Things 3 for Mac v3.15.18 Chinese Activation Version Download

Things 3 is an elegant and efficient task management application designed specifically for macOS and the Apple ecosystem. It is renowned for its intuitive interface, smooth interactions, and powerful organizational logic, helping users organize their ideas, tasks, and projects in an orderly manner. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide from beginner to expert.

一、核心界面与工作区详解

The main interface of Things is designed with simplicity, primarily divided into three core areas: the sidebar, the main content area, and the inspector/search bar.

1. 侧边栏（左侧）: This is the total navigation for all tasks and projects.
   • 收件箱: The temporary storage for all new added tasks.
   • 今天: Displays all tasks planned for today.
   • 计划: Tasks categorized by date (tomorrow, future day).
   • 随时: Tasks without a set date.
   • 记录: All completed tasks archived.
   • 项目: All multi-step projects you have created.
   • 领域: Used for advanced categorization of tasks and projects by life or work domains (such as “Work”, “Family”, “Personal Development”).
2. 主内容区（中间）: Displays a list of specific tasks under the selected category in the sidebar. You can view, edit, complete, and reorder tasks here.
3. 检查器与搜索栏（右侧/顶部）:
   • When a task or project is selected, a “Inspector” panel pops up on the right, used to set deadlines, tags, repetition cycles, and notes.
   • The search bar at the top right supports global search.
   • The “Quick Find” button at the bottom right (or use a shortcut) can quickly jump to any area, project, or tag.

This layout strictly follows the design philosophy of the GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology. By treating the “inbox” as a temporary cache for the brain, users can quickly clear their thoughts, avoiding forgetting. According to the core concept in David Allen’s book “Getting Things Done,” this “external brain” construction is the key step to enhancing personal productivity.

二、完整操作流程：从创建到导出

The following process will guide you through the entire lifecycle of a task from creation to archiving.

1. 创建/打开项目

创建新项目：

1. Click the + button next to the “Project” title at the bottom of the sidebar.
2. Or use the shortcut Command + Option + N.
3. Enter the project name and press Return to confirm.
4. In the right inspector, you can set the title, notes, deadline, and associate it with a “domain.”

打开现有项目： Simply click the project name in the sidebar’s “Project” list or “Domain” to open it in the main content area.

It is recommended to assign a “domain” to a project when creating it. For example, place “Q3 Market Research Report” under the “Work” domain and “Family Travel Planning” under the “Personal” domain. This categorization helps in macro-level reviews and retrospectives later on.

2. 捕获任务到收件箱

This is the core first step of the GTD (Getting Things Done) workflow.

1. Select the “inbox” sidebar.
2. Start typing the task title and press Return for the fastest way.
3. Or click the “New Task” button at the bottom of the main content area.
4. Global quick add shortcut: Control + Space (open quick input box, input, then press Command + Return to save).

In actual use, I strongly recommend engraving the Control + Space global shortcut into your muscle memory. Whenever inspiration strikes or a new task is received, press it immediately, input the task title, and continue with your work. This maximizes the reduction of cognitive load caused by task switching.

3. 处理与组织任务

Clear the tasks in the inbox and allocate them to appropriate places.

1. 打开任务详情: Double-click the task, or select it and press Command + E to open it for detailed editing in a new window.
2. 设置日期:
   • In the inspector, click “Deadline” to choose today, tomorrow, or a custom date.
   • 快捷键: Select the task and press Command + S to quickly set the date (today, tomorrow, future day).
   • Drag the task to the “Today,” “Plan,” or specific date in the sidebar’s “Plan” or calendar.
3. 添加标签: In the inspector, click “Tags” to add existing tags or create new ones. Tags are powerful tools for cross-project task filtering.
4. 关联到项目: In the task inspector, select an existing project from the “Project” dropdown menu or input a new project name to create and associate it.
5. 移动到“随时”或“某天”: For tasks not urgent, drag them to the sidebar’s “Today,” “Plan,” or specific date in the “Plan” section.

When dealing with the inbox, following the “Two-Minute Rule” will be very efficient: if a task can be completed in two minutes, execute it immediately; otherwise, delegate, defer, or break it down into projects. The Inspector in Things 3 makes this decision process exceptionally smooth.

4. Executing and Completing Tasks

1. Start daily work from the “Today” view.
2. Click the circle before a task to mark it as completed. Shortcut: Select the task and press Control + Space.
3. Completed tasks will automatically move to the “Record”.

The “Today” view is your daily battle command center. It is recommended to spend 5 minutes reviewing this list every morning, reordering tasks based on priority and energy levels. Things 3 allows you to freely reorder tasks through dragging, which is a flexibility not found in many other task management tools.

5. Reviewing and Exporting

Review: Regularly review the “Plan,” “Available,” and “Project” lists to ensure all tasks are in the correct state.

Export Data: Things primarily relies on iCloud synchronization, and its native export feature is limited. However, you can view data through the following methods:

1. Go to the menu bar: File -> Export.
2. You can choose to export as a plain text (.txt) file, which will contain all your tasks, projects, notes, and other information.
3. Note that the exported file is mainly used for backup or viewing, and cannot be directly imported back into Things.

Having a weekly “Weekly Review” is key to keeping the system healthy. I usually spend 30 minutes on Friday afternoon checking all projects, domains, and “Available” lists, ensuring no missed tasks and cleaning up completed “Inbox”.

三、Advanced Techniques for Common Features

Among these techniques, the feature for adding tasks via email is particularly suitable for business professionals. When you are in a meeting or commuting, you can send the task points via email to your personal address, which will automatically appear in the Things inbox for subsequent processing.

四、Common Issues and Solutions