survey: Incremental search usefulness

asvc

I have created feature request at GitHub — https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/8278

@cmeriaux , I have experienced a few bugs, not sure if these are unique to my configuration yet:

Using “Highlight All” makes N++ scroll the viewer despite that valid match is already present on the screen:

Not all matches are highlighted. Testing on the following snippet:

{
	"guid": "{xx-xx-xx-xx}",
	"name": "Command Prompt",
	"commandline": "cmd.exe",
	"icon": "ms-appx:///ProfileIcons/{xx-xx-xx-xx}.png",
	// "colorScheme": "Campbell",
	"antialiasingMode": "cleartype",
	"closeOnExit": "graceful",
	"cursorShape": "bar",
	"fontFace": "Consolas",
	"fontSize": 10,
	"hidden": false,
	"historySize": 9001,
	"padding": "8, 8, 8, 8",
	"snapOnInput": true,
	"startingDirectory": "%USERPROFILE%",
	"useAcrylic": false
}

Only the first one is highlighted and only two matches are highlighted after pressing “Enter”:

Will continue using this build and report back if more bugs are found.

cmeriaux

@asvc Thanks for the futur request.
The regexp issue may be related to the one already opened on github tracker

asvc

@cmeriaux said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

The regexp issue may be related to the one already opened on github tracker

Which one? I might have missed the link.

favdish

@cmeriaux said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

here is a survey about the “incremental search” usefulness.
Do you use it ?
Yes.

Do you need regular expression support ?
In general, yes of course. I would not even consider using a text editor w/o regex support. However, specifically in incremental search, no.

Do you need an incremental mode in the find panel ?
Do you need an incremental mode in the replace panel ?
Do you need an incremental mode in the mark panel ?
No.

cmeriaux

@asvc
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/3640
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/pull/8269

Michael Vincent

Not to beat a dead horse, but this is related to incremental search.

When I use incremental search and tick both “Highlight all” and “Match case”, do my search then close Notepad++. Upon re-open, they are not ticked anymore. Seems incremental search options are not saved in config.xml the way regular Find panel options are.

I think that would be nice improvement to incremental search that wouldn’t ruffle too many feathers?

Cheers.

Alan Kilborn

@Michael-Vincent

If you’re saying that to @cmeriaux , well, then I think he already had that idea: https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/7753
:-)
But…it appeared from that that at least part of the problem was fixed already??

Someone else had a somewhat-related idea in just the last 24 hours: https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/8375

Both are good ideas, I think.

Michael Vincent

@Alan-Kilborn

I was saying it to anyone that would listen - I can always count on you :-)

I think my question / idea is a bit different. @cmeriaux 7753 does appear fixed, opening the bar, selecting options, closing bar, reopening bar - my selections are still there. I proposing to close the Notepad++ application altogether.

Then re-launch Notepad++ application (maybe this is where 8375 fits in - remember the “show” status of incremental search) - either way, my selected options are forgotten.

Contrast that to opening the Find dialogue between Notepad++ application relaunches, things like “Match whole word”, “Match case”, “Search mode” - they are all remembered - saved in config.xml.

I was wondering if the two check options in Incremental Search (and maybe the visible status of the bar itself) can be GUI options saved in config.xml?

I guess a feature request if I really want it.

Cheers.

cmeriaux

@Michael-Vincent I thinks add incremental parameters to the global config file is a good idea.
I’ve already proposed this feature on the conversation of this feature https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/pull/8248#issuecomment-626377716 but author reacted with a thumb down. So I doubt it would be accepted.
But you can write a new issue on github, the author may change it’s opinion… we never knows

asvc

Has there been any traction on incremental search with regexp support?

I went through the NPP’s GitHub page and the Issue #8248 was last updated a month ago.

That being said, it reads like @sasumner is now slightly less critical of the idea :)

Ekopalypse

@asvc said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

Has there been any traction on incremental search with regexp support?

Not that I’m aware.

cmeriaux

@asvc I’m affraid that the war has been lost, the feature won’t be implemented.
I’m sorry

asvc

That feeling when you want to use a text editor, but it actively refuses to be used… I will try to poke @sasumner at GitHub one last time.

asvc

When one door closes, another opens. Let’s try with the fork: https://github.com/dail8859/NotepadNext/issues/4

Alan Kilborn

@asvc said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

the fork

Why do you think NotepadNext is a fork of Notepad++?

guy038

Hello, @don-ho, @cmeriaux, @alan-kilborn, @asvc, @ekopalypse, @michael-vincent, @astrosofista, @mapje71, @terry-r and All,

In order to promote a bit the incremental search, with regular expressions I just had an idea :

Why don’t we propose to put a new setting in the config.xml file to allow this new incremental search mode ? So, by default, for non-experienced users, the incremental search would remain a classical search ;-))

I mean, in the same way that @don-ho, preserved the backward regex search with this new regexBackward4PowerUser attribute in the FindHistory tag, since N++ 7.8.7 Release 4. See my request to @don-ho, one month ago, for such a setting, in the last part of this post :

https://community.notepad-plus-plus.org/post/54520

Just hope you won’t find this idea too ridiculous !

Best Regards

guy038

cmeriaux

Nice fork. Qt is nicer than mfc. Too bad there isn’t a python API for plug-in because I don’t like Lua.

cmeriaux

@guy038 your idea is a good compromise but I think for a feature like this, it should be mainstream wheter be hidden through a config parameter

asvc

@Alan-Kilborn said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

Why do you think NotepadNext is a fork of Notepad++?

@cmeriaux said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

@guy038 your idea is a good compromise but I think for a feature like this, it should be mainstream wheter be hidden through a config parameter

That’s a start! It can be used to gently introduce the functionality without creating any sort of discomfort for long-term users. Then, based on feedback, setting can be exposed in GUI.

Now… How to deliver this message to @donho without annoying him with repetitive requests? :)

Alan Kilborn

@asvc said in survey: Incremental search usefulness:

How to deliver this message to @donho without annoying him with repetitive requests?

Good luck figuring that one out. :-)