"Anywhere" focus area
Gerald Aungst
via web
There are certain tasks which I can accomplish wherever I happen to be. I'd love to be able to create special focus areas like "Anywhere". They could potentially work one of two ways:
- Tasks/projects in "Anywhere" will show up in every other focus
area so I see them whether I'm at home or at work
- You could have "hard" and "soft" focus areas. The hard ones would be like "work" which only happens in the office. Soft ones could be "computer" which would show up when I select a hard focus area that has a computer (like home or work) but not ones where there is none (like "errand").
The second approach would certainly be harder to implement, and more complicated to use, but it would allow for flexibility.
Comments are currently closed for this discussion. You can start a new one.
2 Posted by Proximo on 21 Jun, 2010 11:14 AM
Work is an Area of Focus but I consider computer as a resource and not an Area of Focus.
@Computer is a resource context while "Work" is an Area of Focus or Location.
In this case, I would simply make an "Anywhere" focus area and switch to it when I want to see what's available for me to do.
Not saying that the "Anywhere" focus is a bad idea, but I am always about keeping things simple and not complicated. :-)
I like idea No. 1 but I think idea No. 2 is not needed if you are using your context/tags correctly. Areas of Focus are not used as resource context or at least in my opinion. It's up to you in the end on how you use Nirvana, but just wanted to share some thoughts.
3 Posted by martin.tyler on 21 Jun, 2010 01:28 PM
I agree it would be good to be able to get certain tasks to show up even if you are in a particular focus. I think I suggested something like this before.
I see two ways to do it:
The first kind of goes against the idea of a focus, but would be useful and simpler to understand than the second.
But with the second it would help me with two issues. First, having a non work thing to get done while i am at work. But another scenario i have is, i have 'Personal' and 'House' areas of focus, i like to be able to focus on my 'house' stuff at times, but other times i'd like to focusing on both those while not seeing 'Work' at all.
Not sure I have decided in my head exactly how best this would suit me, just throwing out ideas.
4 Posted by roddyt on 21 Jun, 2010 05:17 PM
I have two comments on this.
1) Remember, Smart List capability is an enhancement that is coming in the future. I would think you could create a smart list that would take care of these scenarios: a smart list that includes all of your AoRs, or one that includes 'Personal' or 'House' and excludes 'Work'.
2) If that's not good enough, check out @deekod's suggesion for creating AoR sublists:
http://help.nirvanahq.com/discussions/suggestions/419-aof-sublists
If that were implemented, those who wanted this kind of overarching AoR could create a single parent "Anywhere" AoR, then "Work" and "Personal" etc. would be children. And, presumably, they could have their own children.
My own opinion is that (1) is supposed to be coming anyway, and (2) would have to be done in such a way as it would not add complexity, so people like myself who probably wouldn't take advantage of it wouldn't be faced with unnecessary options.
5 Posted by martin.tyler on 21 Jun, 2010 07:21 PM
@roddyt - i think you are right that smart lists will cover this well. This means that you dont clutter the interface too much with hierarchies of areas of focus or multi select or anything.. you can configure a smart list just for the combinations you want, rather than an interface allowing every combination
Support Staff 6 Posted by Christiane Magee on 14 Jul, 2010 06:28 PM
Hi all..
I simply switch my focus from WORK to HOME if I feel I want to accomplish some personal stuff at work during lunch. If I absolutely need to take care of a personal thing at work and am worried that I won't think of switching my focus to see it, I add the task to AoF WORK and tag it "personal"... that's my workaround. I really don't want to have to outline in the task "show in HOME and WORK". I start to feel like I'm over analyzing a task.
That said, SmartLists would definitely be the thing to implement to fix this conundrum for those who really want to have a more holistic view across many areas. My 2¢ :)
7 Posted by Proximo on 14 Jul, 2010 09:39 PM
@Christiane,
I actually do exactly what you described. It's not often, but there are times when I have a personal task but I need to make a call during work hours. I move this personal task to my Work AoF to make sure I get to it while at work.
8 Posted by Terminado on 16 Jul, 2010 07:04 AM
One way to solve this (I and some others have previously suggested it) is to allow, as an option, the Today list to contain all Today tasks regardless of which AofF you're in.
Once I've lined up my day, I stay pretty much in Today but there are times I switch into certain AofF, perhaps to see if there another task I want to add to today, at which point I'd like to be able to see all of the Today tasks displayed and not have to switch.
9 Posted by martin.tyler on 16 Jul, 2010 07:50 AM
@Terminado - i'd use that option too. When i posted further up I wasnt really using Today at all, now i am i think seeing all Today tasks regardless of focus would suit me best for this problem
10 Posted by Proximo on 16 Jul, 2010 01:24 PM
@Terminado,
+1 on the idea of having a trigger on the Today list that would show all task across all AOF.
If I have some down time at work for some reason (NEVER HAPPENS), I could trigger my Today list to show all my AOF and I may find a task that I can accomplish while at work, although initially it was something personal.
Where I work this is allowed, I just never get down time. :-(
11 Posted by martin.tyler on 16 Jul, 2010 01:31 PM
@Proximo Not sure if Terminado meant it should be a preference or what - but the way you put it sounds good - a simple toggle on the today screen itself.. so you can switch to 'full today mode' quickly as you suggest.
Personally i would have it on by default, since i like to be reminded of those personal things to do while i'm at work - if its not there i wont think to click 'show all' or whatever :) Mainly because its actually not that often i have things like this, so when they do occur i need the system to flag it up rather than me checking it.
So, to cater for everyone, a preference AND a quick toggle on the today screen would be best
12 Posted by Proximo on 16 Jul, 2010 02:09 PM
@Martin
I agree. Currently we can do this by switching the AOF to All, but that is not as convenient since it also toggles all the list.
Having the ability to toggle this in the Today list would still keep you in the correct AOF while giving you the benefit of seeing everything in the Today list.
13 Posted by Terminado on 20 Jul, 2010 03:59 AM
Toggle or preference is fine, but I would probably keep it on "any" while "doing" and switch (or toggle) to a specific AofF only when planning.
14 Posted by dawn831 on 22 Jul, 2010 05:43 AM
agreed. I'd like there to be an option to see all Today tasks, not just the Today tasks for the AoR I'm currently focused on. As a homemaker, I have to switch between AoRs frequently, and one overarching Today list would be very beneficial for me. I think it's very possible that SmartLists will provide a solution for me there when they become available.
David McLaughlin closed this discussion on 31 Jan, 2011 03:40 PM.