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https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh

Simple read-only comand-line interface to your Things 3 database
https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh

bash brew cli comand csv csv-export database graph plugin productivity things travis-ci

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Simple read-only comand-line interface to your Things 3 database

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README 

        
# Things 3 CLI



## Overview



Simple read-only comand-line interface to your Things 3 database (incl. CSV export). Since Things uses a SQLite database (which should come pre-installed on your Mac) we can simply query it straight from the command line. We only do read operations since we don't want to mess up your data.



Note that I've migrated this `bash` based version to a [`python` based fork](https://github.com/thingsapi/things-cli).



[![Codacy Badge](https://api.codacy.com/project/badge/Grade/62336d873da240ac89188efdb9f50d8b)](https://app.codacy.com/app/AlexanderWillner/things.sh?utm_source=github.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=AlexanderWillner/things.sh&utm_campaign=Badge_Grade_Dashboard)

[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/AlexanderWillner/things.sh.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/AlexanderWillner/things.sh) [![download](https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/AlexanderWillner/things.sh/total)](https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh/releases)



## Installation



You can use [brew](https://brew.sh) to install and later update the script:



- Prepare: ```brew tap AlexanderWillner/tap```

- Install: ```brew install things.sh```

- Upgrade: ```brew upgrade```

- Bash autocompletion: ```brew install bash-completion```. Then add to ```~/.bashrc```:



```bash

    if [ -f $(brew --prefix)/etc/bash_completion ]; then

      . $(brew --prefix)/etc/bash_completion

    fi

```



- Zsh autocompletion: copy the file ```things.zshcompletion.sh``` to a location you like, and add ```source /path/to/things.zshcompletion.sh``` to your ```~/.zshrc```



To uninstall just write `brew uninstall things.sh`.



## Example Graphs



These graphs have been generated based on the CSV export. For example: ```things.sh -r '-14 days' statcsv > lastTwoWeeks.csv && open lastTwoWeeks.csv``` (and then generating a ```Stacked Column``` graph).



![Tasks in the last 14 days](img/example3.jpg)



![Tasks in the last year](img/example1.jpg)



![Tasks since using Things](img/example2.jpg)



## Instructions



Note that you could override the location of the database used by setting the THINGSDB environment variable. For usage information, run the script with no arguments or with "help":



```bash

$ things.sh --limitBy 5 help

usage: things.sh  [COMMAND]



OPTIONS:

  -l|--limitBy     Limit output by  of results

  -w|--waitingTag     Set waiting/filter tag to 

  -o|--orderBy     Sort output by  (e.g. 'userModificationDate' or 'creationDate')

  -s|--string      String  to search for

  -r|--range       Limit CSV statistic export by 

  -e|--event     Event:  that contains a list of tasks

  -t|--start         Event: starts at 

  -d|--duration      Event: ends after 



COMMANDS:

  inbox                    Shows 5 inbox tasks ordered by creationDate

  today                    Shows 5 todays tasks ordered by index

  upcoming                 Shows 5 upcoming tasks ordered by date

  next                     Shows 5 next tasks ordered by creationDate

  someday                  Shows 5 someday tasks ordered by creationDate

  completed                Shows 5 completed tasks ordered by creationDate

  cancelled                Shows 5 cancelled tasks ordered by cancel date

  trashed                  Shows 5 trashed tasks ordered by creationDate

  feedback                 Opens the feedback web page to request and propose changes

  all                      Shows 5 tasks ordered by creationDate

  csv                      Exports all tasks as semicolon seperated values incl. notes and Excel friendly

  due                      Shows 5 tasks ordered by due date

  headings                 Shows 5 headings ordered by creationDate

  mostClosed               Shows 5 days on which most tasks were closed

  mostCancelled            Shows 5 days on which most tasks were cancelled

  mostTrashed              Shows 5 days on which most tasks were trashed

  mostCreated              Shows 5 days on which most tasks were created

  mostTasks                Shows 5 projects that have most tasks

  mostCharacters           Shows 5 tasks that have most characters

  nextish                  Shows 5 nextish tasks ordered by creationDate

  old                      Shows 5 old tasks ordered by creationDate

  projects                 Shows 5 projects ordered by creationDate

  repeating                Shows 5 repeating tasks ordered by creationDate

  schedule                 Schedule an event by creating a number of related tasks

  search                   Searches for a specific task

  stat                     Provides a number of statistics about all tasks

  statcsv                  Exports some statistics as semicolon separated values for -1 year

  subtasks                 Shows 5 subtasks ordered by creationDate

  tag                      Shows 5 tasks with the tag "Waiting for" ordered by "creationDate"

  tags                     Shows 5 tags ordered by their usage

  waiting                  Shows 5 tasks with the tag "Waiting for" ordered by "creationDate"

