Lists
Auto-sort and section order
Auto-sort groups a list into sections by what each thing is, rather than by when you wrote it.
Auto-sort is part of NewTwos Plus.
Why you'd care
A long mixed list is hard to act on because the to-dos are scattered among the notes. Auto-sort pulls the actionable things to the top and pushes the finished ones out of the way, without you moving anything.
The sections
To-dos, plain things, reminders, starred, completed and canceled. Every thing lands in exactly one.
The order of those sections is yours to set, in Settings Lists & <i>Things</i> Auto-sort section order. Most people want unfinished to-dos first and completed last, but a reference list might want starred at the top instead.
The 60-second version
Set a list's sort to auto-sort, or press ⌘⌥Y. The list regroups immediately.
Going further
It is still a view. Auto-sort does not rewrite your list. Turning it off returns the previous order untouched.
It re-sorts as you work. Checking something off moves it to the completed section straight away, which is what makes it feel like the list is tidying itself.
Sections respect indentation. A nested thing moves with its parent rather than being torn out of context.
Settings that change this
- Settings Lists & <i>Things</i> Auto-sort section order orders the sections.
- Settings Lists & <i>Things</i> Show completed <i>things</i> inline decides whether completed things collapse.
Tips
- Auto-sort suits lists that mix to-dos with notes. It adds little to a list that is entirely one or the other.
- Put reminders near the top on any list where timing matters. They are easy to miss buried in the middle.