Integrated search and find user interface

• US 20070061307A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hartwell, Aaron, Pell, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A search and find user interface is provided that is integrated with a data indexing engine to allow efficient and high-speed data search and retrieval across data storage folders associated with a given software module or associated with a number of disparate software modules. An expanded form of the search and find user interface is provided for advanced searching. Where searching is required beyond a present search scope, an automatic “upscoping” mechanism is provided for expanding a search to data storage folders outside a current data storage folder on which an initial search is executed.

Claims

1. A method for providing a search and find functionality in a software module, comprising:

disposing a search and find user interface element in close proximity to one or more selectable data folders;

disposing a textbox in the user interface element for receiving an alphanumeric search query;

operatively associating the search and find user interface with an indexed data folder;

receiving an indication of an initiation of a search query against the indexed data folder; and

displaying any data items contained in the indexed data folder responsive to the search query in a results list disposed beneath the user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a status field beneath the textbox for displaying status information about the data items contained in the indexed data folder responsive to the search query.

3. The method of claim 1, prior to receiving an indication of an initiation of a search query against the indexed data folder, receiving an alphanumeric search query in the textbox.

4. The method of claim 3, prior to displaying any data items contained in the indexed data folder responsive to the search query in a results list disposed beneath the user interface element, returning any data items contained in the indexed data folder where the any data items contain the alphanumeric search query.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the alphanumeric search query is present in a displayed portion of any of the displayed data items, highlighting the alphanumeric search query in the displayed portion.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a progress indicator in the user interface element beneath the textbox, and providing an animation in the progress indicator during any active search operation for indicating a progression of the active search operation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a narrow bar vertically along an edge of the results list disposed beneath the user interface element for indicating the results list contains one or more data items responsive to a search of the indexed data folder and for indicating that the indexed data folder is in a filtered state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a dropdown menu under the textbox for providing one or more additional search functionalities associated with the search and find user interface element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more additional search functionalities includes a most recently used search query control for causing a display of one or more previously entered search queries, and further comprising receiving a selection of one of the one or more previously entered search queries, and automatically entering the selected one of the one or more previously entered search queries into the textbox for processing a search query against the indexed data folder.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving an indication of a selection of a search control for initiating a search query against the indexed data folder based on the selected one of the one or more previously entered search queries.

11. An improved search and find user interface, comprising:

a search and find user interface element disposed in a software module user interface between a navigation pane and a data preview pane;

the search and find user interface element being further disposed above a list pane for displaying data from one or more data folders contained in the navigation pane;

the search and find user interface element being operatively associated with an indexed data folder; and

a textbox disposed in the user interface element for receiving an alphanumeric search query for searching the indexed data folder.

12. The search and find user interface of claim 11, further comprising a clear control for causing a clearing of an alphanumeric search query entered into the textbox.

13. The search and find user interface of claim 12, further comprising a progress indicator disposed in the user interface element beneath the textbox for providing an animation during any active search operation for indicating a progression of the active search operation.

14. The search and find user interface of claim 13, further comprising a results list disposed beneath the user interface element for displaying results of a search of the indexed data folder.

15. The search and find user interface of claim 14, further comprising a narrow bar disposed vertically along an edge of the results list for indicating the results list contains one or more data items responsive to a search of the indexed data folder.

16. The search and find user interface of claim 13, further comprising a most recently used search query control disposed adjacent to the textbox for causing a display of one or more previously entered search queries.

17. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing a search and find functionality in a software module, comprising:

disposing a search and find user interface element in close proximity to one or more selectable data folders;

disposing a textbox in the user interface element for receiving an alphanumeric search query;

operatively associating the search and find user interface with an indexed data folder;

receiving an alphanumeric search query in the textbox;

receiving an indication of an initiation of a search query against the indexed data folder with the alphanumeric search query;

displaying any data items contained in the indexed data folder responsive to the search query in a results list disposed beneath the user interface element; and

if the alphanumeric search query is present in a displayed portion of any of the displayed data items, highlighting the alphanumeric search query in the displayed portion.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising disposing a progress indicator in the user interface element beneath the textbox, and providing an animation in the progress indicator during any active search operation for indicating a progression of the active search operation.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising disposing a narrow bar vertically along an edge of the results list disposed beneath the user interface element for indicating the results list contains one or more data items responsive to a search of the indexed data folder.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

disposing a most recently used search query control adjacent to the textbox for causing a display of one or more previously entered search queries;

receiving a selection of one of the one or more previously entered search queries, and automatically entering the selected one of the one or more previously entered search queries into the textbox for processing a search query against the indexed data folder; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a search control for initiating a search query against the indexed data folder based on the selected one of the one or more previously entered search queries.