Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

Have you tried Rational Plan? It's a more 'classic' and full-featured
application like MS Project, but cross-platform (Windows, Mac and Linux), and I
personally found it more straightforward to use. It has a single- and multi-project
version.

Thanks for this, I really like RationalPlan. No-nonsense task manager and easy Gantt chart. I just wish it had Achieve Planner's weekly planner or if AP had an easy Gantt chart like this one...

MindView is too expensive for me. I'm still looking to try Mindsystems Amode V2 though (once they fix their download link, which wasn't working at my end today), which seems to combine some of the features of mindmaps and project managers.

Re MLO I still think it's the fastest task manager I have seen in terms of pretty much anything (start-up, entering tasks, sorting, indenting, visually consuming etc.), so I'd like to sing its praises.

Dr Andus wrote:

Thanks Steve, that is very creative!
(What is Clarify, btw?)

Clarify is a tool for capturing screen shots, annotating them and then putting together a PDF like the one I linked to. It makes the whole process pretty easy. You can learn more about it here:

http://www.clarify-it.com/

Steve Z.

Hugh wrote:

I've used Merlin, and it's certainly very good indeed for small to medium-sized
projects. The people who developed it are, as far as I know, project management
specialists, and started Merlin as a sideline. Their hands-on expertise shows. It
has three chief merits in my view: an excellent user-interface that takes into
account all kinds of possible project complexities, the ability to handle multiple
projects across the same resources, and the facility to use it as a "container" for all
the files, notes and digital encumbrances any project accumulates. It also, unlike
some project software, doesn't try to be too clever; it leaves plenty of discretion
with the user. If I was back managing bigger projects as I once was, I'd seriously look
at Merlin (certainly better than MS Project was when I was in that line of
work).

But... for personal project management, I think it's too big. (I'm assuming
that "project management" means Gannt charts - otherwise on the Mac platform a task
manager like Things or Omnifocus would probably be adequate.) The main Mac
alternative to Merlin is Omniplan, which is simpler for smaller projects, easier to
learn and use than Merlin and has the reputable Omni Group behind it. When Omniplan can
sync straightforwardly with Omnifocus it will be the zealous small project/task
manager's dream.

Except... Omniplan can't yet handle multiple projects. As a
gun-for-hire, what I want a project management application to tell me above anything
else is -- if I take on Project A with deadline X whilst also working on Project B with
deadline Y, am I going to be overloaded in Z weeks' time? I've looked for this
extensively and I've found several half-there alternatives, such as Pagico. But no
simple, not-too-expensive project management application for the Mac platform
that I know of can really give me the answers I need yet, I'm sorry to say.

To correct what I wrote above - Omniplan can now handle multiple projects, as of an update a couple of weeks ago. The procedure seems slightly convoluted, but it would enable resources, or in my case, a single resource, to be levelled across several different projects.

After having looked at most of the software suggested (except Mindsystems Amode V2, which is not accessible at the moment), I'm leaning toward constructing my own system out of several software, with the following process flow and tools. The main considerations are speed and ease of use, and keeping cost and learning curve down:

1. Use iThoughts in iPad for creating mindmaps for work breakdown, to establish the larger elements of the projects.

2. Use MLO to break down elements from above into sub-projects, tasks, and sub-tasks (a kind of a front-end for the next step, an experimental space);

3. Use RationalPlan for creating the final plan and managing it, using Gantt chart to monitor progress.

4. use Google Calendar for managing weekly and daily execution of the plan.

A key part of the system is having two monitors, so I can see Google Cal, RP and MLO simultaneously.

RP really appeals to me. I guess I'm an old-fashioned Gantt-type chart of person after all... :)

Dr Andus wrote:

A key part of the system is having
two monitors, so I can see Google Cal, RP and MLO simultaneously.

RP really appeals
to me. I guess I'm an old-fashioned Gantt-type chart of person after all... :)

I meant to say "Gantt chart type of person" :)

BTW, the iPad is the 3rd monitor actually, so in fact I can see all of the tools at the same time.

Dr Andus wrote:

I'm leaning toward constructing my own system
out of several software, with the following process flow and tools.

Your system sounds quite complete, but personally I would be worried about the replication of information from one tool to the other, i.e. the time required and the possible errors. As far as I understand there are no common formats to use for syncing or import/export, correct?

