(Archived) Consistent Sorting across Apps

[dlucien 0]

Wanted to mention something that is tripping me up across the 4 Evernote apps I use. I use the windows version at work (4.1), Mac at home, iphone, and the web version in a pinch.

i've recently spent a good bit of time reorganizing my approach to tagging that works really well with the Windows version, although I didn't know at the time that _why_ it works really well is based on functionality not available anywhere else.

4.1 allows you to sort your notes by tag. really handy because i use a naming convention for certain tags that help me organize my projects and todos, and to easily see which todos correspond to which projects, without having to put each project in it's own folder. sort of a GTD thing, but my own flavor.

been working great at work. then i go to do the same thing at home on the Mac, and i can't. There's no sort-by tag option in the notes list view. same on the iphone.

it would be great if sorting were maintained consistently across interfaces. feels like the kind of feature that can affect workflow and usage.

[Metrodon 2,188]

Evernote are working to have the same functionality across all platforms - however development is quicker on some than others and rather than hold back new functionality they release when the new code is ready.

Hence, Sharing was on the web first, then Mac with Windows coming soon.

I'm guessing your sort request is exactly the same.

[BurgersNFries 2,407]

4.1 allows you to sort your notes by tag. really handy because i use a naming convention for certain tags that help me organize my projects and todos, and to easily see which todos correspond to which projects, without having to put each project in it's own folder. sort of a GTD thing, but my own flavor.

Although you can select notes based on tags, I would guess sorting by tag across all platforms may be low on the priority list. The reason is b/c the tags are arranged alphabetically and the results for most people, will not be all that meaningful. IE in the Windows desktop, if you search across all notes/all notebooks & then sort by tag, all notes tagged with "journal" may not be grouped together under J for journal. In the example below, although the notes are tagged "Journal", they appear at the top of the results pane b/c they are also tagged "audio files".

Although this would be helpful for you, I'm guessing for most people, it's a non issue. Most people would instead, probably, limit the scope of their search to include the journal tag.

[JMichaelTest 19]

Although you can select notes based on tags, I would guess sorting by tag across all platforms may be low on the priority list. The reason is b/c the tags are arranged alphabetically and the results for most people, will not be all that meaningful. . .

Sorry, this doesn't hold water.

Many, many times Evernote and their always present "Evangelists" offer of the excuse for not implementing a feature because it takes a lot of effort to make it "consistent" across all platforms.

And then EN releases a new version on one platform that is not consistent with the other.

Well, you can't have it both ways.

I'm not talking about the release of a new feature which naturally will appear first in one platform and then in another. In fact, the Win and Mac versions are different in ways for no good reason, other than poor planning/design.

In this specific case, it is simple enough to sort by the tag list. It is done in EN Win and should also be done in EN Mac.

As the original poster noted, many users have gone to great efforts to organize and name their tags to provide the sort they desire. And then they find it doesn't work anywhere except EN Win.

Evernote had the perfect opportunity. They completely redesigned both EN Win and EN Mac. So, as each platform was released they could have made sure that they were consistent.

If you don't use BOTH EN Win and EN Mac, then this is just an academic discussion. But for those of us that routinely use BOTH platforms, it is a real issue.

[Metrodon 2,188]

Sorry, this doesn't hold water.

Many, many times Evernote and their always present "Evangelists" offer of the excuse for not implementing a feature because it takes a lot of effort to make it "consistent" across all platforms.

And then EN releases a new version on one platform that is not consistent with the other.

Well, you can't have it both ways.

I'm not talking about the release of a new feature which naturally will appear first in one platform and then in another. In fact, the Win and Mac versions are different in ways for no good reason, other than poor planning/design.

I think you are being terribly naive, there is a huge cost to developing across multiple platforms - not just financially but also technically. Functionality that may be relatively simple to implement on one platform may be far harder on another. Assuming that you are not actually sitting in on the design meetings I'll take a guess that you don't really know whether the planning/design is really poor or just structured based on a large number of factors that you don't understand.

Evernote is a relatively young application in it's current form - they have provided a large amount of functionality across multiple platforms and said that they do their best to ensure that features are common across all. They have also said that this takes time and that they will not hold back functionality from one platform until all others are ready - this seems eminently sensible to me and fantastic as a paying customer too.

You have no idea what they are planning to do with the tag list - maybe the Mac app will come into line with Windows or maybe there are big changes coming to both and they made an interim release to Windows as they felt the code was stable and useful for users? I have no idea either but if I don't like what is happening to the application I can always go and find another option - if the tag list is a 'real issue' for you then maybe you could do the same.

By the way, being an "always present"Evangelist"", doesn't mean that we have to agree with Evernote all the time - it does mean that we (I hope the others don't mind me talking for them) take a balanced and understanding view of how a product like this is built, whilst trying to supply a modicum of support as well. It's unpaid (I think a Premium subscription and access to Dave's recipe notebook would be a fairer deal) and I only do it because most of the time helping people is enjoyable.

NB: This post was delivered without telling everyone what computers I have and how long I've been a Premium user as I'm not altogether sure of the relevance of that information.

[JMichaelTest 19]

I never said making an app have a consistent UI was easy. If fact it is difficult.

But it is important to make it consistent.

The way behavior becomes intuitive for us is by being consistent. Our brain naturally looks for patterns, and then tends to expect/respond in a similar manner when it encounters a similar situation.

I think you are being terribly naive,

It's a bit early for name calling, don't you think?

Dave generally frowns on this type of behavior.

People who shout and use name calling usually do so because they don't have a logical argument.

Assuming that you are not actually sitting in on the design meetings I'll take a guess that you don't really know whether the planning/design is really poor or just structured based on a large number of factors that you don't understand.

Neither do you.

By the way, being an "always present"Evangelist"", doesn't mean that we have to agree with Evernote all the time - it does mean that we (I hope the others don't mind me talking for them) take a balanced and understanding view . . .

I hate to break it to you, but most of you do not exhibit a "balanced" view. If fact, it is often overly critical, sarcastic, and demeaning to users who are simply trying to express their need for something.

You whole post is unbalanced. You cite many factors of which you have no knowledge of since you are not an Evernote employee.

NB: This post was delivered without telling everyone what computers I have and how long I've been a Premium user as I'm not altogether sure of the relevance of that information.

What is the relevance of this comment to this topic?

If you don't understand the value or use of this information, I probably can't explain it to you.

[BurgersNFries 2,407]

I think you are being terribly naive,

It's a bit early for name calling, don't you think?

Dave generally frowns on this type of behavior.

People who shout and use name calling usually do so because they don't have a logical argument.

Speaking of logical arguments, since when is saying someone is naive considered name calling?

You whole post is unbalanced. You cite many factors of which you have no knowledge of since you are not an Evernote employee.

Pot...kettle...black...

Since you're on my foe list, I only see your posts if they are quoted by someone, so I did read through this thread. Simply reaffirms my decision to ignore your posts & be thankful for the foe list. Carry on.

[engberg 89]

Locking unproductive thread.

OP - thanks for the feedback about sorting behavior in our clients.