Option to change sort method

[dasmaetthes]

Would be nice to sort notes by date of last edit or alphabetically

[stefan-niedermann]

@jancborchardt your opinion pls - an option in the settings, default "last modified"?

[fxedel]

My summary of possible sorting options:

• Last edit
• Created
• Alphabetically (name)
• Manually (needs changes in how the notes are saved)

For the first three options there should also be an option for ascending/descending.

[jancborchardt]

Here’s my take on sorting of notes:

• Last edit: How we currently do it. It continuously changes sort order, but keeps the relevant stuff at the top.
• Created: I really don’t see how sorting by the date of creation is relevant. A few months down the line, the sorting will make no sense in day-to-day working.
• Alphabetically (name): Alphabetical sorting in general is the lowest common denominator when it comes to sorting. I don’t think it’s a good idea to sort like this in general, especially not in a Notes app where titles can be anything. Look at Google Keep, Evernote, etc – they all do sort by modified date.
• Manually (needs changes in how the notes are saved): I would really not do this. It requires manual work on every single user’s side, and it’s likely that people will only »find« it by accident. Also, what’s the usecase? Stuff you would like to see sorted up top is likely already up top with the sorting by modified date.

I’d suggest that we keep it very simple and only have the sorting by modified date, like now.
I can maybe, very maybe, understand the need for alphabetical sorting, but I’d wait with that until a lot of people have very good reasons we should build this in.
Cause right now sorting by modified date seems clearly superior, especially on the go. With alphabetical sorting, you basically have to scroll for mostly every note. With modified date, the most important stuff is on top automatically. Keep in mind this is a mobile app used on phones etc.

@dasmaetthes @fxedel what’s your use-case and why do you need a different sorting method?

And btw @stefan-niedermann a slightly related idea: Is there an API to check if a note was favorited (has a star) on the server? We could use that info and always sort the starred files up top, also adding a small indicator.

[jancborchardt]

And about ascending/descending: Sorry but that makes absolutely no sense for the first 3 methods. For modified & created date this would show a stale list of the latest notes which is not useful, and for alphabetical sorting it would show things in a non-standard order with the ZYX stuff first.

We should always think thoroughly about anything we add to the app. Especially because it’s on mobile, and especially also about any setting and if it’s needed.

[bvolkmer]

I think you miss an option:
Sort by number of launches, so that the most used are visible.

[jancborchardt]

Which brings me to another pro-point for simple sorting by »Last modified«: It can easily be »synced« cross-platform. It’s a sorting method even the most basic file managers have, so you can have the sorting the exact same on the desktop as well. Same for apps on other platforms, say if you have an iOS device with the Notes app or whatnot.

»Sort by number of launches« however, is an extra option which can not be synced in that way. Also it would just make the order change all the time.

Well @stefan-niedermann I’m sure you already knew what I thought when you asked.

TL;DR: People, when you request something, please describe your use-case. Don’t just say »add this and that«, »oh hey by the way wouldn’t this be nice«? Always provide reasoning first … otherwise our app will end up like this:

[jancborchardt]

Also, if you’re interested: I recommend reading the blog post on our ownCloud design principles. In this case especially »2. Good Defaults Instead of Options«

[fxedel]

@jancborchardt, I have to admit that you're absolutely right – these sorting options don't really have a good use case. Thanks for your detailed comments!

[dasmaetthes]

Never seen such a intolerance.

Last edit: How we currently do it. It continuously changes sort order, but keeps the relevant stuff at the top.

Wrong: it keeps only the relevant stuff at the top when I edit it. But it doesn't mean that a note I edit last time for a half year isn't any more relevant

Created: I really don’t see how sorting by the date of creation is relevant. A few months down the line, the sorting will make no sense in day-to-day working.

This make really no sense

Alphabetically (name): Alphabetical sorting in general is the lowest common denominator when it comes to sorting. I don’t think it’s a good idea to sort like this in general, especially not in a Notes app where titles can be anything. Look at Google Keep, Evernote, etc – they all do sort by modified date.

On a mobile device a alphabetically sorting makes as well sense specially when it comes with a "quickScroll" it is the fastest way to find a note.

When titles cna be anything for you you should rethink how you title your notes

[jancborchardt]

@fxedel sure, happy to hear that cleared it up. :)

@dasmaetthes not sure why you see it necessary to call my thorough explanation »intolerance«. Not a very positive attitude towards open source developers/designers.

Anyway:

But it doesn't mean that a note I edit last time for a half year isn't any more relevant

That’s right. But as you can also read further down in my first comment, there’s a simple solution to that – using the star/favoriting-functionality of files:

We could use that info and always sort the starred files up top, also adding a small indicator.

That is, if there’s a relevant file you don’t edit much, you can simply star it. Should work for your case much better than using alphabetical sorting, no?

[stefan-niedermann]

Hey guys, calm down.

I think a good compromise for a first step ist the star/unstar-solution. i opened a ticket in server-app to implement an api for that.

There are valid arguments on both sides, i think there is a use-case for alphabetical order. But i don't think the other sort options are making much sense.

So the steps are the following:

1. Wait for server-api to star/unstar
2. Implement star/unstar in this android app
3. Try, use, rethink if there is really a sort option needed
   (4. implement switch alphabetical / recently changed if necessary)

Regards

[jancborchardt]

✌️ good call

[moshpirit]

I'm used to the current "created" sort of MyOwnNotes so I would definitely use this one if it's available

[fxedel]

@moshpirit, so what's your use case for this sorting method?

[moshpirit]

I use it for different things (note films to watch, emails, quotes, shared notes, etc) but in my mind, It's easier for me to find them if they're chronologically organized.