Suggested feature: Merge the Advanced search GUI and the Bookmark GUI

[Raindrops]

This proposal describes two different issues, which can be solved by merging the Advanced search and Bookmark GUIs:

Issue#1: The "advanced search" and "bookmark" GUIs edit the same dataset, yet they are incompatible!

The user composes an advanced search using the Advanced search GUI.

If he saves this search, he has to call it a "bookmark".

So far, so good.
But if he has to edit this bookmark (=search), he has to use a totally different Bookmarks GUI.
This GUI concatenates all search parameters in a long text string, which makes it difficult to edit.
(The user has to dive in the code, which must be avoided.)

Even if we do not drop the idea of bookmarks, at least let's not have a incompatible GUI to edit a bookmark!

Issue#2: The Advanced search GUI is too big, and it is overwhelming.
The solution is to divide its long list of parameters into several sections, just like the Options GUI.
(The left panel contains a list of sections. The right panel displays all controls for the selected section.)


So the new workflow would be as follows:
1. The user selects Search > Advanced search menu option (or uses the CTRL+SHFT+F hotkey).
2. The modified GUI (see issue#2 above) pops up.
3. The user composes the search and saves it as a search preset.
4. When a preset is to be edited, he is presented with the same GUI.
5. He adjusts the parameters and saves the preset.
6. The list of search presets is provided as a drop-down list next to the Search Bar.
(Just like how we can select filters).

[void]

I will consider merging the two.

Currently, bookmarks allow you to control more than just the search, for example: the view, columns, sort, index etc...
The advanced search sticks to the search only.

The advanced search could be a subset of a bookmark.
I'll look into allowing the use of the advanced search from a bookmark.

Issue#2: The Advanced search GUI is too big, and it is overwhelming.

I have on my TODO list to add a treeview on the left to quickly jump to a section.
I also have on my TODO list to add an advanced search pane in the main window with the option to toggle the desired fields.



I will consider Advanced Search presets.
Thank you for the suggestions.

[Raindrops]

Currently, bookmarks allow you to control more than just the search, for example: the view, columns, sort, index etc...
The advanced search sticks to the search only.

There is no universal definition of the term "advanced search".
And so we can legitimately accommodate these additional parameters in the definition of "advanced search".

A user would say, "my search results should be presented with this view and these columns, and sorted on that column."
Note that he has a search in his mind, and he not thinking in terms of a bookmark.

To a user, all this is "advanced search" only!

Therefore we need not have the following equation:

Code: Select all

bookmark = advanced search + additional controls (view, columns, sort, index, etc.)