ClearContext Professional Now in Its New Version 4.5 Windows Software for Getting Things Done! FREE 15 Day Full-Featured Trial -- YouTube Video

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Find out More About ClearContext Professional

Before I begin this review, here is a video about ClearContext Professional on YouTube

Like many of you who use your computer for a living, I have a few favorite software tools that I use regularly.  For each of us, the list is different although I imagine that our lists would have some overlap and perhaps a few program would be on nearly everyone's list -- Microsoft Outlook for example.

I have a few regulars that work along with Outlook to keep me on top of the daily torrent of email, tasks and appointment. Some of those like Nelson's Email Organizer and Cloudmark Desktop I've written about previously.

I've just added a new program to my list of regulars. The program is ClearContext IMS Professional v3. When you try this  tool that works along with Outlook, it may end up on your software shortlist too!

I'm a big fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done.

For a great introduction to this system, check out this Getting Things Done: The Art Of Stress-Free Productivity audio.

The diagram to the left is from D*I*Y Planner Hipster PDA Edition. Click on the picture to blow it up to its full size for better viewing.

I also am a fan of the Jason Clarke who writes on the blog, Download Squad and discovered ClearContext when reading an article Getting Things Done Software Systems.

Here is an excerpt from the Download Squad comparative review:

While it holds the status of most-used email and productivity application on the Windows platform, it's arguable whether this is because users love using it, or that they're simply required to use it by their company. In fact, there are probably thousands of users in both camps. Either way, if you're an Outlook user, it's worth learning Outlook's quirks and capabilities as completely as possible to put yourself in a position to get as much as you can from the application.

[an] Outlook add-in option, and the one that I'm  currently using, is called the ClearContext Information Management System. ClearContext's latest version . . .  contains similar GTD functionality to the official [GTD] add-in, however this functionality only scratches the surface in terms of the power that ClearContext wields. Although it's outside the scope of this article, let me say that if you ever struggle with keeping up with your email and you are an Outlook user, it is definitely worth your while to investigate ClearContext further. The prioritization engine and inbox views are pure gold.

Back to the Getting Things Done functionality, you'll note that ClearContext uses slightly different terminology, calling projects "topics", but the end effect of this is that it makes determining the project that a given email belongs to exceedingly simple.

Like the official add-in, ClearContext adds toolbars to both the main Outlook window and message windows to make it easier and more intuitive to act upon your messages. Functions like turning an email into a task are the bread and butter of ClearContext's GTD functionality, but it shines in that it can accurately track all emails that relate to a specific task, and present them to you in a list at any time. Even better, this even works with emails that have not yet or never will be assigned to a task

My Experience and Conclusions

downloaded a 15 day free evaluation copy which becomes ClearContext IMS Personal at the end of the trial and began using it. I did not spend a lot  of time watching the abundant video tutorials but just started working with it in Outlook.

There are a lot of times that the program prompts you for actions and you have to wing it. I started understanding what was happening when I assigned topics. I found out where the emails went when I deferred them.

As the days went along, I realized that this program is a keeper and I continue to use the Pro version. The best way to find out if its right for you is to  download a trail and start working with it.