ToodleChrome Dec09
Tags: browser, Chrome, extension, Google, GTD, tasks, todo, ToodleChrome, Toodledo | 23 Comments
Update 2009-Dec-12: The 0.4 update now includes an option to add a badge indicating how many tasks are due. I ended up foregoing the Toodledo API and instead decided to implement a solution that uses the Toodledo RSS feed (which can be customized) and the Google Ajax Feed API. This way the extension doesn’t need to ask for a username or password. While the Toodledo RSS feed is a public one, it is a unique address, and users can change the feed url or disable the feed entirely if necessary.
The ToodleChrome extension is based on Toodledo, a web-based todo application that I’ve come to rely upon on a daily basis. I primarily access my todos via an iPhone app called Todo by Appigo, but there are often times when I want to add some items from my browser.
Tooodle does have a web interface, but I’ve found the slim/mobile version of the site faster and easier to use, especially in conjunction with Appigo’s iPhone app. To make things even more efficient for my workflow, I thought I’d put together a quick and simple extension for the beta version of Google Chrome (my current browser of choice, mainly because it’s fast). Extensions will eventually be enabled in the regular version of Chrome but for now it’s limited to the stable beta.
If you are a Chrome beta user like myself, and need a good way to manage your todos, give the extension a try. It’s listed in the Chrome Extensions directory, and I hope to add some updates via the Toodledo API in the future (specifically, to show due and overdue items in the icon badge). Until then, I hope this small contribution makes it a little easier to keep on top of things.
[Check out ToodleChrome at the Official Google Chrome Repository]
[Also available at chromeExtensions.org]
Thank you. Simple and really useful.
I like the logo too.
Great Extension and nice plain simple logo.
Any chance of making the badge show a count of what is overdue/today only instead of complete number of tasks due?
When you set up your RSS feed, you can have it display only your “Hotlist,” which doesn’t show a complete list of all your tasks (I think it only shows tasks that are overdue/due very soon).
Would this solve your problem?
Essentially, the extension works by polling your RSS feed (which you can customize on the Toodledo site).
I have it set up for Hotlist, which is much better than all tasks. While it works for pairing down the number tasks greatly, it still grabs (and shows a number in the badge) tasks I do not want, not a Hotlist user myself.
Thinking of specifically how the badge on the iPhone app works. Not a big deal or a deal breaker for usage, just figured if you were going to do any more work on the extension the ability to customize the badge would be a great option to add – understanding you have to dig into the API and not just the RSS feed.
Thanks for the feedback, it’s definitely appreciated.
I see what you mean by not being able to customize the Hotlist list itself (seems like I’ve actually changed the way I create todos since I started using the Hotlist!).
While I don’t have a timeline, I do plan on doing more work on this extension (0.5 limited update is already done), so I’ll do some more research into the API and see what I can come up with. I’d like to make some promises about implementation, but this is all I can offer for now.
Thanks for the plugin, very useful! Would be cool to have more options!
Love your extension, but really need it to be integrated with Tasks in Google Apps.
Using Chromium 4.0.304.0 (36813) I am unable to paste into the fields when adding a task (via context menu or keyboard). Don’t know if this is Chromium-related or extension-related.
@Bo: Thanks, glad you like the extension. This one is for Toodledo, though. If you’re looking for Google Tasks integration, there are some great add-ons made by Google in the extension repository.
@Cory: I noticed that too. It’s currently a problem with the Chrome/Chromium builds (other extensions have the same problem). Hopefully they fix it soon.
hi,
first nice extension for chrome to use toodledo. it´s possible to make the window longer. in the add dialog you have to scroll down to hit the save button but there is enough space to make the window longer.
thx
@Mike: thanks, that’s something I can put into the next release.
Still working on this?
Just wondering if you were working on an updated version at all and what features you might add? By far this is one of my used and useful extensions.
If you are still working on it recently noticed that the Hotlist count on the extension does not match the Hotlist count within Toodledo.
@Jon. Yup, I still plan on doing a fairly basic update, but other obligations have been keeping me from getting to it.
What kinds of discrepancies are you seeing with the Hotlist count? Mine’s adding up properly at the moment.
In terms of other features, I haven’t had much time to look into the API. However, some recommendations such as customizing the size of the popup window or adding options/tabs to show additional shared lists can be added without burning too much of the midnight oil.
Eliot – hotlist on extension shows one more than there is. So if I have 20 on Toodledo extension shows 21, but if I count the number in the hotlist in extension I count 20.
One other feature that would make it much easier is a actual calendar drop down for due dates instead of the list selector – something more in-line of what Toodledo has. That is the one thing that I constantly think of using it.
Hi Eliot,
Thanks so much for this extension. Not sure I’m using the badge properly–it shows numbers that don’t really match up with my hotlist or my to-do-today tasks. Which RSS feed sets up “Today’s” tasks only?
Thanks!
– Dan
@Jon and @Dan
Thanks for the feedback. The badge shows the number of items in your Toodledo RSS feed, which you can customize in your settings (it pops up when you access the Options page of the extension. Mine just shows the Hotlist).
Please try opening your RSS feed and see how many items are listed there. That will give me an idea of whether the problem is with the extension or with Toodledo itself.
@eliot,
Thanks for the reply. I think the problem is mine–I think I’m not sure how the Toodledo RSS feed works. If I set it up without limiting to the hotlist, then the badge gives me 30 tasks. But I have 240 tasks…is Toodledo’s RSS limited to 30?
I should add, if I restrict to hotlist, it gives me 25, though I have 27 items on my hotlist. Does the extension have “Use Toodledo’s Settings” for it’s hotlist settings, or is it a basic, “within 14 days” setting?
One more–Sorry!–but if I shut off the RSS, but leave the badge on, it just says “1.” Is that affecting the count, maybe?
@Dan Thanks for checking it out. I just looked into it further and I think it may be a combination of Toodledo and Google’s API (which I’m using to poll the RSS feed for the task count).
Google’s API seems to be limited to 30 items per RSS feed, so that’s why you’re seeing 30 instead of 240.
In terms of the badge and the hotlist count not adding up, I’m still not sure. I just tried it out and mine add up correctly. Do you use subtasks?
@eliot,
I figured out the 25–some hotlist tasks that I saw on my Toodledo screen had been cleared on my iPod Touch app, but hadn’t been synced. Sorry for the confusion! Thanks again for the great extension!
–Dan
At the moment i can’t download it! Looks like the Servers are down, but allready 3 days?
Daniel
@Daniel Just tried it and it looks like it’s working. The extension is stored on Google’s servers, so hopefully they’ll have it resolved soon if you are still having problems.