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Evernote and Task Manager integration


chronistin

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Still looking for the perfect solution. Since I tested all apps I could find with EN integration, I'll share my thoughts and experiences and hope you'll add yours.

 

Some brainstorming for future developers maybe?

 

Why use a task manager when EN can do reminders and checkboxes?

1., Not all of my tasks are EN-worthy. And even if I wanted to keep my routine stuff in EN, there are no recurring tasks in EN.

2., Calendar integration

3., Priorities and such

 

 

Nozbe

Nozbe is a very stylish and easy usable app. I really liked the look and handling of it. Unfortunately, there are several downsides from the pov of my workflow:

- Evernote integration consists of linking a note to a task. Evernote reminders are not fetched to Nozbe. (this may change soon, source: Nozbe forums)

- No concise "all tasks" view

- Finally, it is really expensive for what it does.

 

Zendone

The Zendone announcement in the forums came just in the right time, and on first glance, I was impressed. The workflow matches mine very closely - I use my EN "Inbox" Notebook to collect stuff, and when I find the time - every 2 or three days - I organize all the stuff I dropped in there to the right Notebook, with the right tags, sometimes with a reminder. However, after using it for 2 days, I found Zendone lacking in flexibility, especially:

 

- Sometimes. I want to leave a note in my Inbox, because it will become an actionnable item again after the first action is done. 

- Sometimes, a note from a project notebook becomes a task - I don't want to move it to the inbox again to make it so.

- With that level of integration, I would expect existing EN-reminders to be converted into tasks without further input by me

- While clear and easy, the strict GTD integration makes the interface feel "restricting" after a while. 

 

It's still a great app, but personally, I prefer to move and edit my notes directly in EN. 

 

Remember the Milk

I felt nostalgic returning to RTM - it was the first online task manager I ever used, and the site has not even changed since. :)

EN integration is simple and clear: Make an item with a reminder in EN, and it will show up in your RTM task list, with due date and time. RTM does not "touch" your notes other then updating the title when you change it and setting the reminder to "done" when you check off an item. Tasks created within RTM do not interact with EN. This is basically what I want, but there are also downsides:

 

- RTM is a very basic ToDo app - No subtasks, no status, no "next actions" 

- EN Notes are not shown directly in the app, just a link

- No desktop app (and sparse web interface)

 

--

 

So, I haven't found my "perfect" solution yet. Did you? I would like to hear what works best for others.

 

 

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I personally use Wunderlist (I suppose you could use whatever list-oriented application you like here like Remember the Milk. I've chosen Wunderlist) for the majority of my day-to-day stuff since it is available on all my devices. Wunderlist gets the less information intensive stuff and the items that recur very frequently such as ever few days or every week. Other longer-term recurring tasks that are not information heavy go in there too such as "take the ring to jewellers" - recurs every 6 months but no additional information is needed so Evernote is excessive.

 

I also use Evernote for tasks but usually those that are more information-intensive. For example, if there are forms that need to be filled and submitted on a particular day (pet licence renewal, for example), or if there is information relevant to a future meeting or project, it goes in Evernote, filed appropriately, with a reminder set for the date on which action is required (such as a few minutes before a meeting).

 

Sometimes I combine the two. For example, I might create an item in Wunderlist but use an evernote note link in Wunderlist's comment field  (I do this with my calendar too!). The great thing about this is that Mac and iOS devices both understand the evernote:/// link, so in wunderlist/Calender, when you click that link it opens the appropriate note in Evernote. 

 

This is my strategy! Hope this helps. 

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Yes, I have a very similar approach - Evernote for tasks with a lot of information, and a simple app for one-liners. But I'd like to be able to see both types in one list for my workflow, and that's why I'd like an integration. The workaround using an evernote-Link, while doable, feels a little to "manual" for a digital system.

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I can sympathize with the desire to have everything in one place, but I don't mind too terribly much the two-system approach. Some day the system of my dreams may come about but for now I'm happy and more effective than I was before! 

 

Gneo is intriguing, but I think a desktop version will be needed to win me over, and I understand one is in the works. The only other problem is that my spouse and I use evernote and Wunderlist to coordinate personal and household things, and while I am happy to pay for evernote premium—and Wunderlist is free—I doubt I could sell my spouse on Gneo at $10 (plus whatever the desktop version costs). So there's that inertia for me I guess! 

