Switch Button Broken in Rev 95721?

[Toadling]

I have the Switch button (Show current selection in Project/Context mode) added to my toolbar but it doesn't seem to be working. When I click it, nothing seems to happen. Then I got to the other mode and it looks like my filters have changed, but that's it.

Anybody else seeing this in rev 95721?

[eronel]

It's broken in 95718 as well. When I try in planning mode, I get a kind of blink in the sidebar, but nought else. In context mode, nothing happens at all.

[librarymonkey27]

Does the switch button work for anyone?

I know you canc cmd-1 and cmd-2, but I like the button, unless it doesn't work and should be removed from the tool bar

[pvonk]

6125 and the button is working for me.

[librarymonkey27]

Revision: 96132

intel imac
osx 10.5.1


and it hasn't worked for me in about two weeks and every build since

[pvonk]

Revision: 96132

intel imac
osx 10.5.1


and it hasn't worked for me in about two weeks and every build since

96137 + intel MacBookPro + 10.5.1 and it works for me (always has).

[curt.clifton]

I think there's some confusion. Cmd-1 and Cmd-2 change between Context and Planning modes. The Switch button switches to the other view [I]with the currently selected action selected in the new view[I]. The Switch button is not part of the default toolbar, but you can add it by Customizing the toolbar.

[librarymonkey27]

Mr. Cliifton

Not sure I understand your point

are you saying that cmd-1 only takes you to Planning
and cmd-2 only takes you to context, but
the switch button is suppose to take you back and forth?

oddy, I did a cmd-1 and cmd-2 and the switch button worked for a little bit, now it isn't working

kind of odd behavior

[davisre]

are you saying that cmd-1 only takes you to Planning
and cmd-2 only takes you to context, but
the switch button is suppose to take you back and forth?


No, he's saying that "switch" is an operation done on the selected action(s). If you don't have a selected action or actions, switch isn't supposed to do anything.

It might more accurately be called "Select in Other Mode" or "Find in Other Mode".

I do see a small bug here. You can multi-select actions, even from different projects, and switch does the right thing. If you select nothing, switch is properly disabled. But if you select a project grouping (in context mode when grouped by project), the switch button is enabled but just beeps when you press it. That's an inconsistency -- it should either be disabled or work -- but that's minor, IMO.

[librarymonkey27]

how do you set multiple actions

I would like to have something be two things after the first action

like
Buy gift..............pines
pack gift............packing


should those two be sub groups or can I say

buy gift..............pines/packing

----
I am a little dense in understanding the switch button..thanks for your patience

[brianogilvie]

how do you set multiple actions

I would like to have something be two things after the first action

like
Buy gift..............pines
pack gift............packing


should those two be sub groups or can I say

buy gift..............pines/packing

----
I am a little dense in understanding the switch button..thanks for your patience

I'm not at all sure what you're asking here. Are "pines" and "packing" contexts? Unless you pack a lot of stuff, I don't see why it would be. If you're following David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) productivity method, which was the inspiration for OmniFocus, you would want to break down your project into individual actions that can be done. Buying a gift and packing a gift are two separate actions, and you'll probably do them in different places, so they should be separated.

The Switch command switches between Context mode and Planning mode if you have an action selected. I might have a project like this (I'm putting the context after the action, with an @):

Send gift to my Norwegian host (project)
- Decide on gift @Reflection
- Buy gift @Errands
- Pack gift @Home
- Mail gift @Errands

I would make this a sequential project, since I can do only one step at a time.

If I switch to Context mode and show Remaining actions, I would see the following list of actions:

@Errands
- Buy gift
- Mail gift

@Home
- Pack gift

@Reflection
- Decide on gift

Let's say I realize, while looking over the list, that I can't pack the gift because I don't have a box. If I select the "Pack gift" action in the Home context, then press Switch (or use the menu command), I am taken back to Planning mode with that action selected in my project "Send gift to my Norwegian host." I can now insert a new action above it by hitting shift-return. (The new action would probably be "buy box for gift @Errands").

If you only have one project, there's not much benefit to using the Switch command. But if you're like me, with around 50 projects and about 300 remaining actions, it can be very useful because it spares you having to hunt for an action after you change from Planning to Context mode, or vice-versa.

[librarymonkey27]

your framework that you presented is good for me. thanks

I guess I was thinking of it in a different way (the book is on order...)

I was thinking GIFT and handling it three different ways (Pines is a local hardware store where I could buy a gift, btw)

my thinking was

Dropped off ----> delivered to Main hub in albany ---> local hub in Glens Falls ---> driver takes to saranac lake.

and I would be able to follow it. Sort of
buy ---> wrap ----> Pack ----> give

with a growl or tickle file that says: Hey you bought this, now it is time to wrap... then hey you wrapped it, then did you put it in your suit case

I hope I didn't muddle this more.

[brianogilvie]

You've got the right idea--but contexts don't need to be that specific. In GTD, they are places where you have to be or resources that you need available to do an action, like the office (if I need a file that's in the office, I can't work on an action at home) or the phone (if I don't have my phone, no sense looking at a list of calls I need to make).

As far as tracking: If you set your gift project up as a sequential project, each step will become available only when you complete the previous step. OmniFocus doesn't have reminders built in because it presumes that most of us have so much to do that we'd be reminded--and interrupted by reminders--quite often. It's better to scan your context lists frequently. (I know that there are some who want reminders--and if Omni decides to add them, I'd be OK as long as I could turn them off.)

[librarymonkey27]

I just figured out how the switch button works.. eureka...

there could be two kinds of reminders (one or the other or both)

when you click on done for (in my example) 'buy' it would let you know that now you need to wrap it.

or it could be a timed reminder

brianogilvie

thank you for your help/assistance