1 Project Planner Michael Adcock & KFTF Research Team Lab Meeting 12/13/06

2 Outline Definition and features of the Project Planner Definition and features of the Project Planner Short term goals Short term goals Long term goals Long term goals Potential features Potential features

3 What is it? Provides a new External Representation (ER) Provides a new External Representation (ER) Alternative to interacting with files and folders Alternative to interacting with files and folders Does not require saving information in a new proprietary file format Does not require saving information in a new proprietary file format Organization emerges directly through planning the project Organization emerges directly through planning the project “What are the long-term costs and benefits associated with the use of ERs for PIM?” “What are the long-term costs and benefits 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.,

4 Features Permanent folder hierarchy Permanent folder hierarchy Indicates the organization of files Indicates the organization of files Will remain even when the user stops using the Planner Will remain even when the user stops using the Planner In a way, we’re just providing a new “view” into the filesystem In a way, we’re just providing a new “view” into the filesystem

5 Features Creating and organizing information in the context of activities to which that information belongs Creating and organizing information in the context of activities to which that information belongs Information is organized as an incidental by- product to planning the project Information is organized as an incidental by- product to planning the project In-context creation In-context creation Drag & Link Drag & Link

6 Features Outline view Outline view Tries to represent the way the user thinks about the project Tries to represent the way the user thinks about the project

7 Looking Ahead What needs to be fixed in the short term? What needs to be fixed in the short term? What are our long term goals (next year)? What are our long term goals (next year)? What are the ultimate goals of the Planner? What are the ultimate goals of the Planner?

8 Short Term Investigate and fix Drag & Link support from Investigate and fix Drag & Link support from Word documents Word documents messages in Outlook messages in Outlook Calendar details in Outlook Calendar details in Outlook PowerPoint presentations PowerPoint presentations PDF documents PDF documents (Currently, the feature only works consistently from Internet Explorer)

9 Short Term Fix any bugs with In-context creation Fix any bugs with In-context creation Word Word Excel Excel PowerPoint PowerPoint Outlook (new mail message) Outlook (new mail message)

10 Short Term Allow deletion of entries in Planner outline Allow deletion of entries in Planner outline Automatically delete corresponding folder(s) and files in file system, or Automatically delete corresponding folder(s) and files in file system, or Move associated folders and files to an archived location, or Move associated folders and files to an archived location, or Ask the user how to proceed Ask the user how to proceed

11 Long Term Synchronization with filesystem Synchronization with filesystem Currently, any change/move/deletion of folders and files will not be reflected in Project Planner outline Currently, any change/move/deletion of folders and files will not be reflected in Project Planner outline User must only manipulate files from within Planner, or things start to break User must only manipulate files from within Planner, or things start to break Since the Planner is only another “view” of the user’s files, we need to keep all the information synchronized Since the Planner is only another “view” of the user’s files, we need to keep all the information synchronized

12 Long Term Synchronization with filesystem Synchronization with filesystem On load, the Planner should scan the file system (under the project folder) and adjust the outline for any changes On load, the Planner should scan the file system (under the project folder) and adjust the outline for any changes If possible, these changes should be automatic If possible, these changes should be automatic Sometimes, it may be necessary to ask the user what to do Sometimes, it may be necessary to ask the user what to do Might be useful to display what changes were found and how the Planner reacted Might be useful to display what changes were found and how the Planner reacted

13 Long Term Other filesystem features (NTFS) Other filesystem features (NTFS) Use Hardlinks instead of shortcuts Use Hardlinks instead of shortcuts Shortcuts will break when the target file is renamed, moved, or deleted Shortcuts will break when the target file is renamed, moved, or deleted With Hardlinks, a file can exist in multiple folders at the same time, however the actual file data only occurs once With Hardlinks, a file can exist in multiple folders at the same time, however the actual file data only occurs once The file system will manage changes to Hardlinks and update as necessary for move, delete, etc. The file system will manage changes to Hardlinks and update as necessary for move, delete, etc. Example: price list for countertops in both kitchen and bathroom Example: price list for countertops in both kitchen and bathroom

14 Long Term Other filesystem features (NTFS) Other filesystem features (NTFS) Use Junction Points for folder replication Use Junction Points for folder replication The hierarchy provided by the outline is useful, but unnecessarily restrictive The hierarchy provided by the outline is useful, but unnecessarily restrictive We may want the same folder (and contents) to appear in different places in the outline We may want the same folder (and contents) to appear in different places in the outline Junction Points appear as folders, but are effectively shortcuts to the original folder Junction Points appear as folders, but are effectively shortcuts to the original folder Like Hardlinks, the file system manages Junctions Like Hardlinks, the file system manages Junctions Example: folder contains contact information, price lists, etc for a given contractor Example: folder contains contact information, price lists, etc for a given contractor

15 Long Term Other filesystem features (NTFS) Other filesystem features (NTFS) Use Multiple Data Streams per file Use Multiple Data Streams per file Could possibly get rid of hidden XML files for extra Planner information Could possibly get rid of hidden XML files for extra Planner information Would allow the use of Tags on files Would allow the use of Tags on files Tags would allow for grouping and searching features Tags would allow for grouping and searching features Could provide the means for alternate views Could provide the means for alternate views This also works with folders, so we can store extra information, tag them, etc. This also works with folders, so we can store extra information, tag them, etc.

16 Ultimate Goals & Potential Features Investigate Integration with Investigate Integration with Windows Vista Windows Vista Office 2007 Office 2007 Better interfaces with Outlook and message store? Better interfaces with Outlook and message store? Investigate OneNote 2007 Investigate OneNote 2007 Update to.Net version 3 Update to.Net version 3

17 Ultimate Goals & Potential Features Provide different views in the Planner Provide different views in the Planner Table / Excel-like grid view Table / Excel-like grid view Mind-mapping view Mind-mapping view Concept-mapping view Concept-mapping view Allow some sort of wiki-like note taking feature Allow some sort of wiki-like note taking feature Arbitrary links and navigation between items Arbitrary links and navigation between items Not meant to replace the main view – would supplement it Not meant to replace the main view – would supplement it Support timestamps on items and/or due dates Support timestamps on items and/or due dates Link to Task Management… feature? Link to Task Management… feature?

18 Ultimate Goals & Potential Features Discuss handling files in a different way Discuss handling files in a different way Keep all Planner-created documents “flat” in one place under My Documents Keep all Planner-created documents “flat” in one place under My Documents Make shortcuts or hardlinks to these files Make shortcuts or hardlinks to these files Less chance of user tampering/modification of files outside of Planner Less chance of user tampering/modification of files outside of Planner Just how integrated does the Planner really need to be with the filesystem? Just how integrated does the Planner really need to be with the filesystem? Do we need filesystem shortcuts? Do we need filesystem shortcuts? Do we need folders for headings (& subfolders for subheadings) Do we need folders for headings (& subfolders for subheadings) How much does this get us? How much does this get us?