Hey,

most of the users will be fine with the existing sort and scared when it's so complicated to sort.

Instead, I suggest to improve the default sorting options to give better results.
But I don't wanna waste time with adding a huge search-customization whereas only low amount of people gonna use it anyway.

One extra dialog isn't scary!

The first, simple, version wouldn't be difficult at all to use.

improved sorting

I think the idea of improving sorting won't work. Here's my idea for tags:

original list:

• example one +a +b
• example two +b +a
• example three +a +b +c
• example four +c +a

If sorted by tag it would:

• for each line, alphabetize its tags
• sort the list by tags (already implemented)
• then sort the list by name (already implemented?)

The above would become:

• example one +a +b
• example three +a +b +c
• example two +a +b
• example four +a +c

This is still horrible for my use, because I could not easily find all items with the tag +c

I need to be able to put all +c in one clump. The only other idea I have is to have some sort of typeahead search which filters the list.. but that doesn't seem appropriate.

I could not easily find all items with the tag +c

Then why you not use search, you actually already say find and typeahead search. Both of it is available at Markor. Just press the search button and type +c or _+c_ (_=space)

I tried the typeahead search, and I see it builds a black-and-white list. I can click on a line and it brings me to my main todo page again, selecting that line. This isn't very convenient because I have to return to the search dialog many times.

Maybe this would be a simpler request:

• Click "search"
• Type text
• click (new) "move these items to the top"

Then it would iterate through the list and move those matched items to the top, (sorting them by their name)

I dont plan changes on the search.