Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Eric S Fraga]

On Tuesday,  3 Oct 2017 at 16:04, Mycroft Jones wrote:
> How do I learn about org-contrib and how to use it?

Org contrib is a collection of extra functionality.  It comes with the
development version of org (i.e. from git) but is also available as a
MELPA package I believe.

How do you install org?  Or do you use org that comes with your Emacs?
If the latter, maybe somebody else on this list can help point you to
how to install org-contrib.

-- 
: Eric S Fraga via Emacs 27.0.50, Org release_9.1.1-78-gfbf47c


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Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mycroft Jones]

On Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 06:48:16AM +0100, Eric S Fraga wrote:

On Wednesday, 27 Sep 2017 at 13:24, Bob Newell wrote:

[...]


To further the concept: If TODOs had due dates/time estimates/time spent
as perhaps additional properties, and there was a better way to express
dependencies (I think there is already an org-mode adjunct for this),
some coding could turn this into a Task Juggler input file.


There is ox-taskjuggler in org-contrib...


How do I learn about org-contrib and how to use it?

Mycroft

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Eric S Fraga]

On Wednesday, 27 Sep 2017 at 13:24, Bob Newell wrote:

[...]

> To further the concept: If TODOs had due dates/time estimates/time spent
> as perhaps additional properties, and there was a better way to express
> dependencies (I think there is already an org-mode adjunct for this),
> some coding could turn this into a Task Juggler input file.

There is ox-taskjuggler in org-contrib...

-- 
: Eric S Fraga via Emacs 27.0.50, Org release_9.1.1-78-gfbf47c


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Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Bob Newell]

Mycroft Jones  writes:

> I'm wondering if org-mode can do this:
>
> I have many tasks.  Some are one off.  But many are tasks that will take a
> period of time, days, weeks, months.  I need to schedule a bit of time every
> day.  Over time I can complete the tasks by plugging away.  But I have so 
> many.
> Half hour chunks work for some tasks, 1 or 2 or 3 hour chunks work best for
> others.

Aloha,

This sort of thing is really a project management issue. While I know
you're asking for an org-mode solution, something like Task Juggler will
do the kind of scheduling you want. But it would be a fair amount of
work entering progress and updating scenarios every night.

What is really needed is a good org-mode/Task Juggler interface. (There
is an Emacs interface but it's meant for creating and running Task
Juggler scenarios directly.) I'm not necessarily volunteering to write
one, but it could be done. However this doesn't help you in the near
term.

To further the concept: If TODOs had due dates/time estimates/time spent
as perhaps additional properties, and there was a better way to express
dependencies (I think there is already an org-mode adjunct for this),
some coding could turn this into a Task Juggler input file.

There is already a project management adjunct for Emacs, but it doesn't
do scheduling.

-- 
Bob Newell
Honolulu, Hawai`i
* Via Gnus/BBDB/Org/Emacs/Linux *

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Peter Neilson]

On Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:02:26 -0400, Mycroft Jones  
 wrote:



On Wed, Sep 27, 2017 at 07:14:25PM +0300, Melleus wrote:

That's true. But the clipboard can't beep when you might have forgotten
about some important appointment when shearing a sheep, driving a
tractor or doing other interesting things... If you don't neeed the
reminder functionality then the clipboard is the winner I should agree.


If you had a days advance warning, the appointment should be in the  
printout on
the clipboard.  If it is an appointment that suddenly came up, you  
should write

it on the clipboard.  If you have an urgent appointment scheduled, you
shouldn't be up on the roof or driving the tractor. :)

Mycroft


When I am driving the tractor I cannot hear anything beep. Maybe I should  
do a Hackaday project that would notify me. Air-raid sirens or eclipsing  
the sun might get my notice.


When shearing sheep I don't want anything on me that is any more high tech  
than the shears. The electric shears have a high-tech motor. The low-tech,  
which are actually safer for the sheep, have not changed in design for  
hundreds of years or more. Burgon & Ball have made them since 1730.  
https://www.burgonandball.com/shop/scripts/prodList.asp?idcategory=80


I have some nice aluminum clipboards that also have a compartment.  
Portable writing desk, if you will. I'm going to try incorporating them  
into a better method for keeping track of things. No beeping, though.

