[Feature request] Allow dates to be specified in the task form using natural languagelike tasks plugin

[pcause]

In the task plugin they use a library that allows specifying dates in the sort of natural language. For example, "next friday", "tomorrow", and the like. Allow an option to have the various date entry fields not be calendar like items (calendar popup and then the YYY-MM-DD field) but be a text entry line. When the user enters the text and that field loses focus, use the library, get the date and then show in the box. Of course, dates specified as YYYY-MM-DD entered should also be allowed.

As a side effect, you'll have the library you need to deal with recurring date support integrated.

[tu2-atmanand]

Hi @pcause !

Thank you for sharing the ideas.

If I understand this correctly, then I think you are referring to the inline suggestions shown in the editor by Tasks plugin. Then, as per my knowledge they are not using any external library. They have fixed number of predefined options like :

https://github.com/obsidian-tasks-group/obsidian-tasks/blob/main/src%2FSuggestor%2FSuggestor.ts#L288-L301

Let me know if I have understood the feature you have mentioned about the Tasks plugin correctly?

But, i guess TaskNotes plugin uses better algorithm for natural language processing. (Still I'll need to see their code). Will see if there are better libraries which can help to do this. If there are such library, I can convert the date select input field into a text imput field.

Maybe Task Board can have it's own NLP date detection within the editor itself. Let's see...

For now, I have another idea, which may be used here. Let me know what are your thoughts on this : #622 (comment)

[pcause]

interesting. i am talking about just date entry, not the full suggest stuff. i had thought they used a library but guess i am wrong. there is https://github.com/wanasit/chrono you could perhaps use for this.

[enxilium]

Does the add task modal on the task board currently support using this in-line suggest? I was using the Kanban Board plugin previously and the autosuggest/autocomplete was very nice to have especially for recurring events, since for the most part I'm going to be creating tasks directly from the board, not in a separate file.

[tu2-atmanand]

Hi @enxilium!

The autosuggest inline feature is actually from Tasks plugin. In Kanban plugin it works out of the box because it is known that where the newly created task will be placed (that is inside the markdown file itself). But when we create a new task (inline task specifically), it is not certain because user has complete freedom to change the file to which this new task should be placed from the file input field in the "Add new task modal".

And recently Tasks plugin has made some changes to their plugin where, it will not show the inline suggestions where there is no certainty where the inline task will go. Read more here : obsidian-tasks-group/obsidian-tasks#3475

For this reason, I decided to implement the inline suggestion inside Task Board, so this plugin can have its own inline-suggestion, so that it can work inside "Add or Edit task modal". See the following ticket : #565

Also, I am planning to extend it with more options. So, lets see...

[enxilium]

This would be awesome! If I have spare time I'll see if I can create a PR that implements this. Cheers!

[tu2-atmanand]

If I have spare time I'll see if I can create a PR that implements this

Thats really kind of you and will really help!

My plan is to shamefully steal the code from Tasks plugin, then extend its functionalities. And for sure going to give the credits in the code as always.
But still, this integration of the new code and extending the functionalities and everything will need some time, hence I have added the "future idea" tag as I am not sure when ill be working on this.