Joplin: Search engine improvements

[laurent22]

This issue is to list the features that need to be improved on the search engine.

• Remove the need for wildcard queries - for example instead of typing "search*", it will be possible to simply type "search" and results that contain "search" or "searching" will be included. Those that contain the exact match will come first.

• Search within certain tags (eg. "tag:software search" to search within the notes tagged with "software" and that contain the word "search").

• Improve relevance algorithm (give a weight to certain criteria, and allow adding new criteria more easily)

• Allow fuzzy search (for example return results that contain "saerch" for the query "search")

[jjon]

especially boolean tags yes? search: tag:linux and tag:osx

[laurent22]

especially boolean tags yes? search: tag:linux and tag:osx

I don't think boolean queries are still a thing in search engines. Rather, results are sorted by relevance - those that contain both terms come first. Those that contain only some of them come next, or are not included in the results at all.

[foxmask]

i created #293 about that ;)

[indirection]

"Search in all notes" ideally would move to the next matching occurrence of the search string as the key "return" or "Enter" is pressed and released; placing the next found highlighted sting in the middle of the displayed text.

[ergcode]

I think it would be better to do a search as follows:

• We need modifiers (interface buttons) "strict match" and "search by case". Remember the modifier state on a new search or restart.
• By default, need to set the search to "searchString", that is, search by part of the word. But without specifying "".
• Search for tags with the substitution "#tag". Add the ability to use the combination "#tag searchString". However, search modifiers should not affect the tag.
• Maybe should do a search everywhere. By string and tags simultaneously, without specifying the type "tag searchString". But then a more sophisticated search engine will already be needed, since relevance will be needed.

P.S. Thanks for the app! It is most suitable for programming tasks and storing snippets.

[JekRock]

Searching notes by tags and tags combination is really cool feature to have

[0xMH]

Is it possible to search within a note list? In my case, I've this huge notebook with dozens of notes and It'd be awesome to search within the notebook itself for the note's subject. Maybe adding a small search bar on top of a note list. If this isn't related to this issue, Maybe I should open a new one?

[3ter]

I find myself often wanting to use leading wildcard searches. I understand that they can slow searches, so I vow to at least make it optional.

I've read the issue on this topic #1288, but I think it deserves another thought when the system is improved. There are people thinking about it.

[stale[bot]]

Hey there, it looks like there has been no activity on this issue recently. Has the issue been fixed, or does it still require the community's attention? This issue may be closed if no further activity occurs. You may comment on the issue and I will leave it open. Thank you for your contributions.

[0xMH]

I think this issue should be kept active.

[jjon]

I don't know if boolean queries are still "a thing" but it's certainly possible in sqlite or any other sql engine. And the ability to filter by multiple tags is pretty ubiquitous. Whatever you call it, the functionality to "show me all notes with both tagA and tagB" is a much needed feature. And a related feature request in the desktop ui is to be able to SEE the tags for current note without having to click the tags icon.

[stale[bot]]

Hey there, it looks like there has been no activity on this issue recently. Has the issue been fixed, or does it still require the community's attention? This issue may be closed if no further activity occurs. You may comment on the issue and I will leave it open. Thank you for your contributions.

[malnoxon]

I think this issue should be kept active.

[heurihermilab]

I frequently find myself wanting to search within a particular notebook (say, documentation for a particular model of widget), and the inclusion of results from other notebooks is something I'd like to turn off.

[naviji]

@heurihermilab https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/search-syntax-documentation/9110

This will soon be possible.