gtd-php Documentation | Users / Contexts

Contexts are one of the many ways to filter your actions in GTD-PHP. Also called "Space Contexts", these are originally intended to be physical contexts, such as "errands" for when you're out & about in your car running errands, or "phone" for when you're stuck at the airport and all you have with you is your phone; it's a list of people you need to call and why.

To create or edit contexts, select Space Contexts from the Configure menu, or simply click on any hyperlinked context anywhere in the system.

Contexts are assigned to actions only: the next action in a project may be a phone call (phone), another next action may be to run to the store (errands) to buy something. If you're going to the airport to pick someone up, you can filter your next action list by "phone" so you can print out a current list of phone calls you need to make in case you have extra time while waiting.

To edit a context hover over Process and select Contexts. Then click on the context you wish to edit on the top of the grid. On this screen you can edit the name and the description of the context and have the option to delete it or move all items assigned to it to a new context.

You may change the context assigned to an action.

Hints and Suggestions

I have created some unusual "spacial" contexts, such as "coding" versus "computer" versus "design". I consider each of these to be using the same physical tool -- a computer -- but with different mindframes. I can filter my lists by the level of "geek" I'm feeling at any given moment. I found that "computer", as suggested in the book GTD, was much too vague given that I wear so many hats and use the computer in so many different ways: I now have an "email" context, a "computer" context for general computer use like browsing websites and doing research, "design" for graphic design work and "coding" for any deep-geekery such as server administration, open source programming or custom programming for client projects. crisses (web designer & developer)

''I too have found computer to be way too vague-- we do almost everything on the computer these days, from email, to research, to shopping. My computer context action list is the largest of all, with home a close second. Therefore, Email is a separate context. I'm going to try out others like Home PC (download, etc... which can't be done from a public computer). You have to be careful to keep a clear line between contexts and actions (Computer vs Download). scott

Documentation Contexts Tips and Tricks