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[Adding tasks]

I have put together a few tips and tricks which might not be obvious from the help file. I hope you find them useful.

Adding tasks

• Fastest way to add a task:
  
  rtm a Title of task
  
  This task will belong to the Inbox list.

• Parameters and switches don't have to be at the end, e.g. these are the same:
  
  rtm a Title of task /list=FarrMilk
  
  rtm a /list=FarrMilk Title of task
  
  They can even be at the beginning and at the end, e.g.
  
  rtm a /list=FarrMilk Title of task /p1
  
  This can be convenient for example when used together with FARR hotkeys. If you have a list which you add tasks to very often, you can create a FARR hotkey for it by opening FARR's options window, then go to Lists - Hotkeys, right click the hotkeys list and select 'Add a new entry', in the 'Text for Search Edit Box' type, e.g. 'rtm a /list=FarrMilk ' (note the space at the end) and choose a hotkey. When pressing that hotkey FARR will open and all you have to do is type the name of the task. You can now still add /p1 at the end to make it a high priority task or add a due date with the /due parameter, or add any of the other possible options.
  

• To make a task due today or tomorrow you can use the /today or /tomorrow switch respectively.

Viewing tasks

• Fastest way to view all your tasks:
  
  type rtm+Enter
  
  then continue typing to filter for a specific task.

• Overdue tasks have a * after their due date.

• Use the 'Only show used task properties' and 'Omit priority' options to de-clutter the tasks list. Type rtm options+Enter to open the options window.

• Type rtm t /today or rtm t /tomorrow to filter for today's or tomorrow's tasks respectively. Type rtm /overdue to show all overdue tasks.

• Whenever you see tasks in the FARR result list (which is most of the time) note that the status bar will show you how many overdue tasks are currently in the list as well as display the total estimated time of all tasks in the list.

• When sorting tasks you can reverse the sort order by adding a - at the end of the sort switch, e.g. to sort alphabetically from z to a type rtm t /sn-

• With the /sa switch you can sort tasks according to their add date, something you can't do in the RTM web interface.

Other

• After editing a task in the RTM web interface, type rtm reload+Enter to update FarrMilk's cache.

Excellent update phitsc! I like you can now only show the title. Still a minor thing; now that the whole bottom line (which can contain priority, due date etc) is empty I think it makes sense to use a bigger font size for the title like in the screenshots I posted

Great work 

Don't know if that's possible. I only tell FARR what to display. Displaying the items is done by FARR.

Version 0.2.0 is now available. See version history on first post for a list of changes. Feedback is still welcome!

Philipp

Just another thing I thought about; as I (and maybe more of us) only use rtm as-if it was a (physical) todo list - so without details -, I'd like it to have an option to disable the display of all the details on the task page. This way, it allows the task title to be bigger and take up more space and it looks a bit cleaner. I really do not need to reed the tasks are in my inbox and have no due date 10 times

If you mean the tasks command (what you get when you just type 'rtm+Enter') then type 'rtm options+Enter' and tick 'Only show used task properties' and 'Omit priority' (that's actually the settings I use myself, they are not the default though). Doing this you get rid of all but the list.

What you mean with

This way, it allows the task title to be bigger and take up more space

you'll have to explain though.

Something that annoys me a little bit is that the task list is not the same for 1 task vs. more tasks. With more tasks, it's a simple short list. If you have only 1 task, however, the list suddenly shows all the details about this 1 task (instead of having to select it and press enter). It's not consistent and I think don't really like it I like just seeing the title I gave it in the first place, I never add details anyway.

Yes, it's a valid point. I'm working on mouser's suggestion now, changing the behaviour of the tasks command to show an action list on hitting Enter on the selected task instead of showing its properties (which will then be an item in the action list). With this, I will also resolve the current inconsistency between the handling of incomplete and completed tasks (there's currently no way for example to delete a completed task). Obviously, if filtering down to one task would already show the task's properties, there would be no way of getting to the action list anymore. Nevertheless, you should still think about adding some details to your tasks to pep them up a bit

Actually, you don't need to Quit FARR. Just type 'goreload' (a message box appears, don't click yet) then delete FarrRMilk dir and unzip the new FarrMilk to Plugins/FarrMilk dir, and click OK in the FARR message box. Voilà!

Btw, phitsc, new version seems to work just fine

Thanks TucknDar for pointing that out and for letting me know that the new version works for you.

I have uploaded version 0.1.0 now. This version has only two changes:
- On mouser's suggestion, I changed the name from FarrRmilk to FarrMilk. And mouser, I used your slogan as a subtitle in the help file (I hope you don't mind)
- I replaced the libcurl DLL with yet another version. The other one was giving me problems on my work PC and that's where I use the plugin most One day, when I'm grown up, I'll compile my very own libcurl DLL!