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mycroft Jones]

On Wed, Sep 27, 2017 at 07:14:25PM +0300, Melleus wrote:

That's true. But the clipboard can't beep when you might have forgotten
about some important appointment when shearing a sheep, driving a
tractor or doing other interesting things... If you don't neeed the
reminder functionality then the clipboard is the winner I should agree.


If you had a days advance warning, the appointment should be in the printout on
the clipboard.  If it is an appointment that suddenly came up, you should write
it on the clipboard.  If you have an urgent appointment scheduled, you
shouldn't be up on the roof or driving the tractor. :)

Mycroft

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Melleus]

Mycroft Jones  writes:

>>Maybe it's a bit overhead, but anyway. You can use org-caldav-sync to sync the
>>todos with local owncloud (or other caldav) server and use some phone/tablet's
>>calendar to sync with owncloud to have your tasklist with you on the run and
>>you can use it for capturing todos also, as the two-way sync is no problem for
>>org-caldav-sync.
>
> When you're up on a roof, or driving a tractor, or shearing a sheep, a cell
> phone can be destroyed very quickly.  Last thing you need is it dropped into
> the mud and stepped on by a heavy ungulate.  Clipboard is cheap, and you can
> always print out your list again.  Getting in the habit of being away from the
> computer is good.  Getting in the habit of reviewing the days events at the 
> end
> of it is also good.

That's true. But the clipboard can't beep when you might have forgotten
about some important appointment when shearing a sheep, driving a
tractor or doing other interesting things... If you don't neeed the
reminder functionality then the clipboard is the winner I should agree.

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Eduardo Mercovich]

Hello Eric.

[...]

Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to 
Mycroft's are hereby solicited.


On the right track, but perhaps wrong scale. What you need is 
to embrace the exciting possibilities of augmented reality! 
[...]


The answer is obvious: a clipboard! It's rugged and inexpensive. 
[...] It's remarkably calming. It's nice just to have something 
physical to look at.


200% agree. :)

+ In the electronic realm, nothing better than orgmode.
+ In the physical world, nothing better than a board (for groups) 
and the faithful midori traveler's notebook (for personal things).


Best... 


--
eduardo mercovich

Donde se cruzan tus talentos 
con las necesidades del mundo, 
ahí está tu vocación. 
(Anónimo)

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Eric Abrahamsen]

Mycroft Jones  writes:

> Getting in the habit of being away from the computer is good. Getting
> in the habit of reviewing the days events at the end of it is also
> good.

Hear hear!

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mycroft Jones]

On Tue, Sep 26, 2017 at 01:30:35PM +0300, Melleus wrote:

The answer is obvious: a clipboard! It's rugged and inexpensive.

I've actually done this a few times, when I've been using Org to
organize event management and was out of the office all day long.
Printed out my daily agenda in the morning, made notes on the clipboard
throughout the day, and entered changes into the computer at the end of
day.


Yes, I said the same to Peter in private email.  And, if you print off your
list, it gets depressing because it is SO long, longer than you could hope to
accomplish in a day.  That is why I'd like the algorithm to take into account
the time budget, and only put on a number of things that add up to 8 hours.
So, some items are done in 1/2 hour chunks, others in 2 hour chunks, all good.
That way you have a daily task list and can feel good accomplishment if you
clear up your list for the day.


Maybe it's a bit overhead, but anyway. You can use org-caldav-sync to sync the
todos with local owncloud (or other caldav) server and use some phone/tablet's
calendar to sync with owncloud to have your tasklist with you on the run and
you can use it for capturing todos also, as the two-way sync is no problem for
org-caldav-sync.


When you're up on a roof, or driving a tractor, or shearing a sheep, a cell
phone can be destroyed very quickly.  Last thing you need is it dropped into
the mud and stepped on by a heavy ungulate.  Clipboard is cheap, and you can
always print out your list again.  Getting in the habit of being away from the
computer is good.  Getting in the habit of reviewing the days events at the end
of it is also good.

