Outlook Add-In

Barb

Barb

0
I've been GTD'ing for several years--successfully, I might add. I have Outlook 2003 and have it configured according to David's step-by-step instructions.

I've been and still am interested in purchasing the Add-In, but I'm concerned it will be either a difficult transition or cause me problems at installation.

Is there anyone out there who had Outlook all set up and then purchased the Add-In that might be willing to share their experience with me? By the way, I'm running Windows XP.
 
I went through that process and it was fairly painless. Do you have specific questions or concerns?
 
Concerns

Well, I guess I'm mainly concerned that tasks I have currently set up will go flying this way and that. As I said, I have it configured in the "Task" view, according to David's instructions. The one thing I have done differently, though, is I do have many (not all) of my tasks dated (with a due date). I know that's GTD heresy, but it works for me.
 
I've used the GTD Add-In off and on since the very beginning, and the davidco Outlook whitepaper protocols before that. I don't recall, but.... I think that tasks will still show up as they do now, since the whitepaper calls for assigning @ categories. They won't show up in the appropriate Add-In views until you assign them an Add-In Action. But even if you had, say, 400 next actions, I can't imagine it would take all that long to go through all of them and assign an Action. No more than 30 minutes, I would guess.

Actually, I think I've made my Next Action lists far more usable by NOT assigning a next action to most of them that are assignable to a project. I assign them only to the project instead. Can't do this without the Add-In.

I'm using the Add-In with Outlook 2007 and I have to say that if I had to make a choice of using the add-in with Outlook 2003 or using Outlook 2007 by itself, I would opt for Outlook 2007. I like it that much. Fortunately, I don't have to make the choice. If anything, the latest version of the add-in may run better with OL2007 that it did OL2003.
 
Very helpful

OK, SmithDoug...I have what probably is the world's stupidest question. Can Outlook 2007 run in Windows XP? I have the Vista Upgrade but I'm REALLY resisting converting because I don't have time to deal with computer problems at the moment. I'm kind of thinking I won't do it until I buy a new computer (the one I have is only 8 months old), which will be in about 2-1/2 years. Am I just being a wimp? When I bought the new computer, I bought Vista ready software for all my applications...spent a fortune. What do you think...wimp or not?
 
I run OL2007 on XP

I run Outlook 2007 on Windows XP and the entire office suite seems to be more stable on XP than Office 2003 was. I'm not at all familiar with Vista. From what I've been reading, you need 2GB ram and a pretty robust processor to get snappy performance from it, although the early reports indicate that it lives up to its billing and is indeed secure. My desk computer is getting pretty long in the tooth so I may not upgrade until I have a faster machine. If I had a computer as new as yours--and with a fast processor and lots of memory--I personally wouldn't hesitate to install Vista in order to take advantage of the enhanced security.

Since you date tasks, I think you would find the ToDo bar and flags in Outlook 2007 to be exceptionally useful. Microsoft offers a 60-day free trial of any of the office suites (bless them for doing so). I started with a downloaded trial of the standard office suite and soon thereafter purchased the Pro version upgrade. It's been reported that Outlook is the least changed of the Office applications but I find it to be the most profoundly changed insofar as the enhancements really help me to keep on top of things. My understanding is that the Davidco folks are in the process of revising the Outlook whitepaper for Outlook 2007.
 
Thanks

OK, I just need HP to send me the free upgrade to MS Office. They sent me Vista, but not that for some reason. I HATE calling those people!
 
Barb;50194 said:
Well, I guess I'm mainly concerned that tasks I have currently set up will go flying this way and that. As I said, I have it configured in the "Task" view, according to David's instructions. The one thing I have done differently, though, is I do have many (not all) of my tasks dated (with a due date). I know that's GTD heresy, but it works for me.
Click to expand...

The add-in will not monkey with your due dates. I use them also for some tasks. If you have tasks assigned to outlook categories such as "project", "@office", etc. I believe either the add-in will update the actions for you or you'll need to swing through your list manually. You may need to also assign tasks to projects using the add-in created user-defined outlook field "project"; (When I upgraded I already had a user-defined outlook field called "project", and the values carried over just fine to the add-in. If you've got non-traditional context names you'll just need to define them as contexts in the add-in and then they should work fine.

I am using Outlook 2003 on Windows XP with version 2.5.21 of the add-in. Haven't upgraded to Vista or Outlook 2007 and don't plan to until I'm forced to.

At least that is my recollection. I would recommend backing up your .ost file prior to installing and doing so off-line if at all possible.

jpm
 
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