PDF XChange Forum

the red cross seems to currently do nothing

or actually I guess the red cross deletes highlighted results, but shouldn't it clear the search field as well?

Hi all,

It seems like the function of the red cross in the Find...-box has indeed changed.
Likely since the introduction of the Find and Replace feature in build 386.
Clicking the cross does no longer clear/empty the Find...-box.

@PDF-XChange support
Was that the intention ? We suppose not.

Additional info: see viewtopic.php?t=39576

Kind regards.

Hello all,

When the build was changed from build 385 to build 386, the tooltip was changed from "Clear Search" to "Clear Find Results". Maybe this is an intentional change.

• figure.png

Best regards,
rakunavi

Hello, rakunavi

The wording change does seem to indicate that it may have been intentional, but I will withhold judgement until Ive spoken to the Dev team. This "new handling" certainly feels a little bit off if it is intended. I have just written to our UI lead to ask if it was a planned change or not.

Kind regards,

yep this new handling doesn't seem right at all...

the red cross should clear all result highlights AND highlight and clear the simple search field, right?

Hello, MedBooster

Sorry it took so long to get back, we had a few items on the go and my inquiry on this topic was missed at the time. I just spoke with the Dev team and there is good reason for this change.

As it stands, both using Ctrl+F a second time, or simply clicking in the text area, will "select" the current text so you can immediately start typing and overwrite it anyway. In practice, this is identical to removing the text beforehand, except it also allows you to easily use the arrow keys , or a precision click to "add/remove" parts of your previous search without deleting it, in cases where you might want to do so. A real "best of both" situation.

The new handling also allows you to "redo" the same search by double clicking the same spot (one to remove results, one more to "restart search"), this is helpful if you have edited the document, added pages, and other such cases, since you last used the find feature. Two clicks in the same spot, and you have a fresh set of results, including all that new content.

I certainly cannot argue it feels strange at first, but the more I play with the new handling, the more convinced I am that this could be a case of "old habits die hard", instead of something that is inherently "wrong". I would implore you all to spend some more time using this function without letting yourselves get stuck on the difference. Try to be open to the new methods, and take advantage of the positive changes here. We don't want to rapidly throw something away because of a feeling, when it has so many clear benefits (and the only detriment is a small visual change).

Also, for some context, many web browsers, such as MS Edge and Chrome, as well as other apps like Adobe, all do not offer a clear button, you can close the find menu, but when you open it again, the previous text remains in place until you change it. Taking some further inspiration from web browsers, if you use the "select text" tool, and select a passage of text before pressing Ctrl_F, that text will autofill the find bar.

Kind regards,

Hello all,

rakunavi wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:29 pm When the build was changed from build 385 to build 386, the tooltip was changed from "Clear Search" to "Clear Find Results".

I like it!

Previously, we had to navigate through several menus in order to remove search highlighting from the document. I had to add my own keyboard shortcut "E" to that command in order to speed this up.

I would even suggest adding a similar "✖" cross to the Advanced Search box(es).

And while we're at it, perhaps also add the handy "< Previous / Next >" buttons!

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:31 pm simply clicking in the text area, will "select" the current text

This doesn't seem to happen here with the latest build. However, it probably should? Maybe the devs can cross-check once more.

Best regards
David

Hello, David.P

You might be getting the topics mixed up here. This thread is pertaining to the "Find" feature (Ctrl_F) as you can see in the screenshots above, not the "search" feature (Ctrl+Shift_F). The intent of the two features is different, and so too is their functionality for this reason.

The search feature is not designed with the assumption that you would commonly want to throwaway what you have put in place so far. This could be quite detrimental and add extra steps to someone who is working on a complex string of comparisons, and would bring more harm than good in that context.

Kind regards,

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:30 pm You might be getting the topics mixed up here.

Definitely not, that's intentional

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:30 pm This thread is pertaining to the "Find" feature (Ctrl_F)

Yes, and I like it the way it has been changed in the latest build.

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:30 pm The search feature is not designed with the assumption that you would commonly want to throwaway what you have put in place so far.

Of course, not even the Find feature does that anymore, as discussed above

My suggestion pertains to amending the Advanced Search dialog in a similar way the Find box has been amended.

David.P wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:54 pm
I would even suggest adding a similar "✖" cross to the Advanced Search box(es).

And while we're at it, perhaps also add the handy "< Previous / Next >" buttons!

➀
The proper X to clear the field.. great idea

➁
next previous buttons... well... I myself just use shift+TAB (to highlight the results) and then arrow up/down. And if you have a mouse you could just click on the results? So I don't quite see the point with that. Maybe as customizable buttons though? — unfortunately it doesn't seem like you can add custom buttons.

I updated to version 393

This still happens:

(see the attached GIF screen recording) Sorry for not using PowerToys click highlighter, so it might be difficult to see when I left click, but you can see when I left click as the search field is nor highlighted nor cleared (simple search)

Currently, clicking the red cross should do the same as pressing ctrl+F, right? Which it does not seem to do for me.
PS: why not keep the cross there at all times? It seems to only appear after you perform a search.

MedBooster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:20 pm I updated to version 393

This still happens:
["✖" removes the Find Results highlighting instead of clearing the search box]

Yes, it's supposed to happen because it's intentional

rakunavi wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:29 pm When the build was changed from build 385 to build 386, the tooltip was changed from "Clear Search" to "Clear Find Results".

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:31 pm I just spoke with the Dev team and there is good reason for this change.

MedBooster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:51 pm The proper X to clear the field

I disagree

...because this is better:

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:31 pm simply clicking in the text area, will "select" the current text

Hello David,
You might have changed my reply in the "quote"?

what I was saying was that when clicking on the red cross
➀
The search field is not highlighted (as when you press Ctrl+F) — I thought this was the intended new behavior.


..because this is better:

Daniel - PDF-XChange wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:31 am
simply clicking in the text area, will "select" the current text

↑
I thought "select the current text" refers to highlighting all the text in the simple search field, so that what you input is the first characters unless you use the arrow keys beforehand.



➁
Not cleared — I was referring to the old clear behavior which I understand has been removed now for "good reasons"

Hello, MedBooster

It does seem that the field retains when its position was modified by a direct click, and prevents a single click from highlighting the whole filed, until you double click to "select all" again, or use Ctrl+F as usual.
I will touch base with the devs as I do think that this could be made more consistent. EG, if you have left the field, or used the "search" button again since you last entered text, selecting it all on a single click should still occur.

In the meantime, double click, or Ctrl+F is the answer to quickly select all.

Kind regards,

Double click only selects a single word, what if here's a phrase?

I strongly insist that clicking on the red cross clears the results AND highlights all text content of the simple search field just as ctrl+F does.

Hello, MedBooster

Much like in most windows applications, triple click would select the whole "paragraph", which in the context of the find bar would be all of it. However, as you would presumably be typing after entering the field anyway, using Ctrl_F will still likely be the simplest and more accessible workaround while we work on this.

Kind regards,