Comments on: Import nactionr xml files into ResultsManager format http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/ Getting Things Done with MindManager Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: OmniFocus for IPad Review » ActivityOwner.Com – Getting Things Done with MindManager http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-14914 OmniFocus for IPad Review » ActivityOwner.Com – Getting Things Done with MindManager Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:34:59 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-14914 [...] The first four items were somewhat concerning to me, particularly the stranding of data and potential disaster recovery issues (I don't need involuntary GTD bankruptcy at this point). After a bit of googling, I discovered that OmniFocus uses xml as its native data storage format, which liberates the data in an albeit cryptic organization. MindManager can actually open xml files, which allows the context to be processed with macros. I used this approach several years ago to develop import routines for BaseCamp and (non defunct?) nactionr. [...] [...] The first four items were somewhat concerning to me, particularly the stranding of data and potential disaster recovery issues (I don't need involuntary GTD bankruptcy at this point). After a bit of googling, I discovered that OmniFocus uses xml as its native data storage format, which liberates the data in an albeit cryptic organization. MindManager can actually open xml files, which allows the context to be processed with macros. I used this approach several years ago to develop import routines for BaseCamp and (non defunct?) nactionr. [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Ballinger http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-5843 Jonathan Ballinger Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:50:15 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-5843 The ids can be generated on the fly as long as they are unique within the file. Right now the order of ids determines the order of display. The d field is a description of the project. IE where you'd put your notes about it if you had any. Project has: id n = name cc = colour code (hexadecimal) e = due date s = start date d = description dn = display name (redundant) Context has: id n = name cc = colour code d = display name (again redundant) Task has: id t = text (the first newline/carriage return is taken as being the end of display portion. Anything following the newline/carriage return is not displayed in the main tasklist but is in the extended detail page -- allows per task notes simply) c = completed (true /false) cc = colour code sm = is someday/maybe (true/false) pid = single long references project id cid = array of longs, references context id sd = start date dd = due date co = completed on date Nactionr (the root) has: npid = next project id, a bit of a misnomer as this should be equal to the highest project id used in the file but having it one more won't be a problem ncid = next context id (as npid) ntid = next task id (as npid) f = filename v = file version, 0.6 is current That's all the elements and attributes that are there right now. When I release the next version of the application I'll also have a page on my site that details it but this may help for now. The ids can be generated on the fly as long as they are unique within the file. Right now the order of ids determines the order of display.

The d field is a description of the project. IE where you'd put your notes about it if you had any.

Project has:

id
n = name
cc = colour code (hexadecimal)
e = due date
s = start date
d = description
dn = display name (redundant)

Context has:

id
n = name
cc = colour code
d = display name (again redundant)

Task has:

id
t = text (the first newline/carriage return is taken as being the end of display portion. Anything following the newline/carriage return is not displayed in the main tasklist but is in the extended detail page — allows per task notes simply)
c = completed (true /false)
cc = colour code
sm = is someday/maybe (true/false)
pid = single long references project id
cid = array of longs, references context id
sd = start date
dd = due date
co = completed on date

Nactionr (the root) has:
npid = next project id, a bit of a misnomer as this should be equal to the highest project id used in the file but having it one more won't be a problem
ncid = next context id (as npid)
ntid = next task id (as npid)
f = filename
v = file version, 0.6 is current

That's all the elements and attributes that are there right now. When I release the next version of the application I'll also have a page on my site that details it but this may help for now.

]]> By: ActivityOwner http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-5805 ActivityOwner Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:16:00 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-5805 Having the id change over time is only an issue for ongoing two-way sycronization. This script is purely an import and avoids duplicates by comparing the actual text of the project/task to those in the existing map so things are fine as they stand for me. What is the "d" field in the projects? I thought that might be some type of hierarchy given that the demo had something about Auntie in several of them. Writing out the xml to export back to nactionr is a more involved project. Although MindManager reads and renders xml files, the file it saves is much more complex and wouldn't be compatible. The xml for nactionr would have to be written out directly by a macro. That would be easier to do by generating new ids on the fly rather than carrying them back and forth. Having the id change over time is only an issue for ongoing two-way sycronization. This script is purely an import and avoids duplicates by comparing the actual text of the project/task to those in the existing map so things are fine as they stand for me.

What is the "d" field in the projects? I thought that might be some type of hierarchy given that the demo had something about Auntie in several of them.

Writing out the xml to export back to nactionr is a more involved project. Although MindManager reads and renders xml files, the file it saves is much more complex and wouldn't be compatible. The xml for nactionr would have to be written out directly by a macro. That would be easier to do by generating new ids on the fly rather than carrying them back and forth.

]]> By: Jonathan Ballinger http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-5799 Jonathan Ballinger Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:22:43 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-5799 There's a few changes I'll be doing for the next version (1.2) that will make using it a bit easier. For example right now the id is only unique at that point in time, but this is obviously not useful for external applications so I added code in that removes that factor. There is no project or task hierarchy outside of a task belongs to a project right now. What I'll do is create a page on my site that contains a full file format breakdown which will aid integrations like this. I'll update here when its done but it'll probably coincide with v1.2 which will have the changes I mentioned above. There's a few changes I'll be doing for the next version (1.2) that will make using it a bit easier. For example right now the id is only unique at that point in time, but this is obviously not useful for external applications so I added code in that removes that factor.

There is no project or task hierarchy outside of a task belongs to a project right now.

What I'll do is create a page on my site that contains a full file format breakdown which will aid integrations like this. I'll update here when its done but it'll probably coincide with v1.2 which will have the changes I mentioned above.

]]> By: ActivityOwner http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-5794 ActivityOwner Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:56:44 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-5794 Thanks Jonathan -- I'm not a pocketPC user, so any further work on this will need to be triggered by readers. Your file format seems well designed. The only thing I wasn't clear on was if/how it captures sequencing and hierarchy of projects and tasks. Thanks Jonathan — I'm not a pocketPC user, so any further work on this will need to be triggered by readers. Your file format seems well designed. The only thing I wasn't clear on was if/how it captures sequencing and hierarchy of projects and tasks.

]]> By: Jonathan Ballinger http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/comment-page-1/#comment-5789 Jonathan Ballinger Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:56:40 +0000 http://www.activityowner.com/2007/08/13/import-nactionr-xml-files-into-resultsmanager-format/#comment-5789 Hi, I'm the developer of nActionr and happened across this on a google search. You've done a nice job it seems, and I'd like to offer to send you a full breakdown of the nActionr file format (and to keep you updated whenever it changes) if it will help you with this macro. Hi, I'm the developer of nActionr and happened across this on a google search. You've done a nice job it seems, and I'd like to offer to send you a full breakdown of the nActionr file format (and to keep you updated whenever it changes) if it will help you with this macro.

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