I have often heard people mention ListPro, but never bothered to give it a try. After all, I have SplashShopper and I use Tasks. But after 3 days with ListPro, I’m wondering how I ever managed without it! One of the great things about ListPro is that everyone can use it: whether you’re a Palm user, a Windows Mobile user, or even if you don’t have a handheld at all and only organize yourself on your pc.

Before looking at just how much ListPro can do, I want to be sure to point out that the documentation and help for ListPro is amongst the best I’ve ever seen. In addition to a very thorough .pdf user’s manual, Ilium Software provides you with a QuickTour and a Companion Help Tool. After viewing the QuickTour and deciding that you want to try ListPro (30 day trial!), the Companion Help Tool is more than enough to get you started with almost any basic list.

I had been concerned lately about making my usual packing lists with SplashShopper because I have two major back-to-back trips. I really needed to start the two lists simultaneously, so reviewing ListPro came at a very opportune time for me. I began by importing one of the many templates available from the List Exchange, keeping what I needed, and discarding the rest. Then I duplicated the short list and began my own modifications. I really like the ability of ListPro to indent items, or create hierarchies (child lists). This was especially useful as I made my list for JROTC summer camp with twice as many electronics to pack as clothes. It’s nice to keep bedding separate as well. While my packing list for this summer’s European holiday is much simpler, if I didn’t start it now I’d be sure to forget something – and it’s likely to be a similar list of items the next time I go abroad. (This was also a great time to start a list for my go bag, as hurricane season is only a few weeks off!)

While I primarily use lists for packing and groceries, ListPro will handle all your organizational tasks.

Filter and Search
ListPro gives you the option of searching through multiple lists for a particular item. It will also allow you to filter within a given list. These features are great for the collector trying to organize record or comic book collections and then trying to go back and find something by date, author, or artist.

If you want, each item in a list can be assigned a date in its own column. You can create many columns for the items in your lists. Each item can include a category, and you can set up your own drop-down list of category choices. Calculate the values of multiple columns easily. Add a hotlink to an item. Of course, each item also gets a generous notes field.

Alarms
Each list can contain alarms. This feature appeals to my inner obsessive compulsive. Not only can I create a checklist for everything I do, but I can set an alarm to remind me that it’s time to start checking off the items…or perhaps finish creating the list!

List Exchange
Earlier I mentioned that I began by downloading a list template. You can actually use hundreds of lists without ever creating one of your own. Ilium provides nearly 1,000 pre-made lists ranging from packing lists to grocery lists, television viewing, collectibles, medical, and general reference lists. ListPro is a great way to organize every aspect of your life.

Related Links

View ListPro’s QuickTour

Download your own 30 day ListPro trial

See ListPro’s Companion

Filed under: Software reviews