From my experience with project management software, they are good for the overall planning, but not ideal when it comes to day-to-day execution of 4th- or 5th-level tasks. By contrast, task managers / to-do lists are good at dealing with that level of detail, but not at providing an overview.

The professional market seems to adopt with this approach, as mind map programs, which are ideal for overview, can usually export/link to project management applications (conveniently enough, only if you have MS Project installed), and/or have their own project management features included.

Similarly, task managers / to-do lists usually sync with Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar. This is the case of Achieve Planner and GQueues respectively.

I note the above for reference mostly, in order to highlight potential synergies for others interested in combining such elements.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

Your system sounds quite
complete, but personally I would be worried about the replication of information
from one tool to the other, i.e. the time required and the possible errors. As far as I
understand there are no common formats to use for syncing or import/export,
correct?

I wasn't too concerned about duplication or errors because not all tools would be used all the time. They would have been sequential mostly, as iThoughts (the mind map) and MLO would have been used in the design stage, to come up with the structure and content of the project. RP would have become the main tool where monitoring and adjustments would take place, and Google Cal for planning and monitoring the execution on a daily basis. I might have used MLO here and there do develop any new sub-project elements that come up during the project, then entered into RP.

However, last night I finally managed to download Mindsystems Amode V2 and I was just blown away: it can do all of the above! While I also really liked Achieve Planner and RationalPlan, the former lacks a Gantt chart, while the latter lacks a calendar, and for me both of those are essential.

I'm just so impressed with Amode. I see that there have been discussions about it here, with some criticism. Perhaps it's not a top choice for a complete PIM solution. However, to me at its core it is primarily a very accomplished personal project management (PPM) software, not an outliner or personal database (although it can also do those tasks to some extent). If Amode were marketed as PPM, perhaps I would have been compelled to try them out sooner. But they say they are "a complete Information Management System" and "end to end information handler," which is a hard act to pull off in a tough marketplace.

Entering tasks is slightly slower in Amode then in MLO perhaps, but having a WBS tree integrated with Gantt and a calendar saves a lot of treble entry. And I might even use the built-in concept mapper, though again it seemed a bit behind VUE or CMapTools in terms of ease of entry and manipulation.

The killer feature for me is the ability to add a task in the calendar, which can then be slotted under a tree item as a new sub-task, so that it shows up automatically both in the Tree and the Gantt! I've never seen that anywhere else and that just allows for a very granular approach for project planning and saves a lot of time with treble entry and exporting and importing. I think the integration between the various visualisations (Tree, Gantt, Calendar, Skeleton, Briefcase) is incredibly well thought out.

@Derek: Thank you so much for recommending Amode! I'm a very happy bunny!

Is there anyone out here who has used Amode in the long run for project management or anything else? I'm just wondering if there are any issues that emerge during long-term use (good or bad).

BTW, here is a working download link (as the main one doesn't seem to work at the moment):
https://www.mindsystems.com.au/support/index.php?tab=1

Actually there are some similarities between Amode and ConnectedText, as Amode "projects" behave like CT "projects" in that they live in tabs and "topics" can be linked to other "topics" also across "projects." Amode is actually a bit more advanced in that it can display several projects with topics side-by-side in "Project Stacks" in the Briefcase view. Although probably there wouldn't be much point doing this in CT, where you might have 7000 topics in a single project. However, CT has the Navigator for viewing a set of linked topics in a flat pane, while in Amode linked topics can only be viewed hierarchically in the Tree or in the Gantt or as a list in the Relationships pane.

Speaking of "biting the dust" (http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/3956/0/another-one-bites-the-dust Mindsystems' website has just gone off air. I've only just sent them an email yesterday, asking whether they have any plans for developing Amode any further, and today their website (www.mindsystems.com.au/) says "Account Suspended." Was that something I said? :)

I really do hope this is nothing serious though, considering how excited I got about Amode (somewhat belatedly)...

http://www.mindsystems.com.au/ seems to be back online.

tradercclee wrote:

http://www.mindsystems.com.au/ seems to be back online.

thanks tradercclee, that's a relief.

