From 213fe6ebf30db04618f6fad7c943d1adf3ec8720 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Spencer Duran <spencerduran@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 May 2026 17:57:21 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] feat: add setting to hide subtasks from task list root
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Adds a "Hide subtasks in list root" toggle in Settings → Appearance.
When enabled, tasks that belong to a parent project are hidden from the
root level of task list views. They remain visible when their parent is
expanded via the subtask chevron.

Implemented as a pure CSS rule gated on a body class
(tasknotes-hide-root-subtasks), which distinguishes root-level subtasks
from nested ones using :has(.task-card__project-link) combined with
:not(:has(.task-card__subtasks)) to avoid hiding expanded parent tasks.

Closes #1715
---
 src/i18n/resources/en.ts           |  5 +++++
 src/main.ts                        |  2 ++
 src/settings/defaults.ts           |  1 +
 src/settings/tabs/appearanceTab.ts | 13 +++++++++++++
 src/types/settings.ts              |  2 ++
 5 files changed, 23 insertions(+)

diff --git a/src/i18n/resources/en.ts b/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
index 12d41cf5..d8b08268 100644
--- a/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
@@ -1566,6 +1566,11 @@ export const en: TranslationTree = {
 					name: "Show expandable subtasks",
 					description: "Allow expanding/collapsing subtask sections in task cards",
 				},
+				hideRootSubtasks: {
+					name: "Hide subtasks in list root",
+					description:
+						"In task list views, hide tasks that belong to a parent project from the root level. Subtasks remain visible when their parent is expanded.",
+				},
 				expandSubtasksByDefault: {
 					name: "Expand subtasks by default",
 					description: "Show project subtasks expanded when task cards are rendered",
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index f0ef26a6..f10c4ded 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ export default class TaskNotesPlugin extends Plugin {
 		});
 
 		await this.loadSettings();
+		document.body.classList.toggle("tasknotes-hide-root-subtasks", this.settings.hideRootSubtasks);
 		this.performanceProfiler = createTaskNotesPerformanceProfiler({
 			isEnabled: () => this.settings?.enableDebugLogging === true,
 			logger: createTaskNotesLogger({
@@ -590,6 +591,7 @@ export default class TaskNotesPlugin extends Plugin {
 	}
 
 	onunload() {
+		document.body.classList.remove("tasknotes-hide-root-subtasks");
 		void cleanupPluginRuntime(this);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/settings/defaults.ts b/src/settings/defaults.ts
index 1e66e6e7..baa39ad1 100644
--- a/src/settings/defaults.ts
+++ b/src/settings/defaults.ts
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: TaskNotesSettings = {
 	// Task card expandable subtasks defaults
 	showExpandableSubtasks: true,
 	expandSubtasksByDefault: false,
+	hideRootSubtasks: false,
 	// Subtask chevron position default
 	subtaskChevronPosition: "right",
 	// Filter toolbar layout defaults
diff --git a/src/settings/tabs/appearanceTab.ts b/src/settings/tabs/appearanceTab.ts
index 10c9a6c5..3f509a52 100644
--- a/src/settings/tabs/appearanceTab.ts
+++ b/src/settings/tabs/appearanceTab.ts
@@ -814,6 +814,19 @@ export function renderAppearanceTab(
 				);
 			}
 
+			group.addSetting((setting) =>
+				void configureToggleSetting(setting, {
+					name: translate("settings.appearance.uiElements.hideRootSubtasks.name"),
+					desc: translate("settings.appearance.uiElements.hideRootSubtasks.description"),
+					getValue: () => plugin.settings.hideRootSubtasks,
+					setValue: async (value: boolean) => {
+						plugin.settings.hideRootSubtasks = value;
+						document.body.classList.toggle("tasknotes-hide-root-subtasks", value);
+						save();
+					},
+				})
+			);
+
 			group.addSetting((setting) =>
 				void configureDropdownSetting(setting, {
 					name: translate("settings.appearance.uiElements.viewsButtonAlignment.name"),
diff --git a/src/types/settings.ts b/src/types/settings.ts
index 9318badb..f9938511 100644
--- a/src/types/settings.ts
+++ b/src/types/settings.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ export interface TaskNotesSettings {
 	showExpandableSubtasks: boolean;
 	// Expand project subtasks by default when task cards render
 	expandSubtasksByDefault: boolean;
+	// Hide subtasks from root of task list views (only show under expanded parent)
+	hideRootSubtasks: boolean;
 	// Subtask chevron position in task cards
 	subtaskChevronPosition: "left" | "right";
 	// Filter toolbar layout