UPDATED! How to create a "Capture to inbox" icon
 

I LOVE OmniFocus for my iPhone, iPad, and Mac! One of the 5 phases of getting things done is "Capture" it is imperative that you have the ability to quickly capture things directly to inbox with minimal fuss. In the past I've used a Levenger pocket briefcase and note cards because it was quicker to pull out a note card and jot down a note than to open an app on my phone and click new item.

Ideally there would be a "Capture" icon on my iPhone homescreen that would take me instantly to the "Quick Entry in Inbox" action. Turns out this is totally doable!


If you type [COLOR="Blue"]omnifocus:///add[/COLOR] into mobile safari it takes you right to that screen. The hard part was figuring out how to make an icon on the desktop that links to that url.

Just click the link below and then, click "share" icon(the box with the arrow) and select "Add to Homescreen"

[CENTER][IMG]http://yourcbcfamily.org/storage/projects/quickentry/share.png[/IMG]

For this icon [URL="http://quickentry.zxq.net/"][IMG]http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png[/IMG][/URL]
[SIZE="5"][COLOR="SeaGreen"][URL="http://quickentry.zxq.net/"]Click Here to Add a Quick Entry ICON![/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE]

For this icon [URL="http://quickentry.zxq.net/alternate.php"][IMG]http://yourcbcfamily.org/storage/projects/quickentry/inbox.png[/IMG][/URL]
[SIZE="5"][COLOR="SeaGreen"][URL="http://quickentry.zxq.net/alternate.php"]Click Here to Add a Quick Entry ICON![/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[/CENTER]


[B][SIZE="3"]Special Thanks to lightstorm for providing and hosting the icon.

Thanks to DrJJWMac for telling me about the problems on ipod touch which pushed me to find this solution, and thanks to psidnell for helping with testing.

Thanks to the guys at [URL="http://ishortcuts.org"]http://ishortcuts.org[/URL] I was able to figure it out how to make the link work. [/SIZE][/B]

When you click your "Quick Entry" icon it will take you to the Inbox Quick Entry!

Let me know if this is helpful in the comments!

To The Omni Group: Thankyou so much for your awesome software! If I've overstepped my bounds in using your art in the icon please let me know and I'll remove it right away. You guys Rock!

My site moved to a host that doesn't allow php, so I'm looking for someone to host the images and php files. I found a temp solution, but looking for something more permanent.

Please pm me if you have a place to host this.

Hey, that's cool, thanks for sharing it! Appears to be quicker than launching OF and tapping the quick entry button, too.

Great tip! I always wished for something like that. Thanks!

[QUOTE=julienl;106179]Great tip! I always wished for something like that. Thanks![/QUOTE]

I know me too! I was ecstatic when I stumbled across this while "adding the safari bookmarklet"

I'd love to see Omni Group add a "Add capture icon to homescreen" so we wouldn't have to do this tweak.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;106181]I know me too! I was ecstatic when I stumbled across this while "adding the safari bookmarklet"

I'd love to see Omni Group add a "Add capture icon to homescreen" so we wouldn't have to do this tweak.[/QUOTE]

pastorhudson,
Phenomenal idea! I am currently using Siri to add items to my Inbox, but this works great if I can't speak into my phone. I replaced your icon with this one (it's the old Omnifocus for iPhone icon that I really like) and named it "Quick Entry" on the home screen. It's currently in the temp area of my site if you want to use it (I won't be moving it but you can always download and move to your site)

[url]http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png[/url]

Great job!

Lightstorm, Thanks! Great icon! I've added it as an option in the tutorial.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;106362]Lightstorm, Thanks! Great icon! I've added it as an option in the tutorial.[/QUOTE]

Sure! Again, great idea...I use your method daily now. :)

The downside is, this requires an internet connection to work. We folks with iPods and outside of WiFi areas cannot use it.

--
JJW

[QUOTE=DrJJWMac;106374]The downside is, this requires an internet connection to work. We folks with iPods and outside of WiFi areas cannot use it.

--
JJW[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, you are correct; I've tried a couple methods with my internet connection off, but I can't get the URL call to 'stick' so that I can bookmark it, then use the "Add to HomeScreen" feature.

Sorry about that...

[QUOTE=Lightstorm;106375]Unfortunately, you are correct; I've tried a couple methods with my internet connection off, but I can't get the URL call to 'stick' so that I can bookmark it, then use the "Add to HomeScreen" feature.