Please note that I'm going the easy way with renaming and don't try to keep the updater compatible with version 0.0.3. I hope you guys forgive me that updating to 0.1.0 will need some handiwork. Do the following:
- Quit FARR
- Open a windows explorer and go to c:\Program Files\FindAndRunRobot\Plugins (if you installed to the default directory)
- Delete the directory FarrRmilk
- Then install the new version 0.1.0 as it says in the first post
- Restart FARR

You'll lose your options. But there aren't that many anyway.

If anyone has problems with this libcurl DLL (you would notice right on startup, i.e. the first time you type rtm), please report here or write me a PM/email!

Thanks.

Mentioned on the official remember the milk blog today:
http://blog.rememberthemilk.com/

ps.
Is it just me or is phitsc trying to compete with me in a contest of who can do the worst job of naming their software?  May i suggest that trying to pronounce "FarrRMillk" is reminiscent of reciting poetry while eating peanut butter..  How about changing the name while you still have time, before it gets too popular.  I suggest something simple like: "FarrMilk".  Kind of sounds like a science fiction energy drink of the future.

Oh, how did they find out so fast? I had hoped to keep it in this room until I'm at least at version 0.1.0

FarrMilk sounds good to me. Never tried to pronounce FarrRmilk myself, haha.

Just tried 0.0.3 but after loging in to rtm and saying "Yes" the website tells me:

"Uh oh... something went wrong. Don't worry though; it's not your fault. The application you're using to interact with Remember The Milk made an error. It might be worthwhile contacting the author of the application and telling them you encountered this page.

Alternatively, you might like to wait a little while and then try again."

Any ideas, what might be wrong?

The only time I ever saw this was when I tried to make FarrRmilk connect to RTM via https instead of http. I doubt that helps you much though. I'll have to investigate...

Hi,
great plugin I like the idea of using list mode I have to start using it as well

Just one think. When I tried to link my RTM I was not able, since I have set "Window mode/focus => Hide when focus is lost", so always when it redirected me to webpage, FARR lost focus and I was not complete linking.

Thanks czechboy! Yes, list mode is a very powerful view mode because it allows for user interaction, and in a way FARR users (or of other launchers for that matter) are used to.

Concerning that option you mention: thanks for reporting that. Reminds me of the fact that I wanted to ask mouser to add the possibility for plugins to query (and possibly even modify) FARR settings. Meanwhile (or until I can think of an other way to fix that problem) I'll add it to the FARR options requirements in the FarrRmilk help file.

Yeah, I'm using it too. Hasn't done anything wrong for me, works as you said it would, no need to post except to say thanks 

Hi Grorgy

Posts like yours are important for me (and other plugin writers I guess) for at least two reasons:
Firstly, knowing how many people use a piece of software, or at least that it is being used, gives a feeling about the plugins stability, i.e. if you don't get any bug reports it could be because there are no bugs or it could just as well be because no one's using it. And secondly: I've invested a considerable amount of my spare time implementing this plugin. Already now it probably does much more than I will ever use. The question is simply if it's worth spending any more time on it.

Cheers
Philipp

Version 0.0.3 is now available.

Thanks a lot to justice for helping me find this bug!

Hm, that could become a tough one. I've successfully run FarrRmilk on a Vista and an XP SP3 installation myself. I also just set up a clean Windows XP SP1 Home installation, installed nothing but FARR and FarrRmilk and it's working flawlessly. I'll let that fresh installation update itself now (I guess it will be SP3 in the end) and check again then. I'll also add some error logging that might help track down the problem. Thanks for your help anyway.

Cheers
Philipp

I got this after installing, everytime i run a rtm command and when FARR starts up:

---------------------------
Advanced Options: FindAndRunRobot.exe - Ordinal Not Found
---------------------------
The ordinal 3724 could not be located in the dynamic link library LIBEAY32.dll.
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

Thanks for reporting this. Would you mind trying out this version: http://farrrmilk.objectte...y.com/FarrRmilk_0.0.2.zip
Please delete your old FarrRmilk plugin directory first, as the new version doesn't need that dll you mention any more, so just unzipping into the existing directory won't remove the file.

Cheers
Philipp

Anyone else having justice's problem and can confirm that http://farrrmilk.objectte...y.com/FarrRmilk_0.0.2.zip does or does not fix the problem?

I'm a bit surprised about the relative silence in this thread. Is anyone actually using this plugin?

I got this after installing, everytime i run a rtm command and when FARR starts up:

---------------------------
Advanced Options: FindAndRunRobot.exe - Ordinal Not Found
---------------------------
The ordinal 3724 could not be located in the dynamic link library LIBEAY32.dll.
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

Thanks for reporting this. Would you mind trying out this version: http://farrrmilk.objectte...y.com/FarrRmilk_0.0.2.zip
Please delete your old FarrRmilk plugin directory first, as the new version doesn't need that dll you mention any more, so just unzipping into the existing directory won't remove the file.