BTW, Amode's price seems to have dropped significantly from the USD200 it had on BitsDuJour a few years ago (http://www.bitsdujour.com/software/mindsystems-amode/ There are still a few people signed up on there for the USD100 deal, when in fact you can get it cheaper from their website directly (AUD80 or AUD50 for academic):
http://www.mindsystems.com.au/products/amode/amode_pricing.php

Dr Andus, I'm glad you found the ideal software for you. Your experience lead me to try Amode again. I actually own a license since the Bits du Jour offer. I had purchased it at the time to use in a new project, but in the end reverted to my previous setup. A practical reason was that some of my partners in other organisations already owned and used MindManager.

Amode indeed provides several complementary views and in particular the combination of outline and calendar is quite unique. In order to achieve a similar effect in competing products one must sync with Outlook or Google Calendar.

When Amode was launched, it received accolades from the technical media, I assume thanks to its developers credentials: they are an Australian firm providing training and support for mind mapping and similar business intelligence products. Quite helpfully, the program even includes a separate tutorial with text and videos which I am sure you have seen.

Personally, I was not enthused by the experience and found the positive points rather overstated. For example, the "method neutral" approach of Amode is not as neutral as it sounds; if a mind map is convenient for a user, then not having one is not neutral at all. That said, Mindsystems had clearly put a lot of hard work on researching users' needs and developing the product.

The major price drop implies that Amode was not as successful as expected (see also the similar 'competitive upgrade' offer). So do some other things, e.g. that it is apparently not possible to check for updates from within Amode, as the relevant server seems to be permanently down.

The way I see it, Amode is a very good solution to a problem which is no longer the same as when the developers probably assessed the market: the main issue now, in the business market that Amode addresses, is collaboration and, in particular, tele-collaboration. Around the time that Amode was launched, Mindjet (MindManager's developer) was launching Connect, allowing users to share and work on their mind maps online. In fact, telecollaboration is nowadays the single most important issue for me and my colleagues when trying out a new information management product.

That said, Amode should be more than enough for most independent knowledge workers and --at this price- affordable. It should also be adequate for office environments, since its 'solution' database files can be worked on concurrently in a network.


Dr Andus wrote:

BTW, Amode?s price seems to have dropped significantly from the USD200 it had on BitsDuJour a few years ago (http://www.bitsdujour.com/software/mindsystems-amode/ There are still a few people signed up on there for the USD100 deal, when in fact you can get it cheaper from their website directly (AUD80 or AUD50 for academic):

http://www.mindsystems.com.au/products/amode/amode_pricing.php

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

For example, the ?method neutral? approach of Amode is not as neutral as it sounds; if a mind map is convenient for a user, then not having one is not neutral at all.

Thanks for your thoughts, Alexander. To me Amode's story seems to be a case of mis-marketing (mis-positioning) a product and creating unrealistic expectations. They talk about a complete end-to-end PIM solution and 300 features. However, later in the help file they tell you not to put too much info under a branch or in a single file because it can slows down the performance or can lead to a corruption of the file. So it's clearly not for holding masses of data like UltraRecall or ConnectedText can.

Although I didn't see references to mind mapping on the product page itself, it seems they may have created an impression that it can do mind mapping when it fact it can't. On the other hand it can do concept mapping and flow charts (though I think VUE e.g. is easier and faster to use).

For me Amode hits the spot as a personal project management solution, which I think primarily it is and it probably should have been marketed as such. I'm still very impressed with the integration of the Tree (a hierarchical outline for work breakdown structure), the Gantt chart and the Calendar. It's just a lot faster to enter data and set up a Gantt than in RationalPlan or Achieve Planner.

Amode told me that the next stage of development would be a cloud integration but that there are no immediate plans. So it is what it is at the moment.

it is apparently not possible to check for updates from within Amode, as the relevant server seems to be permanently down.

I don't have this problem. It does check for updates, there is a bar showing it's checking, then it tells me I have the latest version. However, I can't find the version number within the software anywhere (there doesn't seem to be an "About Amode" option anywhere).

Dr Andus wrote:

I don't have this
problem. It does check for updates, there is a bar showing it's checking, then it tells
me I have the latest version.

Hm, interesting. OK, so the server is working and there's an issue at this end. Thanks!

