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| __NOTOC__
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/SearchPattern }} |
| {{Construction}} | |
| Ref's:
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| * http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/searchchecklist.html
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| * http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/002015.php
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| * http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=285&t=120079
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| == Purpose ==
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| A ''search function'' allows to generate a subset out of a big number of items on ground of a user defined pattern. The function is essential to find matching items in case of a extended list or if the position of target(s) is unknown, as well as when bulk operations should be executed to a subset. A search operation interrupts the 'predefined workflow' and bypass core functions to a user-defined data set.
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| Supplemental to search is the ''filter function'' which rather reduces a given number of items than generating an output.
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| == Guidelines ==
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| * Make the search result persistent. Users must not need to research after selecting or referencing an item.
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| * Consider to allow iterative search on result lists.
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| * Do not inherit artificial intelligence from users. Search operations have always be clear and comprehensible to users.
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| * Follow the guidelines on [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ProgressIndicator|delayed operations]] if the search takes longer.
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| * Provide paging/scrolling of results.
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| * Provide auto complete feature to the input based on previous operations.
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| * Start the search process via button or when the user pressed enter.
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| * Show the search pattern at the header of the result list (e.g. "Search results for: <Hello World>")
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| * Show hints on how to use the search effectively.
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| * Do case insensitive search, unless its important.
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| * Make the search box large enough to show at least 20 characters (at the moment: KRunner & Kicker = 24, Konqueror = 54, KCM = 33, cf. ).
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| * Run a combined AND search when two words have been entered unless the term is quoted (e.g. Hello World vs "Hello World")
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| == Appearance ==
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| * Search input consists of an icon, a line input to enter the search pattern, and a button to start the search. (VDG could make a proposal how it looks nice)
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| * ''Placement''
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| ** Start search at the upper right area of your dialog (KCM and web style).
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| ** Start search at the lower left area of your dialog (Kicker and Konqueror style).
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| ** Show search centered in the upper area of your dialog (Dolphin and KRunner style).
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| * ''To show or not to show:''
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| ** Always show search input. Do not hide the availability from users.
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| ** Show input control only when users start the search.
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| ** Hide the control in case the search is not the primary function of the app, but show a small button which indicates clearly the availability of the function.
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| ** Active the control and focus it on Ctrl+F or when user clicks the icon.
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| ** Do not use search icon anywhere else.
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| * ''How to present results'' (Depends on use case?)
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| ** Highlight search results (KCM mode).
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| ** Hide non-matching results (Kicker mode).
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| ** Generate a new list that matches the search pattern (KRunner mode).
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| == Best Practice ==
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| [[Category:Usability]][[Category:Structure]][[Category:Organizational_Model]]
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