Donny Nyamweya's dashboard

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in The Omni Group on September 15, 2009 02:47:

Omnifocus crashing consistently after iPhone OS 3.1 update

Since I updated my iPhone IS to 3.1, Omnifocus (iPhone) has been crashing whenever I try to touch/use and of the buttons on the Omnifocus home screen. This has rendered the application unusable since I can only look at it and not touch anything.

I am wondering if this is happening to all iPhones since it seems like a major issue that should have been notice when testing Omnifocus with the new OS update from Apple.

Donny Nyamweya replied on September 04, 2009 01:06 to the problem "Filters no-longer available in the new update of OmniFocus" in The Omni Group:

You are right, I had to select "Show View Bar" and it came up - I wonder if after setup the window/workspace settings were reset to defaults or hidden. It would help to leave them as they were, if possible.

Thank you for the swift reply and useful answers - When will we get "Perspectives" on the iPhone version ;)

Donny Nyamweya reported a problem in The Omni Group on September 03, 2009 15:07:

Filters no-longer available in the new update of OmniFocus

I recently updated Omnifocus for Mac, and I cannot see the filters that used to be at the head of all columns allowing me to filter what I see and then saving as a perspective, or just focusing on a few items

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in The Omni Group on August 03, 2009 15:50:

Add a time-demension to context and perspective on the iPhone

I use both iPhone and Mac versions of Omnifocus, and this setup has made me extremely dependable and efficient. However, I often find myself sifting through Next-Tasks to determine which ones are possible at a given moment. In addition to 'Location', Context is also dependent upon a time-window. For instance, I now wake up quite early and while I am out running errands, the GPS feature nicely lists next items - I however have to sift through and pick up only those that are available at that time (Store opens at 8am, Library closes at 4pm on Fridays etc).

If we had the ability to set a time window for each context (can this be included in the promised Perspectives feature for iPhone), then I could effortlessly glide from one store to another without worrying about arriving at the closest GPS location only to find it closed, or having to add open/close times for each context in the title.

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in The Omni Group on July 24, 2009 16:18:

OmniFocus is missing reporting features

I notice that the only reporting available in OmniFocus iPhone/Mac is the completion date/time of a given task. It would be helpful if the application did some reporting so that one could see how long it takes to get things done, if duration estimates are adhered-to/realistic (a timer would help as an addition), how well one is doing (do tasks languish in 'someday maybe' forever), maybe suggest items that take just a few moments that have been waiting for too long etc.

In addition to the above analytical justifications for having reporting features in OmniFocus, no one can deny that it would feel good to see a graph, or a smiley face on the iPhone interface if one has been productive - let's admit it; fodder for the ego!

Donny Nyamweya replied on June 08, 2009 15:44 to the question "How do I add getsatisfaction to my tumblr?" in Tumblr:

The code for adding getsatisfaction uses absolute positioning (it does not scroll with the page), so you can simply stick the getsatisfaction code at the end of the code before the closing and it will use the alignment rules specified in getsatisfaction

Donny Nyamweya replied on June 08, 2009 15:40 to the question "custom domain name" in Twitter:

I do not think twitter supports this - at least not as simply as Tumblr (tumblr allows custom DNS for posting and sharing content).

However, if you have time to mess with the API, this is what you can do:
1) Block your twitts from public access
2) Use the API to pull an XML feed of your twitts and implement code to publish the twitts on your custom URL.

That way the twitter.com/xyx will not have your content, but blog.company.com will show the twitts.

I have implemented a such a solution with Tumblr on the http://idonny.com homepage by pulling two of the latest posts from tumblr to a custom URL...
NB: Since tumblr allows custom DNS, I did not have to replicate that using the process above.

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 29, 2009 19:25 to the question "Add the possibility to combine contexts for more effective GTD" in The Omni Group:

It is definitely "whatever works" when it comes to details. I listen to some podcasts on GTD and I hear a myriad of approaches - which reinforces your point.

