johanngevers
asked on
Outlook 2003 Taskpad: need filter to view only those tasks due on date (other than "Today") selected on Calendar
In Outlook 2003 in Calendar view with Taskpad enabled, when I select a day in the Calendar other than "Today", then the Taskpad either:
1. is unchanged (shows the same tasks as when "Today" is selected, irrespective of which day is highlighted in the Calendar)
OR
2. shows tasks active on the selected date, as well as all tasks with a due date in the future (when "Active Tasks for Selected Days" is enabled as the Taskpad View).
What I want, is a simple filter that will show only those tasks due on the date (other than "Today") selected in the Calendar, without the clutter and distraction of future tasks.
I am already aware of the clumsy solution that requires each task to be entered with both a "Start Date" as well as a "Due Date". But this creates other limitations, and considering that I have literally hundreds of tasks that I organize on a daily basis, it is simply not a practical solution.
Right-clicking the top row of the Taskpad, then selecting Customize Current View > Filter > Advanced, I can use the drop-down "Field" menu and choose "Due Date", then for the Condition choose "On". But I don't know what Value will get me the equivalent of the date selected in the Calendar.
If someone can tell me what the appropriate Value name is, that will solve this problem very elegantly.
Alternatively, if someone knows the appropriate SQL code to type in on the SQL tab (Customize Current View > Filter > SQL), then that will similarly solve the problem.
(Judging by the various groups and forums, many Outlook users are looking for this solution. It's such an obvious feature that it's hard to believe Outlook still doesn't have it built-in out-of-the-box even after all these years.)
1. is unchanged (shows the same tasks as when "Today" is selected, irrespective of which day is highlighted in the Calendar)
OR
2. shows tasks active on the selected date, as well as all tasks with a due date in the future (when "Active Tasks for Selected Days" is enabled as the Taskpad View).
What I want, is a simple filter that will show only those tasks due on the date (other than "Today") selected in the Calendar, without the clutter and distraction of future tasks.
I am already aware of the clumsy solution that requires each task to be entered with both a "Start Date" as well as a "Due Date". But this creates other limitations, and considering that I have literally hundreds of tasks that I organize on a daily basis, it is simply not a practical solution.
Right-clicking the top row of the Taskpad, then selecting Customize Current View > Filter > Advanced, I can use the drop-down "Field" menu and choose "Due Date", then for the Condition choose "On". But I don't know what Value will get me the equivalent of the date selected in the Calendar.
If someone can tell me what the appropriate Value name is, that will solve this problem very elegantly.
Alternatively, if someone knows the appropriate SQL code to type in on the SQL tab (Customize Current View > Filter > SQL), then that will similarly solve the problem.
(Judging by the various groups and forums, many Outlook users are looking for this solution. It's such an obvious feature that it's hard to believe Outlook still doesn't have it built-in out-of-the-box even after all these years.)
I'm sorry Johann, I didn't read closely enough. Whe I set my tasks, I always choose the start date, which is why they are showing as you suggest. Let me try another solution for you
Karen
Karen
ASKER
Karen, thank you for your comments. As you realized after your first post, I was already aware of the solution you first suggested (and mentioned it in my question). The reason I consider it clumsy, is because then I need to manage two dates for every task, instead of just one. It would also require an extra column (for the start date) in my taskpad view, and that uses up valuable screen real estate. Plus it leads to other limitations: for example, the start date and due date have to be the same - which is not always true in my case.
The simplest, most elegant solution would be to find out (directly from Microsoft?) what their internal function/syntax/codename is for "currently selected calendar date", because then I can just plug that Value name into the Advanced Filter. Do you have any suggestion who might know this function name? Or who to approach at Microsoft (or elsewhere)?
Or alternatively, how one could write some SQL code to do the same job (then paste the SQL code into the SQL tab)?
I'm not stingy with points, and I'll be happy to award points for any help on this question, even if it doesn't lead to a "perfect" solution.
And for a full solution, I'll award mega bonus points.
