| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: How do you keep track of the deadlines of the projects you are working on? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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David Young (X) 
Denmark
Local time: 04:36
Danish to English
| Outlook Calendar | Apr 23, 2009 |
Fortunately, I don't have so much work at the same time - I don't believe in working hard - so Outlook is enough. If I got more, I guess I'd devise myself an Excel spreadsheet which covered my needs. Can't believe I'd ever need specialist software.
[Edited at 2009-04-23 13:58 GMT]
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I create a folder in which I enter job and PO, I name it with the name of the client, deadline and rate (abbreviations of course).
I am comfortable with this system
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 22:36
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| iCalendar and excel | Apr 23, 2009 |
iCalendar lets me set deadlines in various colors (due, first draft, completed/sent, fun)
It's a Mac product, so it's dead easy.
I track accounts and invoices with Excel, so I also use that to check dates.
But mostly it's iCal.
| | | | Jessica Noyes
United States
Local time: 22:36
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Also a folder | Apr 23, 2009 |
Like Angio, I name a folder with the company and due date and time. I keep it on my desktop till the job is done.
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Parrot
Spain
Local time: 04:36
Spanish to English
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| Other (Excel + Desktop) | Apr 23, 2009 |
I keep all pending jobs within view on the desktop and log their references and deadlines on the same Excel sheet that reminds me to invoice (and that also serves for bookkeeping). This bookkeeping tool is so efficient, I can have all my quarterly reports in on the first day after the quarter ends.
| | | | Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Local time: 03:36
Member (2006)
Danish to English
+ ...
I agree with Charlie, a whiteboard on my wall is a great solution.
Now I can't imagine how I ever managed without it.
| | | | Caro Maucher
Germany
Local time: 04:36
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
| Good ol' pen and paper | Apr 23, 2009 |
I always have my big notebook in front of me and when there's more than 2 or 3 jobs I make a list, including the date and time the jobs came in so I'll find them again in my inbox, and the wordcount. That way I have everything at a glance and without having to open yet another application, create yet more folders etc.
On the bottom of the page there's always room for all the other important things I need to remember... what my friend is talking about on the phone, where I parked t... See more I always have my big notebook in front of me and when there's more than 2 or 3 jobs I make a list, including the date and time the jobs came in so I'll find them again in my inbox, and the wordcount. That way I have everything at a glance and without having to open yet another application, create yet more folders etc.
On the bottom of the page there's always room for all the other important things I need to remember... what my friend is talking about on the phone, where I parked the car, which movie reviews to check on the internet...
And anyway I rather like writing (you know, actual writing) and this is one of the few occasions I actually do it, other than shopping lists.
[Edited at 2009-04-23 21:35 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sara Senft
United States
Local time: 22:36
Spanish to English
+ ...
Sometimes, I simply remember the deadline or date of the assignment. (I am mainly an interpreter.) I set up Yahoo Calendar reminders if I learn of a deadline or the date of an assignment with enough advance notice.
Like several of you, another strategy I use is keeping relevant emails in my inbox until the project/assignment is finished.
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Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 22:36
Member (2009)
French to English
| I use a spectrum of methods. | Apr 23, 2009 |
Like many of the comments above, my primary methods are fairly low-tech. I have an all-purpose to-do list which is in one of the simplest moleskine notebooks. I start at the beginning, cross out things as their done and recopy whatever is left when it's time to go on to a new book. When I am under slightly more stress, I will dedicate a page to that day and write down specific goals.
However, when things get really bad I revert to the index cards that saved my hide while I was in c... See more Like many of the comments above, my primary methods are fairly low-tech. I have an all-purpose to-do list which is in one of the simplest moleskine notebooks. I start at the beginning, cross out things as their done and recopy whatever is left when it's time to go on to a new book. When I am under slightly more stress, I will dedicate a page to that day and write down specific goals.
However, when things get really bad I revert to the index cards that saved my hide while I was in college. I was an English and French major and during my second to last semester, I had an exceptional number of papers to write. I took one index card and wrote out all of the projects and the approximate number of words required. I totaled this amount on the bottom and then divided it by the number of words needed by each day/week. Then I made separate cards for each week so that I would be sure to have the assignments completed in the right order. As a result, I was assured that all my deadlines would be met, if for example, I wrote 1,000 words each day, and 3,000 of those words written by Friday were for the European History paper due the following Monday. I have yet to be as overwhelmed in my writing/translation career, but I have used this system in small ways to keep track of overlapping deadlines. I am sure that I could find a software based solution, but this works - and I have the satisfaction of ripping the index cards in little pieces when the project is done . ▲ Collapse
| | | | Andrew Levine
United States
Local time: 22:36
Member (2007)
French to English
+ ...
| Calendar on my phone | Apr 23, 2009 |
I use the calendar on my cellphone, which syncs daily with the calendar on my desktop, so I can always assess my time needs wherever I am.
| | | | vixen
Greece
Local time: 05:36
English to Dutch
+ ...
| Wirebound notebook | Apr 23, 2009 |
I use a wirebound notebook in which I manually create columns for (delivery) Date, (delivery) Time, Client, Project Manager, Job description and Job size.
