Export an OmniOutliner document as a set of OmniFocus actions

Export to OmniFocus.scpt

set isdate to (display dialog "When are you traveling?" default answer (current date)'s date string)'s text returned
tell date isdate to set travelDate to date (((its month as integer) & "/" & day & "/" & year) as text)

set lastOf to {}

tell application "OmniOutliner"
	set theDoc to front document
	
	-- Find the When and Context column numbers
	set contextColumnNum to 0
	set whenColumnNum to 0
	set columnCount to count of columns of theDoc
	repeat with i from 1 to columnCount
		set theColumn to column i of theDoc
		if name of theColumn contains "Context" then
			set contextColumnNum to i
		end if
		if name of theColumn contains "When" then
			set whenColumnNum to i
		end if
	end repeat
	
	repeat with theRow in (every row of theDoc)
		set titleText to topic of theRow
		set contextText to text of cell contextColumnNum of theRow
		set whenText to text of cell whenColumnNum of theRow
		set levelNum to level of theRow
		
		if levelNum > 1 then
			set parentRecord to item (levelNum - 1) of lastOf
		else
			set parentRecord to null
		end if
		
		-- If no "Context" is given, use the parent's
		if contextText = "" and parentRecord ≠ null then
			set contextText to contextText of parentRecord
		end if
		
		-- If no "When" is given, use the parent's
		if whenText = "" and levelNum > 1 then
			set whenText to whenText of parentRecord
		end if
		if whenText = "" then
			set whenSeconds to 0
		else
			set whenSeconds to run script whenText
		end if
		
		set dueDate to travelDate + whenSeconds
		
		if whenSeconds = 0 then
			-- Day of travel? Default to due at 8AM.
			set dueDate to date "8:00 AM" of dueDate
		else if whenSeconds ≤ days * -1 or whenSeconds ≥ days * 1 then
			-- At least 1 day before or after travel date? Default to due at 5PM.
			set dueDate to date "5:00 PM" of dueDate
		end if
		
		tell application "OmniFocus"
			tell default document
				set taskProperties to {name:titleText, context:flattened context contextText, due date:dueDate}
				
				if levelNum = 1 then
					set newTask to make new project with properties taskProperties
				else
					set parentTask to |task| of parentRecord
					set newTask to make new task at parentTask with properties taskProperties
				end if
			end tell
		end tell
		
		-- Store information about the most recent task at the given indentation level
		set lastRecord to {task:newTask, contextText:contextText, whenText:whenText}
		if levelNum > length of lastOf then
			set end of lastOf to lastRecord
		else
			set item levelNum of lastOf to lastRecord
		end if
	end repeat
end tell

I use this to convert a bunch of rows in an OmniOutliner document into OmniFocus actions. This way I can build a template of things I need to do every time I travel, and with a single command turn that into a fleshed-out travel project.

Start with an OmniOutliner outline with columns "Title", "Context", and "When". "Title" and "Context" map to the expected fields.

When the script runs, it prompts for a travel date. This is combined with values in the "When" column to compute each action's due date. Values may be given like:

• -3 * weeks: the action is due at 5 PM, 21 days before the travel date.
• -5 * hours: the action is due at 7PM the evening before travel.
• 2 * days: the action is due at 5PM, two days after the travel date.
• <blank>: the action is due at 8AM the day of travel.

(Note: values have to be written like number * units because they are actually interpreted as AppleScript expressions.)

Children inherit their parent's "When" value. This lets you create a "2 days before travel" action containing all the actions that need to be done by then.

Examples of my items:

Title	Context	When
Three weeks before travel	Home	-3 * weeks
: Call the vet to make pet boarding arrangements	Phone
Two days before travel	Home	-2 * days
: Check in to flight	Computer
Night before travel	Home	-3 * hours
: Pack suitcase	Home
: Charge USB keyboard	Home
Afterward	Home	2 * days
: Update this list	Computer

That last items is important! Every time I travel and wish I'd remember to do something, this reminds me to add it to the template so that next time I'll remember.