Feature Wish: Save Search Parameters

[kovidgoyal]

If you plug in in multiple readers, calibre will detect only the first plugged in one.

I'm afraid I have to veto the idea of having saved searches in the library bar.

There will eventually be multiple libraries in that bar, in particular, a remote library for people that like to have access to their books on the go. And also for people that want to segregate (and password protect) some content, like say, porn from their main libraries.

Saved searches belong logically in the tag browser, sice the tag browser acts right now as a collection of predefined saved searches, adding the ability for users to define their own searches seems natural to me.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Saved searches belong logically in the tag browser, sice the tag browser acts right now as a collection of predefined saved searches, adding the ability for users to define their own searches seems natural to me.

Saving searches in the tag browser also makes logical sense to me, but I wouldn't mind improvements to the pulldown list of remembered searches. If I start typing the beginning of a search, it would be nice for the pulldown list to narrow to the searches that match. It might be nice to have a button allowing sorting by the most frequently used searches, alphabetically, and by last used.

That pulldown is awfully convenient. Also consider that there are already two buttons adjacent to the search line - advanced searching and the clear search bar button. It makes a "search area" for search related functions. Another button there for saved searches might logically be placed there.

[kovidgoyal]

I'm fine with improvements to the search history as well as putting saved searches as a combobox next to the search bar. It's up to whoever is writing the code

[chaley]

I am looking for some opinions on whether to use a saved search's name or its content.

Assume that MySearch is a named saved search containing "tag:=foo and not tag:bar". Further assume that the user selects this search from the right-hand browser pane. What should appear in the search box?

Choice 1: (something like) search:MySearch
Choice 2: tag:=foo and not tag:bar

Choice 1 makes it easier 1) to know that a saved search has been used, 2) to compose searches, e.g., "search:MySearch and not format:epub", but 3) prevents modifying the search. Choice 2 inverts all three consequences.

Note that the choice will affect what is shown in the search history.

Note also that using a search name would mean that if the search saved under the name changes, reusing the search from history would use the new search string. This may or may not be good.

A related question: in the browser pane and (if I add it) the combobox near the search line to select saved searches, should I display the search name or the search content? I think that the right answer is the search name, but I could be convinced otherwise for consistency's sake if choice 2 above is deemed correct.

I lean rather strongly to using the search name everywhere (choice 1 and display search names). However, I know from long experience that what I think can be at right angles to the majority, so I thought I would ask.

[kovidgoyal]

I'm fine with either approach, but I vote for named searches, since some searches can be quite long.

[rollercoaster]

IMO use named searches and show the query in a tooltip.

when it is renamed then confirm with the user and search-replace in the other saved searches to keep things consistent. confirming may not be necessary. you could just put a note stating that renaming will do so automatically.

[BookwormDragon]

Thanks so much for implementing this feature in the latest build! It's perfect, exactly what I wanted.


BookwormDragon

[rollercoaster]

I am soooo happy that I am posting here as well

Originally Posted by chaley

You are welcome. And thank you for your suggestions on the previous thread, and in particular your suggestions for how to use tool tips. I wouldn't have thought of that.

just updated calibre to .47 and saved searches are there. Awesome!

a couple of minor suggestions -
1. Show search queries in tooltip of individual items in the saved searches dropdown
2. Clear selected saved search when manually clearing the search text box
3. IMO add a confirmation message (one that has a dont show again checkbox) on the delete button. I accidentally clicked in with the habit of clicking the clear search box button and then did it again after 30 secs

Thanks very much for coding this feature. feels cool