Looking for pointers, advice or suggestions on improving workflow with alternative use of tags.

wjenkins81

I've always had trouble making use of tags in any notetaking app. I understand that some people use them as an alternative to:

• the search function
• categories
• folder structure

But that hasn't worked for me. However, one thing I've tried has gotten me thinking...

When something I'm making a note about sparks an idea, I put the tag #extendedlearning there. This is a kind of bookmark for me to guide myself on what I'd like to learn about next, or in the near future.

For example, a Computer Science book I recently processed explained 'permutation math' using DNA as an example. I immediately thought I should learn more about DNA and tagged that note with #extendedlearning. This tag guides me when thinking about other topics I can add to my Zettelkasten, and it's the only tag I use.

But I wonder if there is already a workflow system using workflow keywords like this.

Does anyone know of a system where keywords are used to show a stage, or next step (or similar) in a learning/research/scientific method? I think there has to be some smart person in scientific history who has worked out a system with keyword guidance like this.

Does anyone know of something like this?

GeoEng51

Good question, although I don't have an answer for you. I believe there is a discussion somewhere in the forum about different uses for tags. I use tags mostly to build up an index of what is in my Zettelkasten and sometimes to indicate future actions, with tags like "#unfinished" or "#unlinked". But there is no reason you couldn't use them in the fashion you are describing, which also includes future actions, but ones you want to take to further your learning.

KillerWhale

Not a scientist, a fiction writer / consultant / music producer. However, that's how I'm working and one of the big reasons why Evernote worked for me and why I'm now firmly entrenched in Bear: the only system I need and use is tags (in conjunction with quick open, search and of course wikilinking). No folders – they're redundant with tags.

The beauty of tags is that, of course, the same note can live in several places, removing a lot of decision anxiety when putting something somewhere (just put it in as many places as makes sense). Also, Bear's autocomplete makes filing something incredibly fast and efficient and removes it from view. Some notes never get developed past the initial stage, and that's okay. If relevant, they will be revisited and fleshed out.

Here's my system:

• billets and voyages are just quick access for shows, travel and relevant documentation.
• @ is for people in my life, as well as clients, entities and people categories (to remember things about people I seldom meet but want to be able to replace)
• à l'esprit is "on my mind" notes, like an extended pinned section
• idées is ideas: rough ideas, sketches of things that I came up with but don't have a use for yet. Such as characters, world ideas, stories… but also gift ideas for my wife for instance
• La Succession des Âges is just the book I'm working on right now, with its own dedicated section (and subtags such as plot, characters…)
• p is for "projects", subdivided into areas of focus, and mapped exactly like my OmniFocus
• prj système de notes is notes on my other currently big active project, my notes system
• quoi is for "what": the nature of a note (structure note, how-to, reference material and so on)
• t is for "themes", subjects tailored to my interests (things about writing technique have a lot of categories, much more than, say, architecture)
• w is for "wishlists" – music tech keeps going forward and is costly so I track here future gear purchases

And that allows me to file things very easily following multiple approaches. For example, a recurring writing workshop I give every year will be tagged with the corresponding project and client (p and @), allowing me to get there through any of those lenses.

I can't emphasise that enough: the trick is not to file perfectly, it's to find the angles that work for you to find stuff again. In a way, it's a bit like one's Zettelkasten: my subtags really reflect the way I think and work and how I look for things.