frappe / erpnext

Free and Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
https://erpnext.com
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Enhanced Search Functionality in ERPNext #39055

Open GopalKedia2020 opened 8 months ago

GopalKedia2020 commented 8 months ago

I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to propose an enhancement to ERPNext's search functionality that could significantly benefit users dealing with complex item codes.

Current Challenge: Our organization utilizes item codes that are intricate by nature, which complicates the search process using the existing search logic within ERPNext. To mitigate this, we have introduced a custom field titled "Item Search Keywords." This field contains a series of keywords designed to facilitate the searchability of items. However, when this field is included in the "Search Fields" within a DocType's settings, the autocomplete dropdowns in Sales Invoices and other DocTypes become overcrowded with keywords. This not only clutters the UI but also hampers the user's ability to swiftly locate specific items, given the limited space of the dropdown.

Proposed Solution: I suggest the creation of a new field—perhaps named "Search Fields Display" or something else. This field would define which fields' names are to be exhibited in the dropdown menus. Meanwhile, the underlying search functionality would continue to operate using the actual values from the original search fields "Search Fields". Such a feature would streamline the search experience while keeping the user interface clean and uncluttered. To make sure, this feature request doesn't affect existing users, we can simply duplicate the "Search Fields" values for each doctype in the new field for every account, and as per the needs, every account admins can modify the new field value.

Advantages:

Conclusion: This feature could be a valuable addition for many users facing similar challenges. I believe it aligns with ERPNext's commitment to creating a more efficient and user-friendly ERP system.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your thoughts on this potential enhancement.

GopalKedia2020 commented 8 months ago

I hope this message finds you well. As we await feedback on the initial feature request, I've had a further realization about the potential for improving ERPNext's search functionality, particularly inspired by the effectiveness of the Awesome Bar.

I've noticed how the Awesome Bar's search logic proficiently displays relevant results based on the entered keywords. This got me thinking: why not integrate a similar logic into the DocType searches? For example, when searching for items in a Sales Invoice, the system could consider data from fields specified in the "Search Fields". Implementing this logic in item searches and other DocTypes would not only enhance the user experience but also allow us to rival the search capabilities found in systems like Tally.

This enhancement could render the current workaround of using a keyword search field redundant. It's a less efficient method and integrating the Awesome Bar's logic could streamline and simplify the process significantly.

Moreover, given that the Awesome Bar's code is already developed, I believe adapting and applying this logic to various DocTypes might be a more straightforward task. This integration could harness existing resources to elevate the efficiency and user experience in ERPNext.

Thank you once again for considering these suggestions. I am confident that these enhancements align with ERPNext's commitment to continual improvement and user-centric design.