```



## Examples



### CSV export and open with Excel



```things.sh csv > Things3Export.csv && open Things3Export.csv```



Note that this command generates a standards compliant file. If you have problems

opening it using Microsoft Excel, you might want to change some parameters.

E.g., ```SEP=";" ENCODING="WINDOWS-1252//TRANSLIT" ./things.sh csv > Things3Export.csv```.



### Statistics



```bash

$ things.sh stat

Inbox     : 0

Today     : 7

Upcoming  : 156

Next      : 15

Someday   : 822



Completed : 11976

Cancelled : 9250

Trashed   : 545



Tasks     : 968

Subtasks  : 56

Waiting   : 111

Projects  : 89

Repeating : 89

Nextish   : 146

Headings  : 53



Oldest    : 2010-09-28|XXX|XXX

Farest    : 2021-01-04|XXX|XXX

Longest   : 167|XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Largest   : 128|XXXXXXXXXXXXXX



Created   : 147|2017-07-04

Closed    : 124|2017-12-30

Cancelled : 324|2017-12-30

Trashed   : 109|2017-08-02

Days/Task : 41.0

```



### Create Scheduled Event



[![Things.sh Scheduler](https://j.gifs.com/VPrxp9.gif)](https://youtu.be/npOYItkLuhU)



In case you have regularly to create projects based on a template (e.g., a business trip or family vacation), this can be automated using the following command:



```bash

$ things.sh --start 2018-03-20 --days 7 --event resources/exampleEvent.thingslist schedule

```



Note that you might have to ```Enable Things URLs``` in the Things preferences first.



## Other Information



### Things URL Helper



[![Things3 URL Helper](https://j.gifs.com/59VllB.gif)](https://youtu.be/6niSmdXanug)



Since Version 3.4 Things.app has its own [URL Scheme](https://support.culturedcode.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2803573). It replaces the application ```ThingsURLHelper.app``` that you can still find in the folder ```resources```. By using most of the commands (e.g., ```things.sh csv```) you can identify the according URL of each task and open it within any macOS application, such as spotlight. Above an example using a local web page. You can click on the links in Terminal.app by using CMD+DoupleClick.



### Markdown Clipboard to Things Workflow



[![Demo Markdown Clipbaord to Things3](https://j.gifs.com/gL8kx9.gif)](https://youtu.be/HTaxOkZb9S4)



You can use the service/workflow in the folder ```resources``` to automatically convert MarkDown todos into Things 3 tasks. Above an example using Bear.app. To install you have two options:



- [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/tutorial-importing-and-setting-up-alfred-workflows/) Workflow: [Download](https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh/blob/master/resources/Markdown%20Clipboard%20to%20Things.alfredworkflow?raw=true) and double click on the workflow file

- [macOS](https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25241) Service: [Download](https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh/blob/master/resources/Markdown%20Clipboard%20to%20Things.workflow.zip?raw=true), unzip and copy the workflow file to ~/Library/Services (you may need to enable the service under System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services > General > Markdown Clipboard to Things)



### Count Minutes Planned Today



It has [some benefits](https://blog.amazingmarvin.com/5-benefits-of-using-time-estimates-in-your-to-do-list/) to use time estimates in your to-do list. In case you're using tags like ```XXmin``` (XX = number in minutes), then there is one script in this repository that can calculate the total minutes of planned to-dos in your ```Today``` view. To install, [download the service](https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh/blob/master/resources/MinutesTodayInThings.zip?raw=true), unzip it and copy the workflow file to ~/Library/Services (you may need to enable the service under System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services > General > Markdown Clipboard to Things).



![Minutes Planned Today in Things3](img/todayMinutes.png)



## CREDITS



- Author        : Arjan van der Gaag (script for Things 2)

- Author        : Alexander Willner (updates for Things 3, complete rewrite)

- License       : Whatever. Use at your own risk.

- Source        : [https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh](https://github.com/AlexanderWillner/things.sh)

- Shell checker : [https://github.com/koalaman/shellcheck](https://github.com/koalaman/shellcheck)

- Shell cleanup : [https://github.com/mvdan/sh/](https://github.com/mvdan/sh/)

- Shell tips    : [https://dev.to/thiht/shell-scripts-matter](https://dev.to/thiht/shell-scripts-matter)

- Shell tips    : [https://google.github.io/styleguide/shell.xml](https://google.github.io/styleguide/shell.xml)

- Shell tips    : [https://kvz.io/blog/2013/11/21/bash-best-practices/](https://kvz.io/blog/2013/11/21/bash-best-practices/)

- Shell tips    : [https://github.com/progrium/bashstyle](https://github.com/progrium/bashstyle)