Task management tools vs. systems

Task management tools
When there is a need to manage daily tasks, to-do lists and schedules, usually it is enough using a simple task management tool (tmt) that includes all necessary options in its functionality. Task manager tools are electronic assistants that help people do their routine work in collaboration day by day, week by week. All features required to schedule events, set reminders, create to-do lists, and track pending tasks are included in simple yet effective functionality. However, they don't have options to let users synchronize their to-do lists, schedules and projects with external software applications (e.g. with MS Excel, Outlook, various text and HTML editors, etc.). Usually task manager tool is a popular choice of office employees who are satisfied with existing functionality for managing tasks, without a necessity to export and import data into/from external applications.

The overwhelming majority of task management tools are Windows based. Microsoft corporation provides can be met in many offices. Probably, you also use one or another task management tool compatible with Windows. Also many independent software development companies offer Windows-based solutions that can be downloaded for free (freeware and open source packages), without any payment and registration. But the problem is that sometimes they have built-in adware modules and spyware that can harm your computer.

Task management systems
When managing projects and daily to-do lists, sometimes there is a need to synchronize (export or import) current tasks and schedules with external software applications to create an HTML report, an Excel spreadsheet, a text file etc., or to import items from MS Outlook. In such a situation, usual those tools won't be effective as they don't have options for data exporting/importing. It is necessary to find and implement flexible task manager systems which offer a set of data exporting/importing solutions to manage, track and report information (tasks, schedules, documents, projects, etc.) with possibility to synchronize it with external applications.

Complex task manager systems can be divided into several types. Here are some examples of task manager system:

• T PHP based solution. Usually it is a web based system that uses PHP code to create a framework where users can schedule, manage and store tasks and synchronize information with external software applications.
• free for download. You can find a lot of “try before buy” systems, with excellent functionality.
• open source. Such systems allow users modifying existing code, adding new features, customizing functionality and developing new solutions.

VIP Task Manager: a tool and system in one
The way to derive maximized benefits from functionality of task management tools and systems is to use VIP Task Manager. It's a client-server task manager system that helps you create to-do lists, design schedules, collaborate with employees and report activities. The software lets you export tasks and task lists into HTML files, text files and Excel spreadsheets. You can also import tasks, journals and contacts from MS Outlook into VIP Task Manager. The software offers full-featured tools that help organize your workday, create schedules, make group assignments, track projects and generate reports.