Features

[Julian-Dumitrascu]

1. Structure

id displays each data set in a placeholder called a "block". Some software developers call it a "field". One cannot label blocks in software like AnyType; one must label those "fields". One can label id blocks.
id includes blocks, records (groups of blocks), and groups of records. Each such unit can belong to any number of groups, starting with zero. One can use labels to create further tiers of groups; the next one would be groups of record groups.
One can use any unit as a template.

2. Blocks

When one uses e.g. Odoo, one has the rather complicated task of choosing one of many types of fields. To the possible extent, we'd offer these functions within a smaller number of field types. Examples:

2.1 Content

Instead of separating text into a field for short text without formatting and one for long text with formatting, we let users input text without minding its length and format it as they like. Unlike in Coda or Notion, one can include more than one paragraph in a content block.
One can also use it for numbers. When one inputs a number, id checks whether it's a regular number (e.g. 2 or -1.15), so that you can use it to calculate, a telephone number, a numeric code, or something else. (It might need help with this.)
We don't need a field type for Web addresses. When you paste a Web address into a content block, id can link from the text on which you've pasted it, display the title of that page, or embed a snippet of that page.
This is a method to embed images and recordings, which you can play from id. This means that we don't need field types like "image" or "video". One can also use id similarly to Google Drive. Once one has id store a file, one can link to it from a content block or embed it into one.
We don't need the field type "money". When one inputs e.g. USD, id treats text like "USD 98" as what one means it, so that one can use it e.g. in calculations.

2.2 List

A list item can be a block or a record. Some benefits:
a. I create a unit once and can use it n times.
When I want to use it in list 2, I have id search for it.
b. Sometimes one has reasons to create more than one data set in a record. One can't do this using e.g. Podio "categories".
The list creator can allow list users to pick any number of items or ask them to pick at least one item.
One can pick units that one uses as labels.
One can pick records that define relations among records.

2.3 Calendar

One can use this block type to manage calendars.
One can let id track time and calculate the duration of activities.

2.4 User

id links to the profiles of the users who were, are, or will be involved with this record, e.g. :

• the record creator
• People who have sensed this record or may sense it.
• People who have changed this record or may change it.
• People whom somebody has tried to notify about something related to this record, e.g. its creation, and subscribers to notifications about this record.

One can ask id to notify any other user about any operation. If a certain user has not enabled such notifications, id asks them whether they want to enable them. If they don't, id informs one that that user refuses such notifications for the moment.
One can enable / disable for any amount of time notifications with any labels, e.g. from certain users, or about certain topics or units.

2.5 E-mail addresses

When are they useful?
One can use id instead of e-mail and enjoy telecommunication more.

2.6 Addresses

What improvements to address management do you request?
Anybody who uses or provides transportation services stands to benefit a lot from using id.

2.7 Formulas

In what software have you used them? ClickUp, Coda, Notion, Podio?
We can discuss improvements.

2.8 Scale

One can create scales with any types of units and any number of units.
One can use them e.g. to rate something or to indicate some progress.
Things like progress bars are included in reports that id makes as instructed by you.

3. Linking data

id links each unit (block, record, or group) to the group to which it belongs.
One can link a block to any other unit and a record to any other records.

3.1 Linking a block

3.1.1 To link a content block to another unit, I:
a. select some content, e.g. a word or an image.
b. input some characters to have id search for that string.
c. select a result.
d. have id simply link this string to that unit or also display the name of that unit instead of the selected string or as the alternative text of the selected image.
3.1.2 To link a list block to another unit, I:
a. input some characters to have id search for that string.
b. select a result.
c. have id display certain or all parts of the linked unit.
One can also use it to link records.

4. Displaying data

id offers a canvas on which one can have id display groups of records and a canvas on which one can compose a record using at least one block.
One starts with zero records. Each record must include at least one block, e.g. its name. Names are a type of labels. One can name records. id assigns to each unit an identification code and a Web address with a structure chosen by you or by Sol Computing. One can choose where id displays such metadata when.
One can group records by any number of labels. One can have id display record groups e.g. as tables, boards, Gantt charts, timelines, or on a map.
On a canvas of either type one can choose in how many columns (starting with zero) id displays one's data. One can choose the position and size of each unit placeholder.
One can split the canvas of either type in how many units ("pages") one wants. One can choose the main page, which id displays by default, order the pages, and have id display the next page e.g. when one uses an arrow key. (That would be a swipe on touch screens. I focus on traditional screens. We can agree on how to configure id for devices with touch screens.)
One can have id create tabs on the main page for at least some pages. One can use keyboard shortcuts to switch to another page. One can choose the keyboard shortcuts for id commands.
One can choose the (maximum) size of each page; for instance, one can limit all pages to the size of the computer screen.