Sorry about that...[/QUOTE]

Yep I didn't think about needing an Internet connection. It doesn't work in airplane mode. That stinks. I'll add a note to the tutorial. Thanks for letting me know. Maybe this is why omni hasn't made it a standard feature.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;106380]Yep I didn't think about needing an Internet connection. It doesn't work in airplane mode. That stinks. I'll add a note to the tutorial. Thanks for letting me know. Maybe this is why omni hasn't made it a standard feature.[/QUOTE]

Well, technically it DOESN'T need an internet connection. If you type "omnifocus:///add?note" in a URL bar it works with your internet off. The problem lies in being able to make a bookmark that you can then "Add to Homescreen".

Not sure you're able to do this, though.

[QUOTE=Lightstorm;106381]Well, technically it DOESN'T need an internet connection. If you type "omnifocus:///add?note" in a URL bar it works with your internet off. The problem lies in being able to make a bookmark that you can then "Add to Homescreen".

Not sure you're able to do this, though.[/QUOTE]

Ya it is possible if you are willing to do some jailbreak hackery, but I wanted to find a way that any user could use. The only way I could find to add the omnifocus:///add?note as a home screen icon was through the webclip page. I guess I could make a tutorial for those who are willing to get their hands dirty, but I don't know if that sort of thing is acceptable in these forums.

If you know how to edit a plists then you can make this work for you. You do have to have created at least one homescreen shortcut icon to begin with.

Find /var/mobile/Library/WebClips and find the folder for the web lip you want to launch omnifocus quick entry. In the folder open the Info.plist and at the bottom you will see the URL in <string></string> brackets. Make it say <string>omnifocus:///add?note</string> save the plist and your done. Now it will work wether you have Internet or not.

[QUOTE=DrJJWMac;106374]The downside is, this requires an internet connection to work. We folks with iPods and outside of WiFi areas cannot use it.

--
JJW[/QUOTE]

Got a fix for you copy the code below and put it in the safari address bar on your iPod. After the page loads then click share button and Add to Homescreen. If all goes well you will have an icon that works even without wifi. Let me know if it works a d I'll update the tutorial.

[CODE]data:text/html;charset=UTF-8,%3Chtml%3E%3Chead%3E%3Cmeta%20name=%22viewport%22%20content=%22width=device-width,%20initial-scale=1.0,%20maximum-scale=1.0,%20user-scalable=no%22%20/%3E%3Cmeta%20name=%22apple-mobile-web-app-capable%22%20content=%22yes%22%20/%3E%3Ctitle%3EQuick Entry%3C/title%3E%3Cscript%20type=%22text/javascript%22%3Eif%20(!window.navigator.standalone)%20%7Bdocument.write(%22%3Clink%20rel='apple-touch-icon-precomposed'%20href='http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png'%20/%3E%22);%7D%3C/script%3E%3C/head%3E%3Cbody%20style='margin:0px;%20background-color:%23aeaeae;'%3E%3Ca%20id=%22shortcut%22%20href=%22omnifocus:///add?note%22%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cscript%20type=%22text/javascript%22%3Eif%20(window.navigator.standalone)%20%7B%20var%20e=%20document.getElementById(%22shortcut%22);var%20ev=%20document.createEvent(%22MouseEvents%22);ev.initEvent(%22click%22,true,true);%20e.dispatchEvent(ev);%7Delse%7Bdocument.write('%3Cdiv%20id=%22icon%22%3E%3Ca%20id=%22shortcut%22%20href=%22omnifocus:///add?note%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png%22%20width=%22114%22%20height=%22114%22%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cspan%20id=%22icon_text%22%3EQuick Entry%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20id=%22addToHomeScreen%22%20class=%22iphone%22%3ECreate%20a%20shortcut%20to%20%3Cstrong%3EOmnifocus Quick Entry%3C/strong%3E:%20tap%20%3Cspan%20class=%22share%22%3Eshare%3C/span%3E%20and%20then%20%3Cstrong%3EAdd%20to%20Home%20Screen%3C/strong%3E.%20Please%20wait%20until%20icon%20image%20is%20fully%20loaded%20in%20next%20view.%3Cspan%20class=%22arrow%22%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E');%7D%3C/script%3E%3C/body%3E%3C/html%3E[/CODE]

Cool, that worked for me on the iPad.

