[Feature request] Improved attachment content search

johnkingeu
Zotero has a powerful feature to search attachment content, available through the advanced search function.

However, at present it takes quite a few clicks to make the most of it. For example, to search content in the current collection, one has to create an advanced search, select attachment content and the search term, limit the search to the specified collection, then when the results are presented, click into each one in turn and then search again to find the relevant results.

It would be fantastic if Zotero could allow easier content searching and present results in context. Perhaps a first step would be to show search results in context in the advanced search bar, and then later a solution could be found to allow content searching without using the advanced search.

Just wondering if any of the devs have given this any thought as it would really extend the capabilities of Zotero using the existing capabilities (the GUI work would be tricky admittedly!)
  • adamsmith
    Note that content searching is available in quick search via the "everywhere" option
  • johnkingeu
    True and I'd forgotten this!

    Still it would be great to see results in context, I guess this would mean some fairly significant UI changes - maybe they could appear as child items of the relevant item
  • adamsmith
    Results in context have been planned for a (very) long time. I don't know where this is in terms of implementation (though the Z7 UI likely set the groundwork for this), but there's no disagreement from anyone, core devs included, that this would be useful and highly desirable.
  • OsmanHB
    +1 ... I remember us talking about that year back. The takeaway from our previous conversations was that the new version would make it possible to view specific parts from the sources in search results. I really look forward to that. Right now, I rely on a third party app HoudahSpot and going back and forth does not help much.
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