This might not be the best forum to ask this but there are a lot of software developers here. I'm considering switching to Thunderbird for email. I'm using Outlook now and one of the major reasons I'm sticking with it is task tracking. I use tasks to track every project I'm working on. I don't do anything fancy with it. I basically use it as a diary and TODO list for each project. I also use it to track internal email and customer email related to each project. I simply drag and drop emails into the tasks. I do the same with documents related to each project. I'm looking for software that will allow me to do the same things I do with Outlook tasks. I would like to be able to drag an email from Thunderbird and drop it in a task. Same idea for other types of documents. I've searched for task tracking software but all I've come up with was simple TODO lists or full blown project management tools. I need something in between. Any ideas?

Moving to the Lounge.

Why do you want to switch?

Good question. The main reason is that they've started moving people off of Office at work. I'll still have it for the near future but I would like to start getting used to something else.

I was also hoping there might be something better for task tracking.

Quote: Original post by Dumuzi
I'm looking for software that will allow me to do the same things I do with Outlook tasks. I would like to be able to drag an email from Thunderbird and drop it in a task. Same idea for other types of documents.

Thunderbird has a calendar/task add on called Lightning - it also exists as a stand alone program Sunbird.

Thunderbird/Lightning will allow you to select an email and Create Task or Create (calendar) Event which will then be displayed in the task list or calendar and which include the text from the email.

Unfortunately it doesn't allow you to attach documents to a task - at least not properly. It does have an attach doc/web page option but this only functions for web pages. Trying to attach a word doc requires you to manually type in the link to the doc (no drag and drop or brows to) and on trying to open it I had to manually select the program to "open with" and even then Word just opened a new document and not the linked one.

Quote: Original post by Obscure

Quote: Original post by Dumuzi
I'm looking for software that will allow me to do the same things I do with Outlook tasks. I would like to be able to drag an email from Thunderbird and drop it in a task. Same idea for other types of documents.

Thunderbird has a calendar/task add on called Lightning - it also exists as a stand alone program Sunbird.

Thunderbird/Lightning will allow you to select an email and Create Task or Create (calendar) Event which will then be displayed in the task list or calendar and which include the text from the email.

Unfortunately it doesn't allow you to attach documents to a task - at least not properly. It does have an attach doc/web page option but this only functions for web pages. Trying to attach a word doc requires you to manually type in the link to the doc (no drag and drop or brows to) and on trying to open it I had to manually select the program to "open with" and even then Word just opened a new document and not the linked one.

I agree with this man. I also use it combined with BirdySync to synchronize the tasks and calender to my Windows Mobile 6.5 phone. Works like a charm and BirdySync isn't that expensive.

Thanks guys. I'll check out Lightning. It doesn't quite do everything I need but I might be able to work around the limitations.