Thanks for the reply @kcase. A bit more info:
Yes, but you can only create a new task, not a project (unless I haven’t figured that one out).
What I meant by “too many taps” is that in OmniFocus:
- You can only create a new task within the project(s) you can see on screen at the time you drag the button. If you’re in Forecast view, you can’t see any projects.
- Adding a due and/or defer date means tapping and scrolling for day, month, year.
- Adding a note to a task, means more tapping, then tapping back.
For example (and apologies for the super long explanation), a common scenario would be this:
I’m in Forecast view working through my tasks and while doing X task for Y project I realise I need to add 3 more tasks to that project.
If I hit the plus button and drag, I can only add tasks to what’s on screen. So either Due on or Deferred to the day I’m on, or drag to one of the days at the top. I cannot put them in a Project.
So to add those 3 tasks to the project I have to either:
- Tap the Plus button (without dragging) to create a new task. Give it a name. Then:
1.1 Tap on Project
1.2 Tap on search bar to search for Project (or scroll)
1.3 Tap to select the Project
1.4 Tap on Due/Defer.
1.4.1 Tap, scroll, Tap, scroll, Tap, scroll to select dates in the horrible iOS date picker.
1.5 Tap Save +
1.6 Start at 1.1 again (plus all the tapping to put in tags, flag, reminders, notes, etc.)
If I do this, the tasks will be at the bottom of my project and I can’t decide where they go from here.
or
- Tap and drag the Plus button to a date. Give it a name. Then follow the steps above. All I’ve saved here is that it’ll auto populate the due date to where I dragged.
or
- Navigate out of Forecast and go into the project and add them there:
3.1 Tap Projects.
3.2 Tap the Folder.
3.3 Tap the Project. (Assuming only one folder deep)
3.4 Tap and drag the Plus button to where I want the task and give it a name.
3.5 Tap on Due/Defer.
3.6 Tap, scroll, Tap, scroll, Tap, scroll to select dates in the horrible iOS date picker.
3.7 Tap outside to drop the task.
3.8 Tap and drag again, or just tap the little + button on the left, and start again for the 3 tasks. Unless these are nested tasks, then there’s more tapping.
3.9 Tap on Projects to get out of the task list.
3.10 Tap on Home to go back to Home
3.11 Tap on Forecast to get back to where I was originally.
Contrast this with Things. If I’m in the Today view, I can:
- Tap on the Project visible on the left pane since they’re always there, (maybe another Tap if the Folder/Area is closed)
- Tap and drag on the + button and give it a name.
- Tap on the date picker and Tap on the date. No scrolling and tapping to selecting date, month, year separately because it has a calendar date picker.
- Repeat the Tap and drag 3 times.
- Tap on Today to go back to where I was.
Plus, with Things I can navigate most of it with the keyboard.
If I had to add notes to the tasks, in OF there would be even more taps, whereas in Things I’d just tab and keep typing.
I hope that helps.
I miss the Mac look so much on iPad. Just having the left pane always show me my projects without having to tap, tap, tap in and out would be amazing.
I did, but honestly I don’t think this is a solution for my circumstances. If I only had a PC and no access to any Apple devices, then yes. But I have my iPad with me all the time and the iPad app should be just as quick, powerful, and pleasant as using OmniFocus for Mac. Otherwise, what’s the point of buying the iPad app?
Another reason I like the apps is that I travel a lot and I love managing OmniFocus on the plane while I’m away from WiFi, phones, etc. It’s my quiet time to plan, organise, and yes, fiddle with OF.