 

I do like the look of Gneo though...... hmmm.....

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Gneo does look hot! But I need a solution on Windows and Android, so  it's not for me.

 

Collaboration is an important topic, too. Unfortunately, I have no one to test it with - all my friends and relatives are, how should I say, "digitally challenged" :)

 

Browsing the forums, I found a completely different approach with TuskCalendar TuskTools. Downloading right now, I'll add my impressions after a first test.

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I have dabbled in IQTELL a bit and it looks to be a solid productivity platform with good email and evernote integration, among other things. I did find it relatively complicated so if you plan on using it to collaborate with less tech-savvy people, be prepared to become ad hoc tech support, or for them to reject it because they're too busy to learn something new. 

 

Ultimately I didn't need what IQTELL offered so I stopped using it, but not because it wasn't good. 

 

I think IQTELL is definitely powerful, so long as you bring all of your stuff into it, I think that is when it works its best. 

 

Also it has been around for a few years so not necessarily "infant". A lot of the complaints from that review you posted looked pretty idiosyncratic, or workflow specific, aside from the obvious complaints about being a website based service (which is a pretty big drag, but then again, that's why we have our evernote clients open in our docks too right? for those desktop filesystem things we need to get done!)

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Took the time to test IQtell today. It's easy to understand, focusses on the "empty inbox" principle and makes it easy to interact with evernote. It is not for me, because email is not the center of my work/attention, but if it was, I'd definitely choose it over the others.

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I use Evernote literally for everything.

I have no paper files anymore. The way I keep track of what I need to do when is via tags. I create a visual Trace File, i.e., a tag for every day of the week. My notebooks are organized by the project or event that I am working on. Notes within those notebooks are tagged with days of the week that I need to work on or remember to do tasks on that project or event. If I need to work on a note that has multiple task every day this week then it will be tagged 23-27. Then across all my notebooks I just have to click on the tag 23 and see all the tasks I need to work on today. At the end of each day, I will go thru the tag and add or remove additional dates as needed. I don't do this but a friend of mine does: she uses the search todo:false to get every task that has a checkbox in front of it to pull up all her tasks that are incomplete. The 'tag trace' system I created works great for me and nothing falls thru the cracks as long as I am daily looking at today's tag.

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. The 'tag trace' system I created works great for me and nothing falls thru the cracks as long as I am daily looking at today's tag.

 

I learned a similar system years ago in one of those "How to Get Multiple Things Done @ Once" seminars.  File folder for each day of the month for due dates. 

 

So, if you need to know what has to be done on the 15th, you sort by the 15 tag?  Very interesting, I have to look into this. 

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Yes, I sort by the 15 tag for all items I have already determined I need to review or work on that day, just like an electronic trace file.  So for example, I have created Saved Searches for when I need to meet with my boss, Ashley.  They are for the tag Ashley and the tag of the date that we are to have our next 1:1.  When we meet, I take my iPad with me and click on the the Saved Search Ashley 15 and in front of me is all the things I need to talk to him about (yes, Ashley is a he).  I make notes directly in the Note of whatever particular Notebook that project or event is that I'm working on.  I don't then have to transfer any handwritten notes Evernote.  This system has been a lifesaver for me.  The great thing about Evernote is you can set it up to work the way your brain does vs retraining your brain to a new system.  I like to keep things simple so I don't want my Tasks on my calendar, besides I have way too many.  The use of two screens has allowed me to constantly have in front of me, Outlook w e-mail & calendar and then Evernote on the other screen.

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This is a common problem we faced until we built TaskClone.  

 

As far as task app integrations, we posted on the 10 Best Task Apps with Evernote integration.  

 

To learn more about how TaskClone solves this concern with integration with 40+ task apps, visit our entry in the Evernote 3rd-party integration forum.

 

You can also check out the 2min video.

