As teased in Ken’s blog post last week, OmniFocus 4.7 test builds are now available! This is an exciting one!
OmniFocus 4.7 introduces a powerful set of new database features: a new “Planned” date type, the ability to create mutually exclusive tags, and improved repeat functionality (including new support for setting a repeat to end after a specific date or set number of repetitions). These features will be available in test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 after completing the database migration flow, which has been updated for clarity and reliability.
Additionally, this release includes a range of improvements which do not require a database migration: Time Sensitive Notifications, shortcut improvements, and more!
Important Note: If you choose to migrate your database while running OmniFocus 4.7 test builds, your OmniFocus database will no longer be compatible with the current release of OmniFocus. If you need to reinstall OmniFocus 4.6.1 after migrating your database, doing so will require reverting to a pre-migration backup of your OmniFocus database.
- OmniFocus 4.7 test builds for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro can be installed via TestFlight.
- Mac test builds are also available immediately for direct download, Mac TestFlight builds we also be available following TestFlight approval.
- An OmniFocus for the Web compatibility update is also available to test.
OmniFocus 4.7 for All Platforms - Initial Test Release Notes
All Platforms
- Database Migration — Some features in this release require a new database format. You will be automatically prompted to migrate your database after all syncing copies of OmniFocus have updated to 4.7 (test builds of OmniFocus 4.7 are available for all platforms, including OmniFocus for the Web.
- Widgets — While we do not anticipate user-visible changes at this point in time, the code which populates OmniFocus widgets has been updated substantially. Please let us know if you run into unexpected widget behavior!
- Documentation — In-progress documentation for test builds is now available on our website.
- Planned Dates — Items can now be assigned a Planned Date, in addition to a Defer and a Due Date. A Planned Date is the date an action, action group, or project is scheduled for work. (Planned dates require database migration.)
- Mutually Exclusive Tags — Mutually exclusive behavior can now be enabled for tag groups. When enabled, only one tag from tag group can be assigned to an item at a time; when an additional tag from this group is assigned, the previously assigned tag is removed. Mutually exclusive tags can be useful in a variety of workflows, including priority and energy level assignment. (Mutually exclusive tags require database migration.)
- Improved Repeats — A range of new repeat behaviors can now be configured in the updated Repeat interface. (New repeat behaviors require database migration.)
- Repeat Limits — Repeats can now be set to end after a date or set number of repetitions.
- Automatic Catch Up — Repeating items now skip forward to next future date when “Catch up automatically” is enabled.
- Repeat Schedules — Improved flexibility for items that repeat on a regular schedule.
- Inspector — New interface for editing repeats. When not editing, repeat behavior is now summarized in Inspector.
- Shortcuts — New “Find Perspective” Shortcut.
- Time Sensitive Notifications — OmniFocus notifications now default to Time Sensitive alert behavior
- Copy as Link — Improved consistency of “Copy as Link” behavior across platforms.
- Dates — Standardized date terminology throughout app.
- Notifications — Clarified language used to describe notifications throughout app.
- Notifications — Custom notifications are no longer applied to future instances of repeating actions and projects.
- Shortcuts — Sorting options are now available for “Find” Shortcut actions.
- Tags — New “Tag group” sidebar icon.
Mac
- Sync — Stale sync client recovery flow now matches recovery flow on other platforms.
- Archive — Database Archive now migrates to most recent format alongside primary OmniFocus database.
- Apple Intelligence — Writing Tools cursor is no longer displayed for project, tag, and date fields in Inspector
- Tags — Location Tag type icon now displays more reliably in sidebar.
iPhone & iPad
- Menus — Corrected menu item titles for compatibility with forthcoming versions of iPadOS.
- Notifications — Time field no longer scrolls off screen when adding a notification on iPhone.
