Re: [RFC 0/1] mconf: Emacs-like isearch

From: Dirk Gouders
Date: Fri Jun 08 2018 - 04:12:38 EST


Sam Ravnborg <sam@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>>
>> I'd say it's not important to start isearch with CTRL-s, I am just so
>> used to it. So, I am open for suggestions.
>
> Today we have first or one of the first letters as shortcut to menus.
> How about considering everything typed as search inputs.
> Search is then stopped by ESC, arrow keys and maybe more.
>
> Search is only possible when a menu is selected, not with focus on the buttons.
>
> This will break the habits of people used to the shortcut variant,
> but then we have the more flexible i-search variant.
>
> Idea?

Sounds very interesting, I will see if I can prepare a prototype so that
users can test it an see if they feel that would be an improvement for
them. In mconf, a focus on the buttons would be conceptually new
and I am anticipating I am not yet realizing all of the consequences.

One situation, I am still thinking about how to handle it (without a
dedicated search key):

* The user types a string and then doesn't want to enter further string
characters but find further occurences of the already entered string.

(In my imagination, TAB is reserved to change focus to the buttons,
ENTER is reserved to stop searching -- and enter a submenu, depending
on the item.)

Dirk