Optimizing tags with sub tags names for improved 'look ahead' auto fill

OmniFocus
1

One of the best things for my work flow is when I enter a few characters, and the tag (or sub tag, in this case) I’m after displays as the first choice, so I can then press ‘enter’, and Bob’s my uncle.

Conversely, when I have a tag with a number of subtags, and the sub tag I use (by far) the most frequently doesn’t appear as the first choice, almost no matter how many characters I type, the sub tag I’m after is not at the top of the list—at which point, it’s faster to just down-arrow, then click (or just click) the tag in the list.

I’m looking for tips on how to construct my tags / sub tags to optimize for what I’m after. Here’s my case example: I have a tag of “home+”, which has sub tags. I append: “+” to the tag as a visual reminder to me to not use (just): “home+” as the tag, because I want actions for that tag, tagged with subtags.

The sub tag for this tag I used most frequently is: “home+ : home”. When I start typing: “home”, here is what pops up:

Tutorial : Home (tutorial)

remote : hardware : The Home Depot

outdoorsNotAtHome

home+

home+ : home

home+ : office

…

Any thoughts on how to better construct my tag / subtag(s) so when I type: “home”, something similar to: “home+ : home” is the fist choice? I could make: “home” a separate tag (or somewhat better maybe: “home, general”), and then have: “home+” (and all the subtags) separate, but that does not sound like a good solution.

2

For me, Your tags have too much similarity to each other.

i don’t use my tags the same way you do, but words are not repeated across my tags (more by luck than by design)

I have tags for Work Status. “Status” is the Parent Tag then “A - Backlog”, “B - Available”, “C - Planned”… Using the letters allows me to quickly pick, and by making them mutually exclusive when I select the next status it removes the old one

Maybe a parent of Home, then Home : Personal, Home : Work, Home : DIY…

3

Your use of: “A -”, “B -”, etc., is a good idea. Not sure it will work for my use, but something to keep in mind, and maybe repurpose.

The problem with “Home : Personal, Home : Work, Home : DIY…” for me, is I just need home : home, but in any case, keying in: “home” does cause “home : home” to be the first choice.

Thanks.

4

Location : Home?

1 Like
5

I use emoji at the root level.

OmniFocus 20260813-102754@2x
OmniFocus 20260813-102754@2x358×548 46.5 KB

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JJW

6

For my use case, that probably wouldn’t help, because I’d still need the sub tags of home+. But thanks for the suggestion.

7

I would never have thought of that in a million years. An interesting approach (and using emojis in general is also something I’d not considered). Thanks.