Mycroft

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Melleus]

Eric Abrahamsen  writes:

> Tim Cross  writes:
>
>> Peter Neilson writes:
>>
>>>
>>> * TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) onto  
>>> the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of my sheep  
>>> (who * TODO need to be shorn).
>>>
>>> Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are  
>>> hereby solicited.
>>
>> On the right track, but perhaps wrong scale. What you need is to embrace
>> the exciting possibilities of augmented reality! A pair of glasses where
>> whenever you look at something which has a related todo or note in your
>> org files, displays the item in a little box linked to that item.
>
> The answer is obvious: a clipboard! It's rugged and inexpensive.
>
> I've actually done this a few times, when I've been using Org to
> organize event management and was out of the office all day long.
> Printed out my daily agenda in the morning, made notes on the clipboard
> throughout the day, and entered changes into the computer at the end of
> day.
>
> It's remarkably calming. It's nice just to have something physical to
> look at.
>
> Eric

Maybe it's a bit overhead, but anyway. You can use org-caldav-sync to
sync the todos with local owncloud (or other caldav) server and use some
phone/tablet's calendar to sync with owncloud to have your tasklist with
you on the run and you can use it for capturing todos also, as the
two-way sync is no problem for org-caldav-sync.

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Eric Abrahamsen]

Tim Cross  writes:

> Peter Neilson writes:
>
>>
>> * TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) onto  
>> the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of my sheep  
>> (who * TODO need to be shorn).
>>
>> Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are  
>> hereby solicited.
>
> On the right track, but perhaps wrong scale. What you need is to embrace
> the exciting possibilities of augmented reality! A pair of glasses where
> whenever you look at something which has a related todo or note in your
> org files, displays the item in a little box linked to that item.

The answer is obvious: a clipboard! It's rugged and inexpensive.

I've actually done this a few times, when I've been using Org to
organize event management and was out of the office all day long.
Printed out my daily agenda in the morning, made notes on the clipboard
throughout the day, and entered changes into the computer at the end of
day.

It's remarkably calming. It's nice just to have something physical to
look at.

Eric

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Tim Cross]

Peter Neilson writes:

>
> * TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) onto  
> the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of my sheep  
> (who * TODO need to be shorn).
>
> Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are  
> hereby solicited.

On the right track, but perhaps wrong scale. What you need is to embrace
the exciting possibilities of augmented reality! A pair of glasses where
whenever you look at something which has a related todo or note in your
org files, displays the item in a little box linked to that item.

* TODO Develop augmented reality interface for org-mode

Actually, I think a lot of the ingredients already exist in org-mode to
help reduce procrastination and/or ensure all todo items are getting the
right level of attention. Someone just needs to think of the right sort
of algorithm.

For me, the constant problem is the battle between urgent and
important. I have lots of important todo items, but they seem to get
swamped by urgent items. The problem is the important items are often
what needs to be done to reduce the urgent items in my todo list. I
partially address this via a bit of self-discipline and a few ideas
stolen from GTD and Pomodoro mode. The first task I do each morning is
go through my list of todos and mark the ones I plan to work on as NEXT
items. I then try to put at least one pomodoro sprint into each of those
next items during the day. I have a custom agenda view which lists my
NEXT items as a block and use that to drive my activity for the day.  

Not perfect and it still has one major flaw - me. However, if I drive
myself to follow this approach, at least I reduce the number of TODOs
which have sat on my list for months with no action. I also tend to go
through my list about once a month and look for items which have been
there too long. If a todo item has been there more than 6 months, either
I need to cancel it as an idea which is never going to happen or
prioritise it higher and ensure it is set to NEXT. I also have my
backlog - any todo item which I realise I'm unlikely to get to in the
next 6+ months goes on this list if it is still relevant. 

regards,

tim

-- 
Tim Cross

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mikhail Skorzhinskii]

Oh sorry accidently sent a draft :(

Short story:

1. Try org-clock-budget;
2. Try to use ESTIMATE property and agenda span with more then a day;
3. Try to use clock table mode, which will summarize time in agenda;

The (3) have many caveates, actually, so I prefer doing this
calculations by myself and inserting them in agenda-finallize hook.  I
can share my code snippets if you want.

