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Can Categorize Plus auto-categorizations be triggered by custom fields? I use an add-on (GTD by NetCentrics) to help me group items by project. This addin creates a custom field, "project" to group items. I'd like to assign a project to multiple categories once, then have all it's associated tasks, emails and journals categoriezed in the same way automatically.
For example, a project "Repair the front porch" logically might be fit into the categories "home" "personal" and "weekend." Can CP be configured to add these three categories to all items (tasks, email) that have the project field set to "Repair the front porch?"
I understand this would be possible if all the items for a project were placed in a common folder..the auto-categorize function allows for this. I'd prefer not to create many folders, though, because it makes it more difficult to find items.

Hello Frank,

Unfortunately, after evaluating Outlook 2010 Beta, I am sorry to inform you that Microsoft has made changes to Outlook 2010 that prevent me from enabling many of the features available in Categorize Plus.  Most importantly, it is no longer possible to create the Category Editor in Outlook 2010 due to changes that Microsoft has made to the window hierarchy.  Unfortunately, as a result of this, I have decided to not support a version of Categorize Plus in Outlook 2010.  This was a very hard decision for me as I very much wanted to support this version of Outlook. 

However, despite this fact, some of the functionality of CP still works in 2010 including the Categorize Button inside Outlook items and the "right-click" Categorize Plus menu.  With this limited feature set, many users still use Categorize Plus in Outlook 2010.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Jon Zimmerman
VeranoSoft

Will this software work with Outlook 2010?  IF not, is there a new release planned?

I loved CP from the first day I installed it. If you are a GTD freak like me, you need nothing else then vanilla Outlook and Catagorize Plus. It let's me organize my mail in a way I can track everything, everywhere. Within seconds I can create reports: tasks due today, all mail for a specific project, all "wating-for" mails, etc. One of the best things (if you'll ask me) is that GP automatically copies the catagories on reply's and received mails so they are instantly organized. Without CP this was a frustrating and time consuming activity which was almost impossible to do accurate and consistant.

Yes there are certain improvements to make. One of them would be the possibility to keep the filterbox(es) (or searches) inactive on the top of the screen. When a filter is active you can change the filter but not turn off or disable. You have to remove the filters/search, which also removes the filter box. I love to have 4 filters active: filter on DUE dates, filter on Action Catagories, filter on Location Catagories (home, office, car, phone, etc) and one filter on urgency. If this would be possible (like filters in Excel) this application would be even better.

In closing: I have been working in the software business for some time (too long? ) and we all know how important good support is. For a product like this with a value of 29,95 dollar (pro version) I didn't expected a reply on my question, but boy what was I fooled. Within hours I received specific reply with good instructions and even better: proactive and personal advice how to improve my CP experience. I’ve never experienced support like this, not even for solutions with a price tag 1.000 times higher. Oowww I forgot to mention something really important: I received this amazing support during my 30 days trial!!!

So yes, as of today, I’m a paying customer of CP. And a proud one.

If you have any questions how I use CP, do not hesitate to shoot me an email.

Frank

Sorry it took me so long to reply but I wanted to give the other search engines a chance and compare to using X1 which has been my search for the past 2 years.  I am now back to using X1 with CP, but doing my Category searches manually (I type ca:category in the X1 input box).  I would much prefer if I could use the custom menus I have created if you decide to support X1 as a valid integrate search option.

If you find time and go this direction I would gladly test for you.

BTW: excellent product.

Thanks
Ken

Thanks it interesting option! My problem, that all hierarchies levels already have categories tag. So if I search for child tag it adds to search criteria any of Categories tags in parent (added in Criteria field). In you example I have Outlook categories for "Projects", "Active". So each email has 3 categories tag assigned.

I'll think about it . I understand, that using Categorise Plus it's not important to categorise all with several tags.  Maybe will eliminate tags in hierarchies levels.

P.S. Thanks for your product! Outlook is another, much better product with you plugin!

[Group Menu Hierarchy Example:]

Thanks for the suggestion, however I am not exactly sure of the feature that you are requesting.  If you are requesting to be able to Categorize, Filter and Search using a menu hierarchy, where the parent menu item is not included, then the feature that you are requesting is already available in Categorize Plus.  This feature is referred to as a "Group Menu Hierarchy".  To create a Group Menu Hierarchy all you need to do is to leave the criteria field of the parent menu item blank.  Then, whenever you select the child menu item in the menu hierarchy, the parent menu item is not included.

