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PoWi Posts: 90
13/02/2013
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SyMenu has a very good search.
SyMenu also has the possibility to link to folders.
Now I have a link to a folder for eg books.
How about searching also in such "folder-links" - only filenames? Maybe with a checkbox in the configuration of the "folder-link"-item like "search for files in that folder".
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PoWi Posts: 90
13/02/2013
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For search filenames there are differnt tools like:
Both are searching in mft - which is really fast!
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
13/02/2013
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Well the search speed in SyMenu is caused by the fact that all the items, configured ones and Windows ones, are stored in memory.
It's not a huge amount of data so the memory doesn't suffer too much for this load.
If the search is extended to all files contained in certain folders the speed surely will decrease and the occupied memory will increase so it could surely be a customizable per folder feature as you propose.
But the question is: how the results have to appear?
Today the search result panel is already splitted in 4 different areas. From the top:
- the search bar
- the SyMenu items
- the built-in tools (it's a new feature of the 2.02 version)
- the host programs.
What do you propose for the searchable folders?
The 5th section inside the search result panel?
Or the results should be integrated in normal SyMenu items?
Maybe I could create a search modifier that jumps from the normal mode to the search-inside-folder mode pressing, for example, a function key (F1) during the search? In this last option, is it acceptable to make the search slower because SyMenu searches for files only when you ask it to do that?
And if not, how SyMenu could notice of a newly added file or a deleted one?
Well the debate is open.
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PoWi Posts: 90
13/02/2013
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Yes I know, the speed will a bit slower if also searching in folders. But configurable so each user can decide which folder to search.
But if you use the same search method like "Everything" or "UltraSearch" - searching in mft - it will be really fast! Try it. 
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Nice suggestion with a 5th search section. I like it. Then ALL is in one search-list.
I don't like to press another key to switch search mode. I like to have only one. 
If you search in mft there will be nearly no time for searching!
I tried "Everything" and it's phenomenal.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
18/02/2013
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I'm doing some experiments on the search file feature and I decided to split the search in two section: the first one is exactly like the current one (2.02) with SyItems, tools and Windows entries, the second one containes the file search result.
The reason for this splitting is not only the performance matter but the mess in the search panel. We already have 4 section and the file search could bring hundreds of new elements. It's not good.
So I've tried to put a key modifier in the search bar. If you press F2 you'll switch to file search, F1 you'll be back on the normal search. Every search will be identified clearly by a switch icon that remind you what is the current mode and what are the magic keys to change it. I'm trying that mode and I think it could be quite user friendly. If you are a mouse addicted you can click on the icon switch to change mode too.
I thought a lot to the objection of "another key to press" but the UI must remains clear and the file search feature is an advanced feature so let's leave it to the advanced users that are able to press the key.
I'm trying the feature among folders that contains thousands of files and it seems that the search is quite fast. Well I think that the same try on a folder that reside on a removable unit will be less terrific, but the new code I wrote for the search in 2.02 version was optimized precisely in anticipation this heavy task and it works well.
If you are interested I can post an image of the not yet final UI.
Stay tuned.
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PoWi Posts: 90
18/02/2013
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Hi Gianluca,
that sounds really good!
Yes I'm interested in an image of the file search.
Just another idea - maybe in future:
Why not let the user decide which sections of the search he wants to see?
What I mean: I'm interested in SyMenu items and file-search - and only a few times in others.
The user could specify which is the primary search and which items would be shown after pressing F2.
What do you think?
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
28/02/2013
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As promised you can now see the new SyMenu feature appearance.
On the first image on its right you can see the switcher that indicates if you are searching on SyItems (SY) or inside the file system (FS).
The three little blue circles are a simple progress indicator that appears when the retrieving of the files takes too much time (well indeed it is surprisingly fast...).
You have a label that reports the total number of files and the number of indexed folders.
Well the feature is really nice but at this point I decided to go ahead.
If, in FS search mode, you start to write something like 'C:' or '\' it is clear that you won't find anything in your folder because the characters ':' and '\' are not suitable for file naming.
But on the other side it is clear what your are trying to search something residing inside the unit C in the first case, something residing on the current unit in the second one.
Well SyMenu from the next version will implement this feature too. So you can navigate in a similar way as the explorer command bar. And you can navigate whenever you want even on your network resources (with the prefix '\\').
SyMenu completes the path you are composing with all the possible matches (folders or files) and if you select one of them you can open it (with the ENTER key) or complete the path on the search bar (with the TAB key).
Well last thing.
Your proposal to customize the search results and to decide what kind of search SyMenu has to do is good but first I want to understand how the new feature will be used by the users. I need feedbacks on it.
Depending on those in a few month I'll decide how to reorganize the search tool.
Stay tuned for further news.
<em>edited by Gianluca on 2/28/2013</em>
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PoWi Posts: 90
28/02/2013
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WOW - Gianluca - that's really really great! 
I looking forward to that new feature and I hope that's also usefull for other users.
With also searching by path "c:\..." or "\\..." you did it again Gianluca!
SyMenu is such a cool and handy piece of software.
I'm curious about the speed. You say it's fast - how do you implement the search?
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
28/02/2013
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I've implemented it through the normal methods for file and folder management exposed by the .NET framework (System.IO).
The speed is terrific even if the implementation of a good path recognizer has to be made completely by hand and it is such a difficult task. I imagine that the first release won't be bug free as usual 
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PoWi Posts: 90
28/02/2013
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Gianluca wrote:
... I imagine that the first release won't be bug free as usual
hehe
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
26/03/2013
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Dear everyone, the new 2.03 version is out.
You can check the new explorer feature (among file into indexed SyFolders and file system) and let me know what do you think about it.
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PoWi Posts: 90
30/03/2013
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I used it now a few does.
I don't see any bug.
It's really fast - but I only use one folder with about 50 books/documents.
I have a folder structure for my documents for different projects with same naming of the documents - like specification,...
There it would be nice to the the path to the document (not only as tooltip). Maybe it's possible to show 2 lines (or even more) for the path and the filename.
eg
"e:\docs\2013\project_xyz\
use-cases_v01.uml"
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
02/04/2013
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No it is not possible. Every entry must correspond to one only line.
We have to think to some other solution to solve your problem.
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PoWi Posts: 90
06/04/2013
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Hi,
maybe show the last 2 directories?
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
08/04/2013
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Ok. I've got it.
I will try to implement a sort of little tooltip with the entire path (or a portion of it if too long) that appear on top of any entry.
I need time to try some solution I'm thinking of.
Stay tuned!
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