Mikhail

On 2017-09-25T23:28:45+0300, Mikhail Skorzhinskii wrote:

>Hi, Mycroft,
>
>I've tried to find/hack something similar to what you're describing.
>
>1) Clock budgets:
>
>  https://github.com/Fuco1/org-clock-budget
>
>The tool mostly about comparison your clocked time and clocking
>budget. But may be you find it usefull. I'm personally use this tool
>when I'm planning my week.
>
>2)
>
>Also for planning work for the future week, I'm using ESTIMATE property
>with a bit custom lisp. I.e. my setup is looking like this:
>
>1. Super-agenda with different ca
>
>On 2017-09-25T10:21:51+0300, Mycroft Jones wrote:
>>I'm wondering if org-mode can do this:
>>
>>I have many tasks.  Some are one off.  But many are tasks that will take a
>>period of time, days, weeks, months.  I need to schedule a bit of time every
>>day.  Over time I can complete the tasks by plugging away.  But I have so 
>>many.
>>Half hour chunks work for some tasks, 1 or 2 or 3 hour chunks work best for
>>others.
>>
>>1) writing 3 different books
>>2) learning 2 different languages
>>3) 2 different types of exercise exercise
>>4) 3 different ongoing tasks at work
>>5) watching videos that friends send me
>>6) reading books on my night stand
>>7) various one-off tasks
>>8) scheduled items, where I have to do them at a scheduled time.
>>
>>So, for each broad category of task, there are subtasks.  So far, it looks 
>>like
>>orgmode is good.  But, what I'd like is to automatically generate scheduling
>>suggestions for the day.  For instance, if I've been putting too much time 
>>into
>>languages, then schedule more time for writing the books.  And if I've focused
>>too much on one book, remind me to put time into another book.  I'd like the
>>scheduler to be a sort of time-accounting system that suggests work for the 
>>day
>>in a way that balances the tree.
>>
>>Within each branch of the tree, I'd like the branches to be allocated roughly
>>equal time, over a period of weeks and months, on a day to day basis.
>>
>>Is there a simple workflow in orgmode that can do this?  I haven't done elisp
>>for 10 years, but I'm comfortable with it.  Would this be simple to implement?
>>
>>Mycroft
>>
>
>
>--
>Thanks,
>Skorzhinskii Mikhail
>


--
Thanks,
Skorzhinskii Mikhail

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mikhail Skorzhinskii]

Hi, Mycroft,

I've tried to find/hack something similar to what you're describing.

1) Clock budgets:

  https://github.com/Fuco1/org-clock-budget

The tool mostly about comparison your clocked time and clocking
budget. But may be you find it usefull. I'm personally use this tool
when I'm planning my week.

2) 

Also for planning work for the future week, I'm using ESTIMATE property
with a bit custom lisp. I.e. my setup is looking like this:

1. Super-agenda with different ca

On 2017-09-25T10:21:51+0300, Mycroft Jones wrote:
>I'm wondering if org-mode can do this:
>
>I have many tasks.  Some are one off.  But many are tasks that will take a
>period of time, days, weeks, months.  I need to schedule a bit of time every
>day.  Over time I can complete the tasks by plugging away.  But I have so many.
>Half hour chunks work for some tasks, 1 or 2 or 3 hour chunks work best for
>others.
>
>1) writing 3 different books
>2) learning 2 different languages
>3) 2 different types of exercise exercise
>4) 3 different ongoing tasks at work
>5) watching videos that friends send me
>6) reading books on my night stand
>7) various one-off tasks
>8) scheduled items, where I have to do them at a scheduled time.
>
>So, for each broad category of task, there are subtasks.  So far, it looks like
>orgmode is good.  But, what I'd like is to automatically generate scheduling
>suggestions for the day.  For instance, if I've been putting too much time into
>languages, then schedule more time for writing the books.  And if I've focused
>too much on one book, remind me to put time into another book.  I'd like the
>scheduler to be a sort of time-accounting system that suggests work for the day
>in a way that balances the tree.
>
>Within each branch of the tree, I'd like the branches to be allocated roughly
>equal time, over a period of weeks and months, on a day to day basis.
>
>Is there a simple workflow in orgmode that can do this?  I haven't done elisp
>for 10 years, but I'm comfortable with it.  Would this be simple to implement?
>
>Mycroft
>


--
Thanks,
Skorzhinskii Mikhail

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Mycroft Jones]

Peter, it sounds like we have the same issues and need the same solution.
House repairs and estate upgrades are on the menu.  As are tasks at the Maker
Space, building various bits of furniture 

Is there some sort of rugged tablet?

