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How to get the "search type chooser" directly after clicking "search"?

Georg D shared this question 7 years ago
Answered

Many of the recent optimizations of v3.18.x are nice, but I am really unhappy with the new search UX. After I tap "search" in menu or right menu bar, I now always have to tap the "search type chooser" button on top right - very annoying as I usually try several search types directly one after the other e.g. points, geo names, google places, address).


How can I get the old behaviour back, so that the "search type chooser" appears directly after clicking "search"? I looked in configuration but did not find a solution :(

Replies (5)

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1

Good day Georg,


from what I understand, problem is that previously you tried more search types in row, which is now ... slower?


Let's try sample ...

previously:

  • tap search button (let's say it's in functions panel)
  • tap points
  • write name and tap search
  • result is invalid, so we tap back, and again ...
  • tap search
  • tap "geonames"
  • write name and tap "search"
  • result is invalid, so we tap back, and again ...
  • tap search
  • tap "google places"
  • write name and tap "search"


And now:

  • tap search button (let's say it's in functions panel)
  • tap menu (in case, we wants to search in different category then before, otherwise it is a step less) > tap points
  • write name and tap search
  • result is invalid, so we tap back, and again ...
  • tap menu
  • tap "geonames"
  • write name and tap "search"
  • result is invalid, so we tap back, and again ...
  • tap menu
  • tap "google places"
  • write name and tap "search"


So from my point of view, it is exactly same. It is even a one initial step less in case, you search in same category as your searched before, which is from my points of view most common.

Sorry Georg, I cannot help here. Creating two UI that may be changed by some settings is really crazy idea. What I may only suggest is to install and use previous version of Locus Map. Thank you for understanding.

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Hi Menion, you understood my use case correctly, but on my device it's for each search type one tap more than you write - when the result is not what I am looking for and tap back, the search closes, so before "tap menu" you've to add "tap search" on my device. Moreover, I do not recall that I had to tap back after "write name and tap search" just to close the virtual keyboard to have the screen available for results. So from my point of view, the new design requires 2 taps more per search type. I can live with it as i do not search dozens of times a day, but find it really annoying.


Apart from the amount of taps, IMHO the new search UI has a much more general downside: people that are not power users (=know Locus and its features by heart) might not even recognize that there are different search types available as they are hidden inside a menu after a one time action. As all search types I have available do not consume the whole screen space, what's about tabs like in point or track dialog? It's instantly visible that there are other search types, switching happens by a quick swipe, not much screen space is lost, tabs are a widly used UI element for arrangement of related but different informations.

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Hello Georg,

I have one good and one bad news. Bad news is that return to previous system is really not planned, sorry.

The good one is that I'll gladly improve current system. From what you wrote, I see two problems - 1) remaining keyboard after search, which should be hidden because of visibility of results and 2) "back" key that close whole screen.

1) agree ... I'll check it, 2) may you describe me what are you doing, so I may simulate it and fix it? Thanks.


About "how users find this feature" ... I have very good feedback from users. In case, they lost something, they always complain. So in case, they won't be able to find some feature, some search option, they will definitely write, which do not happen. Also menu has a small notification when this screen is opened for the first time and also by analytics I have, all search options are used +- in same numbers as two months before (before change), so this is probably not a big problem.

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Hi Menion, I can't reliably tell the changes in detail, but in v3.18.5, the search feature leaves a much better feeling for me - specially that the keyboard is automatically hidden in search results screen and that the search type choice is always (in all search screens so where I enter search words as well as result list) available on top right, so if my performed search does not show the desired results, I can instantly trigger another search without need to leave & re-enter search feature.

=> My usability issue is solved, new search UI is at least as fast to use than old one :) Thank you!

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2

Good to it! I've also noticed some issues in offline search, so this will be fixed later as well.

Thanks for a push to make this feature again a one step better!


Have a nice day.

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