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Project PlannerProject Planner

Michael Adcock & KFTF Research Michael Adcock & KFTF Research TeamTeam

Lab MeetingLab Meeting

12/13/0612/13/06

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OutlineOutline Definition and features of the Project Definition and features of the Project

PlannerPlanner Short term goalsShort term goals Long term goalsLong term goals Potential featuresPotential features

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What is it?What is it? Provides a new External Representation Provides a new External Representation

(ER)(ER) Alternative to interacting with files and foldersAlternative to interacting with files and folders Does not require saving information in a new Does not require saving information in a new

proprietary file formatproprietary file format Organization emerges directly through Organization emerges directly through

planning the projectplanning the project ““What are the long-term costs and benefits What are the long-term costs and benefits

associated with the use of ERs for PIM?”associated with the use of ERs for PIM?” ““Can tools change the cost/benefit equation?”Can tools change the cost/benefit equation?”Jones, William. "Personal Information Management." Annual Review of Information Science and Technology. Ed. Blaise Cronin. Volume 41. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc., 2007. 482.

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FeaturesFeatures Permanent folder hierarchyPermanent folder hierarchy

Indicates the organization of filesIndicates the organization of files Will remain even when the user stops using the Will remain even when the user stops using the

PlannerPlanner In a way, we’re just providing a new “view” In a way, we’re just providing a new “view”

into the filesysteminto the filesystem

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FeaturesFeatures Creating and organizing information Creating and organizing information

in the context of activities to which in the context of activities to which that information belongsthat information belongs Information is organized as an incidental Information is organized as an incidental

by-product to planning the projectby-product to planning the project In-context creationIn-context creation Drag & LinkDrag & Link

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FeaturesFeatures Outline viewOutline view

Tries to represent the way the user Tries to represent the way the user thinks about the projectthinks about the project

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Looking AheadLooking Ahead What needs to be fixed in the short What needs to be fixed in the short

term?term? What are our long term goals (next What are our long term goals (next

year)?year)? What are the ultimate goals of the What are the ultimate goals of the

Planner?Planner?

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Short TermShort Term Investigate and fix Drag & Link support Investigate and fix Drag & Link support

fromfrom Word documentsWord documents Email messages in OutlookEmail messages in Outlook Calendar details in OutlookCalendar details in Outlook PowerPoint presentationsPowerPoint presentations PDF documentsPDF documents

(Currently, the feature only works consistently (Currently, the feature only works consistently from Internet Explorer)from Internet Explorer)

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Short TermShort Term Fix any bugs with In-context creationFix any bugs with In-context creation

WordWord ExcelExcel PowerPointPowerPoint Outlook (new mail message)Outlook (new mail message)

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Short TermShort Term Allow deletion of entries in Planner Allow deletion of entries in Planner

outlineoutline Automatically delete corresponding Automatically delete corresponding

folder(s) and files in file system, orfolder(s) and files in file system, or Move associated folders and files to an Move associated folders and files to an

archived location, orarchived location, or Ask the user how to proceedAsk the user how to proceed

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Long TermLong Term Synchronization with filesystemSynchronization with filesystem

Currently, any change/move/deletion of Currently, any change/move/deletion of folders and files will not be reflected in folders and files will not be reflected in Project Planner outlineProject Planner outline

User must only manipulate files from User must only manipulate files from within Planner, or things start to breakwithin Planner, or things start to break

Since the Planner is only another “view” Since the Planner is only another “view” of the user’s files, we need to keep all of the user’s files, we need to keep all the information synchronizedthe information synchronized

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Long TermLong Term Synchronization with filesystemSynchronization with filesystem

On load, the Planner should scan the file On load, the Planner should scan the file system (under the project folder) and system (under the project folder) and adjust the outline for any changesadjust the outline for any changes

If possible, these changes should be If possible, these changes should be automaticautomatic

Sometimes, it may be necessary to ask the Sometimes, it may be necessary to ask the user what to douser what to do

