Fuzzy string matching for History and Favourites
Posted: 16.03.2009, 03:50
I would like to see fuzzy string matching for your history and favourite locations, and possibly the quick search. This allows _very_ efficient navigation through these menus.
Currently, you are forced to either reach for the mouse or hit arrow down a fair few times to get to where you want to. Instead, pop up the menu with a focused textbox on top that can accept a text pattern, and filter the history (eg.) list according to a fuzzy algorithm. This way, if you still wish to use the mouse or the arrow keys, you still can.
A fuzzy matching algorithm that has proven to work well for file names is: Each character in the source pattern must exist in the file name in the order of the source pattern. Eg.
To sort the results, each "jump" in the match is given a negative score unless there is a space in the pattern at this point.
If this is of interest and you would like more exact details (or code) feel free to contact me.
Currently, you are forced to either reach for the mouse or hit arrow down a fair few times to get to where you want to. Instead, pop up the menu with a focused textbox on top that can accept a text pattern, and filter the history (eg.) list according to a fuzzy algorithm. This way, if you still wish to use the mouse or the arrow keys, you still can.
A fuzzy matching algorithm that has proven to work well for file names is: Each character in the source pattern must exist in the file name in the order of the source pattern. Eg.
Code: Select all
pattern: stucomtxt
file: some_stuffCommand.txt
match: *****stu**com*****txt
If this is of interest and you would like more exact details (or code) feel free to contact me.