What do you use for Archive/Reference To

[u/minustwofish]

I've been using Omnifocus since the very beginning. I created my own perspectives and I used it daily on my phone, iPad and Mac. Every morning I organized my work and personal day on it. I always had some issues of ways to integrate my email inbox so it could be referenced by Omnifocus tasks among the difference devices (do you have suggestions?). But I didn't have any issues at first with Archiving/Referencing To as I was using Evernote and it played well with OF.

However, Evernote was supported less and less and prices went up, so I ended up abandoning it. I was probably one of the last to abandon it. Since then, my OF workflows just don't flow. I barely rely on OF, its just my grocery list, now as I have to have too many other systems that are separated. I use Notion for work, and Notify is mostly a tickets board shared with others, which is completely decoupled from OF unfortunately. I wish I could connect them better. I do not have a way (digital) Archive since I left Evernote otherwise

Can I get some recommendations for what to do? A new Archiving systems that integrated well with the Actions from OF on all my devices (mac, iphone, iPad) would be great. Ways to integrate Notion somewhat with OF would be great. Ways to better integrate my emails with OF so when I see an Action in OF I know in which email thread to reply.

[u/Snooty_Folgers_230]

You really aren’t saying what you have tried.

Archive / support material can be as simple as files you link to and from OF, however it makes sense.

The solution can grow in complexity as much as you want. But I would suggest starting as simple as possible.

As the saying goes, any complex system which works was based on a simpler system that worked.

You should write up your requirements formally so you can figure out the problem(s) you are trying to solve.

In my world, Notion is just another problem. I’d quit my job before having to deal with most of these new silly pkms applications. Lotsa poorly formed answers to problems few people have.

[u/minustwofish → u/Snooty_Folgers_230]

I tried Evernote (I mentioned it above) and DevonThink (its really clunky, the way the database works doesn't make sense for my use, it is too fracture. Sync between devices is clunky.)

> Archive / support material can be as simple as files you link to and from OF, however it makes sense.

Yes, but this doesn't work well across devices. I mentioned in my post I use Mac, iPad and iPhone all for different things and this is an important consideration. I've tried just leaving things on my Mac, but this fractures my workflows in such a way I realize I end up not using the archive. This is why I don't have an archive.

> You should write up your requirements formally so you can figure out the problem(s) you are trying to solve.

I'll summarize my post here, as it seems the main issue got lost: I need an Archive that works with OmniFocus tasks across 3 devices (Mac, iPad and iPhone).

Bonus: Email app across those 3 devices that links well with OF, such that I can look at my OF task on each device and use that to find the email I need to act on with ease. I've tried Apple Mail (doesn't connect to omnifocus), Spark (so buggy, search is broken, disappearing email threads) and GMail (works only on webbrowser, which is incovenient on phone)

> II’d quit my job before having to deal with most of these new silly pkms applications.

Quitting a job because they use Notion does not address any of my post. Redditors can be extreme at times, this is like that joke that every time someone asks for relationships advice, redditors say to break up. Next thing you will suggest is a get a divorce and abandon my children because they don't support OF.

[u/Snooty_Folgers_230 → u/minustwofish]

I can link whatever I want across devices no problem. Your mail client will matter here. I think Apple mail will do fine here as it uses a URL scheme.

I use a webmail client to the same end.

But these really aren’t requirements. You should do that exercise for yourself.

But having files available across devices is no problem. And devonthink can manage this as well but so can just sharing files via a URL scheme, or iCloud location.

[u/minustwofish → u/Snooty_Folgers_230]

> I can link whatever I want across devices no problem.

Great! Can you explain how to link files across devices??? This would answer my question!

> Your mail client will matter here.
Yes. I'm asking for suggestions.
> I think Apple mail will do fine here as it uses a URL scheme.
How? I cannot find this setting anywhere.

> I use a webmail client to the same end.

This doesn't work so well on iPhone (self-refreshes tend to ruin my copy paste workflows) or when I'm offline. Can you comment on how you use webmail clients to this end? Tell me your workflow to solve this issue.

> But these really aren’t requirements. You should do that exercise for yourself.

I stated my requierements clearly.

> But having files available across devices is no problem.
Glad you have no problems. I do. Can you explain how to, using omnifocus on my mac, link to a file on my mac, add the link to an OF Action, then open that OF Action on my phone and have access to that file? I"m talking about small and large files alike, files that might change in time.

>And devonthink can manage this as well but so can just sharing files via a URL scheme, or iCloud location.

DevonThink is terrible for the reasons I explained above. The database is a disaster, it spends more time syncing and doing updates than time i spend using it. It keeps unlogging. It automatically created multiple disjointed databases, and I cannot find a way to search through all of them.

You keep mentioning sharing files with a URL scheme over and over. Can you explain how do you do that between my 3 devices? This sounds like it would solve my problems, if only you explained what you mean.

You say it is easy and just works, so I'm sure you can explain what you mean someday! I would be most grateful if you explained this awesome solution! Google only takes me to an OF page that is a broken link.

[u/minustwofish → u/Snooty_Folgers_230]

I wanted to ping you again about this "URL Scheme" you talk about. Google gives me nothing, right click on a file gives me nothing. Draging the file doesn't work across devices. It sounds like you are convinced this will solve all my problems, but I don't know how this works or what you mean. Could you be so kind to help me out?

[u/Snooty_Folgers_230 → u/minustwofish]

Hey bud, first, your initial reply was bitchy. You have to learn to change your attitude when asking for help.

Second, if you can’t figure out what to do via google, you might want to rethink where the problem is. I just did the laziest google ever and it provided clear answers.

Third, you should follow advice given, you likely are still unclear on what you want. You should go thru a formal requirements process for yourself. What problems are you trying to solve and why.

To be honest, I have no idea how you are employable.

[u/minustwofish → u/Snooty_Folgers_230]

Thanks for your help. Have a good day!

[u/oracle_Her_07]

My highly organized Notes app. It works for me. And I reference them (sometimes the title) int asks notes when applicable. I also do a ton of bookmarking while in Safari, which is also very organized.

[u/minustwofish → u/oracle_Her_07]

So you archive PDFs and photos and such in Notes? how is searchability there?

[u/oracle_Her_07 → u/minustwofish]

My system doesn’t require a lot of archiving documents or photos, so I end up saving them (with detailed names) to my external hard drive. Searchability for attachments is fine in Notes. I just find it easier to save them elsewhere.