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Building the best file manager for Windows
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Feature Request: Search for Tab Name in All Open Tabs #15766

Closed trievis closed 1 week ago

trievis commented 2 weeks ago

What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

Feature Request: Search for Tab Name in All Open Tabs Summary

Implement a feature in the file manager that allows users to search for specific tab names across all open tabs, similar to the functionality found in Firefox. Description

Currently, users with multiple tabs open in the file manager must manually navigate through each tab to find a specific one. This can be time-consuming and inefficient, particularly for users who frequently work with numerous tabs. The proposed feature would introduce a search bar that enables users to quickly locate and switch to a tab by typing part of its name. Key Features

Search Bar Integration: Add a search bar to the file manager interface, positioned near the tab area, for easy access.
Dynamic Search Results: As users type in the search bar, dynamically display matching tab names from all open tabs on the fly.
Quick Navigation: Allow users to quickly navigate to a tab by clicking on its name from the search results.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Implement keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+T) to focus on the search bar for quick access.
Highlighting: Highlight the search term in the tab names for better visibility of matches.
Filter Options: Provide options to filter search results based on specific criteria (e.g., tab type, recently used).

Benefits

Improved Efficiency: Saves time by allowing users to quickly find and switch to the desired tab without manual browsing.
Enhanced User Experience: Simplifies tab management, especially for users handling multiple projects or directories simultaneously.
Increased Productivity: Reduces cognitive load and distractions, enabling users to maintain focus on their tasks.

Implementation Considerations

Performance: Ensure the search functionality is optimized to handle a large number of tabs without performance degradation.
User Interface: Design a clean and intuitive search interface that integrates seamlessly with the existing file manager layout.
Accessibility: Make the feature accessible to all users, including those using keyboard navigation and screen readers.

User Scenarios

Developer with Multiple Projects: A developer working on several projects simultaneously can quickly switch between project directories by typing the project name in the search bar.
Researcher Organizing Files: A researcher with multiple tabs open for different studies can efficiently locate and switch to a specific study folder without losing context.
Graphic Designer: A designer can manage multiple tabs for various design assets and quickly access the needed assets by searching for the tab name.

Conclusion

The addition of a tab name search feature in the file manager will significantly enhance usability and productivity for users who frequently manage numerous open tabs. By streamlining the process of locating and switching between tabs, this feature will provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience. The ability to display results dynamically as users type will further enhance the responsiveness and utility of the search function.

Requirements

Search Bar Integration: Add a search bar to the file manager interface, positioned near the tab area, for easy access.
Dynamic Search Results: As users type in the search bar, dynamically display matching tab names from all open tabs on the fly.
Quick Navigation: Allow users to quickly navigate to a tab by clicking on its name from the search results.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Implement keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+T) to focus on the search bar for quick access.
Highlighting: Highlight the search term in the tab names for better visibility of matches.
Filter Options: Provide options to filter search results based on specific criteria (e.g., tab type, recently used).

grafik

Files Version

3.5.0.0

Windows Version

10.0.19045.4529

Comments

No response

yaira2 commented 2 weeks ago

Thank you for your feedback. While it's true that Files has similarities with web browsers in some aspects, there are a number of behavioral differences. In regard to tabs, we've discovered that the average user of Files doesn't open more than a few tabs, whereas in a web browser, they might have dozens of tabs. I'm sure there are exceptions to this but that's what our previous research showed.

Can you clarify if this request is based on your personal usage of Files, or is it an idea based on your usage of Firefox? Either way is fine, but it'll help us better understand the use case 🙂