Searching for commands and other elements of a user interface
The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily locate a menu command or other user interface element associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field. A list of results is displayed, for example in a results menu. The user can select or highlight any of the listed results; in response, the corresponding command is brought into view in context within the user interface, and is highlighted. The user can activate the selected command directly from the search results menu.
1. A computer-implemented method for searching for menu commands of an application, the method comprising:
displaying a menu bar of the application, the menu bar comprising a plurality of menus including a help menu;
receiving user input within a search field of the help menu, the user input representing a search query;
displaying by a computer a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application;
receiving user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list; and
responsive to the selection of the search result, displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the menu command corresponding to the search result was not displayed prior to selection of the search result.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the menu command corresponding to the search result was displayed prior to selection of the search result.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a dialog box comprising the menu command corresponding to the search result.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 further comprising:
concurrently with displaying the dialog box, displaying a menu comprising a command for activating the dialog box.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a window comprising the menu command corresponding to the search result.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving user input indicating a selection of a second search result within the list, dismissing the menu command corresponding to the search result;
displaying a location of a second menu command corresponding to the selected second search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar; and
highlighting the second menu command.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the list of search results further comprises search results corresponding to menu items within an operating system.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, concurrently with the display of the list of search results, a representation of at least one additional item having text matching the search query, wherein the at least one additional item comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a document;
a message; and
a folder.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises keystrokes representing a text string.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying by the computer the list of search results is performed responsive to receiving an indication that the user has finished entering the search query.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying by the computer the list of search results is performed responsive to user activation of an Enter key.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying by the computer the list of search results is performed responsive to a pause in user entry of the search query, the pause exceeding a predetermined length.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying by the computer the list of search results is performed responsive to user entry of a character for the search query.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the list of search results comprises displaying a menu comprising the list of search results adjacent to the menu bar.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the location of the menu command corresponding to the search result comprises applying a glow effect to a menu heading that comprises the menu command corresponding to the search result.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the location of the menu command corresponding to the search result comprises applying a spotlight effect to a menu heading that comprises the menu command corresponding to the search result.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, adjacent to at least one search result in the list, a user-activatable help link associated with the search result.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising responsive to receiving user activation of the help link, displaying descriptive information for the menu command corresponding to the search result.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the location of the menu command corresponding to the search results comprises highlighting the menu command corresponding to the search result thereby changing a visual feature of the menu command corresponding to the search result.
21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , wherein highlighting the menu command corresponding to the search result corresponding to the search result comprises applying a spotlight effect to the menu command corresponding to the search result.
22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein applying the spotlight effect comprises performing at least one of:
lightening a first screen area immediately surrounding the menu command corresponding to the search result; and
darkening a second screen area surrounding the first screen area so that the second screen area is darker than the first screen area.
23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22 , further comprising displaying the location of the menu command within a window, and wherein the second screen area comprises the remainder of the window not including the first screen area.
24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22 , wherein the second screen area comprises the remainder of a user interface display not including the first screen area.
25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22 , wherein the difference in brightness between the first and second screen areas is gradated.
26. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , wherein highlighting the menu command corresponding to the search result comprises displaying an arrow that points to a location of the menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying the location of the menu command corresponding to the search result comprises displaying the menu command corresponding to the search result in a sub-menu of one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input indicating the selection of the search result within the list comprises receiving a user input clicking on the search result.
29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the user input indicating the selection of the search result within the list comprises receiving a user input hovering a cursor over the search result.
30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving a user input clicking on the search result, activating the menu command associated with the search result.
31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30 , further comprising dismissing the list of search results.
32. A computer-implemented method for installing a feature for performing searches for menu commands of an application, the method comprising:
prompting the user to select whether to install the feature;
receiving input in response to the prompt;
responsive to receiving affirmative input in response to the prompt, installing the feature;
wherein the feature, when installed on a computer device, causes the computer device to:
display a menu bar of the application, the menu bar comprising a plurality of menus including a help menu;
receive user input within a search field of the help menu, the user input representing a search query;
display by the computer device a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application;
receive user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list; and
responsive to the selection of the search result, displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
33. A computer program product for searching for menu commands of an application, the product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and
computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:
displaying a menu bar of the application, the menu bar comprising a plurality of menus including a help menu;
receiving user input within a search field of the help menu, the user input representing a search query;
displaying a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application;
receiving user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list; and
responsive to the selection of the search result, displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
34. The computer program product of claim 33 , further comprising computer program code for displaying, concurrently with the display of the list, a representation of at least one additional item having text matching the search query, wherein the at least one additional item comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a document;
a message; and
a folder.
35. A computer program product for installing a feature for performing searches for menu commands of an application, the product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and
computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:
prompting the user to select whether to install the feature;
receiving input in response to the prompt;
responsive to receiving affirmative input in response to the prompt, installing the feature;
wherein the feature, when installed on a computer device, causes the computer device to:
display a menu bar of the application, the menu bar comprising a plurality of menus including a help menu;
receive user input within a search field of the help menu, the user input representing a search query;
display a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application;
receive user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list; and
responsive to the selection of the search result, displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
36. A computer system for searching for menu commands of an application, the system comprising:
an input device, for receiving user input within a search field of a help menu, the user input representing a search query;
a display device, for displaying a menu bar of the application that comprises a plurality of menus including the help menu and for displaying a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application; and
a processor, for, responsive to receiving user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list, causing the display device to displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein, responsive to selection of a search result, the display device:
highlights the menu command corresponding o the search result thereby changing a visual feature of the menu command corresponding to the search result.
38. The system of claim 36 , wherein the display device displays, concurrently with the display of the list, a representation of at least one additional item having text matching the search query, wherein the at least one additional item comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a document;
a message; and
a folder.
39. A computer system for installing a feature for performing searches for menu commands of an application, the system comprising:
an output device, for prompting the user to select whether to install the feature;
an input device, for receiving input in response to the prompt;
an installation module, for, responsive to receiving affirmative input in response to the prompt, installing the feature;
wherein the feature, when installed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:
display a menu bar of the application, the menu bar comprising a plurality of menus including a help menu;
receive user input within a search field of the help menu, the user input representing a search query;
display a list of search results that corresponds to the menu commands of the application;
receive user input indicating a selection of a search result within the list; and
responsive to the selection of the search result, displaying a location of a menu command corresponding to the search result in one of the plurality of menus in the menu bar.