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-   -   Tips & Tricks for Siri -> OmniFocus capture (http://forums.omnigroup.com/showthread.php?t=22688)

Lizard 2011-11-19 10:15 AM

Tips & Tricks for Siri -> OmniFocus capture
 
[I'm going to try keeping this thread closed, to keep it info-only and not tangled with a bunch of questions. Please feel free to start other threads to ask questions.]

Q. Why does iCloud Reminders capture only work on an iPhone 4S? What about my iPad/Mac/iPhone 4?

A. Our primary goal with this feature is to work with Siri. Typing an entry into the OmniFocus inbox on your iPhone is a bit tedious unless your fingers are unusually small and nimble. Talking to your phone is so much more natural. We chose a design which quickly worked with Siri, but can cause notifications to be missed if you add Reminders in other ways or on other devices.

Lizard 2011-11-19 10:23 AM

Q. Okay, wait, how does this Siri integration work?

A.

Reminders need to sync to iCloud.
Settings app > iCloud > Reminders: ON
It can take a minute or so for an item to make it up to iCloud.

OmniFocus needs to be set up.
OmniFocus > Settings > iCloud Reminders >
Turn it on, and use the same iCloud account that is specified in Settings app > iCloud.
Tap the [Connect] button, and watch for the "Connection Successful" message at the bottom.

Now you can talk to Siri.
- If you tell Siri "Remind me to..." you can include when. When can be an actual date/time. "Remind me to start laundry at 7 pm" "Remind me to tell my boss about OmniFocus on Monday."
Or it can be a geonotification when you arrive/leave a place. "Remind me to call Grandma when I get home." "Remind me to get gas when I leave here."
- If you tell Siri "Remember to..." she will not ask you when. "Remember to read the new Steve Jobs biography."

Siri stores your item in Reminders.
Now, when OmniFocus becomes active, it will check your Reminders list for new items. When OmniFocus creates an action, IT WILL DELETE the corresponding Reminder item. This is so that you don't get reminded twice.

Lizard 2011-11-19 10:59 AM

Q. I don't want ALL my reminders to go to OmniFocus. Can I just send some of them there?

A. Sure!
1) In the Reminders app, add a new list named "OmniFocus". (Capitalized exactly like that.)
2) Quit OmniFocus ([URL="http://timeread.hubpages.com/hub/How-stop-background-apps-on-an-iPhone-iPad-or-iPod-Touch-running-iOS"]step-by-step guide[/URL]).
3) Tell Siri "Add research hybrid vehicles to my OmniFocus list."
4) Launch OmniFocus. Within a minute, "research hybrid vehicles" should show up in your inbox.
("Remind me to feed the cat" will still go in your default reminders list.)

Lizard 2011-11-19 03:56 PM

Q. Actions with locations aren't getting captured.

A. If OmniFocus can't match an item's location pretty exactly to one of its contexts, it will be left in Reminders instead. It's more important that you get reminded when you expect to, than it is which app reminds you.

Make sure your context has a location.
Set up the notification for arriving or leaving, whichever is appropriate.
Pick the smallest circle for the distance.

Lizard 2011-11-19 04:01 PM

Q. Why isn't OmniFocus picking up ANY actions from Reminders?

A. Hmm....
1) Make sure your list is named either "Reminders" or "OmniFocus" -- yes, capitalization matters.
2) Make sure iCloud syncing is turned on for Reminders.
3) [URL="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/30/iphone-101-quitting-apps-in-ios-4/"]Quit[/URL] and relaunch OmniFocus (it only looks for new calendar names on a full relaunch, but it will attempt to capture each time it becomes the active app).

Lizard 2012-01-25 10:28 AM

Q. Siri keeps complaining I don't have a list named "Omni Focus" (with a space).

A. If you add a contact to your addressbook whose first name is "OmniFocus", it seems to help Siri understand when you say "Add 'buy cat food' to my OmniFocus list."


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