Another option that may work (I haven't yet tested it out) is the Icon Project app on the iTunes store. The description says that this $.99 app lets you set up all kinds of icons on your iDevice.

[QUOTE=eronel;106390]Another option that may work (I haven't yet tested it out) is the Icon Project app on the iTunes store. The description says that this $.99 app lets you set up all kinds of icons on your iDevice.[/QUOTE]

I tried it last night. Before finding the code workaround. The Icon Project did NOT work :( It somehow drops the : in omnifocus:///add?note so your browser doesn't load correctly.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;106388]Got a fix for you copy the code below and put it in the safari address bar on your iPod. After the page loads then click share button and Add to Homescreen. If all goes well you will have an icon that works even without wifi. Let me know if it works a d I'll update the tutorial.

[CODE]data:text/html;charset=UTF-8,%3Chtml%3E%3Chead%3E%3Cmeta%20name=%22viewport%22%20content=%22width=device-width,%20initial-scale=1.0,%20maximum-scale=1.0,%20user-scalable=no%22%20/%3E%3Cmeta%20name=%22apple-mobile-web-app-capable%22%20content=%22yes%22%20/%3E%3Ctitle%3EQuick Entry%3C/title%3E%3Cscript%20type=%22text/javascript%22%3Eif%20(!window.navigator.standalone)%20%7Bdocument.write(%22%3Clink%20rel='apple-touch-icon-precomposed'%20href='http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png'%20/%3E%22);%7D%3C/script%3E%3C/head%3E%3Cbody%20style='margin:0px;%20background-color:%23aeaeae;'%3E%3Ca%20id=%22shortcut%22%20href=%22omnifocus:///add?note%22%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cscript%20type=%22text/javascript%22%3Eif%20(window.navigator.standalone)%20%7B%20var%20e=%20document.getElementById(%22shortcut%22);var%20ev=%20document.createEvent(%22MouseEvents%22);ev.initEvent(%22click%22,true,true);%20e.dispatchEvent(ev);%7Delse%7Bdocument.write('%3Cdiv%20id=%22icon%22%3E%3Ca%20id=%22shortcut%22%20href=%22omnifocus:///add?note%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://lightstormstudios.com/temp/omnifocus.png%22%20width=%22114%22%20height=%22114%22%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cspan%20id=%22icon_text%22%3EQuick Entry%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20id=%22addToHomeScreen%22%20class=%22iphone%22%3ECreate%20a%20shortcut%20to%20%3Cstrong%3EOmnifocus Quick Entry%3C/strong%3E:%20tap%20%3Cspan%20class=%22share%22%3Eshare%3C/span%3E%20and%20then%20%3Cstrong%3EAdd%20to%20Home%20Screen%3C/strong%3E.%20Please%20wait%20until%20icon%20image%20is%20fully%20loaded%20in%20next%20view.%3Cspan%20class=%22arrow%22%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E');%7D%3C/script%3E%3C/body%3E%3C/html%3E[/CODE][/QUOTE]

Updated to reflect this new improved method. I think it's a bit faster too.

Thanks, pastorhudson! This is a neat trick. Just added it to my homescreen.

Sorry for the stupid question, but what's the "share" icon? (iPhone, iOS 5.0.1)

[QUOTE=eurobubba;106403]Sorry for the stupid question, but what's the "share" icon? (iPhone, iOS 5.0.1)[/QUOTE]

No such thing as a stupid question :) Picture's worth a thousand words!

[CENTER][IMG]http://canfixanything.com/quickentry/share.png[/IMG][/CENTER]

This is excellent. Thank you for your efforts.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;106394]I tried it last night. Before finding the code workaround. The Icon Project did NOT work :( It somehow drops the : in omnifocus:///add?note so your browser doesn't load correctly.[/QUOTE]

Wow -- thanks for posting your experience and saving me the headache!

Thanks. I keep OF in my bottom task bar and just open it directly as needed. So I decided even so that I prefer not to have yet another icon on my screen.

--
JJW

Another vote of thanks for this very useful tool. I've never used the quick entry mode of omnifocus, but the ability to access it via a button on the home screen makes it very useful indeed.

The Launch Centre app can fire these URLs too, and has OmniFocus support built in. Not as direct as a desktop shortcut, but does work without internet access.

[url]http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/launch-center-schedule-tasks/id488626436?mt=8&ls=1[/url]

It's an iPhone app, but does work on the iPad - unfortunately the orientation is portrait only (which I rarely use on the iPad).

