HyperPlan for Mac2.10.3

I very infrequently leave public reviews but think this particularly responsive, helpful and insightful developer (Andy) deserves mention and accolades from the design, intent and programming execution of his vision for HyperPlan. I have been a fan of this program since the first version I purchased on sale through MacUpdate and have made several suggestions to the developer and engaged in dialogues well beyond what I expected (with very helpful workarounds for unimplemented ideas that comprise a massively long end-user wish-list). I use the program for Weekly Planning, Project Inventories, Life Dashboards, and in general, understanding what is the next best use of my time amongst a continual barrage of inputs. Recognizing the power of Visualization / Colorization (with simple and complex vector drawing programs), Mindmapping, Flowcharting, KanBan Boarding, Work Breakdown Structures, Graphical Models of Visualization across different attributes/axes of ideas and projects, I have always found myself using an endless parade of changing programs to get a better handle on my projects and ideas. There are very few database programs that excel in data visualization. In brief, HyperPlan is the Mother of Digital Post-It Notes™ technology combining the strengths of a simple Database, simple Spreadsheet (with CSV Import/Export) and a robust 2D Visualization Planning Tool. There are useful features such as URL linking, in-place editing, drag and drop attribute inheritance based on location moved to, etc. I no longer spend inordinate amounts of time managing the Project Management program. Drag & Drop and in-place editing of Colored Cards (like Post-It Notes™) gives one a ‘Forest and Trees’ visualization of ones’ ideas and projects. Having the ability to save different views/perspectives of attributes plotted against each other means opportunities for unexpected data visualization insights. The program is both visually appealing (for the right-brain in me), usable in tabular/list views (for the left brain in me), has a simple GUI (graphical user interface) that is intuitive (without reading a manual) that is endlessly adaptable yet still not bloated. I often design my plans on the Mac, email myself the HyperPlan File (as a simple means of versioning), take screenshots and park them into EverNote Folders and Curio IdeaSpaces, and retrieve the actual email file on a PC Tablet from Email so that all my Mac/PC Tablets/SmartPhones/Desktop Class devices can benefit from either the Content Creation or Retrieval end of the program’s gorgeous visualization capabilities. I asked Andy if he might implement calculated fields but apparently this is further down the list of features desired. The date display methodology could also use some improvement. Additionally, I find it a hassle to only open one file at a time (? subtle suggestion not to Multi-Task) without opening multiple instances of the program. Perhaps, down the road, there may be utility in adding other types of Database fields found in programs like TapForms (a Bento replacement that is much simpler to use than FileMaker) HyperPlan is easily now one of my most valuable applications as there is such little friction to creating visualization of even random snippets of information to then cluster and formalize into projects. For me, the software represents the David Allen GTD Bottom-up method of planning rather the the Covey Top-down technique which is why I think it takes so long to plan in these other tools. The new version V2 introduces Tabular editing in place for data attributes without going down to an individual record level but other than that, one’s data from V1 and V2 is interchangeable (very handy). 4.5 Stars (no less - half point off for some clunkiness / quirks) from me for such an eminently useful tool. Highly recommend if you wish to actually execute on your projects and not just spend all your time planning. As I get older, I realize that SIMPLER is BETTER. Afterthought: I will give 5 Stars since I will not be able to change my rating later (and I really do think the Developer will solve these problems)

Have used this... and just bought it. Does what I want and it's kind of friendly in how it does it. Would like it if the tasks can be stretched across two or three days.... at the moment it's just one task on one day which is very limiting. I use this for class scheduling in a college based environment.

