733 votes
Add an "in progess" status as well as "to do" & "complete"
Not sure how many other list makers do this, but I typically use 3 status markers:
1. "to do" = not started
2. "in progress"
3. "complete"
The tick box in ToDoIst only allows states 1 and 3. Could we have an option to enable a middle state. i.e. toggle 1. -> 2. -> 3. -> 1.
renecum
this is not an essencial feature, but is very usefull for long tasks. I will love to use it.
17 days ago
vegebird
I give this 3 votes, because it really helps. Also, if it is a team work, this flag is definitely a must to check on the team progress
about 1 month ago
Marlow Rossi
The last three votes I made before signing in (just so they'll be counted), I won't vote again.
about 1 month ago
hcaudill
I agree that this can be accomplished with other functions that the site already offers. People have already mentioned tags (e.g. @waiting or @followup). You also have the ability to create subtasks - a quick look at the progress on subtasks provides much more information than an in-progress status or a percent-complete field (which would be arbitrary anyway).
2 months ago
ingvald
"me too" - i like the idea of marking a task as "doing now"
and the idea of making it optional with default to off
2 months ago
danbutcher
I like the idea of making it optional a requiring the user to turn it on--seems like this meets the needs of both supporters and the opposition
3 months ago
RBraxton
OK, So there is plenty of votes for this and many whom appose. Perhaps the answer is to make this optional and initially turned off.
3 months ago
danbutcher
I agree that a third "in progress" option is highly useful and does not overly complicate Todoist, especially if it's set up so that successive clicks cycle through the three options. As someone else pointed out, sometimes a task (that really is a single task) gets interrupted by meetings, phone calls, etc., and it would be helpful to be able to mark that task as started on but not complete.
3 months ago
mishrav
I don't find the progress indicators useful yet. Maybe because I am limited to a small number of tasks per project. But I think it should be useful.
I like this idea of the uservoice.com. Neat place. Though I need more votes.
3 months ago
stantonb
The 'in progress indicator' is a decades old concept from the paper-based systems (showing my age here!). It's purpose is to simplify the process, ie. a quick and efficient way of indicating that a small task has been started, without having to make a 'project' out of it. It actually saves time. I trust that the Todoist people can implement this without over complicating it.
3 months ago
jtar
I hate to 'me to', but the truth is an inprocess just makes sense to have. I suppose you could add an @inprocess to a task in the short term, but this seems a worthy feature. I vote for the keep it simple as well though, because overcomplicating will kill this app.
3 months ago
takto
please dont overcomplicate it with this procrastination feature.. concentrate on integration with google products and mostly on collaboration.. i thank everyday for
simplicity of todoist, dont make it more messy
4 months ago
phughes
I agree with those who would leave this out. A huge part of the reason I like Todoist is that the interface is so simple and clean, and doesn't require all the baggage that traditional task lists have. Unless this is added in such a way that it is completely 'ignorable', I would rather not have it in. Let's keep this great tool simple! :)
4 months ago
RBraxton
@stantonb - If the task can be broken into separate units then you have more than 1 task. If you leave a message then the ball is no longer in your court. If you need to keep calling then set a followup task in the future. Try creating an individual task for every time you dial. Why? So you will have a rich history. Reusing a task or typing over it or changing status erases history.
4 months ago
stantonb
I particularly like this idea. Sometimes I get started on a task and it gets interrupted. An example is having to call someone to discuss something. If they don't answer the phone I need to leave a message to get them to call back. I'd like to be able to indicate that the task is in progress, or at least easily updated to indicated that I've made the call. Then complete the task later.
4 months ago
malk.zameth
there are ways of doing it already, changing the inherent behaviour of todoist for this will just give the ones that want it one more way and annoy profoundly the ones that do not.
just mark your current tasks with a label (a single letter label for quickness, like '@c'), and use the existing project/subproject/task/subtask structure. you can then filter your tasks by 'currentness'
4 months ago
RBraxton
This feature is indicative of project planning, not task lists. Let's keep this tool simple. (i.e. go count your damn beans elsewhere!)