Ok, here is what I have in mind:  at the end of the day, put in org mode what
you've done.  Then it will try to "balance the tree" and create an ordered list
of tasks for you.  You can "defer" tasks, and if you give a reason, such as it
needs to wait for a particular time or subtask, then that subtask goes right
back in the tree to take part of the balancing.  Then you print the list on
paper, sorted from top priority to least.  Then you carry the list around with
you during the day.  Does that sound good?  I haven't yet found a tablet
computer rugged enough to stand being dropped out of a tractor into the mud.
Or stepped on by a cow.  And I hate typing on them.

Mycroft

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 07:58:02AM -0400, Peter Neilson wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 03:21:51 -0400, Mycroft Jones 
 wrote:



I'm wondering if org-mode can do this:

I have many tasks.  Some are one off.  But many are tasks that will 
take a
period of time, days, weeks, months.  I need to schedule a bit of 
time every
day.  Over time I can complete the tasks by plugging away.  But I 
have so many.
Half hour chunks work for some tasks, 1 or 2 or 3 hour chunks work 
best for others.


1) writing 3 different books
2) learning 2 different languages
3) 2 different types of exercise exercise
4) 3 different ongoing tasks at work
5) watching videos that friends send me
6) reading books on my night stand
7) various one-off tasks
8) scheduled items, where I have to do them at a scheduled time.

So, for each broad category of task, there are subtasks.  So far, it 
looks like
orgmode is good.  But, what I'd like is to automatically generate 
scheduling
suggestions for the day.  For instance, if I've been putting too 
much time into
languages, then schedule more time for writing the books.  And if 
I've focused
too much on one book, remind me to put time into another book.  I'd 
like the
scheduler to be a sort of time-accounting system that suggests work 
for the day

in a way that balances the tree.

Within each branch of the tree, I'd like the branches to be 
allocated roughly

equal time, over a period of weeks and months, on a day to day basis.

Is there a simple workflow in orgmode that can do this?  I haven't 
done elisp
for 10 years, but I'm comfortable with it.  Would this be simple to 
implement?


Mycroft


Hmmm. I have similar problems, but on a somewhat more difficult level. 
A lot of my tasks are farm-related and are thus self-driven rather 
than org-mode-driven. For instance, two barn roofs need repair, and 
seeing them listed as TODO in an agenda does nothing to get started on 
them, or on the sub-tasks necessary to starting the work on the roofs. 
But when I look at the roofs, and thus am reminded of "* TODO Repair 
barn roofs", it's always when I'm already at work on something 
immediately more pressing.


But it gets worse! If I think of a task that needs to be done, and 
write it into one of my TODO lists, then I tend to ignore it. Adding 
it to the schedule dismisses it from any immediate concern, and (as I 
alluded before) much of my work is outside, on the farm, nowhere near 
my computer. It's almost like Ko-Ko's solution in G's operetta 'The 
Mikado':


 Ko-Ko: When Your Majesty says "Let a thing be done", it’s as good as 
done, practically it is done, because Your Majesty’s will is law. Your 
Majesty says "Kill a gentleman", and the gentleman is to be killed, 
consequently that gentleman is as good as dead, practically he is 
dead, and if he is dead, why not say so?
 The Mikado: I see. [Dramatic Pause] Nothing could possibly be 
more...satisfactory!


My problem with org mode itself thus becomes yet another action item 
(to be ignored):


* TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) 
onto the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of 
my sheep (who * TODO need to be shorn).


Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are 
hereby solicited.

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Neil Jerram]

Hi Peter...

On 25/09/17 12:58, Peter Neilson wrote:
Hmmm. I have similar problems, but on a somewhat more difficult level. 
A lot of my tasks are farm-related and are thus self-driven rather 
than org-mode-driven. For instance, two barn roofs need repair, and 
seeing them listed as TODO in an agenda does nothing to get started on 
them, or on the sub-tasks necessary to starting the work on the roofs. 
But when I look at the roofs, and thus am reminded of "* TODO Repair 
barn roofs", it's always when I'm already at work on something 
immediately more pressing.


