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OO Pro 4.0? Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Len Case
I don't want to speak about future plans--but it might be a good idea for you to brainstorm here about what you would like from a theoretical OO 4.0...
I second the folders/groups suggestion as well. Cloning would be sweet.

How about tabs and split document windows as well. Split windows is something that I've come to depend on and can't really write without.

cheers
 
When I'm importing text to OO, frequently items are organized so that I'd like to select some part of a topic or note text and then create a new topic from that. Yes ... I can do a copy, create topic, paste ... but that extra step is a pain. If there was some "split topic" or "create topic from text" that took the text selection and created a topic, it would be very, very handy.

If the selection started from the start of the topic, the new topic would be inserted above the current topic with the selected text removed. If the selection ended with the end of the topic, the new topic would be inserted immediately below. Text in the middle ... hmm ... probably below ....
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikejt
When I'm importing text to OO, frequently items are organized so that I'd like to select some part of a topic or note text and then create a new topic from that. Yes ... I can do a copy, create topic, paste ... but that extra step is a pain. If there was some "split topic" or "create topic from text" that took the text selection and created a topic, it would be very, very handy.

If the selection started from the start of the topic, the new topic would be inserted above the current topic with the selected text removed. If the selection ended with the end of the topic, the new topic would be inserted immediately below. Text in the middle ... hmm ... probably below ....

I don't think this does exactly what you want.. but do you know about control-return? It will split the row at the cursor give you two rows, the first row with the text before the cursor, and the 2nd with the text after the cursor.

--
Derek M.
Support Ninja
The Omni Group
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekM
I don't think this does exactly what you want.. but do you know about control-return? It will split the row at the cursor give you two rows, the first row with the text before the cursor, and the 2nd with the text after the cursor.

--
Derek M.
Support Ninja
The Omni Group
Yep. Know about that (actually, I have the setting to make that the default), and I use it when importing staight indented text, but I already have all the newlines I need ... I just need to split the text *at the existing newlines* ...

As far as my item above, I was looking for a "Mori-like" capability to take a bunch of text and treat the first line as the top and the rest as either text or a child row.
 
One thing I would like to see is a zoom view or at least the ability to view at various magnifications.

Tacitus
 
I am happy to see Len Case ask for what we would like to see in a "theoretical" OO 4.0- it is something I have been thinking about for a long time and this seems like the perfect invitation.

There appears to be two basic user camps for OO- the writers/ researchers and those who use it as a task/ project management system. I fall into the later category, so I can not say what is mssing software-wise for the writers. But, there are a number of things I would love to see in the next major release of OO for task management. Things get further complicated by the fact that I know Omnigroup is developing a Kinkless version and I do not know how the new software will affect/ change the user base of OO (maybe what I am writing should go into that forum).

Anyway, here is my list of features that I would love- no, need to see. This list has been developed through months of using programs such as OO, Mori, DevonThink, Merlin, Journaler, Yojimbo ... the list goes on and on. I have also spent countless hours scouring user forums and blogs (and I keep seeing the same group of people in each) looking for the perfect software solution. My conclusions are the following: 1. there is no perfect off-the-shelf solution (too many different people w/ different needs), 2. everyone is looking for the same basic set of core features (and the various companies are not delivering for whatever reason). For OO, it is smart folders, for Journler it is the lack of custom columns, etc.

All of the software I tested will have everything I need except one thing, and then the other software will have that one thing but will be missing something else that the first one had. It's a never ending cycle of trying to bend the software to do what I want it to do- I eventually give up and just do what the software wants me to do. I guess in that sense it is very similar to marriage, but that is another topic. If the various companies listened to what their users where saying, someone would be making a killing- I think the company that will make a killing is going to be the first company to come out with the software with the full set of core features.

What I envision is this- I would set up a basic outline (w/ custom columns) as my "database". Once the outline is set up, it would become almost secondary to the smart folders. I think that the smart folders should essentially become the program- smart folders, or a version of it, is where things are heading. Think iTunes, but with outlining capabilities.

