Firefox-like Find Dialog?

[ringoffire]

Hi,

I'm using frequently Find function of RapidPHP. Normally it is a pop up Window, but how about the new seamless "Find" in Firefox?

With such option, no need to "focus" unnecessarily on the Find window but on your code!

[Karlis]

Please find the search box at the top of the form (in the find toolbar). If you want, you can drag it to the bottom.

[ringoffire]

Yes, there is this search box...however, it does not work like FF's find box, at all.

For example, if the search string is not found there is a dialog box pops up "Search string not found"... Mouse should be used several times. Ctrl+F shows the Find Window and does not focus on the search toolbar.

Anyway, such functionality could have been nice.

[Gatis]

We have discussed this with Karlis and have decided to add an pool to see what other think about it.
However, we are not thinking of implementing the exact FireFox find functionality. Because you can actually change the short cuts to have

Ctrl+F DOES NOT show the Find Window BUT FOCUSES on the search toolbar.

Please cast your votes here:
http://forums.blumentals.net/viewtopic.php?t=2754

[MikeyB]

Ctrl+F shows the Find Window and does not focus on the search toolbar.

You can assign your own keyboard shortcut to use for the search toolbar, I have and use it all the time.
Options -> Keyboard Shortcuts and look for "Search From Toolbar" in the list.

if the search string is not found there is a dialog box pops up "Search string not found"... Mouse should be used several times.

You can simply press the Esc key on your keyboard to hide the "not found" message.

[ringoffire]

Thank you MikeyB,

Ok, this works. It can be made better:

- Remove "not found" dialog totally: a simple "not found" can be displayed near the search box (search box can even glow in red, like in FF )

Example:


- Currently, while the cursor is at the end of document, find box will not continue to search (without mouse) -and search box looses focus-, user has to either push "Find previous occurence" or click at the top of document to continue searching without mouse.
General Idea :No mouse movement should be necessary for simple searching. When the cursor reaches the bottom, it should begin from the top without promting user.

- Make this the default behaviour (advanced features may be activated by a button if user wants...)

Ideas and ideas...

[kfury77]

this is a a brilliant suggestion and could increase productivity. one of the many reasons i prefer Firefox over IE7 is because the Find/search function functions so much better..... I'd love to see a firefox-style Find built in to WeBuilder.

[MikeyB]

- Currently, while the cursor is at the end of document, find box will not continue to search (without mouse) -and search box looses focus-, user has to either push "Find previous occurence" or click at the top of document to continue searching without mouse.
General Idea :No mouse movement should be necessary for simple searching.

Your suggestions are good, and I do think it can be improved slightly, but a few more tips:
You can go to the top of the document by pressing Ctrl+Home.
You can continue searching by using F3, no need to put the focus back on the search box, F3 will search for whatever is in the search box.

The mouse is not used at all.

When the cursor reaches the bottom, it should begin from the top without promting user. - Make this the default behaviour

Now this I do think should be the default, or at least an option.
there is such an option in the normal Find box which stays on, but it doesn't make the toolbar search wrap at the end, it does however stop the "not found" message!

[ringoffire]

but a few more tips:
You can go to the top of the document by pressing Ctrl+Home.
You can continue searching by using F3, no need to put the focus back on the search box, F3 will search for whatever is in the search box.

The mouse is not used at all.

Ok, I can understand that current search box "can" be used without mouse.

However, the current version of searchbox -with whatever key combination or shortcuts/hotkeys used- it is not practical and natural.

Here are my reasons for this, in an example:
In advance, Ctrl+F is set up to searchbox toolbar instead of standard Find window.
Cursor is positioned on top of a document, before search, for not to begin with a not found error directly.
1. Ctrl+F to focus on search box...ok
2. Type search string, in this ex. "html", push ENTER... ok
3. First occurrence is found, then each enter presses jumps to next occurrence ... ok

From this point unnatural movements begin...
4. Cursor arrives to the end. String not found information dialog shows up. Push ESC to close.
5. Searchbox already lost the focus, push Ctrl+Home to move the cursor to the top again.
6. Press F3 to restart searching same string or type new one with Ctrl+F.

Finally, -if this FF-like search box could be included- last step would be: when user finishes searching, pressing ESC key can move the focus from search box to document -either closing the toolbar (like in FF) or leaving the box as is.

[OmahaJohn]

I've been unable to find a way to do so, so I'm presuming it can't be done. If I'm wrong, it'll be nothing but good news for me. My request is a way to change the default search behavior. Every time I search I have to tell the software to wrap at end and search all documents. Would save me a few minutes every day if I could tell it to save those settings -- I almost never search any other way.

[Gatis]

We were not able to improve the find functionality at the moment. But we have not forgotten it.
We have some ideas to improve code searching (also an idea of highlighting variables and other tokens is considered). But we do not want to rush things, but to implement a well considered solution.
If we do not manage to do this until release of version 2008, then we hope to do it later this year.

[raymond]

sounds great!

I would like to see a firefox search at the bottom of the page as well

[garethjmsaunders]

Simply having a dockable search dialog box, say at the bottom of the main window -- where the Messages panel is, would be rather useful.

I agree with @ringoffire that this would help you focus on your code rather than the find window.