But it gets worse! If I think of a task that needs to be done, and 
write it into one of my TODO lists, then I tend to ignore it. Adding 
it to the schedule dismisses it from any immediate concern, and (as I 
alluded before) much of my work is outside, on the farm, nowhere near 
my computer. It's almost like Ko-Ko's solution in G's operetta 'The 
Mikado':


  Ko-Ko: When Your Majesty says "Let a thing be done", it’s as good as 
done, practically it is done, because Your Majesty’s will is law. Your 
Majesty says "Kill a gentleman", and the gentleman is to be killed, 
consequently that gentleman is as good as dead, practically he is 
dead, and if he is dead, why not say so?
  The Mikado: I see. [Dramatic Pause] Nothing could possibly be 
more...satisfactory!


My problem with org mode itself thus becomes yet another action item 
(to be ignored):


* TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) 
onto the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of 
my sheep (who * TODO need to be shorn).


Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are 
hereby solicited.




If I'm understanding correctly, part of your problem is that you don't 
have org-mode with you when you're in the places that you can get things 
done.  In that case, part of the answer might be having your org-mode on 
a mobile device.


I've just started using a new Android phone, with Orgzly on the phone, 
and a manual sync process between the files that Orgzly works on and my 
main org-mode files (which I keep in a git server, and update from 
multiple laptops). So far I've only been doing this for 1 day, but it 
looks promising.


Regards - Neil

Re: [O] orgmode for many continuous tasks?

[Peter Neilson]

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 03:21:51 -0400, Mycroft Jones  
 wrote:



I'm wondering if org-mode can do this:

I have many tasks.  Some are one off.  But many are tasks that will take  
a
period of time, days, weeks, months.  I need to schedule a bit of time  
every
day.  Over time I can complete the tasks by plugging away.  But I have  
so many.
Half hour chunks work for some tasks, 1 or 2 or 3 hour chunks work best  
for others.


1) writing 3 different books
2) learning 2 different languages
3) 2 different types of exercise exercise
4) 3 different ongoing tasks at work
5) watching videos that friends send me
6) reading books on my night stand
7) various one-off tasks
8) scheduled items, where I have to do them at a scheduled time.

So, for each broad category of task, there are subtasks.  So far, it  
looks like
orgmode is good.  But, what I'd like is to automatically generate  
scheduling
suggestions for the day.  For instance, if I've been putting too much  
time into
languages, then schedule more time for writing the books.  And if I've  
focused
too much on one book, remind me to put time into another book.  I'd like  
the
scheduler to be a sort of time-accounting system that suggests work for  
the day

in a way that balances the tree.

Within each branch of the tree, I'd like the branches to be allocated  
roughly

equal time, over a period of weeks and months, on a day to day basis.

Is there a simple workflow in orgmode that can do this?  I haven't done  
elisp
for 10 years, but I'm comfortable with it.  Would this be simple to  
implement?


Mycroft


Hmmm. I have similar problems, but on a somewhat more difficult level. A  
lot of my tasks are farm-related and are thus self-driven rather than  
org-mode-driven. For instance, two barn roofs need repair, and seeing them  
listed as TODO in an agenda does nothing to get started on them, or on the  
sub-tasks necessary to starting the work on the roofs. But when I look at  
the roofs, and thus am reminded of "* TODO Repair barn roofs", it's always  
when I'm already at work on something immediately more pressing.


But it gets worse! If I think of a task that needs to be done, and write  
it into one of my TODO lists, then I tend to ignore it. Adding it to the  
schedule dismisses it from any immediate concern, and (as I alluded  
before) much of my work is outside, on the farm, nowhere near my computer.  
It's almost like Ko-Ko's solution in G's operetta 'The Mikado':


  Ko-Ko: When Your Majesty says "Let a thing be done", it’s as good as  
done, practically it is done, because Your Majesty’s will is law. Your  
Majesty says "Kill a gentleman", and the gentleman is to be killed,  
consequently that gentleman is as good as dead, practically he is dead,  
and if he is dead, why not say so?
  The Mikado: I see. [Dramatic Pause] Nothing could possibly be  
more...satisfactory!


My problem with org mode itself thus becomes yet another action item (to  
be ignored):


* TODO Devise a way to project my agenda (in unavoidable brilliance) onto  
the side of the barn, or perhaps embroider it into the fleece of my sheep  
(who * TODO need to be shorn).


Plausible (or implausible) solutions to my problem or to Mycroft's are  
hereby solicited.