omnifocus-2

What this skill does

# OmniFocus Task Management

Automate OmniFocus task management via JavaScript for Automation (JXA) scripts.

## Quick Start

All scripts are located in the `scripts/` directory and use JXA. Run with:

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/<script-name>.js [args]
```

**Key Scripts:**
- `add_task.js` - Add task to inbox
- `list_tasks.js` - List tasks with filters
- `search_tasks.js` - Search tasks by keyword
- `complete_task.js` - Complete a task by name
- `update_task.js` - Update task properties
- `get_stats.js` - Get OmniFocus statistics

## Core Operations

### Adding Tasks

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/add_task.js "Task name" ["Note"] ["YYYY-MM-DD"]
```

**Examples:**
```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/add_task.js "Buy groceries"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/add_task.js "Review doc" "Check sections 1-3"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/add_task.js "Submit report" "Q1" "2026-01-31"
```

**Returns:** Task ID

### Listing Tasks

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js [filter] [limit]
```

**Filters:**
- `inbox` - Inbox tasks
- `available` - Available (unblocked) tasks (default)
- `flagged` - Flagged tasks
- `due-soon` - Due within 3 days
- `overdue` - Past due
- `all` - All incomplete tasks

**Returns:** JSON array with task details (name, id, note, dueDate, flagged, project, tags)

### Searching Tasks

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/search_tasks.js "keyword" [limit]
```

Searches task names and notes. Case-insensitive.

**Returns:** JSON array of matching tasks

### Completing Tasks

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/complete_task.js "Task name"
```

Searches inbox first, then all tasks. Completes first match.

### Updating Tasks

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/update_task.js "Task name" [--note "text"] [--due "YYYY-MM-DD"] [--flag true/false]
```

**Examples:**
```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/update_task.js "Review" --note "Added notes"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/update_task.js "Submit" --due "2026-02-01"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/update_task.js "Important" --flag true
```

### Getting Statistics

```bash
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/get_stats.js
```

**Returns:** JSON with counts:
- total, incomplete, inbox
- flagged, overdue, dueSoon
- available, blocked

## Usage Guidelines

### When Responding to User Queries

1. **List tasks** before acting on them to confirm targets
2. **Parse JSON output** for structured processing
3. **Present results** in user-friendly format (not raw JSON)
4. **Confirm operations** before completing or modifying tasks
5. **Handle errors gracefully** (task not found, etc.)

### Common Patterns

**Daily Review:**
```bash
# Statistics overview
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/get_stats.js

# What needs attention
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js overdue
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js due-soon
```

**Task Queries:**
```bash
# "What's in my inbox?"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js inbox

# "What are my next actions?"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js available 10

# "Show my flagged tasks"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/list_tasks.js flagged
```

**Task Management:**
```bash
# "Add a task to call John"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/add_task.js "Call John"

# "Find tasks about the project"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/search_tasks.js "project"

# "Mark 'Buy milk' as complete"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/complete_task.js "Buy milk"

# "Flag the review task"
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/update_task.js "Review" --flag true
```

### Output Handling

Scripts return JSON for structured data. When presenting to users:

1. Parse the JSON
2. Format results clearly
3. Summarize counts and key information
4. Highlight urgent items (overdue, due soon)

**Example response format:**
```
Found 3 overdue tasks:
• Submit Q1 report (due Jan 20)
• Review contract (due Jan 23)
• Call vendor (due Jan 24)

And 5 tasks due in the next 3 days:
• [list tasks]

Would you like me to flag or update any of these?
```

### Error Handling

Common errors:
- **Task not found** - Double-check name or search first
- **No tasks** - Empty result, report clearly
- **Invalid date** - Use YYYY-MM-DD format
- **OmniFocus not running** - Scripts require OmniFocus

### Multi-Step Operations

**Find then act:**
```bash
# 1. Search for task
RESULTS=$(osascript -l JavaScript scripts/search_tasks.js "meeting")

# 2. Parse and identify target task name

# 3. Complete the task
osascript -l JavaScript scripts/complete_task.js "Team meeting notes"
```

## Technical Reference

For detailed API information and advanced usage, see:
- **JXA API Reference:** `references/jxa-api.md` - Object model and methods
- **Automation Guide:** `references/automation-guide.md` - Detailed script documentation and workflows

Read these files when:
- Building complex queries
- Understanding OmniFocus data model
- Implementing custom workflows
- Debugging scripts

## Requirements

- macOS
- OmniFocus installed and running
- Scripts have execute permissions (chmod +x)

## Notes

- Scripts use JXA (JavaScript for Automation), not AppleScript
- Task matching is case-sensitive for exact names, case-insensitive for searches
- Date format: YYYY-MM-DD (ISO 8601)
- All operations are performed on the default OmniFocus document
- Scripts are read-only safe except for add, complete, and update operations