Collapse nested bullet points

[HumbleAmbition 15]

I take a lot of notes with bullet points, and it'd be super helpful if I could collapse all sub-points under a main point.

Even better if I can also collapse paragraphs under headings. 

It just makes longer notes sooooo much easier to manage.

I like this ability in Notion and Roam Research, although text editors like TexMaker can also do it.

[Tinchohs 6]

On 5/3/2022 at 12:21 PM, HumbleAmbition said:

I take a lot of notes with bullet points, and it'd be super helpful if I could collapse all sub-points under a main point.

Even better if I can also collapse paragraphs under headings. 

It just makes longer notes sooooo much easier to manage.

I like this ability in Notion and Roam Research, although text editors like TexMaker can also do it.

I would absolutely love the possibility to collapse text. Dropbox Paper's implementation is quite good. Anything under a heading (#, ##, or ###) can be automatically collappsed and a link to that section is available. Also, this automatically creates a navigation pane, like Google docs does. 

 

The value of this approach, to me and our company workflow, is that it allows us to create content, discuss it 'live' on the document with clients, and only show the part we are currently focused on. On longer notes, it also is much easier to navigate. 

[Bill C 44]

I've been an Evernote user for a fairly long time and have provided feedback as part of a few Early Access programs in the past. I feel like this collapsable bullet idea has been suggested multiple times in the past including by me. However, when I went looking for past posts (not an exhaustive search), I didn't really find that, and I found that I made my suggestion from a couple of years ago in a limited-access, Mac client, preview program group that's now closed so no longer relevant to the development team, I assume. As the suggestion obviously didn't make the cut back then, it seems like this should be a more public, general feature request. (Although, selfishly, I'd be happy even if it were just a feature in the Mac client since that's what I primarily use.)

Anyway, since a spent a little time making that post over two years ago now, I reproduce it here in support of this thread. And now that headings are a thing (I don't think they existed then or were not as easy to use), being able to collapse text under headings (similar to what one can do via a collapsible text object on a Google Sites page [example]) would be useful too or instead.

@Jeremy Englandand @badjer.phoenix you supported that post back then so if you still agree I welcome you to upvote this public idea thread.

Originally posted by me on February 21, 2020:

This is a feature I've wanted for years, and one of the main things I missed when I switched from being a OneNote user (10+ years) to an Evernote user (about 10 years now).

Make it so that if you double-click on a bullet, all of the subsection bullets and text indented under that bullet will disappear.  There then needs to be an indicator that there is something hidden, but double-clicking on it again, will unhide that text. 

I found this really helpful when I had longer documents with specific sections such as a list of tasks that each had step-by-step directions for something. I could keep the directions collapsed/hidden to not clutter the note but I could still easily see an overview of everything in a document. I tried (and have somewhat) reproduced this in Evernote by using multiple notes, but that is often unnecessary, extra work.

[dodge 2]

Thanks, all.  Yeah, this just pops up more and more often for me.  The TOC workaround is a huge amount of work and creates an explosion of notes that isn't needed if notes can just hide sections.  I'm no programmer, so I don't quite get the complication on the back end, but the front-side implementation could simply be connected by the use of large, medium, and small headings, with a small arrow next to each allowing what's contained below to collapse upward until it's needed.  It would clean things up so well!  Waiting patiently...

[PinkElephant 6,211]

In general I support outlining as a interesting idea - see this as a workaround, but IMHO a good one:

The approach in EN is probably to create a number of shorter notes. You can then select them and create a TOC table of content note to navigate.

This will allow to break an issue down into single snippets as well, while the integrity is maintained.

It is better for syncing as well - having everything in one long note means it will sync the whole note, even if just a small part was edited.

[Tinchohs 6]

On 5/3/2022 at 12:21 PM, HumbleAmbition said:

I take a lot of notes with bullet points, and it'd be super helpful if I could collapse all sub-points under a main point.

Even better if I can also collapse paragraphs under headings. 

It just makes longer notes sooooo much easier to manage.

I like this ability in Notion and Roam Research, although text editors like TexMaker can also do it.

Thanks PinkElephant. Appreciate the suggestion. I believe this can be a work around. However, for everyday use I don't think it would be a suitable substitution, obviously, for my oen needs. Might be the perfect soluition for somebody else. Thanks a lot. m. 

[Bill C 44]

On 6/16/2022 at 8:48 AM, PinkElephant said:

In general I support outlining as a interesting idea - see this as a workaround, but IMHO a good one:

The approach in EN is probably to create a number of shorter notes. You can then select them and create a TOC table of content note to navigate.

This will allow to break an issue down into single snippets as well, while the integrity is maintained.

It is better for syncing as well - having everything in one long note means it will sync the whole note, even if just a small part was edited.

