Search

kknow has two searches: ⌘K in all vaults, and ⌘F in the open note. This page is about ⌘K. For ⌘F, see Editor.

The palette

⌘K (or ⌘⇧P) opens the palette above the window.

• Type the query. The list updates while you type.
• Use the arrow keys to select a result, and Enter to open it.
• If the search finds nothing, Enter makes a note with the typed name.
• Esc closes the palette.

While the field is empty, the palette shows the recent notes.

Query syntax

The search uses tantivy, a search engine in Rust.

Query	Finds
sync conflict	notes with both words
"exact phrase"	the phrase
-draft	notes without the word
tag:rust	notes with the tag
title:kknow	notes with the word in the title

The last word also matches as a prefix: synch finds "synchronization".

The chips next to the field limit the search to titles or tags. Click a tag in the preview to open the palette with a tag:… query.

All vaults at once

The query goes to all vaults at the same time. Often you remember a text but not the folder with it.

• The results of the active vault come first.
• A result from another vault has the label of that vault.
• When you open it, kknow switches the vault and then opens the note.
• The label filter of the sidebar also limits the search.

Russian words

A stemmer brings Russian word endings to one form. Thus «синхронизации» finds «синхронизацию».

Speed

Each open vault has one search index in memory. kknow builds it when it opens the vault. For 5,000 notes (20 MB), this takes about 0.25 seconds, with the parsing and the link graph. The files are the source of truth, so kknow can always build the index again.

Other palettes

The same palette has more lists:

Keys	List
⌘⇧O	headings of the open note
⌘⌥B	bookmarks of the vault
⌘⌥T	open tasks of the vault

In the terminal

kknow search "tag:rust -draft" --limit 20