A to-do or task should be an unambiguous unit of work for a single individual to be accomplished within one contiguous envelope of time. Anything greater should be further broken down.
Top of the list = in progress.
Check the box = done.
Todoist = simple.
4 months ago
Nick Armitage
A lot of the functionality for labels is only available to Premium Users (eg changing colours, ability to edit labels etc, etc). If this were to be opened up to all users then I can see that labels might solve some problems. But if the limited functionality for labels is kept, I still maintain this idea is a good one.
4 months ago
eyelite
Are these votes for real or is this competition "helping" Todoist.
theywhoneverdrinkmilkbecausetheykeepforgettingit.com
4 months ago
eyelite
NO! This NOT a good idea at all.
1. First, to mark an item as "to do"? It's in Todoist already! To do is not a category but the reason we all use this app!
2. Second: "in progress" meaning something like: I'm busy doing what I planned to do. well, that's good for you, but should we make a button to mark this fact? Not!
3. Third: "complete". Good idea but it already exists so why make it double?
4 months ago
1queer1
I do it using tags, so I don't believe this is one that needs to happen.
5 months ago
chrismjohnson
@markalanlewis: If this is implemented, would it not restrict all users to use the statuses integrated? If those who want this functionality were to utilize labels then there is the ultimate flexibility.
5 months ago
markalanlewis
I think users should be allowed to determine how many and what kinds of status. Everyone has a different style, and flexibility allows everyone to work the way they want to work.
5 months ago
baxtis
it would be a great idea since there is no online task managers that offer progress bar for the taska and it is really useful and motivating
5 months ago
eldao
I don't think having three states is necessary. One could implement three states as a preference, that would make things on the back end even more complicated. You can simulate the three state behavior by using a specific @ tag for "in progress" if you really need this. In general, I think it is a better idea to break down tasks and concentrate on one at a time.
5 months ago
RBraxton
I agree now that I have seen labels - to label a task, just type @YourLabelName at the end of the task's text
5 months ago
chrismjohnson
@anonymous users: Could you please register and reply in comments to justify the enormous amount of votes for this feature that we have already deemed possible with existing functionality?
5 months ago
stain
please keep it simple! I dont need a progress counter, just a todolist reminder app, thanks.
5 months ago
tf2
Given that we have tags that can do the same thing, this isn't a very pressing addition for me.
5 months ago
iisjreg
Agreed again. I also commonly use "waiting", sometimes highlighted instead of tagged.
5 months ago
r2cosmin
I agree with DivinoAG and chrismjohnson, this would only complicate things unnecessary. Being able to put tags on tasks can accomplish the same thing ans is also more flexible. Also, not having an "in progress" forces you a bit to split the tasks in more clear chunks.
5 months ago
chrismjohnson
@RBraxton: A tag could still solve this problem as I don't believe the tags are wiped when a task is deleted.
5 months ago
RBraxton
Another status would be "scrubbed" to remove (clean up) to dos you will never do but can revive/review in history.
5 months ago
drewcifuge
Sometimes you can avoid needing "in progress" by breaking down the task into smaller subtasks. This also gives a better feeling of getting ahead. :)
6 months ago
chrismjohnson
I agree with DivinoAG, the use of tags would probably be how I would prefer to see this functionality implemented. Having more than two options for the state of a task will complicate the process of changing the state of the task.
6 months ago
DivinoAG
It's not really a bad idea, but at least for me it's somewhat unnecessary since you can get the same functionality using tags. That does require typing, but it's really fast, and you can define your own stages as needed (I frequently use "waiting" when I need something from another person to complete a task).
6 months ago
Nick Armitage
I like this idea and gave it 3 votes. Very simple, very useful and shouldn't be too difficult to implement (hint hint :-)). Perhaps you could allow the user to choose their own status markers and allow any number of status markers (up to some sensible limit). The ability then to view all "in progress" tasks would be neat.
6 months ago