In front of these I have inserted a few columns where I enter a check mark to indicate that:
- I have received a purchase order/work specification (regular clients sometimes send me one after starting/finishing the job);
- I have finished the job;
- I have sent the invoice (regular clients are only invoiced once... See more I use a wirebound notebook in which I manually create columns for (delivery) Date, (delivery) Time, Client, Project Manager, Job description and Job size.
In front of these I have inserted a few columns where I enter a check mark to indicate that:
- I have received a purchase order/work specification (regular clients sometimes send me one after starting/finishing the job);
- I have finished the job;
- I have sent the invoice (regular clients are only invoiced once or twice a month).
I keep this notebook next to me on my desk. I also keep a print-out of of each PO/WS in the notebook until I have finished the job.
Occasionally, when I have a lot of work, I schedule the tasks on my calendar to help me keep track of the order of the jobs.
I find that this system works well for me. It's also easy to have a quick look to make sure you've got the delivery time right, even when the computer is turned off.
[Edited at 2009-04-23 15:48 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I still use the old agenda, paper and pencil/pen where I keep track of the deadlines of my tasks. I close the task and turn to an agenda that I have on the working desk and write down the dealine.
Flávia Tafner
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Everything else is too complicated!
Two sides of an A4 sheet, one for a major client who sends a lot of small jobs and gets a monthly invoice, and one for the others.
The first side is filled in as the jobs come in: date, job code, a 'comment' to jog my memory about what it is, deadline, no. of words and a column for miscellaneous details or time. There may be 20-30 jobs a month here.
Then I type all that into an Excel spreadsheet at the end of the month an... See more Everything else is too complicated!
Two sides of an A4 sheet, one for a major client who sends a lot of small jobs and gets a monthly invoice, and one for the others.
The first side is filled in as the jobs come in: date, job code, a 'comment' to jog my memory about what it is, deadline, no. of words and a column for miscellaneous details or time. There may be 20-30 jobs a month here.
Then I type all that into an Excel spreadsheet at the end of the month and cut and paste the totals and details onto the agency's preferred invoice form.
On the other side of the A4 sheet I note down everything else:
Date, client, VAT no. job details, rate, currency, deadline etc. in fairly fixed columns.
There may be five to ten jobs on that side.
I haven't found anything easier or more reliable...
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| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
United States
Local time: 19:36
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Agenda + electronic file | Apr 23, 2009 |
I have to keep a single calendar for everything because otherwise I forget where to look and miss appointments, classes, job deadlines, etc. It has worked for me for decades, and old habits die hard. Since I jump around between activities, it's better to have one control center.
When I have long jobs, I also enter daily goals on my calendar because I know I won't be able to do it all in the days at the end. Right now I'm trying to balance my translation work with a long project for ... See more I have to keep a single calendar for everything because otherwise I forget where to look and miss appointments, classes, job deadlines, etc. It has worked for me for decades, and old habits die hard. Since I jump around between activities, it's better to have one control center.
When I have long jobs, I also enter daily goals on my calendar because I know I won't be able to do it all in the days at the end. Right now I'm trying to balance my translation work with a long project for school. The daily quotas really keep me on track and keep me from feeling overwhelmed.
When the going gets really tough, I may set up an Excel spreadsheet or a table in Word to keep track of a particular project. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Anything I can check in case of blackout! | Apr 23, 2009 |
Caro Giese wrote:
I always have my big notebook in front of me and when there's more than 2 or 3 jobs I make a list, including the date time and time the jobs came in so I'll find them again in my inbox, and the wordcount. That way I have everything at a glance and without having to open yet another application, create yet more folders etc.
I learned the lesson long ago!
I always save my work to portable media and/or email the file(s) to my own Gmail account at the end of the day. This, and keeping my commitments always in front of me OUTSIDE my computer, has proved 100% safe, as you can always continue working anywhere else if there is a power failure or computer breakdown.
Another useful way of recording project delivery dates is in File Properties, porvided you remember to ckeck
[Edited at 2009-04-23 20:30 GMT]
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