@
chaley - I was thinking there wouldn't be any preferences relating to the button and there would be a simple rule
If the search box is empty then don't show the button.
Or to put it the other way, it would be shown irrespective of how the search was initiated - Mark Books, Find Duplicates, Reading List, Quality Check, Advanced Search, Saved Search, Tag Browser... or typing a search term into the box.
2 - always show the button, but ignore any clicks on it if the search box is empty, would that not eliminate most of the 'inadvertent' clicking? But then some users would complain that that couldn't set it before they did their search Ψ²
3 - combine the various search related buttons into a single button (Search options) with a drop down menu - like the Alter Tag Browser button
I've tried to think of something 'better' than three bars and an optional red slash, but I'm no good at that sort of thing. Maybe someone could come up with an 'better' button design
Anyway, I don't want to prolong the discussion, as you say it is vexed. I just wanted to jot down some ideas that have been rattling around in my head
BR