That said, I still do not know how to manage the example above about budget items that have to be discussed with different people. One approach might be to create a budgets folder, but then that would break the project container that each budget action belongs to. Maybe if Omnifocus supported Tags, that would provide a simple, flexible, but powerful way to link items in a fluid way.

I use an IT support application (ClockingIT) that has the same constraint, and does not have context, but it supports Tags and so I can create a tag for context and combine multiple tags in a search/query. In ClockingIT, the issue does not arise cause when I am on phone with my designer, I can sort by the designer's name and see what I need to mention, or if there is a meeting with a designer and server admin, I can combine the tags (with an OR relationship) and have an quick and useful agenda.

Am I expecting the wrong features from Omnifocus?

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 29, 2009 17:43 to the question "Real world experience with Mosso?" in Mosso:

I see that this question is a few months old, and so there is more information ... I am currently testing Mosso cloud-servers and it should provide you with what you need. You can spawn as many or few servers as you wish and make them what you want. Each server gets a static IP, and so you can setup Apache/PHP on one server, and then spawn a very very powerful one and make it just a MYSQL server. This will enable you to get the separate mySQL server you want.

This is what I think about the Mosso Cloud Service so far (blog entry)
http://cmsproducer.com/mosso-cloud-se...

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 29, 2009 17:09 to the question "Add the possibility to combine contexts for more effective GTD" in The Omni Group:

Hi Ray, thanks for the suggestion, and actually the more I work with the application, the more some of these things are becoming clear. The approach that I have since taken is to create 'sub-projects' to assemble all the tools and requirements that I need (sequentially), and then start the project (with the sub-projects also sequential relative to each other). That is based on the same concept as your suggestion albeit with a more elaborate hierarchy of sub-projects.

My new challenge is how to have dependency between sub-sections of bigger projects. I may be making this more complex than it needs to be, but I have grouped my home activities into folders and projects. In one case, I need to do all house repair budgeting and financial planning in one place (currently have budget as a context), but then it means that if I need to involve different people for different budget tasks (these are budget issues for different projects anyway - home, office, personal ,hobby etc), I cannot add the "people: Bill" context to be able to consult bill about the cost of a given item/job when I see him. As is, I have to create a sequentially preceding task for each budget item and call it "talk about web-server purchase @context - people: Bill" so that I can only get tot he budget action after I talk to Bill. Although this is logically valid, it makes things unnecessarily intricate since multi-context items like budgeting have to be turned into sub-sub-projects just to be able to connect two contexts.

I am sure I can think up more intricate relationships, but they may be unrealistic :)

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 15, 2009 01:34 to the question "Listing of unprocessed, but due tasks" in The Omni Group:

I'll be honest, that is a good understanding of my frustration and a complete explanation of the workflow change that will eliminate the obstacle.

Thank You

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 14, 2009 00:27 to the question "Add the possibility to combine contexts for more effective GTD" in The Omni Group:

hanks for your reply and insight - I will confess that I just started reading the book last week after listening to endless podcasts about GTD. I have yet to read and understand the mind-like-water principle, but I think I agree with you about complicating matters.

Previously, I scheduled tasks on particular days in my ticketing system (clockingIT) and only after reading the book, I realised that I do not need to schedule specific times to do things, but rather use milestones as a guideline of delivery dates - planning too much actually built-up stress in my mind when something threw me off and I was not able to finish chew through my list of tasks for a given day - When I look at my past logs, I actually see myself pushing one task from day to day for 10 days (how precise can that me?)
... well so much about my stories

Thanks and I am looking forward to more features and insight from OmniGroup to get me organised and cool

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in The Omni Group on May 13, 2009 19:02:

Listing of unprocessed, but due tasks

After a little struggle, I just found out that if a task does not have a context or project (is still int he inbox), even if the task has a due-date, it will not get listed in the "due" view of tasks. In my experience, this is a dangerous setup because:
e.g
I created some tasks quickly yesterday and I knew that I wanted to do them today. I did not bother to enter a context of project because they are burning tasks. When I go to "all Tasks" perspective, I can search for and actually see a red badge next to the task, but if I click on the "Due" button to see things that are due today (to have an idea of what I need to do in my next errand), I do not see those burning tasks even if they are due right now.

