GTG needs advanced and bookmarkable searches

[Shahar Or]

Dear friends,

Just like the Work View is certain filter on all the tasks, I'd like to be able to define my own custom views.

For example, I'd like to be able to define a view that will show all the tasks tagged as 'quicky' and as 'home' which I can do right now (don't have unfinished subtasks and don't have future start dates).

This would be most beneficial to me.

Manny blessings.

[Paulo Cabido (pcabido)]

I added the filtering capabilities that opens a door for this request. I'll analyze it and see what is the best way to do it. Suggestions are welcome.

[Jonathan Lange (jml)]

For what it's worth, I think that this bug should be split into two or even three bugs:
  1. Advanced search
  2. Advanced reporting
  3. Saved reports

Advanced search is the ability to find tasks based on having a tag or *not* having a particular tag etc. Advanced reporting is controlling how those tasks are displayed (e.g. which columns are displayed). Saved reports is taking a search & report and giving it a name and the ability to access it quickly.

For bonus points, the "Quick add task" feature would still work in such a view, although that's quite hard to manage.

[Bertrand Rousseau (bertrand-rousseau)]

I agree on the fact that this bug could be more adequately satisfied by using a advanced search mechanisms which allow to build simple (but yet powerful) queries. Those searches should be bookmarked as well. The advanced report is clearly another, and it should be filed as a different bug. I will rename this accordingly.

[Bertrand Rousseau (bertrand-rousseau)]

Here's a mockup I made about a potential UI for advanced searches. Comments are welcomed.

[scott abernethy (scott.abernethy)]

Great mockup.

Some comments:
1. I would like to be able to narrow a search by (pre)selecting a tag from the Tags list. The location of the "Search tasks" list item suggests that this may not be possible.
2. Can tags be added to the search criteria, e.g. Contains: "Bender @futurama".
3. It would be great if <F3> started the search function and focused the text-box for the 'Contains' search (my most common quick search).
4. Consider removing the search button and apply the search incrementally as the user enters the search criteria (e.g. chromium search, vim incremental search).

[Heru Herdianto (herdiantoheru-yahoo)]

I need to report my ubuntu in work

[Lionel Dricot (ploum-deactivatedaccount)]

the search function is being implemented in bug #822780

If I understand correctly, this bug would then be about saving searches? I think that this would require a lot of discussion about UI design. First thing that comes to mind for me is to have a kind of "smart tag" concept. (like smart playlist in Rhythmbox).

[Izidor Matušov (izidor)]

If we stay with the concept of saved searches, we need to solve integration with UI:
  * how to add a saved view?
  * how to edit a saved view?
  * how to remove a saved view?

In my humble opinion it should work this way:
I will be searching trough instant search toolbar created in bug #822780 Then I press button save search and it is added as a "smart tag" over common tags and bellow special tags (all tasks, tasks without tags). There will be no way how to edit view. However, every time you select a view, content of instant search toolbar will be set to the query of that search (which can be again set to saved). Remove will be done in right-click menu.

[Jeff Fortin Tam (kiddo)]

Izidor: your ideas make sense yes.

[Izidor Matušov (izidor)]

I've just merged Joao's work in rev1027. It would need a lot of testing and reporting bugs. Please, write your opinion on how the search feature works and what could be done differently/better.