Amazing...
 

pastorhudson,

thank you for the shortcut! I am new to iPhone & OF, all of about a week for both. Have been struggling with getting stuff into the inbox QUICKLY and nothing seemed to work reliably, but this shortcut is just the thing. Amazing how useful it has become. Thank you!

I'm gonna try that one out today.

I'm still in the initial stages of checking and looking for great apps for my iphone and this is something I am very interested with.

Link
 

The link no longer appears to work

The hosting site seems to be down.

Please come back! :)

Any idea why this no longer works, it looks like something very usefull?
Grant

This one works
 

Ok I finally got around to making my own:

[url]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67774/omnifocus-launcher/index.html[/url]

Great stuff gabeanzelini, much appreciated.

It's back!
 

[QUOTE=gahallgrimson;109911]Any idea why this no longer works, it looks like something very usefull?
Grant[/QUOTE]

It's back up and working.

[QUOTE=gabeanzelini;110039]Ok I finally got around to making my own:

[url]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67774/omnifocus-launcher/index.html[/url][/QUOTE]

Thank You for this. Awesome.

Is anyone using this successfully on a 1st gen iPad? The link, both from the bookmark and when I type in the address in Safari manually, seems to open an iPhone version of Omnifocus.

[QUOTE=brentajones;112560]Is anyone using this successfully on a 1st gen iPad? The link, both from the bookmark and when I type in the address in Safari manually, seems to open an iPhone version of Omnifocus.[/QUOTE]

You can actually delete that copy of OmniFocus if it's the iPhone version. You'll need to restart your iPad so the OS picks up on the change, too.

[QUOTE=derekr;112563]You can actually delete that copy of OmniFocus if it's the iPhone version. You'll need to restart your iPad so the OS picks up on the change, too.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I actually didn't realize I had the phone version loaded on there too. It all makes sense now.

That sounds cool... i am going to get an iphone tomorrow and i will definately going to get this app for my iphone.. thanks for sharing.. its really amazing app

Permission to Use Your OmniFocus Quick Entry Icon in eBook
 

I run the iPad Insight website (can't include the URL because I just joined in order to make this request) and I am ready to publish an eBook to the iBookstore and other outlets. The book is a collection of what I believe are killer tips for iPad users of all levels.

There are screenshots of the iPad dock within the book that show your OmniFocus Quick Entry icon. I would like to get your permission for this icon to appear in the book in this way.

Please let me know whether you are willing to give this permission.

Thanks for your help.

[QUOTE=patrickj;113840]I run the iPad Insight website (can't include the URL because I just joined in order to make this request) and I am ready to publish an eBook to the iBookstore and other outlets. The book is a collection of what I believe are killer tips for iPad users of all levels.

There are screenshots of the iPad dock within the book that show your OmniFocus Quick Entry icon. I would like to get your permission for this icon to appear in the book in this way.

Please let me know whether you are willing to give this permission.

Thanks for your help.[/QUOTE]

I tried to reply to your private message but you have pm's disabled :(
If I owned the rights to the icons I would gladly grant permission, but I do not own either icon. They are both owned by omnigroup I believe. So you should probably contact them directly.

[QUOTE=pastorhudson;113842]I tried to reply to your private message but you have pm's disabled :(
If I owned the rights to the icons I would gladly grant permission, but I do not own either icon. They are both owned by omnigroup I believe. So you should probably contact them directly.[/QUOTE]

Hi - Sorry I didn't even notice about the PMs being disabled and actually thought mine hadn't gone through to you. Anyway, thanks very much for the reply and I will approach Omni Group.

so cool
 

thanks, I love this function.

Hi Guys involved with this suggestion

Would an alternative be for the OF people to give us an entry in their setting which provides a range of views (including inbox, forecast etc) to select from that could be preferenced as the default opening target?

Something like
When OmniFocus is opened/started display
- Inbox
- Projects
- Flagged
- Perspectives
- Last opened view

HTH/gary

Thanks, just found this and the icon now has pride of place on both iPhone and iPad.

After upgrading to iOS 7 on my iPhone 5, the shortcut no longer works (I even rebuilt it). The page is blank. However the url entered in iOS Safari does work.

It now works again. Perhaps an iOS update?

Bob

It's not working for me on the latest iOS 7, I'm afraid.

William