diff --git a/DataStore.py b/DataStore.py
index 37bd094..088e18a 100644
--- a/DataStore.py
+++ b/DataStore.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ WHERE id = ?
     def getTaskByNameParent(self, name, parentid):
         t = None
         c = self.conn.cursor()
+        name = name.strip()
         if parentid is None:
             c.execute('''
 SELECT id, name, longname, parentid
@@ -120,6 +121,18 @@ WHERE name = ? AND parentid = ?
         self.conn.commit()
         return t
 
+    def getTaskByName(self, name):
+        parts = name.split(':')
+        parentid = None
+        task = None
+        for p in parts:
+            p = p.strip()
+            task = self.getTaskByNameParent(p, parentid)
+            if task is None:
+                break
+            parentid = task.taskid
+        return task
+
     def createTask(self, name, longname, parentid):
         c = self.conn.cursor()
         if parentid is not None and parentid != '':