Configuring PF4 for Freelance Writing

[Paul Lagasse]

Hi, all --

I'm a full time freelance writer and I use PF4 to manage multiple projects. I've tweaked it out to work with a customized file structure that follows my work flow. I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve my setup.

I'd be very interested to get any suggestions for improvements or advice on how I could use even more of PF4's features than I am now. I wrote about my setup on my blog. If you're interested, please take a look and leave comments there or in this thread:

"Path Finder for Freelancers (Mac)"
http://www.avwrites.com/wordpress/?p=30

Thanks and enjoy!
Paul

[grotsasha]

Aha, now I understand why you were so avidly waiting for the label editor last year! :) Always interesting to see how people organize their workflow, your solution looks very interesting. But you need to change labels all the time then? I.e. when the project status changes, etc, it should be a bit tiresome or I'm mistaken?

[Paul Lagasse]

Aha, now I understand why you were so avidly waiting for the label editor last year! :)

Yep, that's the reason! :)

But you need to change labels all the time then? I.e. when the project status changes, etc, it should be a bit tiresome or I'm mistaken?

The labels do need to be changed manually when the status changes. However, my projects last long enough (weeks, months, and even years) that I'm not constantly changing labels.

The only real drag is that I have to manually move active folders to and from the main shelf. I wish there was a way to make the shelf behave like a smart folder -- say, create a shelf for "active projects," and configure it to list all folders with yellow labels, and that way it would dynamically refresh whenever I changed the project status of a folder.

Maybe there's a way to do this with an Automator script?

[grotsasha]

You can do it without an Automator script. Create a Smart Folder in Finder that will suit your needs, press "Add folder" in the pop-up in the Shelf and add that smart folder there, this way the contents of the Smart Folder will be displayed inside the Shelf. This folder will not be a part of mutliple shelves technically, but it will stay where you added it (at least I think so), so you will be able to select other shelves and be back to this smart folder again when you wish.

[Paul Lagasse]

That's a great idea! But I just tried it and it won't let me select a smart folder. When I highlight the smart folder in the Add Folder dialog box, the "Choose Folder" button grays out...

[grotsasha]

Oh, I didn't know that, I didn't try myself, I just thought it would be possible :(

Well, that's a suggestion then :)

[Paul Lagasse]

Thanks! Will post the suggestion shortly...

And if you can come up with any other shortcuts or ideas for my configuration, please let me know!

Cheers,
Paul

[jeffbeale00]

Good! You can also try www.projectesource.com which is more benificial to us.
Thanks.