Can search return a list of tags?

[samrose 1]

I'm thinking of moving from DevonTHINK (DT) to evernote, and am trying to find out if evernote is capable of doing what I currently do in DT OR if anyone has some idea of a better way to do what I want in evernote. 

 

In DT, when I have an new proposal for a specific project, I create a tag of the form "stuff pTOPIC pslDUE Dec 2014" where "stuff" is something that I will remember to identify this particular proposal ("USDA lettuce thing" for example). pTOPIC is a "p" followed by a short code for my 5 - 7 projects (pCDI or pFLUO etc). When the proposal is submitted, I change the tag name to have pslSUB, and then pslACT or pslREJ etc depending on where it is in the flow.

 

Now, I have a series of saved searches in DT - one will look for any tag with pslDUE - this gives me a list of tags, one for each proposal that is due in the near future. Another will return a list of tags containing pTOPIC and DUE - giving a project specific look at anything upcoming and due. The key is that DT can return a list a tags containing a set of strings. I can also file my saved searches into a hierarchy (everything about proposals vs everything about a project for example).  

 

As far as I can tell, evernote CANNOT return a list of tags that match search criteria - it can only return a list of notes. The notes include the notes with tags containing the search criteria, but it mixes up the notes between tags (I couldn't separate pslDUE + pCDI from pslDUE + pFLUO for example). It also seems that I cannot sort my saved searches in a hierarchy - I would need to have one big list of them.  My first question - IS THIS TRUE? Or is there some way to do this in evernote that I don't know of?

 

If evernote cannot do this, I'm wondering if I can get the same functionality. I DO NOT want to create a tag for pslDUE and another for pTOPIC and then constantly do a search for the intersection of three tags. The reason is not the search, though that is annoying to do over and over (and I can't easily save a lot of searches because they are all in a single list) - it's that I put a LOT of information into these categories very frequently. With DT, once I create the tag, I get an autocomplete list for the whole tag just by writing "stuff" or whatever the first words are - I only need to add pslDUE and pTOPIC when I create the tag. While tagging something with 3 tags doesn't sound like much, with the frequency with which I tag, I really don't want to tag every little thing three times and still have type in a search for three tags every time I want this view. My second question - is there any other way to get this functionality in evernote that is as easy as DT?  

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

[Frank.dg 1,385]

 

As far as I can tell, evernote CANNOT return a list of tags that match search criteria - it can only return a list of notes. The notes include the notes with tags containing the search criteria, but it mixes up the notes between tags (I couldn't separate pslDUE + pCDI from pslDUE + pFLUO for example). It also seems that I cannot sort my saved searches in a hierarchy - I would need to have one big list of them.  My first question - IS THIS TRUE? Or is there some way to do this in evernote that I don't know of?

 

 

On both Mac and Windows, you can filter by tag by clicking on the tag button at the top of the note list. That will give you a list of tags used in any stack/ notebook context. The same goes for a list of notes that match any search criteria - you can search in "All notes", for instance, and then filter by tag to give you a list of tags related to your search results.

 

 

 

You can filter notes with multiple tags by clicking on the above tag button again to filter further: Tag1 + Tag2 will only give you notes tagged with both tags. You cannot filter by Tag1 or Tag2. You can do this by using the search syntax in the search bar: Any: Tag:Apples Tag:Bananas 

 

Also, with the Windows client, one is able to sort by tag in the sorting options menu (not so on Mac). That, combined with your notes in list view makes it easy to view notes by tag category in any notebook, stack or set of search results.

 

As to saved searches, AFAIK, there is no way to have them in any sort of nested hierarchy/ outline. 

 

When it comes to tagging conventions, you'll get a lot of useful advice here in the forums. That advice is sure to follow...

[CalS 5,306]

If evernote cannot do this, I'm wondering if I can get the same functionality. I DO NOT want to create a tag for pslDUE and another for pTOPIC and then constantly do a search for the intersection of three tags. The reason is not the search, though that is annoying to do over and over (and I can't easily save a lot of searches because they are all in a single list) - it's that I put a LOT of information into these categories very frequently. With DT, once I create the tag, I get an autocomplete list for the whole tag just by writing "stuff" or whatever the first words are - I only need to add pslDUE and pTOPIC when I create the tag. While tagging something with 3 tags doesn't sound like much, with the frequency with which I tag, I really don't want to tag every little thing three times and still have type in a search for three tags every time I want this view. My second question - is there any other way to get this functionality in evernote that is as easy as DT?  