 

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Yes, I sort by the 15 tag for all items I have already determined I need to review or work on that day, just like an electronic trace file.  So for example, I have created Saved Searches for when I need to meet with my boss, Ashley.  They are for the tag Ashley and the tag of the date that we are to have our next 1:1.  When we meet, I take my iPad with me and click on the the Saved Search Ashley 15 and in front of me is all the things I need to talk to him about (yes, Ashley is a he).  I make notes directly in the Note of whatever particular Notebook that project or event is that I'm working on.  I don't then have to transfer any handwritten notes Evernote.  This system has been a lifesaver for me.  The great thing about Evernote is you can set it up to work the way your brain does vs retraining your brain to a new system.  I like to keep things simple so I don't want my Tasks on my calendar, besides I have way too many.  The use of two screens has allowed me to constantly have in front of me, Outlook w e-mail & calendar and then Evernote on the other screen.

Anyway I could get a snapshot of what your evernote set up looks like.  I'm a visual person.  Sounds like a great system.  I have tried similar before but just didn't feel comfortable.

 

Thanks

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  • 3 weeks later...

Yes, I have a very similar approach - Evernote for tasks with a lot of information, and a simple app for one-liners. But I'd like to be able to see both types in one list for my workflow, and that's why I'd like an integration. The workaround using an evernote-Link, while doable, feels a little to "manual" for a digital system.

I agree that the Evernote link is a bit manual. I wish there was a way to create a note in Evernote that triggered an automatic task in your task manger (I use OmniFocus) with a link back. I haven't found an automated way to do that yet. I've tried hacking things with Dropox and Hazel, but it's unreliable and ends up creating more of a mess. 

 

What I do (and I explain in detail here), is put all tasks that I must do into OmniFocus (you could use anything for this) and all reference material in Evernote. Then just copy/paste the note link into the comments in OmniFocus. It works really well and fortunately most tasks don't need reference material, so it's not that big of a pain.

 

With this, I open OmniFocus in the mornings and check the tasks I need to get done. If I need to refer to something it's as easy as clicking on that link and Evernote opens with the appropriate note.

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@Gabe,

 

I may not understand your requirements perfectly, but it seemed from your description that Facilethings from our post 10 Best Task Apps with Evernote Integration would work.

 

Also wondering if you could add the plaintext notelink in Evernote and have that sent over as part of the task to Omnifocus.  Then you could use IFTTT or other service to take new Evernote notes get them in as tasks to many services (although not Omnifocus yet).  TaskClone works similarly, just for individual todo items.

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@Gabe,

 

I may not understand your requirements perfectly, but it seemed from your description that Facilethings from our post 10 Best Task Apps with Evernote Integration would work.

 

Also wondering if you could add the plaintext notelink in Evernote and have that sent over as part of the task to Omnifocus.  Then you could use IFTTT or other service to take new Evernote notes get them in as tasks to many services (although not Omnifocus yet).  TaskClone works similarly, just for individual todo items.

I'm actually using your service with Omnifocus.You can even add a checkbox to an existing note in Evernote and then it will give a new task in Omnifocus with the Evernote link in the description (quicker than copy and past from one app to the other)

I've been using it for a few days and it hasn't let me down.

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@Gabe,

 

I may not understand your requirements perfectly, but it seemed from your description that Facilethings from our post 10 Best Task Apps with Evernote Integration would work.

 

Also wondering if you could add the plaintext notelink in Evernote and have that sent over as part of the task to Omnifocus.  Then you could use IFTTT or other service to take new Evernote notes get them in as tasks to many services (although not Omnifocus yet).  TaskClone works similarly, just for individual todo items.

 

For the most part, it works well. I store many things in Evernote, but if it's a task, I put it in OmniFocus only (never in Evernote). So every morning I open OmniFocus and everything I need to do is right there. However, sometime that task needs to reference a pdf, or something I'd written before. That's when I copy/paste the link to the Evernote note into the task in OmniFocus. So when I look at the task I don't have to go looking for the reference material in Evernote, I just click an link.

 

For example:

 

- I keep a list of books I want to read in Evernote.

- In OmniFocus, I have a monthly task that says "Pick a book to read this month", which has a link to the Evernote note. The task only appears once a month.

 

So when the task appears in OmniFocus, I click the link, pick a book, tick the checkmark in Evernote to note I've selected it, and tick off the task in OmniFocus.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Now, what would've been nice is to have created an OmniFocus task directly from that Evernote note that already included the link. Sort of like a "send to OmniFocus" button on the task. Although I don't need that often enough to be an issue. Creating the task manually and just copy/pasting the link is fine.