Cheers
Philipp

Very nice work! I would like it, though, if the default choice for both 'add' and 'delete' would be 'task' and not list. I know it's sorted alphabetically but it doesn't make so much sense as you would want to add and delete tasks so many more times than you would add or delete lists.

Yes, I thought about that as well when implementing it. And I actually agree. It's mainly lack of time that made me do it differently, alphabetically was just so much simpler. I'll go add that to the todo list right away though

Concerning this: if you're too lazy to type 'rtm add t' + Enter (and I mean the positive kind of laziness here) you can use power user mode (read Modes of Operation in the help file) instead and just type 'rtm a' + Space. Your point is still valid though, and the way I thought I was going to do this back then was to always put the last action selected as the first result item and help at the end (that's now already the case) and sort the rest in between.

the one thing that confused me a little was that i expected i could select a task, and THEN choose to delete or mark as complete.

i eventually figured out that i had to go to main menu and choose delete then select the project.  it might be nice if there was a way to do those operations from viewing a task.

I completely agree! And I was planning to implement that as soon as plugins can customize the context menu (for mouse operation. as requested here) as well as receive per item hot keys (was requested somewhere else I think, maybe in a different context). For example, as a plugin I would like to get notified when a button is pressed (e.g. DEL to delete a task) together with the information on which item the button was pressed.

As for completing a task, you can already do that now, by hitting Shift+Enter on as task when it's displayed with 'rtm tasks'. Or you can choose to postpone the task instead (can be changed in the options dialog).

But in general your discovery is correct. You first have to say what you want to do, e.g.
- rtm add task (or a for short)
- rtm complete task (c)
- rtm rename task (ren)
- rtm delete task (del)
etc.
this will always give you a list of ALL tasks. Then you choose with which task to want to do that by applying filters, e.g. typing some characters of its name, or (additionally) add /list=blah to filter for tasks of a specific list, or (additionally) by adding /p2 to filter for tasks with priority 2 only, etc. And you can apply different sortings to make it easier for you to find the task you want to do something with.

I think once you understand this basic concept: First choose what you want to do then filter with what you know about the task you want until you find it, the plugin allows very fast and powerful manipulation of RTM tasks. Obviously it would be cool to have the other possibility as well (i.e. filter first, then choose what to do).

Very nice work! I would like it, though, if the default choice for both 'add' and 'delete' would be 'task' and not list. I know it's sorted alphabetically but it doesn't make so much sense as you would want to add and delete tasks so many more times than you would add or delete lists.

Yes, I thought about that as well when implementing it. And I actually agree. It's mainly lack of time that made me do it differently, alphabetically was just so much simpler. I'll go add that to the todo list right away though

Thanks mouser!

The help file is still missing loads of information though, e.g. the options dialog is completely missing. Also other stuff, it was just too much to describe it all in one go. I'll certainly add to it. One important thing missing is: you can add /a or /sall or /showall when displaying tasks or lists to switch to FARR's small icon view. Well, with only two tasks it's not a problem yet, hahaha.

I don't use Remember the Milk, but this plugin looks wonderful! Gorgeous!
This will/could certainly serve as an inspiration to others.
Great work!!! 

Thanks! The nice visuals are all thanks to Hamradio by the way. He designed and made all the icons (140 icons!). He will of course also benefit from all donations I get

Also don't forget to add the link to the screencasts!

Yes, good idea! I've added links to the two preliminary videos in the first post.

[Description]

Description
The FARR Remember The Milk Plugin (FarrMilk) allows you to access your Remember the Milk (RTM) tasks and lists using Find and Run Robot (FARR). A lot of what you can do via the RTM web interface you can do with FarrMilk.

Check out these two video demos (of preliminary versions) to get an idea of what FarrMilk is: Demo 1, Demo 2

[attach=1]

What you can and can't do with FarrMilk
Can:

• View your tasks
• Filter your tasks by task name, by list, by tag, by priority and by due date
• Sort your tasks by task name, by priority, by due date, by date added, by date completed and by URL
• Add new tasks
• Delete tasks
• Complete / Uncomplete tasks
• Move tasks from one list to another
• Postpone tasks
• Change a task's properties, including its name, priority, due date, recurrence, time estimate, tags, location and URL
• Add, edit and delete task notes
• View your lists
• Add new lists
• Delete lists
• Archive / Unarchive lists
• View your tags
• View tasks of your smart lists (with limitations! read About Smart Lists further down)

Can't:

• Share tasks (missing in the RTM API)
• Send tasks (missing in the RTM API)
• Manage contacts and groups (although the RTM API would allow this, I feel it doesn't make much sense without task sharing or sending functionality).
• Manage locations
• Create smart lists
• Modify more than one task at the same time
• FarrMilk currently doesn't support languages other than English
• probably more...

