Manage Your Task List Effectively with Swift To-Do List

Posted on August 16, 2010 by LJ Earnest
Categories: Productivity,Review,Software

• Tweet
• Email

• Tweet
• Email

I haven’t been in the market to replace my tried and true task list manager. I’ve been using it for years, and it has suited me well. Last week Jiri Novotny of Dextronet contacted me to ask me to review his new software, Swift To-do List.

The software blew me away.

What is Swift?

Swift To-do List is task management software. It allows you to track tasks in whatever organization fashion you wish. You can have lists, sub-lists, and notes all jumbled together.

• Download: www.dextronet.com/swift-to-do-list-software
• Company: Dextronet
• Platforms: Windows 7, Vista, XP and 2000.
• Editions: Standard and Professional
• Pricing: Starting at $44.95
• Other: 30 day free trial, 90 day money back guarantee

The Main Interface

This software is amazingly straightforward. On the main screen there are four areas, three of which show by default. The left-hand side is the to-do list tree. This acts as your navigation bar between different lists. The second area, at the top of the right-hand side, is the task view, showing the tasks in each to-do list. On the bottom of that section is the notes area for the current task. You can turn the notes off, and also show the Info panel, which shows how many tasks are due today, and how many tomorrow.

Adding a List

The first thing you will want to do is add a list. You have full flexibility to add it as a task or a memo (yes, store notes right there!), and to customize it with one of 144 colorful icons.

Adding a Task

This is a really cool feature. First, everything is on the screen. No more entering a task, then having to go back into the task to add things to it. Second, you control what you show on the screen. If there is a field you don’t use, take it off. One you do? Show it.

The Features of Swift

• Multiple Databases. You can store multiple lists in this software. You could divide work and personal, or keep a separate someday list.
• Multiple computers. One license of Swift gives you the ability to use it on three computers. That is generous.
• USB Deployment. One of my first thoughts was, “well, I’m sure it can’t be run from USB.” Imagine my surprise when I looked in the File menu and saw the deployment to USB option. It cost me another licensing fee to get Bonsai to do that, and here it is, included with Swift!
• Purge/Archive. Built in to the software is the ability to purge or archive completed tasks. If you archive them, you can see them and get them back if you need to!
• Reminders. This task manager will actually remind you when something is due.
• Encryption. The program comes with the ability to encrypt your database. This is a great feature when linked withe USB deployment.
• Flexible Emailing. You can email yourself (or anyone else) a task. Here’s the best part: the email template is customizable. With very little help, I was able to set up an email template to send a task to Remember the Milk.
• Dragging. It should be a feature of every list software out there, but sadly is not. Swift does allow you to drag tasks between lists, and to reorder things.

Notes About the Software

I just have to throw this in here…I am a software developer, and I can be very critical of software implementation. So often software just doesn’t live up to the mark. Swift is a solid program. I was unable to make it crash…and I tried. The user interface is clean, and everything is accessible by keyboard as well as mouse. It is a well-designed and well-programmed piece of software.

My Wish List

Swift isn’t perfect for me, I’ll admit. Right now I would love to see the ability to tag each task in multiple ways, so that I could slice-and-dice tasks. And without an iPod application to go with the software, I will still be using RTM on the go.

Summary

This software is actually making me think about leaving Bonsai behind. It’s going to be a fantastic amount of work for me to transfer, which is why I never considered it before. But then, I never met a piece of software that would make it worth my while before, either.

Swift To-do List is solid task management software. Its many features and solid programming make it a great tool.

If you want another opinion on the software, Softpedia gave it 5 stars in their review.

Contest Announcement

Following on the heels of this post is the official contest announcement. To sum it up, you have a chance to win one of three professional licenses for Swift To-do List. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling how you would use it. Get a second entry by posting about this review post on your own blog. See the official contest announcement for the rules, etc.

Disclosure

Dextronet provided me with a copy of the Professional Edition of Swift To-Do List in order to do my review. I receive no affiliation fees from the sale of the software.

---

If you enjoyed this post, please buy me a cup of coffee!