[Orgmode] Agenda sorting strategy

[Sébastien Vauban]

Hello,

Here is a minimal example of problems I experience with the sorting strategy
of the agenda.

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
* Appointments

** Technician for washing machine
   <2010-10-01 Fri>

I don't know when he will come. He'll call a couple of minutes before coming.

** TV show
   <2010-10-01 Fri 19:00-20:00>

* Task areas

** Work
   :PROPERTIES:
   :CATEGORY: Work
   :END:

*** TODO [#A] Reply to mail
    SCHEDULED: <2010-09-29 Wed>

*** TODO Work on offer
    SCHEDULED: <2010-09-30 Thu>

*** TODO Have the report ready for my boss
    DEADLINE: <2010-10-08 Fri>

** Personal
   :PROPERTIES:
   :CATEGORY: Personal
   :END:

*** TODO [#A] Call neighbor
    SCHEDULED: <2010-09-27 Mon>

*** TODO Put oil on the outside table
    SCHEDULED: <2010-09-28 Tue>

*** TODO Invite some friends
    SCHEDULED: <2010-10-01 Fri>

* Agenda sorting strategy

** Objectives

Get the tasks sorted:

- by priority ("A", "B" or "C"), then
- by "role" (category "personal" or "work"), then
- by delay

i.e.,

:   Sched:      Technician for washing machine
:                8:00-09:00 ________
:               10:00-11:00 ________
:               12:00-13:00 ________
:               14:00-15:00 ________
:               16:00-17:00 ________
:               18:00-19:00 ________
:   Sched:      19:00-20:00 TV show
:               20:00-21:00 ________
:               22:00-23:00 ________
:   Personal:   Sched. 5x:  TODO [#A] Call neighbor
:   Work:       Sched. 3x:  TODO [#A] Reply to mail
:   Personal:   Sched. 4x:  TODO Put oil on the outside table
:   Personal:   Scheduled:  TODO Invite some friends
:   Work:       Sched. 2x:  TODO Work on offer
:   Work:       In   7 d.:  TODO Have the report ready for my boss

Note that I would like (well "dated" but) "untimed" events (such as "The
technician will come today") to be just before the day overview. Would it be
just after, it's OK as well, but less visible.

:                8:00-09:00 ________
:               10:00-11:00 ________
:               12:00-13:00 ________
:               14:00-15:00 ________
:               16:00-17:00 ________
:               18:00-19:00 ________
:   Sched:      19:00-20:00 TV show
:               20:00-21:00 ________
:               22:00-23:00 ________
:   Sched:      Technician for washing machine
:   Personal:   Sched. 5x:  TODO [#A] Call neighbor
:   Work:       Sched. 3x:  TODO [#A] Reply to mail
:   Personal:   Sched. 4x:  TODO Put oil on the outside table
:   Personal:   Scheduled:  TODO Invite some friends
:   Work:       Sched. 2x:  TODO Work on offer
:   Work:       In   7 d.:  TODO Have the report ready for my boss

But, anyway, I cannot get any of these!

What is important to see as well is that all my A tasks are at the top of the
list (sorted by category: first Personal, then Work), then all my B tasks
(sorted by category: first Personal, then Work).

** Default value

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(setq org-agenda-sorting-strategy
      '((agenda habit-down time-up priority-down category-keep)
        (todo priority-down category-keep)
        (tags priority-down category-keep)
        (search category-keep)))
#+end_src

#+results:
:                8:00-09:00 ________
:               10:00-11:00 ________
:               12:00-13:00 ________
:               14:00-15:00 ________
:               16:00-17:00 ________
:               18:00-19:00 ________
:   Sched:      19:00-20:00 TV show
:               20:00-21:00 ________
:               22:00-23:00 ________
:   Personal:   Sched. 5x:  TODO [#A] Call neighbor
:   Work:       Sched. 3x:  TODO [#A] Reply to mail
:   Personal:   Sched. 4x:  TODO Put oil on the outside table
:   Work:       Sched. 2x:  TODO Work on offer
:   Personal:   Scheduled:  TODO Invite some friends
:   Sched:      Technician for washing machine
:   Work:       In   7 d.:  TODO Have the report ready for my boss

** Custom value

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
(setq org-agenda-sorting-strategy
      '((agenda priority-down category-up time-up)
        (todo priority-down category-keep)
        (tags priority-down category-keep)
        (search category-keep)))
#+end_src

#+results:
:   Personal:   Sched. 5x:  TODO [#A] Call neighbor
:   Work:       Sched. 3x:  TODO [#A] Reply to mail
:   Personal:   Sched. 4x:  TODO Put oil on the outside table
:   Work:       Sched. 2x:  TODO Work on offer
:   Personal:   Scheduled:  TODO Invite some friends
:   Sched:      19:00-20:00 TV show
:   Sched:      Technician for washing machine
:   Work:       In   7 d.:  TODO Have the report ready for my boss
:                8:00-09:00 ________
:               10:00-11:00 ________
:               12:00-13:00 ________
:               14:00-15:00 ________
:               16:00-17:00 ________
:               18:00-19:00 ________
:               20:00-21:00 ________
:               22:00-23:00 ________

Observations:

- for equivalent priorities (B), *tasks are not sorted by category* (?):
  + Personal:   Sched. 4x:  TODO Put oil on the outside table
  + Work:       Sched. 2x:  TODO Work on offer
  + Personal:   Scheduled:  TODO Invite some friends

- day overview is at the end of the buffer (!!)
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Can you help me getting what I want?

Best regards,
  Seb

-- 
Sébastien Vauban