Core Features:

1. Easy and intuitive outlining capabilities - OO is there and no major improvements are needed, in my opinion.
2. Custom columns- Again, I think OO is already there with the current columnar data types, but here are a couple more things that would further extend the existing capabilities.
- w/ auto-fill capabilities
- w/ non-destructive sorting (see: Mori)
- w/ the ability to add aliases (example: I could have a pop-up column with resources to assign to a task. I could assign a person, click on the name and it would take me to that person's smart folder that has all of the other assigned tasks). See: SailAlong Software ActionItems
- ability to add actions to- an example would be that the specific line would archive itself after it has been checked, or make private (see below)
- Privacy option per line- another checkbox?
3. Robust smart folders
- option to search by any column- this is where I think that strength of a program like I am describing would come from (in combination w/ custom column information).
- ability to edit smart folder contents (and would update info in the main outline)- smart folder would maintain the hierarchal structure and would editable

Secondary Features:

1. A floating palette for column "views"- this is where I think "sets" of user-defined columns should reside. Instead of being able to hide/suppress an individual column I think that you should be able to put together groups of columns (columns could end up in more than one group). I also think that this should be a hierarchal list.
2. Custom column views (similar to iTunes)- every "window" can be customized to show different columns.
3. Different views
- flattened table view- removes structure and allows total sorting by column
- iTunes (genre/ artist/ album)- also see: Merlin. This could replace the existing Utility Drawer?
4. Move to/ Duplicate to/ Clone to- see: DevonThink

Tertiary Features:

1. sync to Address Book- this feature would be great to use with the pop-up column type I described above when assigning tasks.
2. sync to iCal- for obvious reasons
3. able to network with other users on a network- this would be huge for our office
4. Export to OmniPlan

Anyway, there it is in a nutshell (a big one). There are many other little things I would like to see (and i may add ore if I think of any), but these are all of the key features that would make me very happy and productive. If anyone on your end is interested, feel free to contact me via email and I would be more than happy to have someone in our graphics department put together some simulated screenshots for you that would better illustrate what I am talking about.

By the way, I think that there needs to be a separate forum for feature requests. It is too hard to sort through all of the postings of people asking questions vs. those that are asking about features or have feature requests.

Thanks,
Jason
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonI
everyone is looking for the same basic set of core features (and the various companies are not delivering for whatever reason). For OO, it is smart folders, for Journler it is the lack of custom columns, etc.
Good points, I agree smart folders are a key feature. If they are configurable enough, they could also partially substitute for other needed functions, such as cloning and sorting (for me, non-destructive sorting is also very important). They are a way to get easy access to certain parts of your outline.

Hopefully some of these are coming soon, right now although OO has many virtues, it is severely lacking in the power feature comparison. It has a solid base to add to and potentially become the king of outliners.

Last edited by FredH; 2006-10-05 at 06:33 PM..
 
Project management tool:

I use Omnioutliner as a project management tool in creating, updating information to and delivering coach tours around Europe (on a preset/ arranged tour completion template I created) .

My biggest gripe is that you cannot in OO3 easily allow other users in the project team to access and manipulate the data either by syncing with it or by placing it in a network/web space for all to access accordingly in real time. Such a simple move, but a radical transformation. It would require a file master/owner to be able to set relevant access features (read, write, delete as a starter).

Jason (?) notes it as a tertiary feature in part 3?:


"Tertiary Features:

1. sync to Address Book- this feature would be great to use with the pop-up column type I described above when assigning tasks.
2. sync to iCal- for obvious reasons
3. able to network with other users on a network- this would be huge for our office
4. Export to OmniPlan"

For me this is a primary function for omnioutliner. If one person can use why can't several people access it?
 
Has anyone also mentioned the ability to lock a given row? If I had my way, it would be a feature that is configurable to either lock\unlock a row upon creation and then a toggle button or check-box to change the setting.

I would tend to use this in the enabled mode and then go back to unlock those rows I need to modify.

I would also think the locking mechanism would apply to the notes for a given row.

Hope others find this useful so it makes the list for OO4.

Speaking of v4 - is there any idea - even rough - in terms of timeline? Surely you guys have a roadmap?
 
Aleding,

Just out of curiousity, why could you use the ability to lock certain rows? I assume you mean to "lock out" editing on a row.
 
 





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