Set up the Do Today List

by | Jun 12, 2022

  1. Go to the Tasks view (using the Navigation Pane at left).
  2. Go to the Task view manager.
  3. Highlight All Categories. Copy and rename it Do Today. Select This folder, visible only to me (or This folder, visible to everyone if you are using Exchange Server).
  4. Define the view with the following settings:
    • Columns: Complete, Priority, Subject, Categories (only)
    • Group By: None
    • Sort: Sort items by Due Date, Ascending, then by (none); do not show field in view when asked.
    • Filter: Go to the SQL tab and click Edit these criteria directly. Copy the following text: 
      ("https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/810f0040" IS NULL AND "https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10910040" IS NULL AND "urn:schemas:httpmail:importance" = 2 AND "https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/811c000b" = 0)
    • Paste the text into the SQL box, replacing all existing text.
    • Standardize the Other Settings.
    • Turn off red highlights.
    • Add a Group By box.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.
  6. Resize the columns as needed.

Configure the To-Do Bar

Outlook 2010’s To-Do Bar is a great tool to help you stay focused on your Do Today tasks. Here’s how to configure it:

  1. Press Ctrl+1 to select the Mail screen.
  2. Press Alt+V, then press B to see the To-Do Bar menu. Make sure ONLY the following options are enabled: Normal, Date Navigator, TaskList.
  3. Repeat these settings on the Calendar (Ctrl+2), Contacts (Ctrl+3), and Tasks screen (Ctrl+4).
  4. Inside the To-Do bar, right-click the column header just below the small calendar, just above the new task box.
  5. Select View Settings
  6. Define the view with the following settings:
    • Columns: Complete, Priority, Subject, Categories (only)
    • Group By: None
    • Sort: Sort items by Due Date, Ascending, then by (none); do not show field in view when asked.
    • Filter: Go to the SQL tab and click Edit these criteria directly.
    • Copy the following text: 
      ("https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/810f0040" IS NULL AND "https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10910040" IS NULL AND "urn:schemas:httpmail:importance" = 2 AND "https://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/id/{00062003-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}/811c000b" = 0)
    • Paste the text into the SQL box, replacing all existing text.
    • Standardize the Other Settings.
    • Turn off red highlights.
    • Click OK to exit.
    • When asked, do NOT show the Priority field in the view.
    • Add a Group By box.
  7. Click OK to save your changes.
  8. Resize the columns as needed.