How to create checkbox todo list?

Question

I am having trouble trying to create a simple to-do list in LaTex. Basically, what I want is a list with empty squares/boxes down the left side instead of bullets, numbers, letters, etc.

Here is what I have been playing around with:

%%To do list%%

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{enumerate}
    %\setenumerate[0]{label=(\square*)}
%\usepackage{enumitem}
    \usepackage[checklist]{enumitem}
\renewcommand{\theenumi}{\square{enumi}}

%\renewcommand{\labelitemi}{$\Box$}
%\renewcommand{\labelitemi}{$\star$}
\renewcommand{\labelenumi}{\theenumi}

\begin{document}
My todo list.\\
Immediate plan of action.\\

\let\oldenumerate\enumerate
\renewcommand{\enumerate}{
  \oldenumerate
  \setlength{\itemsep}{1pt}
  \setlength{\parskip}{0pt}
  \setlength{\parsep}{0pt}
}

    \begin{enumerate}
        \item List item 1 goes here.  
        \item List item 2 goes here. 
            \begin{enumerate}
                \item Sublist item 1 goes here. 
                \item Sublist item 2 goes here. 
            \end{enumerate}
        \item List item 3 goes here
        \item List item 4 goes here.
    \end{enumerate}
\end{document}

I have tried placing the new command after \begin{enumerate} in a few different ways, even tried to place it before and after \item, but nothing seems to work. I can get the list to enumerate with circles, stars, diamonds, etc. but for some reason, not the box/square. What am I doing wrong?

I have been using LaTex for nearly a decade now and know there are more-often-then not numerous ways to achieve the same goal with LaTex, yet, I cannot figure this one out.

Answer 1

I would use enumitem (and not intermix it with using the enumerate package):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem,amssymb}
\newlist{todolist}{itemize}{2}
\setlist[todolist]{label=$\square$}
\begin{document}
My ToDo list

\begin{itemize}
  \item Immediate plan of action.

  \begin{todolist}
    \item List item 1 goes here.
    \item List item 2 goes here.
    \begin{todolist}
      \item Sublist item 1 goes here.
      \item Sublist item 2 goes here.
    \end{todolist}
    \item List item 3 goes here
    \item List item 4 goes here.
  \end{todolist}

\end{itemize}
\end{document}

We create a new type of list called todolist, which has two levels of nesting and is based on itemize. Each label within a todolist is set as $\square$, at both levels.

Answer 2

Here is a variant of Werner's answer with checkmarks for recording progress.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem,amssymb}
\newlist{todolist}{itemize}{2}
\setlist[todolist]{label=$\square$}
\usepackage{pifont}
\newcommand{\cmark}{\ding{51}}%
\newcommand{\xmark}{\ding{55}}%
\newcommand{\done}{\rlap{$\square$}{\raisebox{2pt}{\large\hspace{1pt}\cmark}}%
\hspace{-2.5pt}}
\newcommand{\wontfix}{\rlap{$\square$}{\large\hspace{1pt}\xmark}}

\begin{document}
My ToDo list

\begin{itemize}
  \item Immediate plan of action.
  \begin{todolist}
  \item[\done] Frame the problem
  \item Write solution
  \item[\wontfix] profit
  \end{todolist}
\end{itemize}
\end{document}

Answer 3

I adjust the font size of the icon from packages pifont and amssymb, use \raisebox and \hspace to fit the icon position, finally, it looks good, here is a full example:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{pifont}
\usepackage{amssymb}

\begin{document}

\begin{itemize}
\item[$\square$]
no checked
\item[\rlap{\raisebox{0.3ex}{\hspace{0.4ex}\tiny \ding{52}}}$\square$]
failed
\item[\rlap{\raisebox{0.3ex}{\hspace{0.4ex}\scriptsize \ding{56}}}$\square$]
checked
\end{itemize}
\end{document}

Answer 4

I wanted something super simple with no package dependencies. This worked for me:

\begin{itemize}[label={}]
    \item \lbrack\_\rbrack unchecked
    \item \lbrack x\rbrack checked
\end{itemize}