TaskPaper

I use it all day with a daily work plan file and separate files for major tasks/projects. Lots of useful features

TaskPaper, what it is and what it isn’t. I use TaskPaper, a lot. But, I am using it for slightly different reasons than what it was designed for. Many people use TaskPaper for keeping track of tasks. They use date functions and all manner of things to do this. TaskPaper is very good at doing this. I cannot comment on this type of workflow using TaskPaper as, ironically, that is not what I use TaskPaper for. I use TaskPaper for helping me to breakdown complex ideas. As a writer I have trouble with getting bogged down in all sorts of areas. This has been especially true when I have been researching arguments in a legal document. TaskPaper has tools that I make much use of. It uses internal tags which is, anything that is proceeded by the “@” symbol. The tags go at the end of a paragraph. I don't have to set up that tag anywhere in preferences, I just start using it anywhere. Then, anytime I click on a tag, TaskPaper instantly searches for all tags that are the same. As tags are at the end of paragraphs, the found set shows all the paragraphs with the same tag after it. If I am doing research in a long document and I think, this section is about pointA, but it also has a meaning when examining pointB and pointC, then I can use as many tags after that section (paragraph) as I like, pointA, pointB, pointC. Then I can either click on any instance of PointA and see all paragraphs in my document of PointA, or, I can create or embed a search for Point A which will appear on the sidebar. The same is true of pointB or pointC of course. Sidebar searches are easy to set up. If there is a part of my document that I want to go to a lot, then I can set that up as a search term in the sidebar. This works for tags but it also works for specific sections in the document. Plain text. The only regret I have with TaskPaper is that it is totally plain text. I can't paste graphics anywhere in TaskPaper. But, I can add style to my documents very well. OK, I can't add style to specific words (can't bold a word) but, I can style a document by what is under what level of a heading, notes styles, tasks style, and anything I want to style using a tag. This includes page color, text color, line height, font style (for the whole paragraph or section), etc. TaskPaper does this by using something similar to a css file for each document. If you understand what a CSS file does then you understand what TaskPaper styles can do. I know that the developer also sells similar apps with slightly different niches. He sells a writing app for example which is primarily what I am using TaskPaper for. But, for whatever reason, I find TaskPaper very easy to use and very configurable. I also read a comment that the developer does not support his products very well. I think that is a bit unfair. I don't know the history of this developer although I have been using TaskPaper for the past three or so years. He has continued to update and to upgrade TaskPaper in that time. I have no worries that this is going to be in any way unsupported as an app. Bottomline is that, there are more robust apps for task and file management. Those apps use database approaches and I am not knocking them if that is what you need. I use BusyCal for my calendar events. I use NVAlt for my daily tracking of things I have done. I use Nisus for my writing. Eventually I plan on moving to Scrivener for my writing. But TaskPaper works and it works well. I find that I use Taskpaper for most of my fleshing out of ideas when I write. It’s great for creating drafts as it makes finding the parts very easy and it also expands and collapses sections which I do or do not want to look at while I am concentrating on other things. I wish Nisus could do that. TaskPaper is a great app for gathering ideas in an outline format. And yet, it does this not in a database layout such as Omni, it does this as a completely text based writing (text) style format.

Very useful. Works great. I use 2 TaskPaper files every day. One is a daily work plan that includes daily calendar entries. The other is a project list that is partly tied to calendar entries. ★★★★★

Pros: - Easy to manage long lists with extra info by collapsing items - Reordering items is simple Cons: - Default is to archive making list cleanup cumbersome I've been using this app for 3+ months and finding that it is good for keeping a detailed to do list and keeping notes. My to do list is always open daily and is organized into 5 major categories. The ability to expand and collapse those categories makes it easy for me to hide these long lists so I can focus on one project at a time. Items can be dragged up and down so I can reorder my tasks on a whim. There is a small learning curve for the markdown formatting, but the app does a good job of making the tutorial available as text in each new file so if I ever forget I can hit command+N and see a quick reminder. Overall, the app does not have a large number of available features, which is a good thing as I just need it to keep my personal tasks organized and my occasional notes looking clean. It does that very well!

