You can do embedded search queries without Dataview to list tasks and things. But I think Dataview is pretty essential. Especially if you want to filter and group and sort like you are saying.
I’m not a Dataview expert, and this is pretty simple, but I was pretty happy to discover this workflow. I figured out a snippet that would collect all tasks that are inside notes linked from one specific “Dashboard” note. Dataview: Tasks from all notes linked from one specific note/Kanban
So this is how I collect all my notes for A) Writing and B) My client/work tasks. I set up two dashboards (actually Kanban boards, but that is not necessary). And any note that is linked in that Dashboard will collect all of it’s tasks into another note that I keep pinned on my right sidebar.
But there are smarter people than me on the forum that have much more powerful Dataview queries. But once you grasp the basics of combining the syntax, it’s pretty approachable.
Otherwise, plugins and workflows are pretty personal. But here are my favourites. I try to keep it very simple, and I suggest going slow with adding them in.
- Definitely learn how to use YAML metadata. You can create a bit of structure for people that will help you group and sort tasks by people later.
- Templates (core) - This will help you create standard metadata. But don’t stress about designing this perfectly at first. You can improve over time.
- Definitely read through the available commands, and play with assigning hotkeys to things you use all the time. But don’t rush this and change defaults until you’re sure.
- Unique note creator (core) - for quick capture
- Kanban (I like having a graphical view of things)
- Omnisearch - fuzzier search
- Quick Switcher ++ for more powerful search and switching and navigation
- Random Note (core) and Smart Random Note, just for browsing and curating with serendipity.