Search and exclude tags
Not sure if I am the only one that has this problem, so I though I would share it here and get others thoughts.
When ever I do a search in Nirvana, I get instant feedback as I type. The problem I have with search is that I would like to exclude tags in some cases but I don't have the option.
I have an Area called "Work"
I have a context called "computer"
In my line of work, I use the term Work and computer often. So if I do a search for "computer" because I am looking for task such as "Quote new computer" or "Resolve computer issue for bob". I automatically pull up every task that has the context computer and it makes it difficult to narrow down what I am really looking for.
Another example is searching for "Work" when I am looking for something like "Work instructions" or "Work Order XYZ"
I wish I could exclude "tags" from my search when it makes sense.
Anyone else have a similar problem with this?
Support Staff 2 Posted by David McLaughlin on 05 Mar, 2011 11:14 PM
Not sure about anybody else, but I like having a 'not' search option
dbm
3 Posted by Proximo on 06 Mar, 2011 03:52 AM
David,
You count for at least 100 people. :-)
4 Posted by Proximo on 16 May, 2011 03:50 PM
This has become a big issue for me today and I wanted to get others feedback on it.
I need the ability to search while ignoring tags.
I am searching for a task that has the word computer in the title, but when I search for computer, everything with the "computer" tag shows up.
I can't search for "Setup Bob's computer" or "Get new pricing on computer" because the search includes my tags/context.
GRRRRRR
Does this bother anyone else?
My search result is the same as clicking on the "computer" context at the top of the UI. This does NOTHING for me.
Support Staff 5 Posted by David McLaughlin on 27 May, 2011 03:09 PM
Well, I guess it doesn't bother anybody but you & me @proximo. :-(
I did bring this up again yesterday, and while I have to agree it's not as high a priority as a few other things in the works at this point, I'm not going to let it get lost on the list.
David
6 Posted by Proximo on 28 May, 2011 05:44 AM
Not the end of the world. Just makes it difficult to find something specific in my logbook.
7 Posted by MacBerry on 06 Jun, 2011 08:21 AM
+1 Proximo!! (& David) Advanced search feature is a key topic for a task manager, and the ability to save it too (this saves time).
To include & exclude tags (and not only one) in a search is one of the most important parts of it
8 Posted by Meredith on 06 Jun, 2011 11:10 PM
+1 suggestion + Proximo
9 Posted by Soren on 07 Jun, 2011 04:01 AM
+1 & advanced search - at least an option to use AND OR + "" (exact match).
10 Posted by Thomas Kjemperud on 08 Jun, 2011 12:54 PM
+1 to saveable advanced search
Also, one workaround for Proximo's problem could be to use the tags "Cmpt" and "Wrk" - this saves both time typing and separates them from the content of your tasks.
11 Posted by John Iskra on 08 Jun, 2011 05:00 PM
+1 Rapid search and large storage are the two most important advantages that digital lists enjoy over paper. That said, so far I've been pretty happy with the search as is.
Support Staff 12 Posted by David McLaughlin on 08 Jun, 2011 05:40 PM
as I mentioned in another thread....
We're thinking about maybe (down the road) doing something similar to the Google advanced search options; then something like
[area: -work ] or maybe [area: Personal+Finances] would be able to give you what you're looking for
dbm
13 Posted by david on 18 Dec, 2011 08:58 PM
+1 on at least having a NOT (e.g., "-tag") capability for tag search
14 Posted by Folke on 19 Dec, 2011 07:46 AM
I would have thought that this kind of difficulty would automatiaclly go away when one fine day a more powerful filtering system is introduced as per the discussions in other threads:
I remember reading one or more threads about combining AND and OR combinations of the various tags (area, general, contact)
even the possibility of nesting such criteria
and even saving them for future use (smart lists), and probably then also offering more detailed search/filtering critera such as "task name contains ..." etc (pretty much like Toodledo and RTM and all those)
I had the impression that this whole area of functionality was looked upon very favorably by the Nirvana team and was more or less is in the works, albeit maybe not ready tomorrow. If and when this functionality is implemented, then the current type of problem should no longer exist.
Maybe a few simple things (I hope they are simple) to begin with might be:
search option which says "Search within currently filtered items only" (do not search globally).
three-way toggle the filter buttons, such that when you press the "errands" button once you see the errands, but then when you press the same buttion again you see everything but errands, and only the third time around do you get back to the "full" list (unaffected by this button).
Although Proximos problem would need more advanced options in the search criteria than this simple suggestion would offer, I believe that with these two simple filter/search improvements many similar problems could be easily eliminated.
15 Posted by Proximo on 19 Dec, 2011 09:23 AM
@Folke
I AM an advanced problem. lol
16 Posted by Folke on 19 Dec, 2011 02:31 PM
The "search" options as such (as opposed to the filtering options) could be implemented as a little arrow in the search box, which would open a list of checkboxes, saying:
Search in:
By default, all or most of the checkboxes could be set, but in an advanced search these defaults could be overridden by just checking/unchecking some of the boxes.
As for the filtering as such, rather than having a 3-way toggle, as I suggested in my previous post, I think it might be better to use something like Ctrl+Button to "Exclude" all tasks with a certain tag. And then maybe Shift+Button1+Button2+etc for selecting more than one tag. That kind of simple functionality should go a long way - maybe no need to make it too complicated (with nested criteria etc).
And one more thing: Have a button or something somewhere which allows you to include inactive tasks (projects) in the filtered list. This would be particularly useful for time/energy/errand filtering.