OK, Taskpaper is a very good app, and I have no problem with it, but I just wonder if its future can be trusted.
Jesse Grosjean is very creative, dedicated, dynamic but his history as a developer does not prove that he can support a product in the long term (Mori sold and abandoned, Writeroom for Mac last updated in 2012, Taskpaper for IOS not updated for a long time.. J. Grosjean wrote "I will stop selling the iOS apps".)
It is therefore difficult to invest serenely (time, not money) in apps when you have no certainty about its future and syncing across the Mac system (Mac & IOS) is not supported.

Actually, we're still waiting for a plain text Mac & IOS syncing system : nvAlt? Nothing on IOS (tags do not sync well or at all with IOS apps) Simplenote? No tags.

Suggestions anyone?

TaskPaper is a great app, not only for todos but for the many lists I keep updating on a regular basis. Trying the new 3.0 preview, I see that the font is bigger now, which makes me see a much smaller part of my lists on a Macbook. - Will we get a way to increase or reduce the font size in the future? - Is there any way to print individual projects?

Macupdate: The purchase link actually goes to the demo version. The MAS is https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/taskpaper/id424281111?mt=12, where we can read: "README PLEASE: I expect to release TaskPaper 3 in early January as a paid upgrade. TaskPaper will be $14.99 on release and then $24.99 final price. I've just lowered TaskPaper 2 pricing to $4.99."

I am amazed no-one, including the makers, haven't managed to produce a work flow example here. From where I stand it looks like a Text Edit alternative. I can make lists there. Why do I need TaskPaper? The stars warrants a web site visit though. Thanks for those.

It's currently 9.99 on the MAS. Very cool app. The iOS version was open sourced and has been picked up by a bunch of different devs not using the name. I'm checking out Taskmator on iOS as the companion. There's also FoldingText which looks pretty nice too, but maybe a little less built out.

Nice app. The possibility to adjust the color of the background and the font is a big plus for me. Easy to use and intuitive. The only minus is a bit complicated process of synching but it doesn't really spoil the overall good impression. Give it a try, it can do a lot of stuff.

Great app. I'm a list maker, and this is the creme de la creme. Simple and intuitive. You won't be disappointed!

usually i try out software for at least a couple of weeks, but i bought taskpaper after only 1 day. it's right down my alley; i don't have an actual need for anything more complex with bells and whistles -- i just get distracted by customizing my task manager, *wry grin*. this is minimalist and doesn't need any fiddling whatsoever for diving right in, but it has the main features for me to keep track of the gazillion things i need to. and the scriptability makes it perfect -- i wrote a small script for inserting dates right away. i can think of a few things i'd like it to do it doesn't do now (repeating tasks, some basic date handling), but it's even more suited for me than "things" which i used previously. because it is so minimalist, the price might seem on the high side, but i don't think it's too expensive for what i am getting. small aside: i like that on his website the dev recommends specific other programs if taskpaper isn't quite what one is looking for. you don't see that often.

didn't the last version allow you to set a document to open when the app is launched?

To start with, this is a beautiful app, which always helps with motivation in getting things done. For me, it has exactly the right blend of simplicity, functionality and customizability for keeping up with ever-evolving to-do lists & master plans. As others have noted, there's practically no time spent learning the software; once you have (quickly) figured out how this works, it's a breeze to use. After setting up the sync servic and learning some very simple syntax you can, with thoughtful use of tags, make this do pretty much whatever you want it to with a minimum of fuss. Syncing across devices is of course essential, and I like that the aesthetic/formatting and functionality are consistent whether I'm on my Mac or iPhone. I'm always happy when an app takes up a minimum of hard drive space, and when the deeloper keeps forward/backward compatibility in mind, which seems to be the case here. The software's price (Mac and iPhone/iPad) looks kinda steep at first, but to be fair ti does include a syncing service (using the SimpleText.ws website & app); some might not want to pay that price once the new upgrade offers syncing via DropBox. There are lots of other apps that can keep track of images & other file types., so text-only is fine with me. However, if the option to format text colour, italics and underlining (or whatever other options wouldn't mess up the syntax) were available, I would use it (with a monochromatic palette to keep the visuals clean). All in all, a daily go-to app which is a pleasure to use.

