The Omni Group

This is awesome guys. Thanks!

Can I assign multiple locations to a context?  I really need to map the context “Errands : Grocery store” to Kroger, Whole Foods, or the Co-op.  Likewise “Hardware store” to Home Depot or Ace, “Printer” to home or company office…

Omni needs to build these features into the Mac app.  Not the “where's my location” part, but the ability to define some location specific context in the Omnifocus for Mac app.  I use the Mac version for 99% of my entry, organizing, etc.  I sync to the iPhone app when out in the field.  It would be nice to be able to define these features in the Mac app, and utilize them in the iPhone app.

I don't want one location for the context “Best Buy” or “Supermarket” I want you to do search on the backend and find me the closest Best Buy or supermarket.

I love this feature, but I want to define the location information for contexts from the desktop application. Is there a way to do this that I am missing or do you have to set up location information on the iPhone app.

Turns out my memory is faulty. The 'exclude' operator is the subtraction symbol…

Yes, having locations supported in the Mac version of OmniFocus would be useful now. And lets not forget that Core Location API is coming to Snow Leopard, so future of OmniFocus running on Macs will be able to support locations too.

It's nice, technologically speaking, but in terms of real-world workflow most locations are not locations where you find yourself and think, “Hmm, I wonder what I could be doing while I'm here.” It may be true in locations we go to often like work and home, but who finds himself in a Best Buy and looks down at his iPhone to be reminded that he wanted to buy a TV. A lot of the places on your list are places to which we venture after we have a firm objective for going there. More often than not we say, “Oh I need medicine; I better go to the pharmacy.” Not “Oh I'm at the pharmacy; I wonder if there is anything I need since I'm here.”

That being said, having a background process that would buzz us should we find ourselves near a locational context of an action would be ideal. “Buzz—you're at the drugstore and you need batteries.” If you're at the drugstore and you think to remember to check your iPhone, chances are you also remember what's on there before you even look.

Bill - unfortunately, background processes are not possible on the iPhone, so we can't currently do what you envision. OmniFocus would need to be running to 'notice' where you are.

That said, the feature still works out well even if I do have a few preferred places where I go shopping. I may buy most of my drug store items at the one a few blocks from my home, but the setup also worked well when I was down in San Francisco during MacWorld this year. A little extra work to set this up was worth the payoff in the end.

Just because you *usually* know where you're going to shop doesn't mean you're always going to know.  :-)

Kate - I wouldn't suggest making a separate context for each bookstore; instead, I'd make a generic 'bookstore' business search. (Depending on the results you prefer, a business search that found any of the major chains in your area might work better; see the forum link for how to string multiple name searches together.)

Hope these help!