CLOSED: [2022-01-09 Sun 17:51] SCHEDULED: <2022-01-09 Sun>
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2022-01-06 Thu 10:02]
:ID:       2022-01-06-mobile-capture-process
:END:
:LOGBOOK:
- State "DONE"       from "NEXT"       [2022-01-09 Sun 17:51]
:END:

This is an article from a series of blog postings. Please do read [[id:2019-09-25-using-orgmode][my
"Using Org Mode Features" (UOMF) series page]] for explanations on
articles of this series.

One of the most important [[id:tags-pim][PIM]] workflows everybody should have is a quick
and easy to use capture process in any situation. My capture workflow is threefold:

1. Capture while I'm working with my Emacs.
   - This is [[https://orgmode.org/manual/Capture.html][well documented in the manual]] and you can even see [[https://github.com/novoid/dot-emacs/blob/master/config.org][my
     capture tempates online]].
2. Mobile capture by a Hipster PDA.
   - [[id:2015-07-19-Capturing-via-Hipster-PDA][I wrote about that back in 2015]].
3. Mobile capture using my mobile phone running Android.

Here, I want to briefly explain my current mobile capture process
using Android.

*** Process Overview

1. Manual: Capture with Android app [[http://www.orgzly.com/][Orgzly]] to =capture-mobile.org=
2. Automated: Sync of the =capture-mobile.org= file to my desktop and notebook computers via [[syncthing.net/][Syncthing]]
3. Manual: Invocation of a DIY-function =my-mobile-org-import()= (see [[https://github.com/novoid/dot-emacs/blob/master/config.org][my configuration]])
   1. Merges individual inbox files from different hosts and appends their content to the combined =mobileorg.org= file.
      - Separate files (one capture file per capture device) does reduce the sync conflict issues with Orgzly and Syncthing to an acceptable level.
        - If you're interested in the sync-conflict topic, you might want to read [[https://github.com/orgzly/orgzly-android/issues/8][that]], [[https://github.com/orgzly/orgzly-android/issues/231][that]] or [[https://sachachua.com/blog/2019/07/tweaking-emacs-on-android-via-termux-xclip-xdg-open-syncthing-conflicts/][Sacha's take on that topic]].
      - Sometimes I still have to "overwrite server file with mobile capture file" to resolve conflicts by duplicating already "inboxed" tasks.
   2. Invocation of =org-mobile-pull= to get the captured headings to my =inbox.org= where I work.
      - I am not using the mobile-org Android app any more but I do
        like the staging model within Emacs: =mobile.org= →
        =inbox.org= on manual invocation.
      - When I'm capturing while working with Emacs, I usually capture
        to this =inbox.org= if the template does not have a specific
        target defined.
4. Doing tasks from =inbox.org= (remember the two minute rule from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done][GTD]]
   or [[id:2019-01-13-inbox-zero-inbox-infinity][Inbox Zero]]?) or refile them to different [[https://gitlab.com/publicvoit/orgdown/-/blob/master/doc/Overview.org][Orgdown]] files.

*** Always Capture With Verb and Noun

I can not emphasize it enough: always make sure that your capture note
contains a verb (what to do) and a noun (with what you should do
something).

If your capture heading should be the absolute minimum (yes, typing on
mobile devices is really tedious), make sure it is a verb and a noun
such as "prepare visit" or "finish document". It should never ever be
something like "prepare", "visit" or "document" alone. Trust me, I
sometimes still fall into that trap myself then I end up with tasks I
don't understand a couple of hours/days/weeks later.

*** Keywords

Currently, I am using more status keywords in my Orgzly and my
=inbox.org= than I'm using in the rest of my [[https://gitlab.com/publicvoit/orgdown/-/blob/master/doc/Overview.org][Orgdown]] files.

My current general keywords are:

- TODO
  - This was once a status for todos that are not relevant for now. I
    actually don't use this any more because I tend to start with NEXT
    all the time.
- NEXT
- STARTED
- WAITING
- SOMEDAY
- DONE
- CANCELLED

Additionally to that, I'm using following keywords in my capture
process:

- READ
  - I want to read that thing later-on.
- FILE
  - That thing needs to be filed away into my knowledge base or in any
    other Orgdown file.
- ANSWER
  - That thing requires me to add a comment myself or any other kind
    of written answer.
- BOOKMARK
  - That should go to [[id:2014-08-10-bookmarks-with-orgmode][my bookmark collection]].
- DOWNLOAD
  - Here is something I want to download and maybe archive on my computer.
- COMMENTS
  - I want to read some comments below that article.

As you can see, I tried an approach that frequently used verbs are
already in the list of todo keywords. I am not sure if selecting the
keyword from the drop-down list is more efficient than writing the
verb myself while sticking with a generic NEXT keyword. For now, I'm
going to stick with that habit.

Please note that those additional keywords aren't working in my other
Orgdown files. Therefore, those tasks need to be done right within
=inbox.org= and not refiled somewhere else.

*** Conclusion

Mobile capture is one of the most important workflows I maintain. I
get ideas in the weirdest situations. Similar to trying to remember
that funny dream after waking up in the morning, ideas often vanish
very quickly. Therefore, they need to be written down somehow as soon
as you get them.

I've got a friend who bought a under-water note-taking set from SCUBA
diving just to be able to write down ideas while being in the shower.

Be prepared to collect your precious ideas and tasks everywhere and
have a good life!