Help with Query for Tasks by Project

[nbarman2022]

I’m using the Obsidian Tasks plugin with a custom filter to show tasks only when the note containing the task has a project property that matches the current project page’s filename. The query worked fine for older notes, but I’m seeing inconsistent behavior with new notes.

What I’ve noticed is that when it works, the property in YAML looks like this (a scalar string):
project: "[[Project Alpha]]"

But when it fails, the property is saved as a list (array):

project:
  - "[[Project Alpha]]"

My Tasks filter seems to only match the scalar form, not the list form. Is there a way to write the query so it handles both cases?

Sometimes I write tasks that belong to multiple projects so I need to be able to use the list form in those cases...

[claremacrae]

Hi @nbarman2022, I'm happy to try and help, but the more info you can give me the better.

What is the query that used to work and does not? As text, please, so I can copy-and-paste it.

What is the mode of failure? Do you get an error message? Are tasks just not found?

[nbarman2022]

Thank you!

here is my query:

> [!Pending Tasks]
> ## Pending Tasks For This Project
> ```tasks
> not done
> filter by function task.file.property('Project') === '[[{{query.file.filenameWithoutExtension}}]]'
> ```

I don’t get any error message but the tasks are just not found in any situation where the note where the task is housed has the property “Project” set as a list-type property.

[claremacrae]

(It took me several goes to format the nested blocks)

[claremacrae]

Yes, the reason it fails is that your filter is saying that the Project value must be a plain string value.

But if your property is saved as a list, then a string list with one value can never be equal to a plain string value.

I show a few examples of handling string and list properties in the this section of the docs.

I am sorry but right now I don't have time to spare writing up an explanation of how to do this.

If you look at the other Q&A answers with the same label as this, it might give you some ideas.

This might help, for example:
#3484

[nbarman2022]

not done
filter by function task.file.property('Project') === '[[{{query.file.filenameWithoutExtension}}]]'

[nbarman2022]

Solved! Here's what I did:

#3049 (reply in thread)

[claremacrae]

Thank you. I added an explanation of that search just below you reply, in #3049 (reply in thread).