## Beginner tips for editing Beorg files on Mac, plus the only 2 tools you really need Get productive with plain text with a simple 2-tool system, Beorg file editing on Mac (without Emacs), VS Code tag fixes, and EasyOrg agenda access for beginners. ### Tool-related tip 1: Making tags work in a Beorg-created file in VS Code on a Mac Hello, dear tech-curious, non-Emacs-literate Mac users! Your Beorg-created file can be edited in many apps, but adding tags in some text editors may lead to unexpected results. If you are editing your Beorg file in VS Code on a Mac, be aware that tags added there might not work as expected. (Something about the colons, I think?) I solved this by copying a Beorg-created task with a tag that _does_ work, and making a text snippet out of it in Keyboard Maestro. You could just as easily use Text Expander or the built-in Text Replacement on your Mac. ### Tool-related tip 2: Use EasyOrg for non-Emacs Agenda access Use an app like Code for bulk changing tags and the like, but do most edits in EasyOrg for non-Emacs access to your Beorg agenda. EasyOrg is free with limitations, or you can make a one-time purchase for access to all current and future features. ### Process-related tip 1: All you really need is a calendar and your notes According to Berker Ceylan, time plus information = the 2-tool foundation for a productive, well-ordered life. > **Everything is either an event on a timeline or a piece of information you need to store.**  Forget the fancy features for a moment. Forget the AI integrations for a second. You can use them if you want but if you can master the flow of data between these two fundamental pillars, you can manage anything. It’s an interesting premise; the two can certainly be managed in one tool. While I don’t disagree I do like maintaining a distinction between notes and tasks, by placing them into two distinct tools. Read the full article here (includes a link for non-Medium members to read for free). ### Process-related tip 2: Remove the verb from WAIT tasks Tasks can have various states. Mine are * TODO _(Incomplete task)_ * DOING _(Incomplete task that has been started)_ * WAIT _(Task that can’t be completed without external input)_ * DONE _(The task as written has been completed)_ * NOPE _(I’m choosing not to do this)_ Here’s the tip: always start incomplete tasks that require no external input (TODO and DOING) with a verb. Remove the verb when the state of the task shifts to WAIT. E.g. TODO Submit dental bill refund -> WAIT Dental bill refund * * * See also: * 2025-07-21 PTPL 166 - Beorg May Well Be the Best Free iOS Plain Text Task Manager * 2025-06-30 PTPL 163 - Your System Must Be Able to Survive the No-App, Blank Page Test * 2024-07-01 PTPL 111 - You Only Need 2 Calendar Categories For Effective Time Management * * * _💬 I love to hear from readers! email hello at ellanew dot com or message me on Mastodon or Bluesky._ _If you get value from my work I invite you to share this post with someone you think will like it and / or contribute to mysupport jar.  You may also like to check out the free resources on my productivity themed Gumroad store or the Comfort Quotes I made to help people going through tough times._ _You can follow my RSS feed https://ellanew.com/feed.rss, or sign up to receive posts in your inbox_

## Beginner tips for editing Beorg files on Mac, plus the only 2 tools you really need Get productive with plain text with a simple 2-tool system, Beorg file editing on Mac (without Emacs), VS Code tag fixes, and EasyOrg agenda access for beginners. ### Tool-related tip 1: Making tags work in a Beorg-created file in VS Code on a Mac Hello, dear tech-curious, non-Emacs-literate Mac users! Your Beorg-created file can be edited in many apps, but adding tags in some text editors may lead to unexpected results. If you are editing your Beorg file in VS Code on a Mac, be aware that tags added there might not work as expected. (Something about the colons, I think?) I solved this by copying a Beorg-created task with a tag that _does_ work, and making a text snippet out of it in Keyboard Maestro. You could just as easily use Text Expander or the built-in Text Replacement on your Mac. ### Tool-related tip 2: Use EasyOrg for non-Emacs Agenda access Use an app like Code for bulk changing tags and the like, but do most edits in EasyOrg for non-Emacs access to your Beorg agenda. EasyOrg is free with limitations, or you can make a one-time purchase for access to all current and future features. ### Process-related tip 1: All you really need is a calendar and your notes According to Berker Ceylan, time plus information = the 2-tool foundation for a productive, well-ordered life. > **Everything is either an event on a timeline or a piece of information you need to store.**  Forget the fancy features for a moment. Forget the AI integrations for a second. You can use them if you want but if you can master the flow of data between these two fundamental pillars, you can manage anything. It’s an interesting premise; the two can certainly be managed in one tool. While I don’t disagree I do like maintaining a distinction between notes and tasks, by placing them into two distinct tools. Read the full article here (includes a link for non-Medium members to read for free). ### Process-related tip 2: Remove the verb from WAIT tasks Tasks can have various states. Mine are * TODO _(Incomplete task)_ * DOING _(Incomplete task that has been started)_ * WAIT _(Task that can’t be completed without external input)_ * DONE _(The task as written has been completed)_ * NOPE _(I’m choosing not to do this)_ Here’s the tip: always start incomplete tasks that require no external input (TODO and DOING) with a verb. Remove the verb when the state of the task shifts to WAIT. E.g. TODO Submit dental bill refund -> WAIT Dental bill refund * * * See also: * 2025-07-21 PTPL 166 - Beorg May Well Be the Best Free iOS Plain Text Task Manager * 2025-06-30 PTPL 163 - Your System Must Be Able to Survive the No-App, Blank Page Test * 2024-07-01 PTPL 111 - You Only Need 2 Calendar Categories For Effective Time Management * * * _💬 I love to hear from readers! email hello at ellanew dot com or message me on Mastodon or Bluesky._ _If you get value from my work I invite you to share this post with someone you think will like it and / or contribute to mysupport jar.  You may also like to check out the free resources on my productivity themed Gumroad store or the Comfort Quotes I made to help people going through tough times._ _You can follow my RSS feed https://ellanew.com/feed.rss, or sign up to receive posts in your inbox_

Get productive with plain text with a simple 2-tool system, Beorg file editing on Mac, VS Code tag fixes, and EasyOrg agenda access for beginners.