GTD Sync Wiki

The Freeplane add-on that syncs a GTD mind map with a todo.txt file

Status: Beta

Brought to you by: haaihenkie

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Welcome to the "GTD Sync" wiki!

The add-on "GTD Sync" synchronises projects, next actions and delegated actions between a GTD Freeplane mind map and a todo.txt file.

Why did I create this add-on?
This add-on aims to support GTD Horizontal action management
For implementing the full solution you need the following elements:
Quick start guide
The following wiki subjects will help you to use GTD Sync effectively
Credits

Why did I create this add-on?

I was always very impressed with the add-on [Freeplane|GTD]. I was looking for a way to get the Next Action list to my Smartphone, so I could consult the list in any context and check off next actions on the go. I then came across todo.txt, a both human and machine-readable text file. Tools to handle todo.txt files are available for many platforms, including Android. That is when I got the idea to build an add-on that could synchronise Next Actions between a GTD mind map and a todo.txt file.

This add-on aims to support GTD [Horizontal action management]

This add-on aims to support a larger solution:

On one or more computers you can use Freeplane for horizontal action management: organisation and review of [Projects], [Next actions] and [Delegated actions]. The non-linear, more visual representation of Freeplane mind map supports the [Getting Things Done (GTD)] steps organise and review very well.
On the same or any other system and almost anywhere, you have access to the same next and delegated actions by means of a todo.txt compatible list manager. A short, filtered list (i.e. a linear representation) in such an app supports you to decide what to do in the current context.
You can also check off actions, change them or add new ones on the fly. All these changes will show up in Freeplane.

This add-on enables this by importing new actions (i.e. next and delegated actions) and changes to existing actions from the todo.txt file into the GTD mind map and then by exporting all actions to the todo.txt file. In this way both files stay synchronised.

The solution is complete with a cloud service like Dropbox to keep todo.txt in sync between systems.

For implementing the full solution you need the following elements:

[Freeplane] version 1.8.9 or higher

If you need to use an older version of Freeplane, check the README file

The "GTD Sync" add-on

A cloud service

This is only necessary if you want to synchronise your todo.txt between systems. You can also opt to go cloudless and use Freeplane, GTD Sync and your todo.txt app on one system.

Possible services are: Dropbox, Box, Google Drive and OneDrive. If you are going to use an Android or iOS todo.txt app, you should check which services those apps support.

One or more todo.txt list managers

You need to search for todo.txt apps that best suits your needs with regard to platform and functionality. Typically you would like to use the app as a list manager, e.g. you should be able to filter on context. Use this wiki item as as starting point. If you use Windows and Android, you might want to try out [My set-up].

There are also some recommended settings for your todo.txt app.

Quick start guide

Press Shift+F1 after installation of the GTD Sync add-on.

The following wiki subjects will help you to use GTD Sync effectively

Project Members:

Credits

I would like to thank John van Saders (Auxilus Systems LLC) for the idea how to set up the GTD mind map and for borrowing ideas from the Freeplane|GTD add-on.

I would like to thank Volker Börchers, Dimitry Polivaev and Jodi Kroon for developing the wonderful Freeplane and for supporting me in the development of this add-on by answering all my questions and giving tips and examples.

I would like to thank Evereasy and all other users for helping to improve GTDSync by discovering bugs and doing suggestions.

I would like to thank David Allen for providing an as-simple-as-can-be workflow that helps me to empty my head and to keep me on track.