What is a "Search Command"?

Discussion related to "Everything" 1.5 Alpha.
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ChrisGreaves
Posts: 684
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:29 pm

What is a "Search Command"?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

in the topic Search Commands
I have worked out that:-
Search Commands are distinct from Search Functions.
Search Commands are commands that are issued to Everything; typically to change the way Everything behaves from this time onwards.
Search Commands can be broken down into two types:-
(1) Those that are prefixed with a forward-slash (as in “/clipboard:”)
(2) Those that are suffixed with a colon (as in “about:”)

I surely would appreciate a simple example of the use of the following Search Commands; I have been experimenting, but have so far failed to wreak anything meaningful from the experience. (I should add too that I do a heavy search of the forum posts, looking to see where "search command" is mentioned. Not a lot.)

(A) /clipboard: (mentioned under /<expand> text
(B) /select-all (in particular I am curious as to why I would type "/select-all" rather than use Ctrl+A. Am I missing an opportunity to use /select-all in a programming fashion perhaps?

The lack of data in posts puzzles me, because ten of the eleven posts in the topic Search Commands seem to be recent additions to the flock, and yet I don't find anything in the way of discussion, and often enough a new feature is preceded by discussion in a topic (or two!)

Thanks, Chris
void
Developer
Posts: 16672
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: What is a "Search Command"?

Post by void »

A lot of search commands are designed for bookmarks.

Typing in /select-all will likely not match any files, so the command seems silly at first as nothing will be selected.


Opening a bookmark will execute any search commands.
The existing search is not changed when executing a search command.
Bookmarks can call multiple commands.
You can call one command per line from a bookmark.
To add another line to your bookmark search, press Alt + Enter.

A few bookmark examples:

Show the folder sidebar and select the downloads folder:
/explore %userprofile%\Downloads

Toggle the result list text padding:
/listview_text_padding_bottom=listview_text_padding_bottom==10?:10;listview_text_padding_top=listview_text_padding_top==10?:10

Toggle offline alpha:
/offline_alpha=offline_alpha==255?160:255

Toggle thumbnails in detail view:
/view=0;icon_use_thumbnails=!icon_use_thumbnails;icon_size=icon_use_thumbnails?64:16

Show the folder sidebar and preview pane:
/show-folders
/show-preview



There's a few commands that are useful for typing directly into the search box and pressing ENTER.
For example:

Show current keyboard shortcuts:
about:keys

Reindex a specific drive:
/reindex e:

Restart Everything:
/restart
ChrisGreaves
Posts: 684
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:29 pm

Re: What is a "Search Command"?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

void wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:35 pm A lot of search commands are designed for bookmarks.
Void, thanks also for this response which, in my colonial thieving manner I have bookmarked for further study.
The examples are helpful; I used the "downloads folder" example and of course the "about:keys", but absolutely refuse to experiment with "/restart" because Everything is far too useful a tool to have it absent from my sight for even a second! :D
Thanks again, Chris
ChrisGreaves
Posts: 684
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:29 pm

Re: What is a "Search Command"?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

void wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:35 pm There's a few commands that are useful for typing directly into the search box and pressing ENTER.
For example:
Show current keyboard shortcuts:
about:keys
Quick question: Of these three examples, why does the "about" command not require a forward-slash?

BTW I enjoyed the puzzle presented to me when I entered "/restart" and before I tapped <Enter".
"/restart" is just a simple search term, correct?
Thanks, Chris
void
Developer
Posts: 16672
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: What is a "Search Command"?

Post by void »

Most web browsers support the about: URI scheme.

Everything does the same with support for a few commands.

So in short, Everything is copying what web browsers are doing.


"/restart" is just a simple search term, correct?
Everything treats / as a path separator.
\restart and /restart are the same search.
Both will find files/folders starting with restart.

Windows doesn't use / in filenames.
I recommend using \ in Everything on Windows.
Use \restart instead of /restart to find files/folders starting with restart
ChrisGreaves
Posts: 684
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2022 9:29 pm

Re: What is a "Search Command"?

Post by ChrisGreaves »

void wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:22 pmSo in short, Everything is copying what web browsers are doing.
Makes sense. Thanks Void
Everything treats / as a path separator.
(use \restart instead of /restart to find files/folders starting with restart)
And for this clarification too, thanks!

I felt quite good that I had basically worked out the "/" significance, in the sense that I read the line and thought "oh, this does THIS", and it did!
Cheers, Chris
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