Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Managing Responsibilities
With Evernote
 
Richard L Coonce
 
 
 
 
Introduction
 
The purpose of this document is to explain a different way to use Evernote.  This method can significantly improve information management; and provide dramatically better control of responsibilities, tasks, guidelines, and document retrieval.  I suspect that I'm not the first to do this, but I've not seen anything published on it, and considering the impact it's had on my office, it's certainly worth sharing.
 
I've used Evernote for a number of years, first in my own business and now in my after-retirement job.  For the most part, my previous Evernote experience has been, perhaps like most people, simply documenting information and retrieving it with tags and/or key words as needed.  When tables were introduced by Evernote, my initial reaction was that I could find no good use of them.  Evernote tables do not calculate; they're not "smart" in any traditional sense, and cannot be command-sorted on content like a spreadsheet.  I've worked with Evernote for years without ever using tables.
 
When I learned about and started using hyperlinks in Evernote, I stumbled onto a way to use tables and hyperlinks together to understand, manage, and control data better than I ever have before.  As a consequence, Evernote has become a critical and indispensable part of my daily routines, my responsibilities management, my task control, and my historical documentation.  It is now at the center of every responsibility I have in my job including all reports and all required annual processes.
 
 
Tables with Links
 
I use what I call "Control Tables" to essentially make a "yellow brick road" to just about everywhere.   In the table below, every item in the two categories is linked to downstream child-level control tables that focus to more detail and finally, to specific records.
 
The easiest way to show the strength of this cascading-control-tables method is to click through one of the items.  The table below is my Primary Data Control Table, and Open Records is marked with a red arrow so we can look at the click-through to its linked table.
 
image.thumb.png.ce1f67464cdcc3c671366dc9a8f77b31.png
 
Clicking on "Open Records" above takes us to the child-level control table for open records requests.
 
image.thumb.png.73ef99480f78656e74513105bada073f.png
 
This table shows a fair amount of data in one place.  Each control number above (first column) is a unique alphanumeric identification assigned to one specific open records request.  These are actual historical records with the requester temporarily removed for this screen shot.  This Document Control table shows each request with the most critical information in view.  Each request starts as a task management item for unfulfilled requests and then becomes the historical record when fulfilled.  The illustration above shows a  small portion of the actual table; the full table contains more than two years of records so far with well over 200 specific requests.
 
For additional details on a specific request, the ORR number is linked.  Clicking ORR2019056 in the above table (marked with a red arrow) opens this record below:
 
image.png.7b427edaa626ac5828ced1a97a6e3885.png
All contact information in this example is fictitious
 
This detailed record also contains links: (1) the email address, (2) the file name, (3) any historical email records in the box entitled 'Emails,' and (4) text reading "ORR Document Control" in the first column above "Contact Information."  Click on any link to go directly to the document or, in the case of the email address, to bring up a new email ready to be sent.  Any text or object in a note can be linked to other Evernote notes, to computer directories, to specific files (including executable programs), to websites, and to email addresses.  Virtually anything a shortcut can point to can be a link in Evernote.
 
 
Conclusion
 
I don't think I could possibly overstate the benefits of using tables with links for organizing, documenting, understanding, and using data.  The resulting "yellow brick road" makes searching mostly unnecessary.  Tables can be set up in seconds, and it takes only a moment to make a new link.  If you believe you can benefit by using tables with links, don't let the learning curve be a deterrent!  These are just skills and nothing more; anyone can do it.  
 
The Evernote windows app is a free download, and I encourage you to download and install it.  A word to the wise - use a very strong password for your account because your data is stored on Evernote servers and is accessible by browser.
 
 
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 3
Link to comment
  • Level 5*

Hi.  Much kudos for the detailed explanation.  I have a similar application with far fewer choices.  I also use an app which may be useful to you - Filterize - which will automatically populate 'dashboards' (essentially Tables of Content lists) so that all my notes with a specific tag,  or title,  or in certain notebooks will be added to my current list for that category.

Forinstance every note I create with a 'priority 1' tag will wind up on my current to-do list.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*
On 8/9/2019 at 1:17 PM, RCoonceTX said:

I use what I call "Control Tables" to essentially make a "yellow brick road" to just about everywhere.

Essentially master Table-of-Contents notes; nice formatting with the table

>>linked to downstream child-level control tables

I know these as dashboard notes.

I keep these dynamic via an applescript on my Mac.  As @gazumped mentioned, third party Filterize is a solution.

>>Correspondence

I also store a pdf of the email message in addition to the .eml file

>>The Evernote windows app is a free download, and I encourage you to download and install it.