However, I can't find the version number within the
software anywhere (there doesn't seem to be an "About Amode" option anywhere).

It's under License Management, in the info card that pops up. Took me a while to find that one.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

Hm,
interesting. OK, so the server is working and there's an issue at this end.
Thanks!

I wonder if it has to do with whether your license was validated locally or remotely (as those were the two options I was given and I went for the remote validation, hoping that there would be a link created between my software and my account on their server for future updates).

>However, I can't find the version number within the
>software anywhere
(there doesn't seem to be an "About Amode" option anywhere).

It's under License
Management, in the info card that pops up. Took me a while to find that one.

Thanks. I have version 3370.

Dr Andus wrote:

I wonder if it has to do with whether your
license was validated locally or remotely

It was validated via direct connection so that wasn't the issue. Anyway, I downloaded from Mindsystems the latest installer, which uninstalled the previous version and installed the new one (I don't know whether this is the same procedure when upgrading from within the application, but was given no option). My license details were maintained.

I checked for updates from within Amode and got the same message as yours. So whatever the issue was, it is resolved. Thanks!

For Mac users interested, Pagico (mentioned earlier in this thread) is on sale this week-end: http://www.mupromo.com/deal/1853/7024/pagico-professional

Correction: the license is universal, so it is valid for Mac, Linux and Windows.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

For Mac users interested, Pagico (mentioned earlier in this thread) is on sale this
week-end: http://www.mupromo.com/deal/1853/7024/pagico-professional

Thanks. I was looking for something like this on Windows for my better half who needs a basic, easy-to-use project management solution (she has no project management training or familiarity with such software. I know, opposites attract :). But after playing with it for 5 min, I uninstalled it, thinking that Amode might be still be a better option.

Things that I didn't like: it took a long time to create and open even the very first empty file, which made me wonder what would happen with hundreds of entries. When I accidentally clicked "done" for a task that was going to take place in the future, the Gantt didn't refresh after I've undone the task. I think I needed to do some other operation (enter another task) before that "done" message from the Gantt went away. So that added to my impression of sluggishness.

I did like the fact that it did have a Gantt view and that everything was integrated into a single page. Was I too rash to uninstall it? I think I'll ask my wife to give it a try.

Any long-term users of Pagico out there with more insight into its project management capabilities?

Dr Andus wrote:

Any long-term users of
Pagico out there with more insight into its project management capabilities?

I notice some criticism on Mac Update of technical support; the developers sound a tad stretched.

In addition, I wrote this earlier in this thread:

To be fair to the software, my experience was mainly with version 4, and I see that it?s now up to version 5.3 (and the website has also been upgraded, which was necessary). I liked its timeline presentation, but for some functions the interface was too busy. Some actions were over-complicated or impossible: for example, as far as I can remember, contacts couldn?t be directly imported from the Apple Address Book (whereas, for example, in Merlin they can). I seem to remember that setting up a project itself was unduly complicated; I imagine that has been improved. Most fundamentally, the application didn?t have quite enough project management features for me; it couldn?t tell me, for example, where the slack would be, or, other than by visual inspection, where ?violations? might occur.

Again, to be fair, my experience was some while ago.

Hugh wrote:

Dr Andus wrote:
>Any long-term users of
>Pagico out there with more insight into
its project management capabilities?

I notice some criticism on Mac Update of
technical support; the developers sound a tad stretched.

Thanks, Hugh. I had some doubts whether I was being too hasty, so I re-installed it - and then unistalled it again... The problem is that the software is not idiot-proof enough, even though it is positioning itself as the simplest project management software. However, there are no warning messages e.g. if you accidentally set the due date earlier than the start date, or if you only set a start date but not a due date. These then don't even show up on the Gantt chart. It took me a while to figure out why some of the tasks were not displayed, and then I realised what I had done with the dates. In contrast, if you do that in Amode, it will give you a warning message.

Otherwise Pagico looks very nice, and I do like the whole concept and the way it's been executed, but these finer details haven't been ironed out and these are the sort of things that would trip up a less sophisticated computer user. I also like the integration with iPad, the iCal feed etc. Lots of things to like, but for now I'll stick with Amode.

