Searching Discussion titles including Whisper names

garvin

All of my discussions are whispers. Currently, when you go to the discussions list, it shows:

[Private] ClientX: Work Orders

What that means is, if I have 130 client discussions, I have 130 discussions labeled "Work Orders." When I run a search for topic title, and I put in the client name, it does not show any results. Reason being: the client name is not in the title. Realistically, I could go in and change all topics to read "[Private] ClientX: Work Orders for Client X." However, I'd rather not rename all of those just because it would be a long-ass title.

Instead, I'd like to use the search topic functionality, however - instead of just the topic title, it also looks at who its whispered to? Or, maybe there is a way I can insert "ClientX" into the search field, and it would bring up all discussions whispered to them?

What could I do to create this kind of outcome, without having the change all of my topic names?

Minisweeper

Who creates the discussions you or your client? If it's your client you could run a topic search for "clientX:" and it'l bring up a list of discussions they started. Otherwise you could run the same for comments (if theres only 1 discussion per client it'l do pretty much the same thing you'll just get a result for each comment in their discussion) Either of those any good?

garvin

Our staff starts all discussions, normally me and the office manager. And, inside of the discussion, we rarely use the client's name in the comments. Its just a copy/paste generic introduction post. And, unfortunately, not all of our clients have responded yet.

MySchizoBuddy

sounds like an excellent example of tags.
tag each discussion as Client1, projecttype, inprogress. etc

avcourse what u really need is project management.

garvin

I suppose adding a tag, such as "ClientX", and then searching thorugh the tags would be cool. I'd rather just use the regular saerch functionality if it can be worked out.

I'm turning my vanilla install into a project-manager-type-communications-tool for a web design company. Its like a help desk, without a "ticket system." The client can post in their work order area when they have an update, and we can respond when it has taken place. The communication goes back and forth. So its really a Project-Manager, Client-Organizer, a help desk, and an inter-office communications tool. Its also an easy way to post newsletters and with the available extensions and a few extensions I'm currently struggling to code, Vanilla to me is whatever I work it out to be. That's why Vanilla is sweet. Because, yah - it can be a site forum, or it can easily be transfigured into other useful tools.

Minisweeper

I suppose what you really need to do is be able to feed the 'Whispered Discussions' filter with a user id other than your own. I'm not sure how though and i have a load of other stuff to be worrying about right now.