The GTD Outlook Add-in and projects

[Howard]

I really like the GTD Outlook Add-in.

I find it necessary to work in Outlook and the Add-in has enabled me to use Outlook effectively and efficiently for "runway" type items such as next actions, email traffic, waiting-fors and appointments.

The Add-in is weaker, however, with projects. Although some elegant programming has been done which does enable projects to be recorded and updated, once a project is created it is not easily accessible and there is no printable list showing all related sub-projects, actions etc.

I don't want to stop using the add-in but I feel that projects need more prominence and visibility in my system.

Has anyone else had the same experience and have you come up with any work-arounds?

Thanks

 

[cpfuller]

OneNote

I am currently trying to use Microsoft OneNote 2007 to track projects and Outlook 2007 for next actions. OneNote allows you to capture information for your project in numerous ways. You can create an outlook task from within OneNote make the category of the task project and you have a project created in outlook. The outlook task has a onenote link embedded into it that links back to the project page in OneNote. I like it so far but I am not a very experienced GTD'er.

Charles

 

[johnmcoulter]

'Active Tasks by Project'

I really like the GTD Outlook Add-in.

"...once a project is created it is not easily accessible and there is no printable list showing all related sub-projects, actions etc."

Thanks

When you click on Tasks in Outlook (with the Add-In) you should have a button that gives you "Active Tasks by Project", which gives you a list of projects with related actions for each. Very printable

John

 

[moises]

I really like the GTD Outlook Add-in.

I find it necessary to work in Outlook and the Add-in has enabled me to use Outlook effectively and efficiently for "runway" type items such as next actions, email traffic, waiting-fors and appointments.

The Add-in is weaker, however, with projects. Although some elegant programming has been done which does enable projects to be recorded and updated, once a project is created it is not easily accessible and there is no printable list showing all related sub-projects, actions etc.

I don't want to stop using the add-in but I feel that projects need more prominence and visibility in my system.

Has anyone else had the same experience and have you come up with any work-arounds?

Thanks

I used the GTD Outlook Add-In for a few years, but I never liked the kludgy way it dealt with projects and subprojects.

So, I took a leap of faith and bought a different application to hold my actions and projects. I don't recommend going from tool to tool. In 6 years I've gone through 3 tools. I started with Excel. That lasted about a month. Then I used Outlook for about 3 years. Then I changed to a tool that allows me to create a hierarchical list.

My recommendation is to find something that you're comfortable with and then stick with it. They don't give out prizes for being the best GTD user or the best Outlook user. Tools are just that--instruments. I don't get hung up when I'm eating that I have the perfect knife and fork. As long as they do the job, I pretty much ignore them. It should be the same way with your GTD trusted system. But if the knife doesn't cut, it's time to look for one that does.

 

[jpm]

...
The Add-in is weaker, however, with projects. Although some elegant programming has been done which does enable projects to be recorded and updated, once a project is created it is not easily accessible and there is no printable list showing all related sub-projects, actions etc.
...

Not sure what you mean. I've been using the add-in for several years and while it's not perfect, it does handle projects reasonably well.

Projects seem very easily accessible to me:

1. Click on the "Open Project" button on the GTD Tool bar, or on any task (next action, someday, appointment, etc. that has been assigned to a project simply click on the "Open Project" button (the one that looks like a file folder) on the GTD custom item tool bar.

2. There are multiple ways to list all the tasks related to a project/subproject, the Active Task by project is one view; active task by project and subproject is another, and of course you can create your own views.

hope this helps...