ExtraInfo+ for TaskPaper, now with Wiki Links

I published my version of Pedro Lobo’s Extra Info script for TaskPaper a couple of years ago. ExtraInfo+ is a script that reads tags such as @note and @map in my TaskPaper tasks, and the tag value creates a link to an external note, mind map, outline, or whatever I need in order to expand on the topic. I trigger it with FastScripts and my brainstorming and extra details for the currently-selected TaskPaper item open instantly.

I still use it almost every day, as it allows me to keep my coding projects in TaskPaper clean and readable, with all references, notes, and brainstorms externally linked.

I also make a lot of use of [[wiki linking]] in my notes and tasks, and then use services like nvWikiLinker to connect to notes in nvALT. I love the double bracket syntax because it’s easy to use, and works in any app I can run a service in (I do it in my OmniFocus notes, too). I decided to combine the functionality into ExtraInfo+.

I like to keep certain TaskPaper files in nvALT as well, so there’s the added bonus that when I view them in nvALT, all of the wiki links are clickable.

With the new version, you can put [[Name of the note]] anywhere in the text of a task and it will be found when you trigger ExtraInfo+. That note pops open in nvALT (or whatever note/editor app you specify as the first option). If the note doesn’t exist yet, it’s created from a template.

Also, it uses Notification Center for messages if Growl isn’t running, which is a step up from display dialog.

The new version of ExtraInfo+ is up on GitHub, and you can find usage instructions there as well. Note that there’s a new (and not-yet-documented) property called baseFolder which you can set to the common root of all configured paths. Then just use relative paths to the base in other variables.

P.S.

The routine for finding the WikiLinks is really simple, and a good chunk of code to keep around if you’re still using AppleScript. It would be more fun in JavaScript, but I have a LOT of old AppleScripts around…

on findBetween(startTag, endTag, theString)
	set atid to text item delimiters
	set text item delimiters to startTag
	set _output to ""
	set textItems to text items of theString
	if (count of textItems) > 1 then
		set _right to item 2 of textItems
		set text item delimiters to endTag
		set textItems to text items of _right
		if (count of textItems) > 1 then
			set _output to item 1 of textItems as string
		end if
	end if
	
	set text item delimiters to atid
	return _output
end findBetween

Just pass it the left and right patterns, and it will return whatever is between them (or an empty string if not located). Example usage:

my findBetween("[[","]]",sourceText)

Or…

my findBetween("<title>","</title>",sourceText)