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Task Window - Why is it there?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by user2451484

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New to thunderbird and I see the Task window as largely unnecessary / serves no purpose I can tell. If we ignore the left-side strip that has a fairy useless mini calendar / list of calendars / task filters; then the screen is divided 50% for entering tasks and 50% to view Events - not view Tasks - but view calendar Events - for what propose? I am unaware of how to make any use of this "Task" screen whatsoever. The only reason I can see someone using is to enter a large number of tasks at once. Still its not as if they appear on the right side of the screen since for some reason developers thought it would be beneficial to list calendar Events there (but not tasks, and why not both?) If you have your tasks set to appear in a calendar (not everyone does I realize) you still need to jump back to the Calendar tab to see them and make sure they end up where you want them to be. And editing a Task I always do from within the Calendar since thats where I go to look for it anyways. At least on the Calendar / Today Pane you can show Events AND Tasks AND complete list of task details down the bottom. The task window however; perhaps we can just eliminate that from Thunderbird all together to remove the psych that there is actually something there beneficial for us. Perhaps repurpose it for something more useful like streaming 24-hour fake-new coverage or something similar. If I am overlooking a diamond in the rough here please speak up.

New to thunderbird and I see the Task window as largely unnecessary / serves no purpose I can tell. If we ignore the left-side strip that has a fairy useless mini calendar / list of calendars / task filters; then the screen is divided 50% for entering tasks and 50% to view Events - not view Tasks - but view calendar Events - for what propose? I am unaware of how to make any use of this "Task" screen whatsoever. The only reason I can see someone using is to enter a large number of tasks at once. Still its not as if they appear on the right side of the screen since for some reason developers thought it would be beneficial to list calendar Events there (but not tasks, and why not both?) If you have your tasks set to appear in a calendar (not everyone does I realize) you still need to jump back to the Calendar tab to see them and make sure they end up where you want them to be. And editing a Task I always do from within the Calendar since thats where I go to look for it anyways. At least on the Calendar / Today Pane you can show Events AND Tasks AND complete list of task details down the bottom. The task window however; perhaps we can just eliminate that from Thunderbird all together to remove the psych that there is actually something there beneficial for us. Perhaps repurpose it for something more useful like streaming 24-hour fake-new coverage or something similar. If I am overlooking a diamond in the rough here please speak up.

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re :I see the Task window as largely unnecessary / serves no purpose I can tell. I am unaware of how to make any use of this "Task" screen whatsoever.

Tasks is used by people who want to list jobs that needs doing. If you do not need to use that functionality, then I suggest you do not select to see it. It can remain as an icon. But removing it altogether as an option because you do not use it would not be beneficial to those who do use it.

re :the left-side strip that has a fairy useless mini calendar / list of calendars / task filters; If you do not have various calendars or do not need to use the mini calendar to jump to different months etc, then you can simply hide it by left click and hold down on the splitter (vertical line) and drag to far left to hide it.

re: Still its not as if they appear on the right side of the screen since for some reason developers thought it would be beneficial to list calendar Events there (but not tasks, and why not both?)

In the 'Tasks' tab: you can show any Task in the main section using the filters in the left pane and also show Events in the Today Pane. Tasks do not show in the right pane because they are already shown in the main pane and duplication is not offered.

In Calendar tab: You can list all options or select one or more eg: Events in the right pane known as the 'Today Pane'. At the top of the 'Today Pane' there are icons <>, clicking on them allows you to select 'Tasks' or 'Events' or both. You can also choose to hide the 'Today Pane' altogether if not required. Either click on the 'Today Pane' located bottom right or 'View' > 'Today Pane' > 'Show Today Pane' or use F11 key as toggle.

You can search for Events via the Calendar tab. This also can be visible or hidden depending upon preference.

You can create Tasks and Events from within either Tasks or Calendar.

The width of the 'Today Pane' can be altered by moving the splitter to a preferred width.

Settings for Calendar/Events/Tasks are set up here:

  • Menu icon > Options > Options > Calendar


Help examples: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/lightning-user-interface https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changing-calendar-preferences https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/creating-a-recurring-event

Typing the word Calendar into the forum search allows you see various support links currently available.

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re :I see the Task window as largely unnecessary / serves no purpose I can tell. I am unaware of how to make any use of this "Task" screen whatsoever.

