[Qgis-developer] Usability of searches

[Andreas Neumann]

Hi Paolo,

I wouldn't say it is bad usability that you have to go through the 
attribute table to search for features - because usually you want to see 
the results in the table or form anyway - or you want to do something 
with the filtered or selected features - such as viewing or modifying 
their attributes.

For QGIS 2.16, Nyall will work on the multi-attribute editor and there 
will also be search directly from multiple attributes in the form. So 
there is already work going on for improving search from the form with 
multiple attributes. If you have any input on that, please tell us.¨

Andreas

On 09.03.2016 11:11, Paolo Cavallini wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> perhaps I'm missing something, but I find usability of current search
> mechanism a bit cumbersome. AFAICT, to search a set of features, the
> user should:
> * select on the legend the layer to be searched
> * open the attribute table
> * select the Column filter button, selecting one column
> * insert the condition
> * click Apply
> * click on Zoom to selection.
> Alternatively, one can use the Select by expression tool.
> Is there a more straightforward way?
>
> I would suggest a simpler mechanism:
> * click on a dedicated Search button
> * select the layer to be searched from a dropdown of the layers in legend
> * show a form (with the dropdowns etc., as defined for the layer) where
> the user can select or type (with autocompletion and automatic selection
> of ranges) the search criteria
> * automatically zoom to selected items.
>
> Alternatively:
> * add a Search entry for each layer, besides the Filter one, in the
> legend > Right click.
>
> Would this make sense?
>
> All the best.