[Managing] Unique numbering of notes

[chrisz]

How about giving each note a unique (sequential) number??

When creating notes, it is sometimes necessary to refer to other notes. Now I need to this by copying its title or creation date. A number is far easier and more foolproof.

Even better is when this referring number is a clickable link. You can then easily jump to the other note (or open it next to the note you are reading).

The most powerful expansion is when you can search for all notes that referring to the note you are reading. This way, you can view all notes that are in someway related. For example if each note is a step in a process.

OK, I might get a little overexcited , but a unique number next to the date would be very nice.

[CintaNotes Developer]

Have you considered tagging the related notes with a unique tag? This is probably the simplest way to connect them.

[Midas]

Couldn't this ID be auto inserted? It would be rather welcome to me...

[Noddy330]

I guess the top level requirement here is a means of cross referring to other notes.
Giving each note a number is just one means of implementing this; but for me, putting a number on each note would waste space.
I’d prefer another implementation, e.g. right click on note to get hyperlink to it.
Nod

[kranor]

I can see what chrisz is getting at and I can envision lots of occasions where a tag just does not do the job. I also think that both Noddy330's and chrisz's solutions are good in their own right for different uses. In fact I would like to see both solutions implemented. The note number needs to be non volatile and needs to be searchable. I would not bother with making the note number linkable. But I would like to be able to link notes together via an internal hyperlink style system for instance I have a note that requires me to produce something, I then have 8 other notes containing the production steps. I would like to have the overall production note to point at all of the step notes and each step note to point at the production note. Bear in mind that I work in the aerospace industry as a planner and at the moment I am working on planning system development these features would both be extremely important to me.

Could we agree to split this into two feature requests with polls?

[CintaNotes Developer]

I can see what chrisz is getting at and I can envision lots of occasions where a tag just does not do the job. I also think that both Noddy330's and chrisz's solutions are good in their own right for different uses. In fact I would like to see both solutions implemented. The note number needs to be non volatile and needs to be searchable. I would not bother with making the note number linkable. But I would like to be able to link notes together via an internal hyperlink style system for instance I have a note that requires me to produce something, I then have 8 other notes containing the production steps. I would like to have the overall production note to point at all of the step notes and each step note to point at the production note. Bear in mind that I work in the aerospace industry as a planner and at the moment I am working on planning system development these features would both be extremely important to me.

Could we agree to split this into two feature requests with polls?

Hm, it seems to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, that what you actually need is an ability for a note to contain another notes in a hierarchical-outliner style.

[Midas]

Methinks linking should be easier than includes, both from programming and managing standpoints... or am I misguided?

[kranor]

Hm yes and no, both really ( Dont I make life easy for you!! ) We need notes in a hierarchical system and also a non hierarchical system but object linked. I have shown this to my head of department and he is using it at home. He is thinking of requesting a commercial purchase once CintaNotes comes out of Beta and reaches Version 1.5 or so. (by the way that would be about 3500 users worldwide)

[chrisz]

Thank you all for replying and sorry for this rather late reply.

I presume a real hierarchical view is a bit over the top for a tool as this. Cintanotes should remain clean and simple. A hierarchy requires careful linking by the user, and I really appreciate the simple way notes are jotted down now.

When a unique ID is automatically assigned to each note and you can revere to this number in other notes, it's fairly easy to do a search for all notes that are referring to each other. In a way, the result will be hierarchical view, but very simple to maintain and use.

There are at least two drawbacks in using the tags for numbering as Alex proposes. The first is that it is more work. The second is that it is difficult to be sure the numbers are unique. (Sorry Alex, I'm pretty lazy )

I added a poll for the following functionality:
- Cintanotes automatically adds a unique ID to each new note
- This number is visible on the title bar
- The user can refer to other notes by inserting a kind of hyperlink to this ID's
- You can do a search, starting from one note, resulting in a list of all related notes

Please vote!

[CintaNotes Developer]

Hm yes and no, both really ( Dont I make life easy for you!! ) We need notes in a hierarchical system and also a non hierarchical system but object linked.

Well, how about a "copy link" and "paste link" commands? This would insert something like a special hyperlink into note's text. So when you need to link to some note, you find that note, right click, "copy link", then go to the original one and paste the link. And you'll have not just some abstract ID, but a nice underlined target note's title.
Of course this would require some formatting support (hyperlinks) and non-modal edit window. Therefore it's a bit more difficult to implement.

I have shown this to my head of department and he is using it at home. He is thinking of requesting a commercial purchase once CintaNotes comes out of Beta and reaches Version 1.5 or so. (by the way that would be about 3500 users worldwide)

Wow, that would be really cool Will keep me even more motivated) Thanks for promoting CN this way!

[CintaNotes Developer]

I added a poll for the following functionality:
- Cintanotes automatically adds a unique ID to each new note
- This number is visible on the title bar
- The user can refer to other notes by inserting a kind of hyperlink to this ID's
- You can do a search, starting from one note, resulting in a list of all related notes

Please vote!

Please also consider the option with copy link/paste link approach.
And there's also a third alternative: an optional unique-id field in note properties,
which would allow to give notes some meaningful names instead of numbers.

Also, I'm really opposed to having the ID in the titlebar, because it:
1) can't be copied to clipboard
2) will create visual noise: it will be there even if you don't need to link notes
3) might scare off newbies

[chrisz]

Also, I'm really opposed to having the ID in the titlebar, because it:
1) can't be copied to clipboard
2) will create visual noise: it will be there even if you don't need to link notes
3) might scare off newbies

Alex,
You've got a point here. And I do like your alternative with "an optional unique-id field in note properties".

This would work OK for me. I guess for me the important parts are a unique number and the search option.

[schompsel]

Interlinking notes is one of the most useful options ever.
I love tomboy and the only reason I'm considering cintanotes is due to the fact that I really need something portable. As far as my tests are going, cintanotes really is a smooth little program, which does everything I could ever wish for except - you're guessing right - the ability to link between notes.

Is there any chance that this feature will be implemented in the near future?

(If I've just proofed my inability to use the search function properly please hit me with a link)

cheers
schompsel

[kranor]

Hi Schompsel please look at this and vote if you want this feature

http://cintanotes.userecho.com/topic/3393-linking-notes-with-each-other/