Query: Thread Directive
A thread directive is similar to the context directive by calculating zettel associated with a list of zettel identifier. There are three thread directives, beginning with the keywords FOLGE, SEQUEL, and THREAD.
With the help of the FOLGE directive, you can list all zettel that belong to the same “train of thought”. It is possible to list all folge zettel only or only precursor zettel. Additionally, you can specify the maximum number to be listed. A FOLGE directive considers only the metadata keys only metadata keys folge and precursor.
Similarly, the SEQUEL directive allows you to list all “branching ideas” You can limit the search to only sequel or only prequel zettel, and you can also restrict the result size. The SEQUEL directive works exclusively with the metadata keys sequel and prequel.
The THREAD directive combines the functionality of the other two directives. It lists all zettel (or a subset) that can be reached via the four metadata keys mentioned.
Optionally yyou may specify additional parameters after the directive keyword, separated by space characters. These include:
BACKWARD: Search for zettel only via backward links, i.e. precursor and/or prequel
FORWARD: Search for zettel only via forward links, i.e. folge and/or sequel
DIRECTED: Search for zettel only in the same direction as the one that led to the current zettel. If the zettel is one of the initial zettel, search in both directions.
DIRECTED is equivalent to FORWARD if the current zettel is a starting point of a folge and/or sequel sequence. It is equivalent to BACKWARD at the end of such a sequence (or at the beginning of a precursor and/or prequel sequence).
MAX: Followed by one or more space characters and a positive integer, sets the maximum number of resulting Zettel (default: 0 = unlimited)
If neither BACKWARD nor FORWARD is specified, the search includes both backward and forward links.
If both BACKWARD and FORWARD are specified, the search for context zettel will be performed as DIRECTED. Internally, DIRECTED is just a shorthand for specifying both BACKWARD and FORWARD.
If any of the three direction specifiers BACKWARD, FORWARD, and DIRECTED is specified more than once, parsing of the thread directive is stopped. All following text is then interpreted either as other directives or as a search term.
The resulting list is sorted by the relative distance to the originating zettel.
These directives may be specified only once as a query directive. A second occurence of FOLGE, SEQUEL or THREAD is interpreted as a search expression.