> From: Jeff Mitchell [mailto:support@...]
>
> > Been playing around with a new system using one list.
> > I must admit I hate how tags are applied.the interface is just too
> > clumsy and isn't all that intuitive for me. I don't know how all
you
> > taggers out there get away from the frustration that is picking
> > multiple tags within different categories.
>
> If you've got any suggestions let me know :)
>
> I've thought about adding a tag-bar somewhere as an option.
Remove
> the last row of the screen and show a tag bar.. like the titlebar, but
> with one bar-chunk for each tag category. Then you tap on the category
to
> pop up the tags for that category, and tap to add. So two tap tagging,
any
> category. But really.. nto sure thats such a great solution. You've
got
> two-tap-tagging for one catefgory already using the tag column.

I think the tag manager needs to be rebuilt. Needs to have two
sections, one for editing/defining new tags, and one for selecting tags,
with the selecting tags screen being the default.

I tap tag column, tag manager and I am brought to a screen where I can
multi-select various tags via checkbox. Perhaps an extra checkbox to
specify the primary tag, check this box and the select box is
auto-checked. You could add a category picker there so one can filter
out unused tags for that list, but I would want an "All Tags" view as
well. Would be really nice to have the tags broken up underneath
category headings:

Tag Category one
Selectbox primarybox tag1
Selectbox primarybox tag2
Selectbox primarybox tag3

Tag Category two
Selectbox primarybox tag1
Selectbox primarybox tag2
Selectbox primarybox tag3

The place in link manager for tags has always seemed out of place for
me...tags aren't really links, they are tags. You could enhance the
link manager area with the checkbox idea, but it'd mean 4 taps to get to
managing selected tags, instead of two (tap tag column, tap tag
manager). I would remove the tag area from the links manager...but it
might be better to leave it in for those that use tags from the link
manager.

The existing tag management screen would just be a separate tab within
the tag manager. I like how that area works.

This would make my life a lot simpler, and with less taps. Right now to
add multiple tags from different categories I have to go through a lot
of taps. With the new system I have 2 taps to get in, a tap for each
tag I want and an Apply or Done tap. On adding three tags, from
different categories, it saves me 6 taps. (Doing it the existing way
takes 12 taps).

I think the tag bar could get cluttered, especially if someone has over
5 categories of tags.

>
> > One thing that I think would make it better is to add an option for
> > new items to inherit the tag of the current filter. So, if I had a
> > filter set to only display items with the Financial Tag, when I went
> > to add a new item, the item would get a Financial tag so it stays in
> > view. I envision this as a global option because I am sure there
are
> > those that wouldn't want this.
>
> Doesn't make too much sense.. filters are too complex and could
> get even more varied.

OK, I can live without filter-type inheritance if we get a new tag
manager ;-)

> Inheritance is somethign we definitely need to think seriously
> about; either new items inherit tags of their parent by default, or
> filters need to check the parents for their tags.
>
> We need to bang this idea around a bit and decide which is best.
I
> think new items inheritting tags is good, and I think a "paste tags"
in
> the [C] could help a lot. So you coudl Copy an item, then Paste its
tags.
>

I do like the idea of tag inheritance from parent. Could speed things
up even more when entering details for a project. I also like a copy
and paste tags.


> > I also want to add my vote for items inheriting the primary tag of
their
> > parents upon creation.
>
> Or all tags?
>

I guess it wouldn't really matter...you can have unlimited tags per
item, so all is fine.

>
> I've beren thinking of this as well; not one big list, byt
merging
> a few lists. And not just a merge.. its a juggling. When you'rekeeping
> lists separate, they are organized byhierarchy. But when you merge
> the.. you'd still just have two hierarchies on top of each other. What
you
> want is to juggle the data so that the list is internally consistent,
but
> that you can still see thigs by filter criterion.

I honestly still like the idea of separate lists per project. For some
reason zoom to level just doesn't do it for me...it's all in my head I
know. Each project list has the same view and format, so that's not an
issue. It's just easier for me to open up Project C from the recent
files list than to find Project C in my big list, and then tap View ->
Zoom to Level. I think it's the searching that gets me. Also the load
and save times on big lists are longer than on smaller lists.



>
> > I will then setup filters for Roles, Projects, and Contexts. The
> > problem with the system is the tags will be a hassle to input each
time.
> > If I could get the my request implemented I could zoom too Financial
and
> > at least each new item would get that tag, one less step for me. If
we
> > got the parents suggestion added, it would save me the step of
adding
> > Redistribute 401k to all the subtasks for that project. Then I'd be
> > left with adding context, which wouldn't be that bad.
>
> Lets refine a little. I'll have time in a bit to do some more
> drastic work, so if we can puzzle out how best to do it, I'll do it.
>
> > todo.I've re-suggested item-item linking between Shadow files, but
maybe
> > something like this would be simpler to implement.
>
> Item to item for purposes of jumping is doable.. but for all
sorts
> of other super powers is very tough.
>
> jeff
>

I realize I'm just one in a group of 1000s of users using Shadow. My
goal is to et SP better suited to the GTD types. If we can develop a
solid, works for most approach for managing action lists and projects
for GTDers I think ShadowPlan will become the default choice for
Palm-GTD folk even more so than it is now.

I know it is a bit of a niche market, but imagine the registrations that
could come from it if you included a sample with all these GTD-type
features in with all Amazon purchases of the GTD book.

Yes, I'm bored, it's a holiday, and I am in thought-mode...and you asked
for ideas...it's all your fault ;-)