 

Thanks in advance. 

Not sure I fully understand what you are trying to accomplish, or why you want to leave DT if it is working for you.  That doesn't prevent some general thoughts though.  

 

You can create saved searches in EN, using the 3 tag method (assuming you mean stuff, topic, and date), and even drag those searches to the shortcuts bar if you like.  You can wildcard at the end of the tag in a search, for example tag:psi*.  How would these searches be that different than the DT searches, out of interest?    

 

You can sort the resultant notes from a search by the tag column when in List view..  I can see that it could be a PITA if every note has to have all three tags and not just the stuff tag.  Though even there I'm not sure why anything other than the prime "stuff" note might need the topic and date.  But again, not sure of my level of understanding.  FWIW.

[samrose 1]

Thanks for the replies. This is very helpful!

 

In response to why I want to leave DT, while this aspect of it works great, there are some things (like sync and cross platform compatibility) that are pushing me to find another solution. But I want to have some version of this system intact if I switch.

 

Thanks again! 

[JMichaelTX 4,118]

@samrose:  Before you decide to switch from DT to Evernote, you may want to consider the large number of issues/complaints that a number of long-time (and recent) Evernote users have made.  If you search on the forum tag "complaint" you will find quite a few.

 

Here are some:

POWER USER DISCONTENT - Best Alternatives to EN ?

What's going on?

Latest EN Podcast: Cognitive Skeuomorphi-what?

Evernote for Mac v6.0 and v6.0.1

 

With regards to the newly released EN Mac 6.x, I would guess the very large majority (90%+) of users posting in these forums do not like the new UI design.

 

 

things (like sync and cross platform compatibility) that are pushing me to find another solution. But I want to have some version of this system intact if I switch.

 

[Frank.dg 1,385]

I was trying to figure out an antonym for "Evangelist".

The thing is that rarely do people drop by the forum to give Evernote a pat on the back. By nature, it is here to find solutions to problems, whether individual or collective.

[JMichaelTX 4,118]

Almost all of the tech blogs I have seen give Evernote a big "pat on the back", greatly promoting it.  It is a rare blog that addresses the issues we often discuss here in the forums.  So, I think there is a sort of balance of views provided to those who seek it.

 

I'm not saying that anyone should not use Evernote.  But they should be aware of the potential issues/shortcomings.

[Frank.dg 1,385]

By nature, blog posts are overwhelmingly written to showcase apps and features... and in the comments section you may get a fair mix of users' opinions/experiences. Blog posts are not generally written to express how terrible a product is. A forum to discuss a particular product openly and freely does, by nature, attract mostly comments/ posts of the critical type... or those seeking advice or fixes for things they are stumped on or peeved about. We know that full well... especially when customer support directly channels users here...

 

So... naturally one would be able to point to a slew of negative threads specifically searching for "complaints"... on the Evernote Users Forum. We're in the perfect place for that. 

 

Having said that, Evernote is great in specific areas. Not everything. It may very well become a useful part of @Samrose's workflow.

 

I'm referring specifically to the comment:

 

"With regards to the newly released EN Mac 6.x, I would guess the very large majority (90%+) of users posting in these forums do not like the new UI design."

 

That would be par for the course here in the forums, I would think. Relatively few people track down a space to express their gratitude. That's to be expected.

[jefito 5,598]

Um, maybe we should try to pull this back on topic, and actually discuss what the samrose (the original poster) was asking about, rather than wrangling about forum complaints about Evernote issues. I'd expect if samrose has further questions about Evernote, they'll ask.

[JMichaelTX 4,118]

I'm referring specifically to the comment:

 

"With regards to the newly released EN Mac 6.x, I would guess the very large majority (90%+) of users posting in these forums do not like the new UI design."

 

That would be par for the course here in the forums, I would think. Relatively few people track down a space to express their gratitude. That's to be expected.

 

Actually, it is NOT par for EN Mac.  The very large number of negative posts, with a lot from new forum users, is far more than I've ever seen.  I'm pretty sure that EN Mac 6 complaints have set a new record.