Application Design and Overview

Managing Goals and Folders

A Goal is a special folder that is kept in your Goals list, accessible from the tab at the bottom of the app. a Goal offers two additions: the capability of setting a Goal Priority, and the ability of setting a color for the Goal and all the folders inside of it.

A Folder is a general container that is used for organizational purposes. Folders have a number of special attributes that you can set, all of which also apply to Goals as well.

With both folders or goals, you can share them with your friends and coworkers using our free syncing service. You can also Tag them with both standard Tags and Location Tags, a way of applying metadata to all the items they contain, making this a power hierarchical tagging system for those wanting the power. You can move them inside one another. Note however, that the topmost container is always a goal, and moving a goal inside a folder changes the goal to a folder.

By tapping on the title of a goal or folder while viewing their contents, you bring up an Options Menu with a number of commands, allowing you to delete it, move, reorder the contents, etc. as descibed below.

The Main Goals List

Your goals list is available on your main toolbar. Tapping the icon on the toolbar once allows you to see whatever view you were last in on the list, and tapping the icon twice brings you back up to the main goals list view. You can tap on the "Goals" logo to bring up your menu options and perform tasks such as reordering, archiving, and deleting your goals. On the top right of your view, you can click the Add button to create a new goal.

Creating Goals

Goals are the only items you can create on your goals list view. You cannot create them anywhere else. If you move a goal to another folder or to your unfiled items list, it will be transformed into a folder. If you move a folder to your goals list, it will become a goal.

Goal Priority

Goal Priority indicates the importance of the goal relative to your other goals. The higher the goal priority, the greater the importance you are placing on all the tasks within the goal relative to your other goals. Alloy Tasks also keeps track of what you have and haven't completed, even things you completed months ago, and adjusts the priorities of those items you are ignoring by making them more important over time. This way, Alloy Tasks will help you maintain balance in your busy life.

Creating Folders

Folders can be created inside of a goal, or on your unfiled items list. Need a quick packing list? Create a folder in your unfiled items. Want to organize items in your "House and Home" goal? Just create a folder for "Repairs", one for your favorite upcoming holiday, and another for "Cleaning" to easily organize your tasks.

Saving Changes

When you create or edit a new item, you can cancel the action at any time by selecting the Back button at the top left of the view. None of your modifications take effect until you select the save button on the top right of the view. You can always review all your changes before you select the save button.

You can move items at any time using the menu option at the bottom of your items' settings.

Moving Items

You can quickly move items to another folder or goal using the option at the bottom with the folder location of your to do or notes settings. Just select the item, and you can easily navigate to where you wish to place the new item! You can also move goals and folders with the option provided in their list view by selecting the Option menu (tapping on the title).

Archiving, Deleting, and Unsubscribing Goals and Folders

In any view, you can dispose of an item by using a swipe gesture across the table row of the object. Both Archive and Delete options are available most of the time, with exceptions relating to some of the items you share with other people. In those cases, only the owner of the shared container can delete, but anyone can archive. If you attempt to delete a folder someone else is sharing with you, you will be presented with an unsubscribe dialog instead. More about sharing your folders and goals is located in the sharing section.

By archiving an item, you are letting Alloy Tasks remember what you completed inside of it. This way, it can help you prioritize the items you are neglecting. Alternatively deleting an item destroys the data permanently. There are times when Alloy Tasks retains the deleted data a bit longer to make sure it is also removed from the server and other devices on which you view those items, like an iPad or through sharing.