However, if you select the parent menu item directly, then it will still include all of the children when categorizing, filtering, and searching.  This is because menu items that have a blank criteria field are treated as "Group" menu items.  This is further explained under the Frequently Asked Questions and also under the help topic below.  I have also included an excerpt below from the FAQ section that provides one example of using a Group Menu Hierarchy. 

Please let me know if this answers your request.

See FAQ's 4 - 9:
http://www.veranosoft.com/FAQs.html

See Group Menu Hierarchy Help Topic:
http://www.veranosoft.com/reference/scr/html/Menu%20Item%20Group.htm

Group Menu Hierarchy Example:

• Managing Multiple Projects
  Lets assume you are managing multiple projects and want to use Categorize Plus to categorize, filter and search Outlook items associated with each of these projects.  For this scenario, it makes sense to create a separate Category Tag menu item for each project.  Categorize Plus can then be used to categorize Outlook items with the associated project name and then filter and search Outlook items based on these categorizations.
  
  
• Managing Active vs. Completed Projects
  Next, over time some projects will be completed while other new projects will be created.  Therefore, at any given time, the state of some projects will be active and the state of other projects will be completed.  For this scenario it also makes sense to create two additional Category Tags labeled Active and Completed and to categorize all active projects as Active and all completed projects as Completed.  This way Outlook items can be filtered and searched by active verses completed projects.
  
  
• The Problem
  Unfortunately, a problem arises when using this approach.  When an active project is finished, then all of the Outlook items associated with that project will need to be re-categorized from Active to Completed.
  
  
• The Problem Solved:  Use a Group Menu Hierarchy
  Instead, a better approach is to use a Group Menu Hierarchy where each project's Category Tag is grouped under a respective group Category Tag that is labeled either Active or Completed.  This approach will still allow filtering and searching for projects by either Active or Completed.  In addition, the advantage of this approach is that when a project is finished, then no items need to be re-categorized.  Instead, the Category Tag for the completed project will simply need to be moved in the menu hierarchy from the Active group category to the Completed group category.
  
  
• Examples and Additional Information
  For more information, please refer to the Group Filters and Searches help topic that provides several examples that demonstrate the power of using a Group Menu Hierarchy to filter and search Outlook items.

As a final comment, it is important to note that since group Menu Items are not added to the Categorize Plus Toolbar when child Menu Items are selected, group Menu Items can be added throughout the menu hierarchy without disturbing the behavior of the Standard Menu Hierarchy.

When I search or filter by category in hierarchy Categorize Plus always use full path. For example my menu:
Suppliers
  Metalwork
  Tubework
Companies
  Lukoil
  Ukos.

If I search for "Ukos" - it always search for "Companies" + "Ukos". Problems arise, when I move categories to another parent. I.e. move "Ukos" to "Suppliers". So my filter is now broken - it's now search for "Suppliers" + "Ukos", but all my mail is tagged as before! For me Hierarchy is a good for searching groups. I can search for Companies and automatically search for Lukoil and Ukos. I simply doesn't need in search for Ukos tag Companies - it superfluity.

Maybe I don't understand something and it's useful, so at least I wish an option for this behaviour - for search automatically for only chosen category

Yes, I do not foresee any problems using the “Auto-Me” solution as you have describe it.  Although, to my knowledge, no one else has done this, it should work just fine.

Wow, John, thank you!  Ok, next step obviously is to finally update to Outlook 07.  We already own that license as part of our MS Alliance.  My business partner has provided me all the links, etc., now all I have to do is . . . find the time!!

I’ll let you know how it all plays out.

Just curious: You’ve described before that you do everything via the quick-key approach and you’re pretty fast.   In my humble view, nobody types faster than I, however I plan to minimize if not elim even extra keystrokes. So, I am currently testing out this ‘Auto-Me’ tool for programming a few keys on my current keyboard.  This is a test run, and actually it’s working out pretty cool.  My other epiphany was in just getting a USB programmable keypad (small, standard, 21 key – like an adding machine).  That way I can program those buttons to do the main actions (cat/priority/filter) in one press.  So, my question to you is this: good idea?  Any concerns? Have you seen or heard of anyone doing this before?

Again, thanks so much!