I very infrequently leave public reviews but think this particularly responsive, helpful and insightful developer (Andy) deserves mention and accolades from the design, intent and programming execution of his vision for HyperPlan. I have been a fan of this program since the first version I purchased on sale through MacUpdate and have made several suggestions to the developer and engaged in dialogues well beyond what I expected (with very helpful workarounds for unimplemented ideas that comprise a massively long end-user wish-list). I use the program for Weekly Planning, Project Inventories, Life Dashboards, and in general, understanding what is the next best use of my time amongst a continual barrage of inputs. Recognizing the power of Visualization / Colorization (with simple and complex vector drawing programs), Mindmapping, Flowcharting, KanBan Boarding, Work Breakdown Structures, Graphical Models of Visualization across different attributes/axes of ideas and projects, I have always found myself using an endless parade of changing programs to get a better handle on my projects and ideas. There are very few database programs that excel in data visualization. In brief, HyperPlan is the Mother of Digital Post-It Notes™ technology combining the strengths of a simple Database, simple Spreadsheet (with CSV Import/Export) and a robust 2D Visualization Planning Tool. There are useful features such as URL linking, in-place editing, drag and drop attribute inheritance based on location moved to, etc. I no longer spend inordinate amounts of time managing the Project Management program. Drag & Drop and in-place editing of Colored Cards (like Post-It Notes™) gives one a ‘Forest and Trees’ visualization of ones’ ideas and projects. Having the ability to save different views/perspectives of attributes plotted against each other means opportunities for unexpected data visualization insights. The program is both visually appealing (for the right-brain in me), usable in tabular/list views (for the left brain in me), has a simple GUI (graphical user interface) that is intuitive (without reading a manual) that is endlessly adaptable yet still not bloated. I often design my plans on the Mac, email myself the HyperPlan File (as a simple means of versioning), take screenshots and park them into EverNote Folders and Curio IdeaSpaces, and retrieve the actual email file on a PC Tablet from Email so that all my Mac/PC Tablets/SmartPhones/Desktop Class devices can benefit from either the Content Creation or Retrieval end of the program’s gorgeous visualization capabilities. I asked Andy if he might implement calculated fields but apparently this is further down the list of features desired. The date display methodology could also use some improvement. Additionally, I find it a hassle to only open one file at a time (? subtle suggestion not to Multi-Task) without opening multiple instances of the program. Perhaps, down the road, there may be utility in adding other types of Database fields found in programs like TapForms (a Bento replacement that is much simpler to use than FileMaker) HyperPlan is easily now one of my most valuable applications as there is such little friction to creating visualization of even random snippets of information to then cluster and formalize into projects. For me, the software represents the David Allen GTD Bottom-up method of planning rather the the Covey Top-down technique which is why I think it takes so long to plan in these other tools. The new version V2 introduces Tabular editing in place for data attributes without going down to an individual record level but other than that, one’s data from V1 and V2 is interchangeable (very handy). 4.5 Stars (no less - half point off for some clunkiness / quirks) from me for such an eminently useful tool. Highly recommend if you wish to actually execute on your projects and not just spend all your time planning. As I get older, I realize that SIMPLER is BETTER. Afterthought: I will give 5 Stars since I will not be able to change my rating later (and I really do think the Developer will solve these problems)

Is this license valid for one user on up to five computers as the one sold in HyperPlan's site?

Pretty unsatisfied about HyperPlan, to tell you the truth. It is my fault because I could have downloaded the trial version and test it more thoroughly before purchasing it but it looked pretty straight forward and I had been looking for a product like this for a long time. The reason I give it such a low rating is mainly the fairly problematic CSV import/export functionality. I thought I would be able to easily exchange schedules and projects between spreadsheets and HyperPlan but this is not the case. For me that was important because I have a lot of project and schedules in spreadsheet format and I wanted to be able to reuse them. From what I have been able to see, HyperPlan has some restrictions that make it difficult to manipulate sets of cells at the same time and so being able to do certain things in a spreadsheet would also be more efficient. The problem is that then you have to do lots of tinkering with the CSV files for HyperPlan to import them correctly and then it becomes a real hassle. In summary, a promising product but *really* rough around the edges. Perhaps Windows people don't have a problem with this, but the "look" of the tables is not very polished, either. Perhaps I'm spoiled by the look of native Mac apps but when I see a table for a project or an event plan in HyperPlan, I think I have gone back in time for at least 15 years and I'm using Windows again. This is a bit like a bad dream :-) Anyway, now I have spent $20 so I guess I will have see what uses I can have for HyperPlan but if I have to be honest, my first experience has been rather disappointing. JM

Looked neat ... Downloaded ... it would not open / install 10.7.5 OSX Moving on ... I want software to make life easier not be a beta test for the developer . Duncan Adams