Appointments show up at the top of the calender, might this be what the whitepaper is doing?

As for the others, I'll have to let someone who uses an electronic system answer. Despite being a tech-geek, I've found that in index-card based system works best for me. I don't need to synch it because it's always there, I can draw my own checkboxes when I add tasks,etc etc.
 
LJM;50432 said:
In answer to #2, I know that All-Day Appointments show up at the top of the calender, might this be what the whitepaper is doing?

As for the others, I'll have to let someone who uses an electronic system answer. Despite being a tech-geek, I've found that in index-card based system works best for me. I don't need to synch it because it's always there, I can draw my own checkboxes when I add tasks,etc etc.
Click to expand...

Do you use the index cards for projects? Could you elaborate? Thank you.
 
Paper is great.

LJM;50432 said:
Despite being a tech-geek, I've found that in index-card based system works best for me. I don't need to synch it because it's always there, I can draw my own checkboxes when I add tasks,etc etc.
Click to expand...

So do I. No need to synchronize, no software problems, no need to charge or reboot. I am using Moleskine Pocket Weekly Diary as my calendar and Moleskine Pocket Notebook for my Project list and Project notes. I use index-like cards for @context Next Action lists and I carry them in my calendar. And of course I use NoteTaker Wallet as a capture tool.
 
marilynj55;50433 said:
Do you use the index cards for projects? Could you elaborate? Thank you.
Click to expand...

Never mind. I'd hate for you to have to write something you've probably written about before. I found an explanation of using index cards elsewhere online. Thanks.
 
marilynj55;50428 said:
I'm just getting into this stuff, and am on overwhelm at the moment! A couple of questions (actually, five!):

1. I have a home computer, a desk computer, and a handheld. My Activesync tells me I can only sync to one computer so I have to make a choice (and I feel like Sophie :) ). Can this really be true? Has anyone solved this problem so that all systems are synched and operational?

2. In the "GTD and Outlook" whitepaper, the calendar configuration has some tasks at the top of the calendar. I can't figure out how to get those up there. They are not appointments per se, just things like "Susan out of town," "Erin's soccer game," etc. Can anybody help me with that?

3. The notes concept for keeping track of things seems a bit clunky. Does anyone have any ideas on making it a bit more elegant, like being able somehow to add bullets or boxed checkmarks for checklists?

4. As far as using Notes for lists of ideas, would you have one idea per note, or just a separate note for "Bright ideas" or what? Also, when would be the time to refer back to them? Putting ideas there leaves me feeling a bit fearful that I would lose track of them...

5. Can anyone tell me how to exclude certain categories of Tasks from appearing on the calendar?

Thank you for your patience with a newbie to this wonderful system.

Marilyn
Click to expand...

1. Since you said Activesync, I assume you're using a Windows device, and I believe you are in fact limited to one account with that. I use a laptop so it's not a problem for me.

2. Pretty sure that's an "all day event" in Outlook.

3. I think the whitepaper uses tasks for next items (keeping track of things); it gives you the checkbox that you want. Outlook notes don't support a lot of formatting but there are some add-ons out there (PhatNotes among others) that beef that up some if that's the direction you want to go.

4. My notes are set up like you describe "To read" has a list of a bunch of stuff I'd like to get to; "Maybe get" has a bunch of stuff I might like to buy, etc. Review them during the weekly review, etc.

5. Right click in the task pane header, choose "customize current view", select "filters". Pretty powerful, you can filter on a number of things but take care as you don't want to hide too much from yourself.

Lastly don't get hung up on "the right way"; try things out and see what works for you! Good luck...
 
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