Also available as a Mac app.  There's also Android and IOS apps but they don't have the full featureset.

>>A word to the wise - use a very strong password for your account

Also, a unique password for Evernote; don't use the same password on other sites

For additional security, I encrypt sensitive data.  Evernote has a text encryption feature and I use the native encryption in file attachments (pdfs, office documents, ...)

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Hey @RCoonceTX  wow, that's awesome ...and thanks very much for taking the time to share this, great stuff :-)

I'm also using tables with embedded links a lot, linking to downstream child notes, for workflow management/process steps etc.  But right now I'm a one-man-gang, or at least don't need to share/collaborate with others to implement projects. So my question, if indeed you have a team, is how do you protect the data-integrity/lock-to-editing, all that i.e. esp the parent control table-note - but I guess the downstream notes need to be edit-able. Is it simply a case of making backups? 

Also, I like your pseudo form design...nice. Even light grey font use.

My only preference would be to sort your primary table 'down-then-over'...haha

Also like how you drag the emails in as an attachment. I have been saving emails as separate notes then also linking to them...but maybe this is better, thanks again

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Thanks for sharing.  Like others, I do something similar.  But I have found that each additional box/bullet/numbered list, or even check box to some degree, takes an inordinate amount of screen space on a table, both horizontally and vertically, so I try to use as few boxes as possible, and create separation with manual bullet characters ().  rather than bullet lists from the menu, which create a huge left margin, wasted space in my view. 

I need to see as much info without scrolling as possible.

Link to comment

 I understand we all have different situations and different needs. I do not use this table with links system to organize Evernote; I use it to organize my responsibilities and to provide specific guidelines and detailed steps to complete them.  The four most important of my responsibilities are the least frequent, occurring only once each year.   Evernote tables are a great format for step-by-step details. 

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
21 hours ago, Don Dz said:

an inordinate amount of screen space on a table

I have a main dashboard that includes 11 link options (one was an afterthought) which are all visible on my phone screen. 

All of them lead to other link options that are lists of links to notes,  or links to other dashboards...  it's an ideal control system that works well on my phone and allows me to select anything from my current 'to do' priorities,  a list of other lists (there are about 20 links in that one) - to my emergency contacts so I can fill in those annoying 'next of kin' forms easily*,  in two keystrokes.  Three keystrokes allows me to add new projects,  check bank details and carry out other random stuff that's important to me.

(*Plus anyone prizing the phone out of my insensible hands can -hopefully- get to some useful data fast...)

It would be possible to set up something along these lines using normal table of contents notes,  but,  as intimated above,  and in line with my "Laziness Rocks!" principle,  I use Filterize to automatically populate those lists from note tags that I assign.  (I recently got even more creative and created filters in Gmail that move some emails directly to some notebooks (via another Filterize feature) and apply the tags that Filterize will use to add them to dashboards - but I digress...)

Link to comment
1 hour ago, gazumped said:

I use Filterize to automatically populate those lists from note tags that I assign. 

I have been wondering to what extent one can emulate what Filterize does, but using a script program like AutoHotkey.  it would be an interesting project for sure. 

I use a number of AH scripts with EN to automate things, in conjunction with structured tags and ToC, and of course plenty of dashboards.

I am still not confortable with third party services having access to my data, limited only by a promise not to access more than necessary.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*
On 8/14/2019 at 11:59 AM, RCoonceTX said:

I do not use this table with links system to organize Evernote; I use it to organize my responsibilities

My objective is to organize access to the data I have in Evernote, and other sources.

These are links to frequently accessed notes and web pages.

For organizing responsibilities, I include a link to my Project/Task Overview note

Link to comment

 I looked at the ad for Filterize, and it does look like that could be an effective way to organize a large number of notes in Evernote. But it feels sort of like  getting professional help to organize an office.   I don’t feel overly anxious to add annual fees.  When notes are put into Evernote with a specific action in mind, it seems  simple enough to make the connections when each note is created. 

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
17 hours ago, Don Dz said:

I have been wondering to what extent one can emulate what Filterize does, but using a script program like AutoHotkey.  it would be an interesting project for sure. 

This requires use of Evernote APIs for retrieving note data.

I emulate Filterize features using applescript on a Mac

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
17 hours ago, Don Dz said:

third party services having access to my data

It is possible to limit which notebooks Filterize deals with,  though given the usual permissions for access that probably doesn't guarantee they're not also able to view the whole account.  The usual caveats apply - if you're actively planning World Domination,  it's probably not a good idea to have details online...  😉

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
20 hours ago, CalS said:

Different view of the elephant, I tag as I go and use saved searches for organization.  Simpler use case I suppose.

