User:Auk/Search Model: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Adding, deleting, and managing engines: manage engines from prefs window)
(revamp (keep search box))
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The search box should be abolished, and the "Keyword Bookmarks" and "Add Search Engines" features merged. Keyword bookmarks are currently in use only for power users, due to thier obscurity and backwards management. Below I outline how best to bring this feature into light for less technological users, while eliminating the confusion stemming from multiple in-browser search features. Keyword bookmarks, with the upcoming tagging overhaul, should be completely severed from the bookmarks/tagging system and management.
The search box should be enhanced to enable some of the features of keyword bookmarks, such as faster load times and quick engine-switching. The redundant appearance of keyword bookmarks and the search box search engines in the UI should be abolished. No connection with bookmarks (upcoming as tags) should be kept.


== Favicon drop-down ==
== Favicon drop-down ==


Click on the favicon at the left end of the url bar ([rename suggestions]) . A drop-down menu appears with the layout:
Click on the favicon at the left end of the search box. A drop-down menu appears with the layout:


Location [Ctrl+L]<br>
Search Tagged Pages [Ctrl+''?'']<br>
Search Tagged Pages [Ctrl+''?'']<br>
<nowiki>-----------------------------------------</nowiki><br>
<nowiki>-----------------------------------------</nowiki><br>
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Manage Engines...<br>
Manage Engines...<br>


==Searching with engines==
== Searching with engines ==


To search with a specific engine, you can:
To search with a specific engine, you can:


# Type the said engine's keyword (e.g. ''g'' for Google, ''wp'' for Wikipedia, ''wkt'' for Wiktionary), a space, then your query. As soon as enough of the keyword is written to match an engine, the favicon changes to that engine's icon.
# Select an engine from the drop-down menu. Then, the engine's icon appears and the user may type thier query.
# Select an engine from the drop-down menu. Then, the engine's icon appears and '''either''':
# Type the appropriate key shortcut (hereafter reffered to as the engine-selector shortcut) (see according section), and a special meta-sub box appears. Type the said engine's keyword (e.g. ''g'' for Google, ''wp'' for Wikipedia, ''wkt'' for Wiktionary), a space, then your query. At the firt SPACE, the focus should shift from the meta-engine box to the search box proper.
#* The engine's keyword appears in the url bar, and then you may type your query after it (cursor automatically moves to correct spot). (0 votes)
#* The Icon for that engine displays, and the url bar remains empty, for the query. (This is how the current search box behaves.) (1 vote)


''Note.'' Please vote for one of the actions for search method #2 when you come to this page &mdash; if you can't decide, don't vote until you do.
=== Engine Selector shortcut suggestions ===
* Ctrl+'
* ''Visitors add here.''


== Adding, deleting, and managing engines ==
== Adding, deleting, and managing engines ==


The search engines should be completely organizeable through the "Manage Engines..." dialog. 'Organizeable' here means:
The search engines should be completely organizable through the "Manage Engines..." dialog. 'Organizable' here means:


* Reorderable into a user-defined order (DnD)
* Reorderable into a user-defined order (DnD)
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The Manage Engines dialog should also be accessible through the main prefs window, e.g. ''Edit &rarr; Preferences &rarr; Advanced &rarr; Search'' and amongst other things, a block with a button for the "Manage Engines..." dialog.
The Manage Engines dialog should also be accessible through the main prefs window, e.g. ''Edit &rarr; Preferences &rarr; Advanced &rarr; Search'' and amongst other things, a block with a button for the "Manage Engines..." dialog.


==Advanced search dynamics==
== Advanced search dynamics ==


* Ability to combine engines in one search with the "+" operator, e.g. ''g+wp+wkt nitrogen'' would search both Google, Wikipedia and Wiktionary for the text "nitrogen". This would open a tab for each engine. (Depending on the user prefs, the first engine in the list may load in the present tab.)
* Ability to combine engines in one search with the "+" operator, e.g. ''g+wp+wkt nitrogen'' would search both Google, Wikipedia and Wiktionary for the text "nitrogen". This would open a tab for each engine. (Depending on the user prefs, the first engine in the list may load in the present tab.)
* Perhaps JavaScript-enabled searches, to integrate with unweilding sites and create custom mini-search engines.
* Perhaps JavaScript-enabled searches, to integrate with unyielding sites and create custom mini-search engines.
* ''Visitors add more here.''
* ''Visitors add more here.''


==Rename Location Bar (aka URL bar)==
== Gripes ==
Please add suggestions here, I don't have any :-(
 
* Should Ctrl-K focus the search box, or should it swap the search box to the default engine (likely Google) and focus at once?
* Should the engine-selector shortcut be active from anywhere in the UI, or only once focused the search box?

Revision as of 08:39, 21 January 2006

The search box should be enhanced to enable some of the features of keyword bookmarks, such as faster load times and quick engine-switching. The redundant appearance of keyword bookmarks and the search box search engines in the UI should be abolished. No connection with bookmarks (upcoming as tags) should be kept.

Favicon drop-down

Click on the favicon at the left end of the search box. A drop-down menu appears with the layout:

Search Tagged Pages [Ctrl+?]
-----------------------------------------
Google [Ctrl+K]
Yahoo
Wikipedia
Wiktionary
Wikispecies
-----------------------------------------
Manage Engines...

Searching with engines

To search with a specific engine, you can:

  1. Select an engine from the drop-down menu. Then, the engine's icon appears and the user may type thier query.
  2. Type the appropriate key shortcut (hereafter reffered to as the engine-selector shortcut) (see according section), and a special meta-sub box appears. Type the said engine's keyword (e.g. g for Google, wp for Wikipedia, wkt for Wiktionary), a space, then your query. At the firt SPACE, the focus should shift from the meta-engine box to the search box proper.

Engine Selector shortcut suggestions

  • Ctrl+'
  • Visitors add here.

Adding, deleting, and managing engines

The search engines should be completely organizable through the "Manage Engines..." dialog. 'Organizable' here means:

  • Reorderable into a user-defined order (DnD)
  • Creation of sub-directories, that show as sub menus in the drop-down
  • Creation of seperators
  • "Alphabetize" option
  • Editable "Properties..." dialog, where the Name, Keyword, Icon, and Path (url w/ %s, JS file, ...?).

The Manage Engines dialog should also be accessible through the main prefs window, e.g. Edit → Preferences → Advanced → Search and amongst other things, a block with a button for the "Manage Engines..." dialog.

Advanced search dynamics

  • Ability to combine engines in one search with the "+" operator, e.g. g+wp+wkt nitrogen would search both Google, Wikipedia and Wiktionary for the text "nitrogen". This would open a tab for each engine. (Depending on the user prefs, the first engine in the list may load in the present tab.)
  • Perhaps JavaScript-enabled searches, to integrate with unyielding sites and create custom mini-search engines.
  • Visitors add more here.

Gripes

  • Should Ctrl-K focus the search box, or should it swap the search box to the default engine (likely Google) and focus at once?
  • Should the engine-selector shortcut be active from anywhere in the UI, or only once focused the search box?
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