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How to...
Create a Grocery List with MakeLifeEasy

See Frequently Asked Questions on How To topics.

Editor's Note - April 2003:
This topic has not yet been upgraded to include newer, better MakeLifeEasy features. It is still correct and contains useful information. However, be sure to see this newer topic on the same (or a very similar) subject:

How to... Use My Shopping List - At a Glance

This topic is provided by popular demand. MakeLifeEasy is a full-featured personal shopping and asset control system. However, we know that some of our users just want to compose and print shopping lists, at least to start with. So, here's the step-by-step procedure for creating and maintaining a grocery list without using any of the more advanced features (though there's a small peek at the very end).

Please send your comments on this topic (or MakeLifeEasy) to support. Questions, kudos, complaints, etc. are all welcome. We want any/all feedback. Thanks for your help!

Remember, in MakeLifeEasy a need is an item on your shopping list. So in this procedure we'll refer to "needs" as the items you add to your list.

To create your first list with standard needs

Sign in to MakeLifeEasy. Create your account if you haven't already. You can click here to keep this window open and open MakeLifeEasy in another window if you like.
After you sign in, you'll see your Dashboard and the menu buttons along the left. (Optional) For new accounts, the Welcome window will pop up. You may want to close it.
Click on More >> Add Many Needs ^< to view the Add Many Needs ^< page.
Locate the "Food" top folder in the list and click on the "Add needs..." button to display the Add Needs page for Food. You will see a long list of food items.
Check off each need that you want to place on your list. Note that several needs, like spices, are pre-checked. Make sure you un-check the items you don't want (or use the "Clear all" button). Don't worry if you don't see everything you want. You'll be able to add other needs in a minute.
When you're finished checking off needs, click on "OK: Add" at the bottom of the page and wait for the results to appear. These needs will be placed on your Food list. If you forgot to uncheck the pre-checked needs, you can delete them (see below).
(Optional) Repeat the last two steps if you missed any needs. And don't worry -- you can go back any time and add these needs.
After processing completes, click on "Close" to close the page.
Click on the "Dashboard" at left to return to your dashboard.
You will see "Food" in the Shopping Lists at the bottom of the middle column under "View Shopping Lists & Shop". Click on the word "Food" to display your Food shopping list.
(Optional) You may want to check "Show folders" on the shopping list, then press "Go" to view the need names with folders. This makes the list look more similar to what you'll see in the Browse Needs ^< page (next).

Now you have a basic shopping list with a set of standard needs.

To add your custom needs to the list

In most browsers you can press Ctrl+Shft+Y to pop up the Browse Needs ^< page while keeping the Shopping List in view. If this doesn't work for you, click on More >> More >> Browse Needs ^< in the main menu. The Browse Needs ^< page also shows your shopping list, but it uses a "tree" view.
Find "Food" in the list and click on the down arrow ( ) in front of "Food" to view the Food shopping list. You will see all the folders in that list.
(Optional) Continue to use the down arrow key to move into folders in the Food list as desired until you find the folder in which you wish to add more needs. You don't have to use folders; it's up to you. For more information on how to move around in the shopping list tree, review the Browse Needs ^< page help topic.
(Optional) To add a folder at any location in the list, enter the new folder's name in the "Add new folder:" box at the bottom of the list and press "Quick-Add".
To add a need (remember, that's an item on your list) at any location in the list, enter the new need's name in the "Add new need:" box at the bottom of the list and press "Quick-Add". If a message appears, just press "OK" to continue.
Continue adding folders (if desired) and needs until you have everything you want on your list. If you make a mistake, like adding a folder or need at the wrong location, you can move it or delete it by clicking on its name in the list, which will display the Need Folder Properties page (for a folder) or the Need Properties page (for a need). Then use one of these topics: How To... Change a Need, How To... Delete a Need, How To... Change a Need Folder, How To... Delete a Need Folder.

Now you have your complete shopping list with all your needs.

To view and print your shopping list

If you had popped up the Browse Needs ^< page, close that window and you'll view your Shopping List ^<, though it won't yet show any changes you made using the Browse Needs page. Press "Go" on that page to refresh it and show those changes.
If you hadn't popped up the Browse Needs ^< page, click on Dashboard ^< in the main menu to return to your Dashboard ^<, then click on the word "Food" in the account summary to re-display your Food shopping list. It will show the changes you made using the Browse Needs page.
(Optional) Check or un-check "Show folders" on the shopping list, then press "Go" to view the need names with or without folders, as you prefer.
(Optional) Use the filtering and/or sorting functions on the Shopping List page to make the list look the way you want it.
Press the "Print Version" button on the page to pop up a printer-friendly version of your list.
Print the popped up list using your browser's print function.
Close the popped up list.

To remove needs from your list after shopping

If you'll have the need again in the future, you can de-activate it.

De-activated ("inactive") needs don't show on your shopping list, but you can easily re-activate the need when you want to shop for it again, instead of creating it. When you're ready to shop for that need again, see How To... Change a Need. To de-activate a need:

Find the need name in your Shopping List and click on it. This will display the Need Properties page.
On the Need Properties page, click on "Basic Data" to view the Basic Data panel.
Set the need's status to Inactive
Press "OK: Save". The Need Properties page will close.
(Optional) Refresh your shopping list page (press "Go") and you'll see that the inactive need is gone.

If you'll never have the need again in the future, you can delete it:

Find the need name in your Shopping List and click on it. This will display the Need Properties page.
On the Need Properties page, press "Delete" to delete the need.
Read the warning message, though in the case of a simple shopping list you can ignore it.
Press "OK" on the warning message, and the message and the Need Properties page will close. The need is deleted, though it will still show up on the shopping list until you refresh the list.

But, the BEST way to remove a need from your list is to COVER it with the asset(s) you purchased: That way, the need will go away until you need it to show up again. That's a smart shopping list!

To cover the need (and create a smart shopping list):

Find the need name in your Shopping List and click on it. This will display the Need Properties page.
The "Current Assets" panel should be displayed. If it isn't, click on "Current Assets" to display it.
Click on "Add Asset" to pop up the Add an Asset ^< page. For more help, click on "Add an Asset" above or press F2 while on that page.
(Optional) The asset will be added to cover the need, though you won't see it in the list until you refresh the list. You can use your browser's refresh function to do it, or close and re-open the Need Properties page.
If you purchased more than one asset to cover this need (not other needs), repeat the above two steps for each asset.
Click on "Close" to close the "Need Properties" page and return to your shopping list.
(Optional) Refresh your shopping list page (press "Go") and you'll see that the covered need is gone from your shopping list. It will show up later when the asset runs out.

That's it for creating a grocery list. You can create lists for other stores (e.g. health & beauty, office supplies, etc.) in the same way. Click on "How To's" at the top or bottom of this page to view other related topics.