Tasks: Quickly Create To Do's

The ClearContext Task button allows you to quickly add an email to your task list. Clicking Task will open a new Outlook task with the subject of the email and contents pasted into it and the original message attached. Set a due date and save to enter into your task list.

 

Once the task is created from a message, it is associated with the email conversation and will appear in the original conversation's MessageContext.

Topic Assignment
The Topic field in a task is pre-populated with the original email's topic.  If one has not been assigned previously, ClearContext will query for a Topic assignment when creating a task.  This allows you to view this information by Topic in the ClearContext Dashboard.  Turn this feature on/off in the Topic Assignment on New Tasks and Appointments at ClearContext > Options > Preferences > Tasks/Appts.

Original Message
When creating a task from an email, ClearContext can automatically file or delete the original message, moving it out of the Inbox and saving the need to deal with it again.  Accessed from the Original Message drop down on the task toolbar, there are three options:

• File To Topic - Automatically files the original message into its associated Topic Folder.
• Delete - Much like File To Topic, automatically delete the original message used when creating the current task.
• No Action - Do not move or delete the original message used to spawn this item.

When issuing an Original Message command from a Task, ClearContext remembers the action you last took and defaults to it the next time you process a message. The last action is remembered for two different states - items that initially have topics assigned to them and items that do not.

ClearContext warns when you are about to file or delete the original message.  Change this behavior via the ClearContext Misc preferences menu (ClearContext > Options > Preferences > Misc).

Task Options
By default, ClearContext truncates the text of long emails and attaches a copy of the message when copying creating an appointment or task. Turn these features on/off via the miscellaneous ClearContext Preference tab - ClearContext > Options > Preferences > Misc.

Creating Custom Task Views that Include the Topic Name

 

The Dashboard is the quickest way to view all To Do items, including Tasks and Appointments, by Topic name. If desired, the Topic name can be added to custom task views so that tasks within the native Outlook task pane can be sorted by Topic as well. To add Topic name to a Task view:

1. Go to the task pane and click on the view that you want to alter.
2. Right click the header on the tasks list (i.e. where it says Subject, Due Date, etc.) and select "Field Chooser."
3. Select "Forms..." in the drop down where it says "Frequently Used Fields:"
4. In the "Select Enterprise forms for this folder" dialog select Personal Forms (if it is not already selected).
5. If Show Categories is checked, uncheck it.
6. Highlight ClearContext and press Add...
7. Close the current dialog.
8. In the Field chooser, add CC-TopicName by clicking it and dragging it to the headers you initially right clicked.
9. Exit out of the field chooser.
10. If desired, change the name of the header on this field by right clicking “CC-TopicName”, selecting Format Columns, and changing the Label.
11. Repeat for each view that you want to alter.

Custom Forms Support
If you would like to use a custom Outlook form for task generation when pressing the Task button, specify that form via ClearContext > Options > Preferences > Tasks/Appts.  Under Create Tasks and Appointments with Custom Forms, add the message class you wish to use.  For example, IPM.Task.MyTaskForm.