Absolutely, tags and searches for organization

However, we can't link to tags or searches
Only a link to a ToC type note
Alternative: Insert the search parameters, for example 
                    Active Projects     tag:!Type-Project -Tag:!Archive 

>>unless it is a true reasonably static TOC

Or a dynamic ToC

>>I have a PhraseExpress hot key such that if I hover over the search term it executes.

I manually select the search term, then copy/paste into the search box

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*
1 minute ago, DTLow said:

Absolutely, tags and searches for organization

However, we can't insert a link into a note for tags or searches
Only a link to a Table-Of-Contents note
Alternative: Insert the search parameters, for example Active Projects     tag:!Type-Project -Tag:!Archive 

Yeah get that.  I use links within notes but not in any TOC or master note concept, unless it is a true reasonably static TOC.  My point is the the note list from the search represents what I want to see.  I tend to be low maintenance and just add notes and let the currency of the search give me the new view.  I do have one note with not so frequently used searches in it.  I have a PhraseExpress hot key such that if I hover over the search term it executes.  That note is in shortcuts.  Again could be a totally different uses case.

Link to comment
1 hour ago, DTLow said:

However, we can't link to tags or searches

Only a link to a ToC type note

One option is to use dashboard notes tagged with the same tags as all the linked ToC notes, that way one can display all the related notes from the right side of the tag in the note, without having to access the left panel. 

Is what I do at least, I don't always feel the need for ToC notes when using dashboard notes this way.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
2 hours ago, DTLow said:

Can you provide more details on this.  My example was Active Projects     tag:!Type-Project -Tag:!Archive

Well, your example was a search, but if a dashboard note had those same tags, it would be a simple matter to click on the right side of both tags in the note, to display all Active Projects, at least in Windows. 

I am referring of course to the right arrow that automatically appears when hovering over the tag area of the note.

In the example below, clicking on the right side of any of those tags would display all notes with those tags.  The effect is cumulative.  I don't know if it works that way on the Mac.

tags.png

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
6 hours ago, Don Dz said:

if a dashboard note had those same tags, it would be a simple matter to click on the right side of both tags in the note, to display all Active Projects, at least in Windows. 

We may have different ideas on "dashboard notes"
My Active Projects dashboard note contains links to project notes, as per the above example1375237633_ScreenShot2019-08-15at12_24_41.png.7c90e4cde05cd9bfbd0147a848e98c3b.png

No clicking on tags is required

Link to comment
3 hours ago, DTLow said:

We may have different ideas on "dashboard notes"
My Active Projects dashboard note contains links to the project notes, as per the above example

No clicking on tags is required

My dashboards are the same type as the example above, but recently I also started using tags the way I described. 


If having access to the EN APIs is the only way to do what you do automatically with a script, I guess the rest of us without access have to try other options for dynamic changes and additions.  My suggestion is one possible option. 

Sometimes this is more convenient than manually updating every dashboard link. I certainly can understand why CalS doesn't bother too much with ToC notes, if they change too frequently.

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
9 hours ago, DTLow said:

I'd be interested in seeing the code.  

I manually select the search term, then copy/paste into the search box

Capture from PhraseExpress below.  Since the search strings are in a table a triple click highlights the cell.  Pretty straightforward, Triple click - Ctrl+C - F6 - Ctrl+V - Enter.  So hover over the search term in the table, hold Alt and press the right mouse button and the phrase activates. 

ScreenClip.png.076775e7e6f81b2484d9ba809cde151b.png

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
On 8/13/2019 at 7:31 PM, Don Dz said:

Thanks for sharing.  Like others, I do something similar.  But I have found that each additional box/bullet/numbered list, or even check box to some degree, takes an inordinate amount of screen space on a table, both horizontally and vertically, so I try to use as few boxes as possible, and create separation with manual bullet characters ().  rather than bullet lists from the menu, which create a huge left margin, wasted space in my view. 

I need to see as much info without scrolling as possible.

Good tip on the manual bullet characters. I was trying to do the same thing for the same reason. I was surprised when a bullet wasted so much space. 

My link tables also take up too much space. RCoonceTX how do you keep the cells that small. I can move horizontally, but the vertical spacing seems to be locked. 

