Re: [feature request] A new cookie type [!] showing the last note taken

[Nicolas Goaziou <mail@nicolasgoaziou.fr>]

Hello,

Ihor Radchenko <yantar92@gmail.com> writes:

> Over the years of using Org I often have a need to add a short note
> about how to proceed with some task:
>
> ***** REVIEW check again, subscribe | sindresorhus/awesome: 😎 Awesome lists about all kinds of interesting topics :BOOKMARK:
> :PROPERTIES:
> :CREATED: [2020-03-15 Sun 18:59]
> :Source: https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome
> :END:
> :LOGBOOK:
> CLOCK: [2020-03-17 Tue 16:18]--[2020-03-17 Tue 17:46] =>  1:28
> CLOCK: [2020-03-17 Tue 16:03]--[2020-03-17 Tue 16:18] =>  0:15
> - Refiled on [2020-03-16 Mon 23:59]
> :END:
>
> In the above example, the short note is "check again, subscribe".
> The note is not fixed, but changes as I progress with completing the
> task.
>
> This is even more useful for delegated or HOLD tasks where I often need
> to add a short note why the task is delegated or put on hold:
>
> ** HOLD Finish the text prop org-mode | make babel support org file
> links in header args (:file or :dir)
> [[id:468e0645-68aa-4e14-86de-e5ce153538e3][[2017-09-22 Fri]
> CuNbARBshearstrength]] :HOLD:
> :PROPERTIES:
> :CREATED: [2020-07-20 Mon 16:53]
> :SHOWFROMDATE: 2020-08-15
> :END:
> :LOGBOOK:
> - State "HOLD"       from "NEXT"          [2020-08-10 Mon 15:16] \\
>   Finish the text prop org-mode
> - Refiled on [2020-07-20 Mon 17:15]
> CLOCK: [2020-07-20 Mon 16:53]--[2020-07-20 Mon 16:54] =>  0:01
> :END:
>
> Seeing this note directly in the headline without a need to dig into the
> task body / LOGBOOK drawer is really handy.
>
> In this last example, I had to duplicate the note taken using built-in
> note mechanism into headline, which was inconvenient. It would be handy
> if I could simply add a [!] cookie (similar to [/] or [%] cookies) to
> the headline to show the last note taken for this task. Then, I could
> easily see the reason why the task is blocked or what I am supposed to
> do with the task right in agenda view or in the folded headline.
> Something like the following
>
> ** HOLD [!] make babel support org... :HOLD:
> :LOGBOOK:
> - State "HOLD"       from "NEXT"          [2020-08-10 Mon 15:16] \\
>   Finish the text prop org-mode
> - Refiled on [2020-07-20 Mon 17:15]
> CLOCK: [2020-07-20 Mon 16:53]--[2020-07-20 Mon 16:54] =>  0:01
> :END:
>
> The cookie would be replaced by the last note text, according to
> user-defined format (say, "[%s] |"):
>
> ** HOLD [Finish the text prop org-mode] | make babel support org... :HOLD:
> :LOGBOOK:
> - State "HOLD"       from "NEXT"          [2020-08-10 Mon 15:16] \\
>   Finish the text prop org-mode
> - Refiled on [2020-07-20 Mon 17:15]
> CLOCK: [2020-07-20 Mon 16:53]--[2020-07-20 Mon 16:54] =>  0:01
> :END:
>
> What do you think?

Notes are free-form; there is no syntax describing them. Org cannot tell
what is a "note". As a consequence, pointing to "the last note taken" is
not reliable, syntax wise.

Of course, under some assumptions (e.g., notes setup is fixed, you never
write notes by hand, ...), you could guess what the last note taken is.
But again, this is not reliable, and not portable.

Regards,
-- 
Nicolas Goaziou