I've tried that and use it as a workaround in some cases now as it is not a bad idea. (I also agree that it's better for syncing.) However, a major downside I find is when I go searching for a particular note, I generally get a lot more hits because the "subsections"/shorter notes generally have the same important keywords.  I've also started tagging the master documents/TOCs with an "index" tag. Of course, now that means when I try to go and find a note, in addition to the keyword search I need to add a filter, which is a bit slow and cumbersome.

I would also find is very useful to be able to collapse text under a header or under bullets in my daily workflow.

[PinkElephant 6,211]

Tag:IndexNote added to the search term would do the job, if the tag is named IndexNote.

You can even make it a saved search and create a shortcut, and if it is one of the first shortcuts (say the fourth), call it by typing ctrl/cmd - 4 . Then just add the search term, and hit enter.

[Bill C 44]

19 hours ago, PinkElephant said:

Tag:IndexNote added to the search term would do the job, if the tag is named IndexNote.

You can even make it a saved search and create a shortcut, and if it is one of the first shortcuts (say the fourth), call it by typing ctrl/cmd - 4 . Then just add the search term, and hit enter.

The ctrl/cmd keystroke shortcut to invoke shortcuts is a good tip as I already have that "index" tag as a shortcut.

Like many others, I still would prefer not having to spend extra time reorganizing my project or meeting notes into separate note documents so I still support this feature request, but thanks PinkElephant for the that shortcut tip as it is helpful.

[Bill C 44]

I just found the post I was thinking of. This has been suggested for years but it was in the Windows client feature request forum and called Toggle list. The original post is from 2011 and replies goes on for 8 pages (at the time I'm writing this) because multiple threads on the same topic/idea were combined in 2019.  Anyway, anyone finding this and likes the idea should probably go and upvote the thread here:

Since the development of the Mac and Windows clients (and Web version I think) seem to have been in sync for the past couple of years due to changes in the Evernote architecture, I assume that if this change makes the development teams list in the future it will be for multiple clients.

[dodge 2]

Absolutely a great idea.  A TOC is a usable workaround but just SO MUCH WORK compared to this very simple solution.  Plus, if you're already down at the end of EN's nested hierarchy, you can't break a note down further.  This would really help me a lot.  🙏🏻

[makeitwork 2]

if evernote implemented the format of roam research (networked/threaded PKM) it would be unstoppable.

[Museed 1]

Collapsible notes and Hierarchy of folders would put evernote on the next level

[PinkElephant 6,211]

12 hours ago, Museed said:

Collapsible notes and Hierarchy of folders would put evernote on the next level

You mean in capabilities, or in price ?

In another thread I have already explained that for nesting folders, the whole ecosystem (backend & clients) need to be completely rewritten.

For collapsible sections we need to wait for the new syncing to roll out. We may get it then, or it is probably still behind the horizon. There is a good workaround available by shorter notes, linked together by a TOC note.

[PinkElephant 6,211]

The outlining and the folder nesting threads here in the forum are nearly as old as EN in the general outlay as we know it. This was launched in 2008.

The threads have been more and less active over time. What can be said: Both concepts are not possible without significant changes to the code (nesting folders probably more so than outlining). EN has created 100% of the clients code new, from 2018 to 2020, and since. These requests have not been part of the package. And given the long time EN thrived without these modifications, it is at least questionable they are that important as their promoters usually say.

Anybody can ask for anything. I give the outlining a fair chance to surface, after the new syncing launched. I don’t see nesting folders (and in addition I don’t see a need for them, just the opposite).

[dodge 2]

Thanks, PinkElephant.  I hear you and appreciate the response.  I likely don't know enough to realize we're actually saying the same thing, but for me, the lack of deeper nesting I can live with, and I really don't need full outlining like we see in word-processing software.  I'd just love to be able to collapse what falls beneath headings to save a lot of scrolling through big chunks of notes.  But I gather from the programming side, that involves creating a clear text hierarchy that is tantamount to outlining capability.  The fact that it's been passed over so many times sure doesn't suggest it's on its way.  But it seems to be well received in at least one competitor, and maybe that steps its value up a bit.  Anyway, thanks for your time!

[PinkElephant 6,211]

Thanks for your response. When I saw the Header 1 - 3 feature build into the new editor, I hoped they would follow it up with an outlining and an in-note TOC.

Up to now it did not materialize - the raw jump markers in form of the headers are still there and (maybe) waiting.

[_01fredrik 3]

On 5/3/2022 at 11:21 AM, HumbleAmbition said:

I take a lot of notes with bullet points, and it'd be super helpful if I could collapse all sub-points under a main point.

Even better if I can also collapse paragraphs under headings. 

It just makes longer notes sooooo much easier to manage.

I like this ability in Notion and Roam Research, although text editors like TexMaker can also do it.

Definitely, this feature would be easy to implement and add significant value.

[PinkElephant 6,211]

No double posting, please.

We all believe you can copy & paste - no need to prove it.