Hello Dr. Andus

If you are open to going in the other direction to manage your project - that is to say, managing them from your iPad rather than PC - you might want to check out an app called SG Project (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sg-project/id373004554?mt=8&uo=4

I am predominantly a Windows PC user and for really heavy stuff do use MS Project, but as in other areas, I went looking for an iPad app that would work with my existing Windows software. In most cases I was frustrated (at the time) but not for project management. I was pleasantly surprised to find this app (I think I actually searched in the app store for 'Microsoft Project'). It does work with MS Project (I use email and dropbox as conduits), has Gantt, outlining, and etc. I find it both fairly functional (for an app-based tool) and really intuitive to use. The best thing (for me) though is that since I carry my iPad everywhere, it is really handy.

If I recall it was a little on the high priced side for an app.. but that's app, not Windows PC prices so not really a lot. Unfortunately because I've purchased it, instead of seeing the price in the app store I see 'Installed' so I can't help you there.

I just thought of something else: although they have other products that allow you to get more sophisticated (risk management I think was an example) that I don't have, I did also purchase their iPhone app which works well with the iPad version.

Hope you find this helpful

Cheers

Bill

OutlinerBill wrote:

Hello Dr. Andus

If you are open to going in the other direction to manage your project
- that is to say, managing them from your iPad rather than PC - you might want to check out
an app called SG Project
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sg-project/id373004554?mt=8&uo=4

I am
predominantly a Windows PC user and for really heavy stuff do use MS Project, but as in
other areas, I went looking for an iPad app that would work with my existing Windows
software. In most cases I was frustrated (at the time) but not for project management.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this app (I think I actually searched in the app
store for 'Microsoft Project'). It does work with MS Project (I use email and dropbox
as conduits), has Gantt, outlining, and etc. I find it both fairly functional (for an
app-based tool) and really intuitive to use. The best thing (for me) though is that
since I carry my iPad everywhere, it is really handy.

If I recall it was a little on the
high priced side for an app.. but that's app, not Windows PC prices so not really a lot.
Unfortunately because I've purchased it, instead of seeing the price in the app store
I see 'Installed' so I can't help you there.

Thanks Bill,

SG Project looks very nice indeed. The App Store on iPad though is such a strange place. I've searched for PM tools on there many times and somehow I never came across this one when it fact it looks like the best one I've seen so far. I will hold off for now though, as I'm quite sedentary, tied to my PC (where Amode is serving me well). Over here SG Project costs GBP6.99 and SG Project Pro GBP34.99.

Completely agree, that app store is strange indeed :-) I'll have to check out Amode.

FYI, the app I was referring to was the cheaper SG Project. The more expensive Pro was overkill for me. I believe it rolls up all of the developers other project-oriented products, including my app, risk management, and others for heavy-duty users.

Cheers

Bill

Dr Andus wrote:

OutlinerBill wrote:
>Hello Dr. Andus
>
>If you are open to going in the other
direction to manage your project
>- that is to say, managing them from your iPad
rather than PC - you might want to check out
>an app called SG Project

>(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sg-project/id373004554?mt=8&uo=4

>
>I am
>predominantly a Windows PC user and for really heavy stuff do use MS
Project, but as in
>other areas, I went looking for an iPad app that would work with my
existing Windows
>software. In most cases I was frustrated (at the time) but not for
project management.
>I was pleasantly surprised to find this app (I think I actually
searched in the app
>store for 'Microsoft Project'). It does work with MS Project (I
use email and dropbox
>as conduits), has Gantt, outlining, and etc. I find it both
fairly functional (for an
>app-based tool) and really intuitive to use. The best
thing (for me) though is that
>since I carry my iPad everywhere, it is really handy.

>
>If I recall it was a little on the
>high priced side for an app.. but that's app, not
Windows PC prices so not really a lot.
>Unfortunately because I've purchased it,
instead of seeing the price in the app store
>I see 'Installed' so I can't help you
there.

Thanks Bill,

SG Project looks very nice indeed. The App Store on iPad
though is such a strange place. I've searched for PM tools on there many times and
somehow I never came across this one when it fact it looks like the best one I've seen so
far. I will hold off for now though, as I'm quite sedentary, tied to my PC (where Amode is
serving me well). Over here SG Project costs GBP6.99 and SG Project Pro GBP34.99.