Initially I got scared that I cannot trust the system, but after some clicking around, I found out that if I give the tasks a context, they suddenly appear on my next items list.

I know that I need to process tasks and add a context or project, but sometimes burning issues remembered int he last minute may not wait tot he next review/processing session. I know that I can disable the requirement for a context or project in the settings, but the side-effect is that I will not have a way to review other quick tasks that need organisation unless I start using miscellaneous as the new inbox

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 12, 2009 22:56 to the question "Add the possibility to combine contexts for more effective GTD" in The Omni Group:

NB:
- Just read that Omnifocus iPhone will soon support Perspectives - that will solve some of these complex issues.
- I see that my case-scenario is kind of a cosmic coincidence that may actually take time and luck for those contexts to happen by chance.

I ran into another situation yesterday that might be a more practical example:
---
I have maintenance tasks to do, the guest-room floor needs to be nailed-in, there is a hole in the wall to be patched, and so are there other holes to be patched in other rooms (so I cannot use one room as a context or just plaster). To apply plaster, I need to borrow a sander from Josh and a venting fan. It would be nice if it were possible to combine the prerequisites (tools) needed for a given task to become available. I know that I can create sub-tasks to borrow the sander, ensure that there is no rain etc, but if these prerequisites keep happening, it might be nice to work with combined contexts.... imagine quickly creating a perspective of repairs to do when it is rainy and you have the red car :)

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in Panic Inc on May 11, 2009 04:16:

"Reload" SSH directory almost always shows the cached list

I find that when I am viewing the remote window in Coda, if I do some file operations in commandline and then try to refresh the view in the GUI, I almost always (90%) keep seeing the cached list and if I want to see the new/updates file list, I can to close and reopen the window.... or use MacFusion if I want to access the SSH list and see it updated in a Finder window.

Is there a way to properly clear the Coda cache and see the latest list over SSH?

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 09, 2009 19:33 to the discussion "How are you using the Perspectives?" in The Omni Group:

I use perspectives to filter-out next actions that may be distracting or out of place. For examples, when I am seated at my desk working (for clients), I use the project management application for work tasks. SO I use Omnifocus perspectives to filter out any chores and errands from my view so that I can concentrate on work-related items (call client X, shred papers, archive letters - stuff that is not a project task but relevant to work).

As such, I use them almost like contexts, but a little differently

Donny Nyamweya asked a question in The Omni Group on May 09, 2009 17:49:

Add the possibility to combine contexts for more effective GTD

One thing I find missing in both the desktop and iPhone Omnifocus that would increase efficiency is the ability to combine contexts. For instance, If an action needs that I have a phone, laptop and be in the kitchen, there is no way to combine those requirements unless I create that combination as a unique context, and that can result with infinite permutations.

Sometimes I need to be at Lowes, have a certain credit card, and be with my contractor friend Josh to be able to accomplish something. It is no use for the item to come up as actionable when I meet Josh but do not have the credit card required... anyone else runnign into this dead-end?

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 08, 2009 17:51 to the problem "Coda freezes when my Mac sleeps ..." in Panic Inc:

Just got an email response from Will (from Coda) about the crash report that I sent earlier suggesting that the crash is related to SVN. Confirmed that I am using SVN on Coda, and I am waiting for more information and solutions (hopefully)

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 08, 2009 14:38 to the problem "Coda freezes when my Mac sleeps ..." in Panic Inc:

The problem has recurred, and I have sent a crash report to Apple and another to Panic with a comment to Coda explaining that the report is in relation to this post on GetSatisfactions

Donny Nyamweya replied on May 07, 2009 17:57 to the problem "Coda freezes when my Mac sleeps ..." in Panic Inc:

Thanks for the quick reply - I will try and reproduce the issue and send you the log info requested