Might be useful to display what changes Might be useful to display what changes were found and how the Planner reactedwere found and how the Planner reacted

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Long TermLong Term Other filesystem features (NTFS)Other filesystem features (NTFS)

Use Hardlinks instead of shortcutsUse Hardlinks instead of shortcuts Shortcuts will break when the target file is Shortcuts will break when the target file is

renamed, moved, or deletedrenamed, moved, or deleted With Hardlinks, a file can exist in multiple With Hardlinks, a file can exist in multiple

folders at the same time, however the actual folders at the same time, however the actual file data only occurs oncefile data only occurs once

The file system will manage changes to The file system will manage changes to Hardlinks and update as necessary for Hardlinks and update as necessary for move, delete, etc.move, delete, etc.

Example: price list for countertops in both Example: price list for countertops in both kitchen and bathroomkitchen and bathroom

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Long TermLong Term Other filesystem features (NTFS)Other filesystem features (NTFS)

Use Junction Points for folder replicationUse Junction Points for folder replication The hierarchy provided by the outline is The hierarchy provided by the outline is

useful, but unnecessarily restrictiveuseful, but unnecessarily restrictive We may want the same folder (and contents) We may want the same folder (and contents)

to appear in different places in the outlineto appear in different places in the outline Junction Points appear as folders, but are Junction Points appear as folders, but are

effectively shortcuts to the original foldereffectively shortcuts to the original folder Like Hardlinks, the file system manages Like Hardlinks, the file system manages

JunctionsJunctions Example: folder contains contact information, Example: folder contains contact information,

price lists, etc for a given contractorprice lists, etc for a given contractor

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Long TermLong Term Other filesystem features (NTFS)Other filesystem features (NTFS)

Use Multiple Data Streams per fileUse Multiple Data Streams per file Could possibly get rid of hidden XML files for Could possibly get rid of hidden XML files for

extra Planner informationextra Planner information Would allow the use of Tags on filesWould allow the use of Tags on files

Tags would allow for grouping and searching Tags would allow for grouping and searching featuresfeatures

Could provide the means for alternate viewsCould provide the means for alternate views This also works with folders, so we can store This also works with folders, so we can store

extra information, tag them, etc.extra information, tag them, etc.

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Ultimate Goals & Potential Ultimate Goals & Potential FeaturesFeatures

Investigate Integration withInvestigate Integration with Windows VistaWindows Vista Office 2007Office 2007

Better interfaces with Outlook and message Better interfaces with Outlook and message store?store?

Investigate OneNote 2007Investigate OneNote 2007

Update to .Net version 3Update to .Net version 3

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Ultimate Goals & Potential Ultimate Goals & Potential FeaturesFeatures

Provide different views in the PlannerProvide different views in the Planner Table / Excel-like grid viewTable / Excel-like grid view Mind-mapping viewMind-mapping view Concept-mapping viewConcept-mapping view

Allow some sort of wiki-like note taking Allow some sort of wiki-like note taking featurefeature Arbitrary links and navigation between itemsArbitrary links and navigation between items Not meant to replace the main view – would Not meant to replace the main view – would

supplement itsupplement it Support timestamps on items and/or due Support timestamps on items and/or due

datesdates Link to Task Management… feature?Link to Task Management… feature?

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Ultimate Goals & Potential Ultimate Goals & Potential FeaturesFeatures

Discuss handling files in a different wayDiscuss handling files in a different way Keep all Planner-created documents “flat” in Keep all Planner-created documents “flat” in

one place under My Documentsone place under My Documents Make shortcuts or hardlinks to these filesMake shortcuts or hardlinks to these files Less chance of user tampering/modification of Less chance of user tampering/modification of

files outside of Plannerfiles outside of Planner Just how integrated does the Planner really Just how integrated does the Planner really

need to be with the filesystem?need to be with the filesystem? Do we need filesystem shortcuts?Do we need filesystem shortcuts? Do we need folders for headings (& subfolders Do we need folders for headings (& subfolders

for subheadings)for subheadings) How much does this get us?How much does this get us?