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Feature Request Approximate Search - QuickSearch that finds results that "look like" my query

Discussion in 'Editor & General Support' started by msfredb7, Nov 3, 2021.

  1. msfredb7

    msfredb7

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2012
    Posts:
    164
    This feature request mainly applies to the 'QuickSearch' tool in Unity.

    One of the biggest time wasters when trying to find an asset is: getting the name right.

    This comes in two forms:
    1. I don't remember the exact name of the asset.
    Was it named "In-GameMenu", "IngameMenu", "MenuIngame", "IngameOptionsMenu"?
    upload_2021-11-3_16-1-1.png

    2. I make a typo, either in the search query, or the asset is misnamed.
    "Matchmaknig" instead of "Matchmaking"
    upload_2021-11-3_16-0-31.png

    In both cases, a human would totally be able to find the asset I'm looking for. I think the new Search function in Unity Editor should be able to do the same.

    I'm not suggesting Google-level search. I think using a simple scoring system could go far in terms of improvements. I don't know how much slower this would make the search. If it makes it too slow, as a user, I would be willing to wait a second or two for better results. I imagine it could also be possible to split the results in two sections:
    1) The normal results, found fast.
    2) The "Did you mean X?" results, that take longer to appear.
     
    karl_jones and Kurt-Dekker like this.
  2. sebastienp_unity

    sebastienp_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2018
    Posts:
    201
    Thanks for the suggestion. This is something we could add to the asset search pipeline. We currently have an explicit provider that does all kind of search on asset name. And it can do Fuzzy search:

    This query:
    find: someting

    If Search Window is flagged with "More Results" we will do a fuzzy search:

    upload_2021-11-4_9-29-21.png
    We will look at using this fuzzy search in the Asset search as well.
     
    jonathans42 and msfredb7 like this.