Notes not seen from nextcloud files for separate management

[bebaire44]

Description of the problem

As described in Notes app description: "Notes are saved as files in your Nextcloud, so you can view and edit them with every Nextcloud client." While it can be useful for some, it can become quite messy if you do not want to mix notes and files. For example, when I'm searching in my files for a content, I do not want to see my shopping list because the word I'm looking for is contained in this note. The same when I look to recent files, I find notes within the files I recently used, while I want to have a quick look to the files I used (not the notes).

Conclusion / Proposition

The user of Notes app should be able to separate the management of his notes from the nextcloud files. The user would then only be able to edit its notes within the Notes app (not from the files). This option could perfectly fit in the settings.

Solution

A simple evolution would be to store the notes files outside the files (not in //files/) I don't know the good practices for that:

• Could it be somewhere in /appdata_xxx/? (/appdata_xxx/notes//?)
• Could it be in //notes/?

Thank you all!

[stefan-niedermann]

I disagree.

1. Storing them as files has the major advantage of extremely easy and universal synchronization via WebDAV and the default Nextcloud desktop client without the need of any 3rd party software.

2. Not using the existing infrastructure means ignoring synergy effects, increases maintenance and needs development and testing resources. Existing core features like sharing are no longer available and need to be reimplemented separately.

3. The integration into the universal search which you see as an disadvantage is for other people a great feature

4. Other apps, like Deck are doing it just the other way around: Deck stored attachments in an own folder outside of files. This had many many drawbacks (like not being able to share the files or use the thumbnail preview generator mechanism for image files etc.) Therefore they moved in v1.3.0 attachments into files. Edit: I just noticed that also Talk moved their attachments to files.

[bebaire44]

Thanks for your answer.

I agree that using files can be a great feature, that's why I suggested the feature as an option. I suggest another usage where it is interesting to separate notes from files. As it can be on personal information managers like Google, Outlook, Thunderbird... Notes would be the perfect complement to Contacts and Calendar nextcloud apps to be able to completely replace the Google/Microsoft tools I mentioned and host its data on secure Nextcloud!

I agree on point 2 that using existing infrastructure should be the rule and is more efficient. When using the nextcloud Contact or Calendar apps, it is possible to search for contacts or events in the core search bar, or sharing your contacts or calendars. Contacts and events are not seen in the files. Is there a way to do the same for notes ?

Thank you for developing Notes app!

[EKCJ]

I would also like to be able to store notes separately from files, but I understand why other people might not. Perhaps a solution would be to provide the option to make the Notes folder hidden - i.e. to rename it to /.Notes/ rather than /Notes/? This is the same method that is used by the Contacts app for its backups, and would avoid the need to make significant changes to the file structure, as well as addressing most of the problems mentioned above.

[ghost]

I do not use Notes but they are installed by my provider. Every time I accidently open Notes, a folder gets created that I do not want.

This is a big inconvenience. I use Tasks a lot and I would not be happy if they are managed inside folders on the Files system either to make universal.

Please move them away from the Files system.

[stefan-niedermann]

I read a lot of reasons here now and some of them are valid. But

I do not use Notes but they are installed by my provider [...] I accidently open Notes

is just ridiculous, doesn't add anything useful to the discussion and erode arguments of the author of this issue. Ask your provider to disable the app for you or use another provider if this one doesn't fit your needs.

[ghost]

I read a lot of reasons here now and some of them are valid. But

I do not use Notes but they are installed by my provider [...] I accidently open Notes

is just ridiculous, doesn't add anything useful to the discussion and erode arguments of the author of this issue. Ask your provider to disable the app for you or use another provider if this one doesn't fit your needs.

I might have an intention to use Notes one day, just not right now.

When I do use it, I still would not want it to be combined with my Files system.

[bebaire44]

I read a lot of reasons here now and some of them are valid. But

I do not use Notes but they are installed by my provider [...] I accidently open Notes is just ridiculous, doesn't add anything useful to the discussion and erode arguments of the author of this issue. Ask your provider to disable the app for you or use another provider if this one doesn't fit your needs.

I might have an intention to use Notes one day, just not right now. When I do use it, I still would not want it to be combined with my Files system.

For me, the last comment is not off-topic as fredddd1 would want to use Notes without seeing it in file system. It relates to the advantage for some to have Notes independent from file system, as tasks contacts or tasks are.

[tuxick]

I don't mind the way it's stored, but a separate "Search Notes" would be great. Like the "Nextcloud Notes" app for Android does.

[GAS85]

i.e. to rename it to /.Notes/ rather than /Notes/?

Hope you know that it is possible as per today? Just edit it in settings.

Also would disagree here, user can manage even if he would like to sync notes within different clients yes or no and this is huge advantage, but you can't forbid access to folder (besides you are using Files Access Control App).