--- title: Switching Projects Between On Hold and Active description: Switching Projects Between On Hold and Active --- ![burger-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/burger-icon.svg) [![Kourosh Dini - Homepage](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com) ![close-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/close-icon.svg) - [Blog page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog) - [Podcast page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast) - [Music page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music) - [Courses & Books page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books) - [Psychoanalysis page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy) - [About page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about) - [Contact page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact) - [Waves of Focus page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/waves-of-focus) ![Search](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg) [![at-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/at-icon.svg)](mailto:kmdini@gmail.com) [Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog) # Switching Projects Between On Hold and Active Jan 22, 2018 ![](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/blog%20image.webp) Often we need to juggle our attention between numerous projects. OmniFocus helps to simplify matters of our decision by allowing us to place some projects on hold, and then later activate them. When we set a project on hold, all of its tasks change from being “Available” to “Remaining”. For the most part, our work perspectives rely on a filter by availability setting of Available or First Available.[1](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/switching-projects-between-on-hold-and-active#fn1) Therefore, when we set a project on hold, its tasks no longer appear in our usual working perspectives. We can switch between the two states either by: - using the contextual menu (accessed by control-click): ![Set project On Hold via contextual Menu](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Set project On Hold via contextual Menu - Through the menu (Menu \> Edit \> Status \> On Hold) - or by Inspector: ![Set project On Hold via Inspector](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Set project On Hold via Inspector # Adding Key Commands Key commands often make a significant difference in one’s workflow. If you know the key commands for an action, not only do you become much quicker with the program in general, but actions become more easily used, and therefore they become more often used. As a result, I tend to prefer key commands. However, as there are no key commands assigned, I use Keyboard Maestro to create one. If you are interested in doing so, below are the settings[2](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/switching-projects-between-on-hold-and-active#fn2): To set a project On Hold: ![Set OmniFocus project On Hold settings for Keyboard Maestro](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Set OmniFocus project On Hold settings for Keyboard Maestro To return a project to Active: ![Set OmniFocus project to Active settings for Keyboard Maestro](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Set OmniFocus project to Active settings for Keyboard Maestro For extra credit, this one is to drop a project: ![Set OmniFocus project to Dropped settings for Keyboard Maestro](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Set OmniFocus project to Dropped settings for Keyboard Maestro Give it a shot. I bet that once you can jump between states just using Option-h and Option-a, you’ll find a subtle, but significant difference in your workflows. --- 1. 1. 1. Tasks have several states of availability: ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) 1. - First Available - Displays in Next Available task filters - Available - Displays in all Available tasks filters - Remaining - Displays in all Available and Remaining tasks filters - All - Displays in Available, Remaining, and Completed tasks filters - Completed - Displays in Completed tasks only filters ↩ 1. For a more thorough explanation of setting up Keyboard Maestro macros for OmniFocus, [check out this post](https://www.beingproductive.org/2017/10/quickly-access/). [↩](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/switching-projects-between-on-hold-and-active#ffn2) ![Divider](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/separator.svg) Share this article ## Recent Articles [![Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/S01E77%20-%20Is%20the%20Medication%20Working-blog.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working) #### [Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working) Oct 16, 2026 Hmm, I wonder if this medication's working. Maybe it is. I've been at this game for about four hours, and the ... ![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg) [![No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Ep%2076%20No%20Pain%20No%20Gain%20and%20the%20Wandering%20Mind.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd) #### [No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd) Oct 09, 2026 It's 9:00 at night. The report is maybe two-thirds done. My back is killing me. Well, maybe I'll just keep pus... ![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg) [![Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Blog%20Building%20Trust%20With%20a%20Wandering%20Mind%20-%20ep75.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd) #### [Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd) Oct 02, 2026 Maybe others can do it, that trick, that hack, that system. I'm just not sure that I trust I could. We said th... ![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg) [Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog) ## Publications Over the years, I’ve written five main works on productivity. Sign up for the Weekly Wind Down newsletter to get free previews. ![Kourosh Dini courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20left.webp) ![Kourosh Dini books](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20right.webp) [See all the publications](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books) - [Kourosh Dini Instagram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/kouroshdinimd/) - [Kourosh Dini LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kouroshdini) - [Kourosh Dini X/Twitter (opens in new window)](https://x.com/kouroshdini) - [Kourosh Dini YouTube (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/c/KouroshDini) ### Contact Us If you have a clinical matter, please call. For books and productivity matters, please email. - [1020 South Wabash Ave, Unit 4G, Chicago, IL 60605 (Opens Address in google Maps)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7agnPcDjwB6PRNuX6) - [312-391-3171 (opens phone dialer)](tel:+13123913171) - [dinigroup@kouroshdini.com (Opens mail application)](mailto:dinigroup@kouroshdini.com) - [Home](https://www.kouroshdini.com/) - [Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog) - [Podcast](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast) - [Music](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music) - [Books & Courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books) - [Psychoanalysis](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy) - [About](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about) - [Contact](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.kouroshdini.com/privacy-policy) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.kouroshdini.com/terms-and-conditions) © 2026 The Dini Group, Ltd. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kourosh", "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/author/kourosh" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-31T18:00:15.353Z", "datePublished" : "2018-01-22T16:00:19.000Z", "headline" : "Switching Projects Between On Hold and Active", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/switching-projects-between-on-hold-and-active", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg" } } } ```