Hi, just realized that my "troubleshooting" query didn't show up here on the main window & therefore might not be noticed re: someone replying ... can anyone enlighten me re: syncing TaskPaper in Lion? I really like TaskPaper's clean and straightforward interface, and for things that don't need a calendar entry it's a real pleasure to use, great for organizing and overview. I installed the most recent version, which works great, and then downloaded SimpleText (which is required to sync with the simpletext.ws webpage) but the SimpleText app didn't respond at all when I clicked on it; the version is 1.0.1 from March 2010 so probably needs an update. I had no luck finding any new versions or even info re: this specific problem, neither in the wiki nor the forums. A search in Google was likewise unsuccessful. Hopefully I missed something glaring, but the developer's last login here on MacUpdate is from a few months back ... any assistance would be gratefully received!

Hi there, I've got TaskPaper (love its elegant simplicity!) on my Mac Mini running Lion and am trying to set up syncing with SimpleText, but can't find the most current info ... downloaded the SimpleText app from the Hog Bay website but the app doesn't respond when I try to launch it; the app info says it's version 1.0.1, last modified in March 2010, so I'm guessing it needs an update. I had no luck finding a newer version or any answers on the website or the Wiki ... can anyone enlighten me?

Excellent piece of software. TaskPaper looks both simple (too simple maybe at the first glance) and complicated at the first use when you see all the shortcut. But TaskPaper is much more: fully scriptable, you may be agreeably surprised by its power to structure your ideas and to get the job done. Here there are some example of scripts: Basic • Create a new entry • Create a new tag • Delete all entries • Delete all archived entries • Delete done tasks • Export entries as text • Import entries from text • Iterate over all entries and perform task • Perform search and iterate over results • Insert Todays Date • Cycle Tags Script • Hide and Show Notes • Get a Project tag Workflows • Clock in and out of tasks • Archive Entries Tagged X to Project Y • Unarchive not-done tasks • Add current mail to taskpaper • Add current mail to taskpaper with summary note • Add current RSS item to TaskPaper • Archive completed tasks to another file • Create a next action list • Create iCal events based on start and due tags • Create or open folders or notes files for TaskPaper projects • Manage due dates • Manage start and due dates • Move done entries to end of list • Move today entries to front of list • Move today entries from one project to another • Tag with done alternative implementations • Tag with done alternative implementations 2 • Toggle between two open documents • Update indentation style for version 2.2 • Use Quicksilver to create TaskPaper task • Toggle Now Tag (emulates Tag with Today) • Toggle Ancestors & Toggle Descendants • Show Next Tasks with Increment Date Value & Decrement Date Value • Move Done Tasks To End of Project • Hide Done Entries and Hide Done Entries in a Project • Custom_Tags • Checkbook Script • Export from Things to TaskPaper Saved Searches • Show overdue tasks • Show tasks completed today • Show tasks due soon • Choose saved search Additionally you can even send or create new entrees from or within Devonthink and other apps. You can link any document, URL, photo on so on. Using it for task of course but also for all the informations you need to remember e.g. Music, photos, recipes on so on… Stable it never crashes. It seems I'm working for Hog Bay Software but TaskPaper is a great piece of software very well done.

Don't upgrade to 2.2.6. The program will trash your existing formatting. Overrated software.

Disappointed that I missed the sale price, my bad. I'm burned out on over-configuring task apps that don't ultimately do what you want. Saw this app, installed it, liked it, went to dev's site. Saw the actual price and ended my trial on Day 1. At $5, I would - and was on my way to - buy. At $30, not a chance.

A perfect app. Simple, clean, elegant. Some great themes available also (I like the Helvetica one). Seeing as it outputs a text document it can be shared with anyone.