Creating ToDo lists visible in Family view and in their entirety

[DrJJWMac]

I have started with an approach below to create ToDo tasks.

* create a Note field called ToDo
* show the ToDo field as a default for each person in their Family view
* add the ToDo item to that note in a specific format as below
2026-06-28 (date stamp)
- here is a to do task for this person

Now that I have this, I want to be able to view all of the Notes in the ToDo set. The best I have been able to determine is that I have to manually add each one to a Noteboard set.

Ideally, I would be able to create a Noteboard set that automatically compiles all content in the Notes->ToDo category.

What am I missing?

For further background, I tried creating ToDo tasks in the Log. The ToDo had the format below.
2026-06-28 (date stamp)
[ connection to person ]
- here is a to do task for the above person

With the above approach, I can see a full list of ToDos, but I cannot see a ToDo for the [ connected person ] in the Family view for that person.

In summary, what is a better way to achieve these two aims for ToDo task lists

* show ToDo tasks for a specific person as a list in the Family view for that person
* show a list of all ToDo tasks **automatically compiled** across all people

[KirkS]

I use a (simpler) technique: I have a custom note field called RESEARCH similar to your to-do list.

I can find all my research notes by using Advance Find to search for people where Research is Not Blank. I open the Results Window (shown below) to customize data fields and export the results to either a word processor or spreadsheet.

If I am going to be researching a specific surname or geographic area, I can Mark the relevant subset of records before searching and exporting.

I know this isn't exactly what your asking, but perhaps it will give you some ideas.

results.jpg

[A Ginn]

I also use Kirk's method. The first 400 characters will be reported from a note field, and they can be exported or viewed directly in the Lists window if you hold the Command key while passing the cursor over the column's cells. Carriage returns are stripped, but you can delimit entries with other characters such as symbols or pictograms.

[DrJJWMac]

Using the Advanced Find gives the list of names. I see also how to add a column to show the ToDo notes. Finally, I have saved the Advanced Search as an option in the Results pop down.

ToDoNotes.png

I set up with three columns (last name, first name, ToDo Note field).

AdvancedList.png

I use the ToDos pop down to Save Default Column & Sot Options. Unfortunately, once I click away from that view, the settings revert back to default when I return.

--
JJW

[A Ginn]

The defaults you save are specific to their Advanced Finds, so if you closed the Lists window ensure that "returning" involves selecting the correct Advanced Find. Here is an example of two saved Advanced Finds and their resulting column headers. The one you select in NavBar > Lists > Results is independent of the one selected for the Results sidebar, and the two will not affect each other unless you click the List Window icon at the bottom of the sidebar.

Defaults for Finds.jpg

[KirkS]

Good followup, A Ginn ; thanks for catching that.

[DrJJWMac]

Unfortunately, the approach needed is simply beyond me. It appears to have too many "if then, else if" failure points.

In short, while I can enter ToDo notes for each person, and while I can get a list of all ToDo notes across all people in a format that I can view in one list, I cannot consistently get the latter. Inevitably, I end up clicking off into something else, or I click into Advanced Finds in the wrong way, and the column setup that I saved is not applied when I return to where I think I should be going.

I'll enter a feature request.

Thanks.