Link to comment

 I don’t do anything special to keep the vertical size of the cells as you saw them. I do use the Windows Evernote app and not a browser.   I’ve noticed a concern from some about the amount of space taken up by tables, but  I get much more information in my field of you with tables than I ever did with outlines.   Also when I set up a new table I often end up repositioning  rows and columns until I finally find the way I want to use it. 

Link to comment

OK, thanks. Another question about links. Is this possible, or can you think of a workaround.

I want a notebook with daily schedules. Each note labeled with the date except the current day's which is titled Today.

On my dashboard, I want a link to Today's schedule, but I don't want to have to rebuild that link every day. 

Anyway to build something like that?

 

Thanks

Link to comment

 I have a method that I use for myself to manage my daily routine‘s and scheduled items.    I do not use a separate note for every day, and the way I use tables, the idea of a separate note for every single day feels a bit overwhelming.   You could format a note the way you would like your daily note to look, and then save it as a template to start a new note every day.    That method would involve a large number of links that I believe are unnecessary. 

 You might consider a monthly note, which is what I do; and I do create a new link to it each month.    Then I have a daily table that I have saved, not as a template, but as a linked note so I can copy it into my month-note, one day at a time throughout the month.   I copy my new day into the top of the note so that at the end of the month, the first is at the bottom and the 31st is at the top.   I pull a link for my month-note into my top tool bar every month, and leave it there until I have to change it for the next month. 

 If you are interested in this idea, I would probably have to make some screenshots when I get to work to make it clearer.    I will say that my daily template includes a checklist for all the things I have to keep track of all the time, and a way to check for changes in schedule.    Let me know if you want to see the screenshots. 

Link to comment
12 minutes ago, DTLow said:

Which platform? Do you have access to scripting tools?

My solution is Mac based

Sorry, Windows; I always start in the Windows forum, but forget when I wander about. 

I have access, but having retired from 30 years of databases and programming, it's not something I do if I can help it.

 

Link to comment
12 minutes ago, RCoonceTX said:

 I have a method that I use for myself to manage my daily routine‘s and scheduled items.    I do not use a separate note for every day, and the way I use tables, the idea of a separate note for every single day feels a bit overwhelming.   You could format a note the way you would like your daily note to look, and then save it as a template to start a new note every day.    That method would involve a large number of links that I believe are unnecessary. 

 You might consider a monthly note, which is what I do; and I do create a new link to it each month.    Then I have a daily table that I have saved, not as a template, but as a linked note so I can copy it into my month-note, one day at a time throughout the month.   I copy my new day into the top of the note so that at the end of the month, the first is at the bottom and the 31st is at the top.   I pull a link for my month-note into my top tool bar every month, and leave it there until I have to change it for the next month. 

 If you are interested in this idea, I would probably have to make some screenshots when I get to work to make it clearer.    I will say that my daily template includes a checklist for all the things I have to keep track of all the time, and a way to check for changes in schedule.    Let me know if you want to see the screenshots. 

That makes sense; I'd love to see some screenshots. I'm probably overthinking the daily schedule thing as I use another app for task tracking. 

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
3 hours ago, dbvirago said:

daily schedules. Each note labeled with the date

 

2 hours ago, RCoonceTX said:

the idea of a separate note for every single day feels a bit overwhelming.   ... monthly note, which is what I do; and I do create a new link to it each month.    I copy my new day into the top of the note so that at the end of the month, the first is at the bottom and the 31st is at the top.

My preference is for the daily note; example      2019/08/19 Journal  [ Monday]

I find Evernote and my devices work better with shorter notes.  

>>I pull a link for my month-note into my top tool bar every month, and leave it there until I have to change it for the next month. 

That makes access easier.  My daily note floats near the top of the note list (All Notes), but I aways have to hunt for it.

Link to comment

This is a screen shot of my Daily Log

image.thumb.png.4dceefb8116617cd9b8841dc6ccc3383.png

 

For items not in my checklist the "Reminderrs" link provides an ongoing item list.  The view is limited in the interest of privacy, but there is a "Reminder History" line not far under the visible portion below, and I drag completed items just under that line, latest always to the top.

image.thumb.png.9280cc9b764205afa4219998062047b8.png

 

I saw the note about scripting, and I have not ever tried that; so I don't know which would be easiest.  But in the interest of simplicity, I want to tell you these notes are so very easy and quick to create.  For those that don't use keyboard commands, take five minutes to learn the keyboard commands to create link in active memory and the command to then paste that link into the "hyperlink" window - all in Evernote.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*

