Suggestions for multiple similar tasks
 

I am looking for suggestions on how to best set this up in OmniFocus:

I often have documents to review, collect comments from other reviewers, and submit the compiled comments. I may have several of these reviews going on at once but in different stages.

For each review, I want to have three tasks:
-Review Document
-Compile Comments
-Submit Compiled Comments

I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to re-create this three task project for each of the documents. Is there some way to create a 'template' of the project and just duplicate and rename it?

Any other suggestions?

Regards

I use the Populate Template Script from Curt Clifton

[url]http://www.curtclifton.net/projects/[/url]

[QUOTE=Cypher;127137]I use the Populate Template Script from Curt Clifton

[url]http://www.curtclifton.net/projects/[/url][/QUOTE]

I used Curt's Templates script for a number of years, but I've recently switched to this: [URL="http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/"]http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/[/URL]

It picks up where Curt left off and takes things even further. I highly suggest checking it out.

I have a lot of situations like the one you describe (drafting and reviewing documents with similar steps each time). For those situations, it really helps to build these templates. Then you can also easily include the name of the document, name of client, etc in the action items you create. Really reduces friction and increases the odds that I will get stuff captured in OF.

Atul Gawande's "Checklist Manifesto" was also an inspiration for building certain templates. The more I can break repetitive tasks down into a checklist, the easier it is to get them entered in OF. It also improves the odds that I don't forget anything important. I also find that this process can make certain kinds of projects easier to complete. Often, when I am avoiding something, it's because I have not yet broken the task down into small enough bites. So I can't grab hold of a tangible action step. Or it may be a sign that I've lost track of where I am in a longer process. If there's already a road map of tasks in OF that was entered as a part of the template, then it's easier to remind yourself where you are.

You don't have to be slavish about templates. And I routinely tweak templates once I've created something based on them. But they are great stating points.

Cypher,

Thank you for the information. I tried it out and like it. However, I have since received kingsinger's post and the applescript he suggested does seem to be more customizable (that is for some one such as my self that is not an Applescript programmer).

But thank you very much for the response.

Kingsinger,

Thank you very much for the info. I am playing around with the script and it looks like it will do exactly what I need.

Regards

[QUOTE=kingsinger;127141]I used Curt's Templates script for a number of years, but I've recently switched to this: [URL="http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/"]http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/[/URL]

It picks up where Curt left off and takes things even further. I highly suggest checking it out. [/QUOTE]

Cheers, I'll have a look :D

Thanks for posting kingsinger. I've just had a look at the video of the script you mentioned. Brilliant

__So__ useful. Thanks.
 

[QUOTE=kingsinger;127141]I used Curt's Templates script for a number of years, but I've recently switched to this: [URL="http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/"]http://cmsauve.com/projects/templates/[/URL]

It picks up where Curt left off and takes things even further. I highly suggest checking it out. [/QUOTE]

This has helped me tremendously. (I had set-up templates but was copying them and then using "Find➞Replace" to populate the variables and the Inspector to set the parameters.) Chris Sauvé's script is beautifully thought out.

Thanks, too, for the comments re: using templates. I don't naturally think in terms of do-able actions, so OFO is both awkward and a big help, and templates make OFO flow-able for me.

Cheers.