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  • Level 5*

Gabe -
 
If you're willing to potentially pay for the service, you can use Zapier to achieve what you're looking for. If you're not familiar with the service, Zapier's a sort of Turbo IFTTT, with many more configurations and options. Here's a Zap (like IFTTT's Recipe) that can take advantage of apps that allow you to email in tasks by automatically sending all Evernote Reminder notes as tasks via email. This example uses Nirvana but as stated, it can be configured to use OmniFocus and its Mail Drop feature. If you don't want it to pick up via Reminders, you can pretty much configure whatever the heck you want as your trigger using Zapier. It's free if you use fewer than 5 zaps and it doesn't trigger more than 100x/mo. Otherwise, ya gotta fork up.
 
f1bfd9cae21de73a5ef27d7f9dee1b79.png

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Well for me there is no better task manager than google tasks. I really like it as its free and the usability does matter in my case. But as of now due to certain more required features I am looking out for the adcanced version. And I have chosen the task management tool from Replicon. The tool is particularly based on a cloud based platform and the hassle free experience of the same does make a high end level sense to have the work done up with extremity. Here is the link for your reference - http://www.replicon.com/olp/task-management-software.aspx

 

Does it interact with evernote? I've looked at the page but did not see any mention of EN.

 

Also, the new Nozbe version does retrieve evernote reminders. Still no "all tasks" view, though.

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  • 3 weeks later...

This string has been helpful, thanks to all.  

 

Just a few quick notes on the topic.  I too have tried, tested and worked to find an "ease" of use/entry system that integrates Evernote.  In short, my foundation system in a perfect world would be Evernote.  The day evernote implements an email client and basic task management product will be my personal utopia.  In years past I have used several 3 app systems and now I find I can use a number of 2 app systems.  The root issue and the reason I keep returning month after month to this web search is my endless hunt for a fully integrated 2 app system or the next gold standard of Evernote upgrades.  

 

My foundation TO DO app is still OmniFocus.  Very detailed of course and offers amazing features yet is weak on many fronts.  Greatest downside is the desktop "Mac" only software.  Deal killer for full team collaboration.  I've used Wunderlist and it works well but doesn't offer any fully evernote integration.   

 

I've tried to use "The Secret Weapon" and similar solutions but find them challenging to follow or at least maintain.  

 

Boxer is a good email integration with Evernote feature but doesn't integrate tasks into Evernote.

 

IQTELL is  very promising.  I'm afraid it is 6 months away from being truly "IN THE GAME" when it comes to app, web and desktop integration with Evernote.  The web option is great but offers far less detailed integration with the mobile apps.  Also, it feeds Evernote but is more of it's own "eco system" solution.  Evernote is an add on feature.

 

SmartTM is also very promising.  Again, maybe 6 months to a year away from being "IN THE GAME" as well.  mobile app has promise but way too buggy and featureless to use as a reliable integration.  Plenty of promise.  I just hope someone gives them a few million to do what they need to do or Evernote to buy them.  Either would be a huge "future" for both.

 

I've read ever "Asian Efficiency" solution pulling OmniFocus and Evernote together.  The system is still using Evernote as a data library and doesn't integrate push/pull for real task management.

 

The "pen and paper" system seems to be the only thing that works and it requires too much in the way of processing.  By "pen and paper" I mean basic "forward of email to evernote" then go to Evernote and review, reminder, etc.  

 

An email app that is really good is Dispatch.  I happen to love Dispatch for processing emails OUT.  That being said, it only shows INBOX.  If you have a service that drives something to a sub folder, you can't get to it.  (yet).  It's a one way street.  Inbox to Evernote.  Tag and place in notebook and gone.    Just a faster version of "forward an email" type method.  

 

Most apps and softwares I've used I find that Evernote is an "ADD ON" feature not a foundational part of the system.  (Other than SmartTM, but as I said they are VERY far from being a first choice without tons of improvements).  

 

For now I guess I just wait for Evernote to grow in features, someone like SmartTM to get funding and hiring they need, an email/task management app to fully integrate with Evernote with PUSH/PULL.  