MY usual strategy is not to overthink things and keep the overhead low. In my working life, I develop software. So, bugs & features. These all have JIRA (issue & project tracking software) items associated which wrap up the things needed to complete each item. That's my day-to-day currency; I don't deal with the planning/scheduling/prioritization that much, except as needed by the people who do. In Evernote, I can direct web link to a JIRA ticket, or if the ticket's scope is large enough, note link to a separate note that covers that ticket (a JIRA note, I suppose)

I've found that dealing with things on a week-by week basis works well for me. To that end, I keep a weekly journal, Monday through Sunday, all wrapped up in a table: a row for each weekday, and one for the weekend. I track what I've worked on (i.e. direct web links to JIRA tickets or a JIRA note), meetings attended, time off, due dates, etc. Then several rows for Current tickets (stuff in progress or upcoming), history (ticket's I've resolved) and some catchalls (for things on the back burner that I might want to burn some cycles on). So a note with lots of links, direct or note links. That's my go-to dashboard. Oh, and it's a reminder note as well, due on the following Monday. For tracking progress on a JIRA ticket: sometimes I do it right in the weekly journal if it's simple enough, timestamped, maybe with checkboxes, and sometimes in a separate JIRA note if more extensive stuff is needed: milestones, links to relevant data or documents or web pages, design work, screen caps,, potential approaches, benchmarks, etc. Oh, and a JIRA note is also in the form of a table.

There's also a yearly journal, a table with cells for each month. Due dates, time off/vacation dates, and links to weekly journal notes

Every Monday morning, first thing, I duplicate the last week's journal, clear out the day entries, update a few dates, and the reminder date, move the list of things I did last week to a separate row, for reporting in a weekly meeting, and add a note link for the new weekly journal to the yearly journal. Then I retire that previous week's note by marking its reminder as done, and  moving it to a separate Journal notebook. It would be nice to automate this, but hey, it only takes about 5 minutes and actually, the task puts my mind straight into my upcoming work week, so it's really OK. 

As the week progresses, make daily notes, log finished items, add/remove from Current items as needed, make notes in JIRA notes, etc. Simple and low overhead, structured but not rigorous, sort of the way I like things.

And yes, there are tags, for gross organization, but this topic's all about notes, tables, and links..

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*
4 hours ago, jefito said:

For tracking progress on a JIRA ticket: sometimes I do it right in the weekly journal if it's simple enough, timestamped, maybe with checkboxes, and sometimes in a separate JIRA note

Further on this, activities start out as an entry in my journal note, but I find it more useful to push them out to a separate note (linked)

As a separate note, I add tags, reminders etc. Also more details in the note contents

Instead of a static entry in the journal, these are now notes that display in various lists

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
1 hour ago, DTLow said:

Further on this, activities start out as an entry in my journal note, but I find it more useful to push them out to a separate note (linked)

Yep, that's pretty much how I do it, unless I'm pretty sure it's going to turn into a research project. 

Keep it simple first, complicate as needed.

Link to comment
12 hours ago, dbvirago said:

OK, thanks. Another question about links. Is this possible, or can you think of a workaround.

I want a notebook with daily schedules. Each note labeled with the date except the current day's which is titled Today.

On my dashboard, I want a link to Today's schedule, but I don't want to have to rebuild that link every day. 

Anyway to build something like that?

 

Thanks

OK, well I'm an idiot. The solution was to simply put today's schedule at the top of the same note instead of separate notes per day. So the Today link works and today pops up. Also, much easier to scroll down to see previous days. I can create a new one weekly or monthly depending on how often I reference past days

 

Thanks for the inspiration, all

Link to comment
10 hours ago, jefito said:

strategy is not to overthink things and keep the overhead low

 

6 hours ago, jefito said:

Keep it simple first, complicate as needed.

Where were you?  I needed the above advice years ago 😉 

Link to comment
  • Level 5*
On 8/20/2019 at 4:38 AM, dbvirago said:

Each note labeled with the date except the current day's which is titled Today.

On my dashboard, I want a link to Today's schedule, but I don't want to have to rebuild that link every day. 

Anyway to build something like that?

Use the Today note as a permanent note. The link never changes.

Each morning, backup (duplicate) the Today note to a date labeled note, then refresh for a new day.

Also make it a shortcut - accessed by Ctrl+1-9

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Level 5*
1 hour ago, RavBoy said:

 

Where were you?  I needed the above advice years ago 😉 

Maybe still figuring out my strategy? ... Just because it's simple doesn't mean it was easy... :) 

1 hour ago, CalS said:

KISS is not just a rock band.  ;)

It's also an acronym. 😏

  • Haha 2
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...