FIGURE F


Here's where I added a new item to my shopping list. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Now we get to the fun part: using the list. Whenever I realize there's something I need, I simply click the flag by the item's name. If the item is not yet part of my list, I can add the item and then flag it. Then, when it's time to go shopping, I select "Show Only Flagged Items" from the "View" menu, and the display changes to show only those items that were flagged. The flags themselves no longer show. You're left with a pared-down list of just the items you need to purchase, and their checkboxes, so that you can check them off as they're acquired. See Figure G for a look at my shopping list. Note that although there are 38 items on the complete list, only the five flagged items are showing.

FIGURE G


Here's my shopping list, showing just the items I need to purchase. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Once the list is done, select "Reset List" from the "Edit" menu, and the checks are removed so the list is ready to go again.

You can also use the Two-Step shopping list for variable steps in a process. For example, a project manager at a software company may have to complete certain tasks to bring a program to market, tasks that vary slightly from product to product. He could then flag only the tasks he needs for a particular product, and only use those items. With ListPro, flexibility is the name of the game. It really is the tool you want, when you want it.

A typical list
The first list I created was in support of one of my hobbies -- carnivorous plants. Since a picture will make it all clearer, I'm going to share my Carnivorous Plants lists with you. Although not everybody collects carnivorous plants, my Carnivorous Plants lists typify what can be done with ListPro. Figure H shows the main screen of one of my plant lists -- notice how the bottom half of the display presents the Notes section for the selected entry.

FIGURE H


Here's the main screen of one of my plant lists. Notice the Notes section at the bottom of the screen. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The Notes section allows you to create notes as if you were working in an editor. As with all of ListPro's fields, you can put whatever you want in the Notes section. I really like that feature because I'm somewhat verbose!

List Properties
The List Properties dialog box is where you go to format your list and to create and customize your columns. It has four tabs, which I'll tell you about in the next few paragraphs.

The General tab
The General tab, shown in Figure I, is where you set up overall features for your list, such as whether or not to show item numbers, or enter amounts on flagged items.

FIGURE I


This is what the General tab looks like. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The Columns tab
The Columns tab, shown in Figure J, is where you select among the predefined columns, create new columns, or alter existing columns.

FIGURE J


Here's the Columns tab, for creating your list columns. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The Reset tab
The Reset tab is used when creating a Two-Step column. Figure K shows you that this tab allows you to decide which type of fields are cleared when Reset is selected.