Using Search Results Window

Using The Search Results Window

Introduction

The Search Results window displays a summary list of matches found by ABCFind.

Every time a match is found, ABCFind will add it to the active search results list. When a new search is started, then the current list is cleared before starting the new search.

To view the code that is referenced by a search result list entry, simply double-click on that line. The following keyboard shortcuts are provided for easy navigation:

F11 - View code for currently selected search result entry
F12 - Move selection to next result entry in the list and display the code
Shift+F12 - Move selection to the previous entry in the list and display the code

Many actions can be performed and the search results window. These commands are normally specified by use of a context-menu (right-click on the list to display this menu)

Alternatively, the more common functions are available by use of a Toolbar displayed along the top of the search results.

Managing Search Results Lists

By default, ABCFind will only have one search result list available and the results displayed in this list will be cleared when starting a new search. If you wish to keep the current set of results, it is possible to protect the current 'Active Search' results list so that ABCFind will no longer add to or remove from any search results.

If you wish to preserve the current results list before starting a new search then right-click on the search results window and select the 'Manage Lists' context menu and select 'Protect Results'. This will move the current list to a preserved list. All future search operations will be added to the 'Active Search' list and will not effect your preserved list.

Multiple lists will be identified by displaying them in a tabbed-list between the search results list and the toolbar. Simply click on each one to make the list visible.

You can create blank results lists for your own custom use, by using the Manage Lists context menu and selecting 'New'. You can chose to create a window for one of four types of search results:

Find - search results for text found in code loaded into the VB IDE. Click here for information about these type of searches.
SourceSafe - search results for text found in SourceSafe version of the code loaded in the VB IDE. Click here for information about these type of searches.
Find In Files - search results for text found in files on disks. Click here for information about these type of searches.
Find In SourceSafe - search results for text found in files held in a SourceSafe database. Click here for information about these type of searches.

Search result lists of a certain kind can only hold results for a certain type of search. For example, it is not possible for a Find In SourceSafe search result list to store results for a Find In Files search.

Moving Search Results From One List To Another

Search result entries can be copied or moved from one search result list to another. One way to do this is to use the copy'n'paste model - simply select one or more entries in a results list, press Ctrl+C to copy these entries to the clipboard, give focus to the results list you wish to copy to and then press Ctrl+V to paste the entries into this list.

As well as copy'n'paste, is is also possible to drag'n'drop entries from one list to another.

You can modify ABCFind's default behavior for protecting search result lists by using certain options available in the Options Dialog.