Content Search

DanielT · 07-08-2013, 06:28 PM

I'm looking for a reader that will do word or phrase searches through all my books at one time, not just the book that I have open. Which reader or program out there does that? Or am I just not figuring out how to do it with my Kindle reader? Please help.

susan_cassidy · 07-08-2013, 08:32 PM

Kindle should be doing that.

BookCat · 07-08-2013, 11:36 PM

Side issue: do ereaders search for books by title? My old Sony doesn't.

Sorry for hi-jacking.

speakingtohe · 07-09-2013, 12:17 AM

The T1 does and Kobo

HarryT · 07-09-2013, 01:58 AM

When you do a search from the home screen of the Kindle, it searches your entire library. When you do a search from within a book, by default it searches that book, although you can change the scope of the search.

Billi · 07-09-2013, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Side issue: do ereaders search for books by title? My old Sony doesn't.

From the start screen, the Pocketbook devices are able to search for phrases in filename, author name or book title but they are not able to accomplish what DanielT is after, to search for phrases inside the books too. This search one has to do for every single book anew after opening every single book.

HarryT · 07-09-2013, 11:47 AM

I don't know of any eInk reader other than the Kindle which maintains a "global" index of your books, thus allowing global searches.

Billi · 07-09-2013, 11:52 AM

Is maintaining a global index necessary? I understand that it is desirable and much better to have it for speed and performance reasons, but is it a requirement?

HarryT · 07-09-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Is maintaining a global index necessary? I understand that it is desirable and much better to have it for speed and performance reasons, but is it a requirement?

I suppose it's not actually a technical requirement, but for searching large numbers of books it's certainly a practical requirement.

speakingtohe · 07-09-2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't know of any eInk reader other than the Kindle which maintains a "global" index of your books, thus allowing global searches.

Does the kindle actually search inside every book on the device for a phrase?

I rarely want to do this and I occasionally do it with calibre, but this would be a handy feature to have.

Helen

HarryT · 07-09-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Does the kindle actually search inside every book on the device for a phrase?

It doesn't actually search inside the books. When you add books to the Kindle, it creates a global index of all the words in your books, and searches the index. But yes, it will do searches across your entire library. Very useful for reference material, or if you want to know what book such-and-such a character appears in, and things like that.

speakingtohe · 07-09-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It doesn't actually search inside the books. When you add books to the Kindle, it creates a global index of all the words in your books, and searches the index. But yes, it will do searches across your entire library. Very useful for reference material, or if you want to know what book such-and-such a character appears in, and things like that.

That sounds incredibly useful. As I said I can do that in calibre, but then I would have to get out of bed.

Helen

Billi · 07-09-2013, 02:17 PM

Yes, that sounds very useful. It would be an extreme improvement if we could see it implemented into more readers.

BookCat · 07-09-2013, 05:36 PM

Does this mean that the OP could search for the phrase "It was the best of times" and come up with A Tale of Two Cities?

I'd just be amazed at finding the book by doing a search for "A Tale of Two Cities". I'm always having problems finding books on my 505, especially if the title begins with A or The.

HarryT · 07-10-2013, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Does this mean that the OP could search for the phrase "It was the best of times" and come up with A Tale of Two Cities?

Yes, exactly. Provided that the book is on the Kindle, of course.

07-08-2013, 06:28 PM	#1
DanielT Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Sumsung galaxy tab 2 7"	Content Search I'm looking for a reader that will do word or phrase searches through all my books at one time, not just the book that I have open. Which reader or program out there does that? Or am I just not figuring out how to do it with my Kindle reader? Please help. Last edited by DanielT; 07-08-2013 at 06:34 PM. Reason: More information.

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07-08-2013, 08:32 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Kindle should be doing that.

07-08-2013, 11:36 PM	#3
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Side issue: do ereaders search for books by title? My old Sony doesn't. Sorry for hi-jacking.

07-09-2013, 12:17 AM	#4
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	The T1 does and Kobo

07-09-2013, 01:58 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	When you do a search from the home screen of the Kindle, it searches your entire library. When you do a search from within a book, by default it searches that book, although you can change the scope of the search.

07-09-2013, 11:47 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I don't know of any eInk reader other than the Kindle which maintains a "global" index of your books, thus allowing global searches.

07-09-2013, 11:52 AM	#8
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Is maintaining a global index necessary? I understand that it is desirable and much better to have it for speed and performance reasons, but is it a requirement?

07-09-2013, 02:17 PM	#13
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Yes, that sounds very useful. It would be an extreme improvement if we could see it implemented into more readers.

07-09-2013, 05:36 PM	#14
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Does this mean that the OP could search for the phrase "It was the best of times" and come up with A Tale of Two Cities? I'd just be amazed at finding the book by doing a search for "A Tale of Two Cities". I'm always having problems finding books on my 505, especially if the title begins with A or The.

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