Minor feature request: select search text

[wmm]

This is a request for a minor change that would make searching easier.

If I have already searched for a string and then want to search for something else, pressing ctrl-F moves the cursor into the box with the previous search text but does not select that text, meaning that I have to manually edit it to get rid of the old text so I can enter the new search string. If the text were selected by ctrl-F, I could just type the new search string and it would replace the old one.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

That is not my experience with the latest version. I find that the current search string in the Find Toolbar is selected with Control F. Typing a new string will replace it.

[wmm]

I thought I had seen it working that way earlier, but it certainly was not working that way when I made that post. Based on your input, though, I investigated further and understand what is happening now.

When you first search in a session, the search string is selected (highlighted) in the search text box. As long as you leave the search string selected, future ctrl-F's will restore the highlighting and allow the string to be replaced just by typing over it. However, if you click in the search text box, future searches will not re-select the text and the previous text must be manually deleted, as I reported.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

It seems that all is working as designed. If you click in the text it is right to assume that you wish to edit the search string (e.g. to correct typos after a failed search). Search for the correct string, then press Control F again, and the corrected string is again selected.

For example, searing for "mental" I accidentally type "metal" and it is not found. I edit the text and then "mental" is found. I press Control F, and "mental" is again selected.

[wmm]

I've done yet more experimentation, and the problem appears to be related to using the "find next" button (the binoculars with the green arrow) to start a search instead of "enter". Here's a scenario that reproduces the problem for me:

1. Start PDF-XChange Viewer and open a document.
2. Type ctrl-F.
3. Type a string that occurs in the document and then click the "find next" button (do not hit "enter").
4. Click in the document with the default "hand tool".
5. Type ctrl-F.

For me, at least, at this point the search string is not highlighted and the cursor is at the beginning of the search string.

Another interesting glitch is that if you omit step 4 and do not click in the document after the first search, ctrl-F does nothing.

I haven't done exhaustive testing, but I think that everything always works okay if you hit "enter" to start a search.