---
title: Workspace Search
description: Search note titles, content, tags, and frontmatter across a workspace.
---

Workspace Search finds Markdown notes by title, body content, tags, and frontmatter. It opens in a drawer from the left sidebar and updates results as you type.



## Opening Search

- Click **Search** near the top of the sidebar.
- Press `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F` from anywhere outside Focus Mode.

Recent queries appear when the search field is empty. Select one to run it again, or clear the history from the drawer.

## Writing A Query

Normal searches are case-insensitive and match note titles and content.

- `acme invoice` requires both terms to appear somewhere in the note. They do not have to appear together or on the same line.
- `"access token"` searches for that exact phrase.
- Short word-like terms such as `PR` automatically use whole-word matching, so they do not match `preview`.
- Symbols such as `C#` are treated literally.

Use the buttons beside the search field to turn on **Match Case**, **Match Whole Word**, or **Regular Expression**. Regex mode treats the complete query as one expression.

### Tags And Properties

Start a query with `#` to search tags in YAML frontmatter and inline tags:

```text
#project-alpha
```

Use square brackets to search a frontmatter property:

```text
[Status:In Progress]
[Published:true]
[Author:]
```

`[Author:]` finds notes where the property exists, regardless of its value. Property names and values respect the **Match Case** setting.

## Search Scope

Open **Filters** and choose where Octarine should search:

| Scope | Includes |
|-------|----------|
| **Workspace** | Every searchable Markdown file in the workspace |
| **Notes** | Normal notes, excluding Daily Desk, Templates, and Inbox |
| **Daily Desk** | Daily, weekly, and monthly notes under Daily Desk |
| **Templates** | Notes in `.templates` |
| **Inbox** | Captures in `.octarine/inbox` |

Choose **in** to search only the selected scope. Choose **not in** with Notes, Daily Desk, Templates, or Inbox to exclude that area from a broader search.

When the operator is **in** and the scope is Workspace or Notes, you can also choose a folder. The folder filter includes its nested folders.

## Result Display And Sorting

Turn on **Title Only** to hide matching body excerpts and show a compact list of note titles. This changes how results are displayed; notes found through body content can still appear in the list.

Sort results by:

- Title A-Z or Z-A
- Newest or oldest edited
- Newest or oldest created

The default is **Newest Edited**.

Opening a result launches in-file search with the same query and matching options, so the matching text is highlighted in the note.

## Resetting Filters

The Filters button shows how many non-default options are active. Select **Reset to defaults** to return to:

- Workspace scope with the **in** operator
- Any folder
- Newest Edited sorting
- Body excerpts visible
- Match Case, Match Whole Word, and Regex turned off

## Keyboard Navigation

- `Up` / `Down` — Move through recent queries or results
- `Enter` — Run the selected recent query or open the selected result
- `Escape` — Close the search drawer and clear the current query

#### Quick Answers

### How do I search all notes in Octarine?

Open Workspace Search from the sidebar or press `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F`, then leave the scope set to **in Workspace**.

### Can I search only Inbox or Daily Desk?

Yes. Open **Filters**, keep the operator set to **in**, and choose Inbox or Daily Desk as the scope.

### How do I search a frontmatter property?

Use `[Property:Value]`, such as `[Status:In Progress]`. Leave the value empty, as in `[Status:]`, to find notes where the property exists.

### Does Title Only restrict matching to titles?

No. It hides body excerpts in the result list; notes found through body content can still appear.