The simplest, most elegant solution would be to find out (directly from Microsoft?) what their internal function/syntax/codename is for "currently selected calendar date", because then I can just plug that Value name into the Advanced Filter. Do you have any suggestion who might know this function name? Or who to approach at Microsoft (or elsewhere)?
Or alternatively, how one could write some SQL code to do the same job (then paste the SQL code into the SQL tab)?
I'm not stingy with points, and I'll be happy to award points for any help on this question, even if it doesn't lead to a "perfect" solution.
And for a full solution, I'll award mega bonus points.
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ASKER
Hi Karen,
Yes, I noticed that, but didn't realize that whenever you change the start date, the due date is also automatically changed to be the same as the start date (both when you move the start date forward into the future, and when you move it backward closer to the present, or into the past).
Now after reading your comment, I went back and tested it, and it seems to work. I have gone through all my hundreds of tasks, and assigned start dates to all of them (same as the due date).
So now I have also removed my "Due Date" column, and only show the "Start Date" column (which I have renamed "Date", to make it less confusing). Thus my screen real estate is again what it was before.
One issue that came up that might be useful for other readers of this EE Question to know: When you change the start date for *recurring* tasks, some unexpected behavior may result, depending on what kind of recurring pattern has been set. For example, many recurring tasks will automatically generate duplicate copies (with different dates) when a start date is assigned. I had to go back through all the hundreds of tasks, and manually delete duplicate tasks. (This was made easier by sorting by subject, and thus grouping all the duplicates together in one place.)
I will keep testing your solution for a few days, and if it continues to work fine, I will count this as a full solution.
In the meanwhile, I am still interested in finding out what Microsoft's internal function/syntax/codename is for "currently selected calendar date". Obviously such a function exists, because when "Active Tasks for Selected Days" is enabled as the Taskpad View, it uses this function. It must be similar to the one called "today", that I have used as a Value on the Advanced Filter tab. Knowing this function name will make it possible for me to construct more flexible Outlook view filters that serve my needs better.
Thank you very much for your help so far!
Johann
Yes, I noticed that, but didn't realize that whenever you change the start date, the due date is also automatically changed to be the same as the start date (both when you move the start date forward into the future, and when you move it backward closer to the present, or into the past).
Now after reading your comment, I went back and tested it, and it seems to work. I have gone through all my hundreds of tasks, and assigned start dates to all of them (same as the due date).
So now I have also removed my "Due Date" column, and only show the "Start Date" column (which I have renamed "Date", to make it less confusing). Thus my screen real estate is again what it was before.
One issue that came up that might be useful for other readers of this EE Question to know: When you change the start date for *recurring* tasks, some unexpected behavior may result, depending on what kind of recurring pattern has been set. For example, many recurring tasks will automatically generate duplicate copies (with different dates) when a start date is assigned. I had to go back through all the hundreds of tasks, and manually delete duplicate tasks. (This was made easier by sorting by subject, and thus grouping all the duplicates together in one place.)
I will keep testing your solution for a few days, and if it continues to work fine, I will count this as a full solution.
In the meanwhile, I am still interested in finding out what Microsoft's internal function/syntax/codename is for "currently selected calendar date". Obviously such a function exists, because when "Active Tasks for Selected Days" is enabled as the Taskpad View, it uses this function. It must be similar to the one called "today", that I have used as a Value on the Advanced Filter tab. Knowing this function name will make it possible for me to construct more flexible Outlook view filters that serve my needs better.
Thank you very much for your help so far!
Johann
ASKER
Hi Karen,
After a few more days of testing, this workaround seems to work just fine, so I am giving you full points!
Thank you very much for your help.
Best wishes,
Johann
After a few more days of testing, this workaround seems to work just fine, so I am giving you full points!
Thank you very much for your help.
Best wishes,
Johann
Set the calendar view to day/week/month with autopreview
From the menu choose View, Taskpad view
Select Active tasks for selected day
Make sure you deselect the bottom choice to show all tasks with no due date.
Does that do the trick?
Karen