Subtly hightling task backgrounds

Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[John Wiegley]

I've been using the following code snippet for many weeks now to
great effect.  It helps me to "grok" my daily taskload better without
increasing the mental burden.  See the function's docstring for more
info.

Here is a screenshot of the effect, from my today's agenda:

  http://ftp.newartisans.com/pub/highlighting.png

John

(defun org-agenda-add-overlays (&optional line)
  "Add overlays found in OVERLAY properties to agenda items.
Note that habitual items are excluded, as they already
extensively use text properties to draw the habits graph.

For example, for work tasks I like to use a subtle, yellow
background color; for tasks involving other people, green; and
for tasks concerning only myself, blue.  This way I know at a
glance how different responsibilities are divided for any given
day.

To achieve this, I have the following in my todo file:

  * Work
    :PROPERTIES:
    :CATEGORY: Work
    :OVERLAY:  (face (:background \"#fdfdeb\"))
    :END:
  ** TODO Task
  * Family
    :PROPERTIES:
    :CATEGORY: Personal
    :OVERLAY:  (face (:background \"#e8f9e8\"))
    :END:
  ** TODO Task
  * Personal
    :PROPERTIES:
    :CATEGORY: Personal
    :OVERLAY:  (face (:background \"#e8eff9\"))
    :END:
  ** TODO Task

The colors (which only work well for white backgrounds) are:

  Yellow: #fdfdeb
  Green:  #e8f9e8
  Blue:   #e8eff9

To use this function, add it to `org-agenda-finalize-hook':

  (add-hook 'org-finalize-agenda-hook 'org-agenda-add-overlays)"
  (let ((inhibit-read-only t) l c
	(buffer-invisibility-spec '(org-link)))
    (save-excursion
      (goto-char (if line (point-at-bol) (point-min)))
      (while (not (eobp))
	(let ((org-marker (get-text-property (point) 'org-marker)))
          (when (and org-marker
                     (null (overlays-at (point)))
                     (not (get-text-property (point) 'org-habit-p))
                     (string-match "\\(sched\\|dead\\|todo\\)"
                                   (get-text-property (point) 'type)))
            (let ((overlays (org-entry-get org-marker "OVERLAY" t)))
              (when overlays
                (goto-char (line-end-position))
                (let ((rest (- (window-width) (current-column))))
                  (if (> rest 0)
                      (insert (make-string rest ? ))))
                (let ((ol (make-overlay (line-beginning-position)
                                        (line-end-position)))
                      (proplist (read overlays)))
                  (while proplist
                    (overlay-put ol (car proplist) (cadr proplist))
                    (setq proplist (cddr proplist))))))))
	(forward-line)))))

(add-hook 'org-finalize-agenda-hook 'org-agenda-add-overlays)

Re: Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[Eric S Fraga]

John Wiegley <jwiegley@gmail.com> writes:

> I've been using the following code snippet for many weeks now to
> great effect.  It helps me to "grok" my daily taskload better without
> increasing the mental burden.  See the function's docstring for more
> info.
>
> Here is a screenshot of the effect, from my today's agenda:
>
>   http://ftp.newartisans.com/pub/highlighting.png

I am intrigued: what is the multi-coloured bit at the bottom right of your
agenda view?

-- 
: Eric S Fraga (GnuPG: 0xC89193D8FFFCF67D) in Emacs 24.0.50.1
: using Org-mode version 7.5 (release_7.5.511.g2b7d)

Re: Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[John Wiegley]

On Jun 30, 2011, at 4:12 PM, Eric S Fraga wrote:

> I am intrigued: what is the multi-coloured bit at the bottom right of your
> agenda view?

That is my Habits graph.  See the Info manual:

  (org)Tracking your habits

John

Re: Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[Eric S Fraga]

John Wiegley <jwiegley@gmail.com> writes:

> On Jun 30, 2011, at 4:12 PM, Eric S Fraga wrote:
>
>> I am intrigued: what is the multi-coloured bit at the bottom right of your
>> agenda view?
>
> That is my Habits graph.  See the Info manual:
>
>   (org)Tracking your habits
>
> John

Ah, yes, yet another feature of org that I have not yet managed to try!
Only so many hours in a day, even with org helping. ;-)

Thanks.

-- 
: Eric S Fraga (GnuPG: 0xC89193D8FFFCF67D) in Emacs 24.0.50.1
: using Org-mode version 7.5 (release_7.5.511.g2b7d)

Re: Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[Bastien]

Hi John,

John Wiegley <jwiegley@gmail.com> writes:

> To achieve this, I have the following in my todo file:

Nice -- maybe a more general implementation would be to let
users assign a color to a category, which is really one defcustom
away from your code.  Would you be willing to submit a patch in
that direction?

Thanks!

-- 
 Bastien

Re: Subtly hightling task backgrounds

[John Wiegley]

On Jul 1, 2011, at 3:53 AM, Bastien wrote:

> John Wiegley <jwiegley@gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> To achieve this, I have the following in my todo file:
> 
> Nice -- maybe a more general implementation would be to let
> users assign a color to a category, which is really one defcustom
> away from your code.  Would you be willing to submit a patch in
> that direction?

I would love to, but I'm just too overtaxed at work now.  I invite anyone
else to hack my patch to death, though. :)

John