Search your chats

In DataMind Oda, search finds a chat by the name of the chat or its workspace, and by the text inside its messages. It sits in the sidebar, and the rest of the column steps aside while you use it. The column itself is covered in Chats and workspaces in the sidebar.

Search from the sidebar

1. Choose the Search row under New chat, or press Ctrl K (⌘ K on macOS). If the sidebar is collapsed, it opens first, then the field takes focus.
2. Type what you remember.
3. Open a result to go to that chat. To put the search away and bring your lists back, press Escape or choose Clear search.

• While a query is set, the results take over the column: your lists, the other sidebar sections and the panel rows stand aside until you clear the search.
• Choosing a result opens the chat and brings its row into view in your lists; a chat in a folded group opens that group so its row shows.
• Choosing an archived result does not open it: the search stays as it is, and Oda shows Archived sessions cannot be opened. Unarchive it to view. Use Unarchive session on the result's row first (Pin, rename, fork or archive a chat).

What the results show

• Results appear under up to two headings, each showing its count: Chats holds chats whose name or workspace matches, and In messages holds chats that match inside their message text.
• A message match shows a short excerpt under the chat's name, with the matching words marked.
• Name matches appear as you type. Message matches follow after you pause, and while Oda looks, the results show Searching session history… with a few placeholder rows where matches will land.
• Each result names the chat and where it belongs. A chat kept out of your lists by another feature, such as a scheduled task's runs, still appears here, labelled with that feature in place of a workspace name, for example Scheduled · Daily report (Schedule recurring tasks).
• When nothing matches, the results read No matching sessions.
• The list stops at 20 matches, and Oda says so: Showing the first 20 results. Narrow your search. A more specific query finds the rest.
• With Archived only selected under Filter sessions, the search shows archived chats alone, the same as the lists.

Move through the results

• From the field, ArrowDown moves into the first result, and Enter opens it.
• Once a result has focus, ArrowUp and ArrowDown move between results, and Enter opens the one you are on.
• Escape clears the search and closes the field, from the field or from the results.
• Clicking elsewhere closes an empty field. A query you have typed stays open until you clear it or open a result.

Questions, answered

How do I open the search field?

Choose the Search row under New chat, or press Ctrl K (⌘ K on macOS). If the sidebar is collapsed, the shortcut opens it first, then the field takes focus.

What happens to my lists while I search?

They stand aside: while a query is set, the results take over the sidebar column, and the other sections and panel rows are hidden. Clearing the search brings them back.

What is the difference between Chats and In messages?

Chats lists chats whose name or workspace matches, and it fills in as you type. In messages lists chats whose message text matches, arriving after a short pause, each with a short excerpt and the matching words marked.

Why can't I find a chat I know exists?

Check Filter sessions first: with Archived only, the search shows archived chats alone. If the match was inside a message, give it a moment, because message matches arrive after you pause; if that message search cannot finish, the name matches already shown stay in place. When the list points out that it shows only the first 20 results, make the query more specific to find the rest.

Does search care about capital letters?

No. A chat's name and its workspace name match whatever the capitalisation, so weekly report also finds Weekly Report.

How long can a search be?

Up to 500 characters. The field takes no more than that.

Can I unarchive a chat from the search results?

Yes. An archived result shows an Unarchive session button on its row. Use it and the chat returns to your lists, ready to open. Choosing the row itself does not open the chat; Oda explains that it is archived instead.

Why does a chat that is not in my lists appear in search?

Some chats belong to another feature and stay out of the lists, such as a scheduled task's runs, but search still finds them. Such a result is labelled with its feature where a workspace name would sit, for example Scheduled · Daily report.

Which keys move through the results?

From the field, ArrowDown moves into the first result and Enter opens it. With a result focused, ArrowUp and ArrowDown move between results, and Enter opens the one you are on. Escape closes the search from anywhere in it.

Why did Escape not close the search while I was typing with an input method?

While an input method is still composing characters, for example while typing Chinese or Japanese, the key goes to the composition first, and the search stays open. Press Escape once more to close the search.