Search chats and messages

Sidebar search in DataMind Oda finds a chat by its name, its workspace, or something said inside it. Use it when you half-remember a chat and want to get back to it without scrolling through your lists.

Search your chats and messages

Choose Search sessions under New chat, or press Ctrl K (⌘ K on macOS). The row becomes the search field; if the sidebar is collapsed, it opens first and the field takes focus.
Type part of the chat's name, or something said inside it. The field's hint reads Search session names and messages.
Results replace the rest of the sidebar while the field holds a query. They come in two groups, each with its own count: Chats for chat and workspace names, and In messages for matches from inside messages.
Choose a result to open that chat. Search clears and closes, and the chat comes into view.

Chat and workspace names match as you type, without caring about capitalisation. Matches from inside messages arrive after a short pause and are ranked. Each new query cancels the one before it; when the message search cannot finish, the name matches stay on screen.

While message matches are on their way, the list shows Searching session history… with placeholder rows. When nothing matches, it reads No matching sessions. The list is capped at 20; when more chats match than it shows, it ends with Showing the first 20 results. Narrow your search. The field takes up to 500 characters.

Work from the keyboard

ArrowDown moves focus into the first result; the arrow keys walk the list, and Enter opens the result in focus.
Escape clears the field and closes search. With the mouse, Clear search does the same, and clicking outside closes search while the field is empty.
If you type with an input method, Enter finishes the composition instead of opening a result.

Chats your lists do not show

Search can find chats that are not in the sidebar at that moment:

Archived chats can match. They carry an Unarchive session button, and trying to open one reports Archived sessions cannot be opened. Unarchive it to view. Unarchive the chat first, then open it; Pin, rename, fork or archive a chat covers the archive rules.
Chats kept out of the lists by another section, such as a scheduled task's runs, appear with a label in place of their workspace, for example Scheduled · Daily report. They open like any other chat; Schedule recurring tasks explains where those chats come from.

Questions, answered

How do I start a search from the keyboard?

Press Ctrl K (⌘ K on macOS). The sidebar opens first if it is collapsed, and the field takes focus. Search sessions under New chat starts it with the mouse instead.

Where did my chats go while I search?

While the field holds a query, the results replace the other sidebar sections. Empty the field with Clear search or Escape, and your lists return. To change how those lists are grouped, ordered or filtered, see Group, order and filter chats.

Do results include what was said inside a chat, or only its name?

Both. Chats matches chat and workspace names as you type; In messages adds matches from inside messages, ranked, after a short pause.

Why is a result labelled `Scheduled · Daily report`?

Some chats are kept out of the sidebar lists while the thing that owns them exists, such as a scheduled task's runs. Search still finds them, and they show a label in place of their workspace. See Schedule recurring tasks.

How many results does a search show?

Up to 20. When more chats match, the list ends with Showing the first 20 results. Narrow your search. Make the query more specific to reach the others.

What does `Searching session history…` mean?

Chat and workspace names are already on screen; matches from inside messages are still arriving, so the list is not final yet. It fills in when they arrive. If nothing matches at all, it reads No matching sessions.

Why can't I open one of the search results?

The chat is archived. Archived chats can match a search, but they do not open until they are restored: choose Unarchive session on the result first. Trying to open one reports Archived sessions cannot be opened. Unarchive it to view.

How long can my search be?

Up to 500 characters. Anything longer is cut back to 500.

How do I move between results with the keyboard?

ArrowDown moves focus into the first result; the arrow keys walk the list, and Enter opens the result in focus. Escape clears the field and closes search.

What happens when I keep typing during a search?

Each new query cancels the one before it, so the results on screen always belong to what is in the field now. If the message search cannot finish, the name matches stay, and you can still open the chat you remember.