I have a long list of projects. And i don't prioritize my
projects in any way. I have tasks, and per gtd, they either go on
my next, someday, waiting/delegated or tickling. My projects are
just there as the stakes in the ground to remind me to keep
creatjng next tasks until i can claim that the project is effective
"done".
So now here i am going through my inbox and i want to attach an
item to a project (much of my inbox comes from me emailing a task
after a meeting,etc.) after figurin out what it is. Now where's
that project on my list? Can't recall. If it's an older project it
might be at the top, although no necessarily, as it depends on how
it was created (e.g manually, or by converting a task).
So for me alphabetical would help. Everyone has their own
workflow, so options are ideal - but that's the option i'd probably
select.
It would help me during project planning. I am using Nirvana to
manage my work projects and when I have multiple projects within a
big project I list each one separately but start them with the same
word. So I might have 10 small projects all part of one big project
but at present they don't get listed together, only in the order I
add them. Sure I can manually move them but that's a hassle when
you have a long project list. When I want to edit/plan a project I
have to browse down my long project list to find the right one; it
would be nice to know immediately where it is.
heh .... we should make it a sorting preference. in the early
days of n2 projects were sorted alphabetically, but we sided with
proximo's view that as sorting in Nirvana is analogous to priority,
we switched it.
out of curiosity, how many projects are people managing in the
left navi? i have about 5 per area so it's never a problem. i've
heard that some people have a LOT more than that.
I keep about 15-20ish at a time in the left navi. Until Folders
or Sub Projects become a reality I dump all others into Someday,
and then during weekly review move things around depending on
circumstances.
For some time i used more granular projects and had more of
them. To me it was harder to manage and I now have simplified to
fewer (about 10). I might have 10 projects relating to client
delivery -- i now am lumping them into one super-project called
"Client Delivery" and by the name of the task I know what it is
for. For me it is better, but not for everyone.
When you have multiple related projects that start with the same
letter have you considered making the project an Area of Focus?
Another approach could be shifting everything in a single parallel
project, making each next action "next" and the cascading actions
"later"?
2 Posted by Bernard on 21 Oct, 2011 04:31 PM
I was just about to ask that :)
+1
3 Posted by Proximo on 21 Oct, 2011 09:11 PM
OK. So what would this do for you? How would sorting Projects in alphabetical order help in determining what you should work on?
Just asking... :-)
4 Posted by Bernard on 22 Oct, 2011 03:40 AM
I have a long list of projects. And i don't prioritize my projects in any way. I have tasks, and per gtd, they either go on my next, someday, waiting/delegated or tickling. My projects are just there as the stakes in the ground to remind me to keep creatjng next tasks until i can claim that the project is effective "done".
So now here i am going through my inbox and i want to attach an item to a project (much of my inbox comes from me emailing a task after a meeting,etc.) after figurin out what it is. Now where's that project on my list? Can't recall. If it's an older project it might be at the top, although no necessarily, as it depends on how it was created (e.g manually, or by converting a task).
So for me alphabetical would help. Everyone has their own workflow, so options are ideal - but that's the option i'd probably select.
5 Posted by Chris on 22 Oct, 2011 11:41 AM
It would help me during project planning. I am using Nirvana to manage my work projects and when I have multiple projects within a big project I list each one separately but start them with the same word. So I might have 10 small projects all part of one big project but at present they don't get listed together, only in the order I add them. Sure I can manually move them but that's a hassle when you have a long project list. When I want to edit/plan a project I have to browse down my long project list to find the right one; it would be nice to know immediately where it is.
6 Posted by Kathie on 22 Oct, 2011 03:40 PM
That functionality is there now with drag and drop. I agree, I would be lost with a jumble of projects listed in random order. :-)
7 Posted by Proximo on 24 Oct, 2011 01:48 PM
I understand.
I guess since I drag and drop my projects according to priority, I don't look at it from an alphabetical view. :-)
Sorting options are good no matter what. I was just wondering how alphabetical sorting would help some people.
Thanks for the input.
Support Staff 8 Posted by Elbert McLaughlin on 24 Oct, 2011 02:55 PM
heh .... we should make it a sorting preference. in the early days of n2 projects were sorted alphabetically, but we sided with proximo's view that as sorting in Nirvana is analogous to priority, we switched it.
Support Staff 9 Posted by Elbert McLaughlin on 24 Oct, 2011 02:56 PM
out of curiosity, how many projects are people managing in the left navi? i have about 5 per area so it's never a problem. i've heard that some people have a LOT more than that.
10 Posted by Chris on 24 Oct, 2011 05:10 PM
55 is currently the most I have in a single area.
11 Posted by schollguin on 24 Oct, 2011 05:30 PM
I keep about 15-20ish at a time in the left navi. Until Folders or Sub Projects become a reality I dump all others into Someday, and then during weekly review move things around depending on circumstances.
12 Posted by rfo on 24 Oct, 2011 06:03 PM
For some time i used more granular projects and had more of them. To me it was harder to manage and I now have simplified to fewer (about 10). I might have 10 projects relating to client delivery -- i now am lumping them into one super-project called "Client Delivery" and by the name of the task I know what it is for. For me it is better, but not for everyone.
Rob.
13 Posted by Proximo on 24 Oct, 2011 06:26 PM
I have 29 in my Work Area and 40 total.
You just changed the UI on me Elbert. :-)
You probably asked that question, just to get us to look.
Ha ha.
Looks great
14 Posted by Mick on 23 Dec, 2011 02:41 PM
When you have multiple related projects that start with the same letter have you considered making the project an Area of Focus? Another approach could be shifting everything in a single parallel project, making each next action "next" and the cascading actions "later"?