Reference
Smart list rule reference
Every attribute and condition you can match on in a smart list.
Smart lists gather tasks from a tree of rules. This page is the full reference of what you can match on.
Groups and matching#
Rules live in groups. Each group matches all of its rules (AND) or any of them (OR), and groups can be nested a couple of levels deep to build precise logic. Each rule reads as attribute · condition · value.
Attributes and conditions#
| Attribute | Conditions | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Name | contains · starts with · ends with | Text |
| Start date | is exactly · is before · is after · is today · is Someday · has no date · in the next N · in the previous N | Date, or count + unit |
| Deadline | is exactly · is before · is after · is today · has no date · in the next N · in the previous N | Date, or count + unit |
| Tag | includes · does not include · has tags · has no tags | Tag picker |
| Project | is in · is not in · has project · has no project | Project picker |
| Space | is personal · is shared · is in · is not in | Area / space picker |
| Subtasks | has subtasks · does not have subtasks · has some completed | — |
| Recurrence | has recurrence · does not have recurrence | — |
| Slip | has slip · does not have slip | — |
| Focus time | has focus time · has no focus time · more than N · less than N | Minutes |
Sorting#
At the top level, choose a sort — by Name, Start date, Deadline or Created date — and a direction (ascending or descending). Results are shown a page at a time; move between pages with ⌘← and ⌘→.
Notes#
- A rule whose condition needs a value but has none is dropped when you save.
- Collection items and completed tasks don't appear in smart lists — smart lists gather active, actionable tasks.
Build precise views by nesting groups: an outer Match all group holding due this week and an inner Match any group of tagged @work or @errand.