 

The hope is to have the "easy" stuff handled in Evernote and the hard stuff managed in evernote and all the processing handled in Evernote.  (IMO).    

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  • 1 month later...

I've tried Gneo. 

the best thing about Gneo is it tries to put info from both Evernote and Google Calendar in one "place" (app). 

 

another unique feature about Gneo is that you can graphically move an item from one "important" "urgent" quadrant to another.... if you have that philosophy.

 

one weakness about Gneo is that it looks very stark.

the fatal weakness with Gneo is that it doesn't sync with Evernote reliably. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've tried many combinations - too many to list here.

 

I think Zendone is badly overlooked in this discussion, even though it's mentioned on the first post.   

 

It is by far the best integrated App and the Evernote + Zendone combination is beautiful if you are used to GTD.  It's very hard to beat.  

 

My only complaint is that it offers no tablet support.

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Remember the Milk

I felt nostalgic returning to RTM - it was the first online task manager I ever used, and the site has not even changed since. :)

EN integration is simple and clear: Make an item with a reminder in EN, and it will show up in your RTM task list, with due date and time. RTM does not "touch" your notes other then updating the title when you change it and setting the reminder to "done" when you check off an item. Tasks created within RTM do not interact with EN. This is basically what I want, but there are also downsides:

 

- RTM is a very basic ToDo app - No subtasks, no status, no "next actions" 

- EN Notes are not shown directly in the app, just a link

- No desktop app (and sparse web interface)

 

--

 

So, I haven't found my "perfect" solution yet. Did you? I would like to hear what works best for others.

I use RTM and EN. 

 

I wish the EN logo link in a RTM task would open the EN note directly in EN desktop instead of a browser window. But since edits to the note in the browser window flow through to EN desktop, it's not a major complaint. On mobile devices, clicking on the EN logo link opens the EN native app, which is nice.

 

I actually like RTM's 'sparse' web interface. It's too easy to get caught up in making task management complex and 'pretty' instead of focusing on just getting things done.

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  • 2 months later...

I have tried a few of the apps Gneo, trackmytasks, nimbulist, cleverlist, smarttm. Im looking for something that will 

 

1) sync easily and automatically

2) look as good as say Fantastical, an iOS calendar and reminders app

3) won't mess up the formatting of my notes

4) integrate with my icloud calendar

5) are simple to setup and use

 

 

So far they all fail in one or more of my five categories. The other disadvantages of this approach is that evernote does not offer recurring reminders and apple reminders are very well integrated into IOS and mac. But still it would be so great to have all my reminders in one place and that place should be evernote

 

Is there a simple way to push reminders from evernote to apple reminders? Maybe  also then the ability to  tick the reminders as completed in Apple reminders and have the complete status go back to evernote?

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  • 5 months later...

i think we all are on the same boat when it comes to a perfect workflow integration. I use the Evernote shortcuts logic defined as my tasks for today on android. 

 

However recently started using swipes on my ipad and this is wonderful !!! have a look www.swipesapp.com

 

cheers,

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have been using Evernote as my todo-app almost ever since Reminders were introduced. It's far from ideal though, despite some very good task-managers out there (like Wunderlist). Yet all I need for Evernote to be almost ideal is recurring reminders, priorities and a place for it in the widget and the home-screen of the iOS app. It's the one thing I await most eagerly for Evernote to do.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi guys,

Swipes app has recently released an important update on their sync with Evernote. It makes the integration extremely stable and reliable.

 

You pull tasks from Evernote into one place where you schedule, complete and prioritise them.

 

Swipes general announcement from today: https://discussion.evernote.com/topic/80908-sync-notes-checkmarks-from-evernote-into-swipes-to-do-app/.

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  • 2 weeks later...

That is an interesting way to do things! I like to see tasks on my caalendar, though, and I need to be nagged by repeating reminders berfore I really do them. :)

 

You could try Sunrise Calendar.  Any note with a reminder shows up as a calendar event.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 2 years later...

+ 1 this , what I'm looking for is to click and drag a note into omnifocus , and from there create a task with a duplicate of the notes content in my task's "notes" section. I may have an odd situation, but there are times when I have access to Omnifocus but not evernote , so a link to a note doesn't help me. I need the contents of the note. 

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