Tasks is used by people who want to list jobs that needs doing. If you do not need to use that functionality, then I suggest you do not select to see it. It can remain as an icon. But removing it altogether as an option because you do not use it would not be beneficial to those who do use it.

re :the left-side strip that has a fairy useless mini calendar / list of calendars / task filters; If you do not have various calendars or do not need to use the mini calendar to jump to different months etc, then you can simply hide it by left click and hold down on the splitter (vertical line) and drag to far left to hide it.

re: Still its not as if they appear on the right side of the screen since for some reason developers thought it would be beneficial to list calendar Events there (but not tasks, and why not both?)

In the 'Tasks' tab: you can show any Task in the main section using the filters in the left pane and also show Events in the Today Pane. Tasks do not show in the right pane because they are already shown in the main pane and duplication is not offered.

In Calendar tab: You can list all options or select one or more eg: Events in the right pane known as the 'Today Pane'. At the top of the 'Today Pane' there are icons <>, clicking on them allows you to select 'Tasks' or 'Events' or both. You can also choose to hide the 'Today Pane' altogether if not required. Either click on the 'Today Pane' located bottom right or 'View' > 'Today Pane' > 'Show Today Pane' or use F11 key as toggle.

You can search for Events via the Calendar tab. This also can be visible or hidden depending upon preference.

You can create Tasks and Events from within either Tasks or Calendar.

The width of the 'Today Pane' can be altered by moving the splitter to a preferred width.

Settings for Calendar/Events/Tasks are set up here:

  • Menu icon > Options > Options > Calendar


Help examples: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/lightning-user-interface https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changing-calendar-preferences https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/creating-a-recurring-event

Typing the word Calendar into the forum search allows you see various support links currently available.

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"But removing it altogether as an option because you do not use it would not be beneficial to those who do use it."

My sarcasm aside I was not asking it to be removed simply because I dont find it useful. My post was asking for tips on how to use it effectively since I am not seeing the usefulness of it in its current layout.

Most of your suggestions I think I already tried above. I went thru all the options and searched for add-ons to work with V68 in order to improve its function still I came up empty.

As indicated the only real function I see for it would be to drop in multiple tasks quickly but not for entering tasks when concern for conflicts is an issue for that it seems more reasonable to just enter the tasks in the calendar screen to see the time-line. In the Tasks tab it would seem that if the Events are going to appear in the right pane so should the Tasks in order to view the agenda. Otherwise I see no benefit of having just the Events there.

There isnt much that can be done with a mini-month calendar it is what it is. I have used Vueminder before having the mini calendar color populate to indicate activity on certain days is a nice feature and probably the only real upgrade that can be done short of pop-up bubbles in order to see the activity of a particular day.

T/hanks for the detailed response I will go over again more closely to see if i missed anything.

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Personally I do not use the taskslist. I just don't have any issues that I need reminders to complete. My wife however adds many many things to her task list (in outlook) each week. There are things she has to do, that are pending, but really do not have a time associated with them.

On a domestic front, task might be buy groceries, Mow lawn, visit mom. All things I have to do, and failure to do wil have repercussions. But it does not matter when I do them as long as it is soonish. However in the calendar I will have my doctors appointments, the Thunderbird meetings, and as the wife is one upping me our wedding anniversary.

You have concentrated on the main tasks and events panes, but you appear to have neglected the place I actually use it most. The today pane in the main view. Here I get a summary of today's (or the coming 5 days of "events" and a succinct list of current tasks. Which I can double click to edit or add a new task to. Likewise I can add new events and using the mini calendar jump around if I am on the phone and want to see Tuesday week quickly. I tend to ignore the main task pane unless I have to dig into things more deeply than I would rather be doing.

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Most of what you said I agree with. Events are time sensitive meetings and appointments vs tasks more fluid or an event with a start and end date / project. Though an argument can be made that nearly everything we do is time sensitive on different levels. I currently use Ticktick for tasks and although I can ics the feed into TB I would prefer to ditch it altogether and just stick with TB as a one-stop shop but the task features here are lacking in my opinion; I dont need the bells and whistles of Ticktick but its useful and productive until I can incorporate something else. I am surprised there aren't more add-ons for the tasks though I think there are for earlier versions I am using current 68. One correction i will make from earlier post the mini-calendar can show colored dates where activity is booked it just depends on the color theme Deep Dark will show dates with events.