Download & Install
Download the FarrMilk installer from here then double-click FarrMilkSetup.exe to start the installation. I've tested the installer on both Windows XP and Windows 7 32-bit. If you'd rather install the plugin manually, you can download it from here, then unzip it into the FARR plugins directory (usually C:\Program Files\FindAndRunRobot\Plugins) and restart FARR.

Getting started
Before you can use FarrMilk you'll have to authorise the plugin to manipulate your RTM account. To do this, open FARR and type rtm, a web browser will open asking you to log into your RTM account. After logging in, press the [OK, I'll allow it] button. Then switch back to the FARR window (which should still be open in the background. If it isn't you probably have set FARR to hide when focus is lost in the Window Mode / Focus settings. Change that to Ignore until authorisation is complete) and hit enter. After a short delay in which your tasks and lists are downloaded you should see the FarrMilk main menu and are ready to go!

Next, type rtm <Enter> to show a list of your tasks or rtm help to learn about the details of using FarrMilk.

All feedback is welcome. Not only about the plugin, but also about the help file.

FEP (frequently encountered problems)

Problem	Solution
When using both FarrMilk and the GooglePlus plugin GooglePlus' options window pops up every time you enter GP	If you are running GooglePlus v1.1 or lower replace GooglePlus' fscript.js file with this one
FarrMilk crashes when you try to select an item	If you are running any FScript-based plugins make sure they are all using FScript.dll 1.16 or newer (get it from here)

Version history
1.1.3 - 7. November 2011

• Fixed a crash related to tasks created by email
• Added info concerning the configuration of proxy servers requiring user / password

1.1.2 - 10. November 2010

• Tags and Notes now support UTF8 characters
• Power user command for archiving a list is now 'vl'

1.1.1 - 6. January 2010

• Renamed 'Parse task name for due date' option to 'Use Smart Add', because that is what it's now doing
• Updated libcurl

1.1.0 - 12. May 2009

• Added option 'Highlight exact tag match'
• Added option 'Highlight search term'
• Added tool tips to some of the options
• Implemented sorting by list (/s:l or /sort:list)

Thanks for offering your help mouser. I doubt though that it would be appreciated if I take some of your time for proofreading my help file, while you could work on more important stuff during that time. On the other hand, you can obviously use your time however you like

Here's an excerpt from the help file, the list of what you can and can't currently do with the plugin:

What you can do with FarrRmilk

    * View your tasks
    * Filter your tasks by task name, by list, by tag, by priority and by due date
    * Sort your tasks by task name, by priority, by due date, by date added, by date completed and by URL
    * Add new tasks
    * Delete tasks
    * Complete / Uncomplete tasks
    * Move tasks from one list to another
    * Postpone tasks
    * Change a task's properties, including its name, priority, due date, recurrence, time estimate, tags, location and URL
    * Add, edit and delete task notes
    * View your lists
    * Add new lists
    * Delete lists
    * Archive / Unarchive lists
    * View your tags
    * View tasks of your smart lists (with limitations! read About Smart Lists further down)


What you can't do with FarrRmilk

    * Share tasks (missing in the RTM API)
    * Send tasks (missing in the RTM API)
    * Manage contacts and groups (although the RTM API would allow this, I feel it doesn't make much sense without task sharing or sending functionality).
    * Manage locations
    * Create smart lists
    * Modify more than one task at the same time
    * FarrRmilk currently doesn't support languages other than English
    * probably more...

I'll make a first release available for testing as soon as the icons are ready.

Looks like I have some spare time during my holidays when I'm not hanging around at the beach playing with my kid, which I now spend writing a help file. But one thing's for sure: that help file will suck!

In other words: the position is still available!

edited: How I wrote that it sounded like I'm not enjoying hanging around at the beach playing with my kid. And while I don't enjoy hanging around at the beach that much, I very much enjoy playing with my kid. Certainly much more than writing that help file 

And another demo video before my absence to make the 'FARR and RTM' users a bit more excited (well, maybe).

It shows:
- the three modes of operation: beginner (via menu), verbose (for people who like it prose, that would be me) and power user (with abbreviations).
- adding tasks to lists right when adding a task (with list substring matching)
- changing task properties when adding tasks (with verbose parameters or with switches)
- changing the default sort order (which can be set in the options dialog) with parameters or switches
- filtering tasks by list or by priority

It's about 8.5 megs (3 minutes) and can be downloaded from here: http://farrrmilk.objectte...nology.com/FarrRmilk3.avi