something new for the new year

[nikos]

New baby borne! A prototype desktop search engine. It doesn't do much yet but you can give it a quick spin and let me know what you think:

1. download http://www.zabkat.com/test/deskrule.zip
2. unpack and read the README (no installer)
3. run and test!

it takes its time to load because it does many self tests. But once it is open you can compose any rule you can imagine (see the readme file) and then drag-drop a file to see if it passes or not

Not much of a search engine yet, but the year has just started
if you see something funny, let me know
thanks

ps for the time being it requires vista or later

[Tuxman]

Where's the advantage of your neat toy compared to the similar neat toys which have been around for years? Praise your product more efficiently!

[nikos]

see the readme! find pictures by GPS? you don't see that everyday

[Tuxman]

I see. Hm, that's nice, actually...

Random question: Why does the startup turn my cursor into "Waiting" for multiple seconds? What does it initialize?

[nikos]

yes, sorry about that, too many tests run in the debug version, it is quite fast in release mode

[Tuxman]

Yes, you stated that in the original posting, I just thought you could provide more technical insight.

Notes:
1. "drag drop a file" improper grammar.
2. the "..." button doesn't do anything.
3. even Kilmatead's applications are more intuitive.



I have read the readme and still not much of a clue about what to do with this.

(ATL libraries are sooo 2000...)

[nikos]

it isn't that hard; define some rules, then throw in a file to see if it matches them or not.

[Tuxman]

Wouldn't it make more sense to be able to add folders too?
(Also, I can't. The "..." doesn't work ... )

[Kilmatead]

...even Kilmatead's applications are more intuitive.

I heard that. "Even"? What do you mean "even"? Mine are always more intuitive than jumbo-bunny's here. (Besides, an up-coming one is guaranteed to challenge the very foundations of logic itself. )

And Nikos, why do the great unwashed get a nice new spangley properties-finder modal while I had to suffer a ridiculously long dropdown with print smaller than Liechtenstein? That's so unfair.

(We will note that using the filter-box to type text into and then deleting that text using backspace always eventually results in an assertion error. It is ignorable, but it's also repeatable. )

You'll get more feedback (from the masses) when it actually does something - searching backwards for properties I already know exist using intentionally convoluted algebra isn't conducive to mass testing. I kept thinking, "If only there was an application that could display all the results in a window... oh, wait... Toto, where's Kansas?"

And what are you doing using big words like "ameliorated"? Shouldn't you need a license for that?

Where's the advantage of your neat toy compared to the similar neat toys which have been around for years?

Casual-readers should take note that the properties contained herein are not necessarily the rehashed "normal" (and largely useless) 300 columns that Vista+ foists upon us - these are "different". (Buggered if I know where they came from, but WDS is not "my thang" as they say.)

[Tuxman]

(Besides, an up-coming one is guaranteed to challenge the very foundations of logic itself. )

You plan to create an application to replace you then?

[nikos]

type text into and then deleting that text using backspace always eventually results in an assertion error

how did you manage that? which property category and what kind of text?

[Kilmatead]

It happens with anything (but generally only after something is found) - for example, I can go to "all properties" type in "cate...", wait for the display to update, then <Backspace> out of it, and generally when there's about 2 characters left, she asserts her womanly ways and makes me get off the couch to hoover the cobwebs in my brain.

Happens about 90% of the time - no crashes though (you did say to expect assertion errors, so I tend to ignore them).

[nikos]

got it!

[nikos]

here's a more useful version, that actually searches!
www.zabkat.com/test/deskrule.zip

you can either drag-drop a file to test a rule, or drop a whole folder to search its contents for the rule. The search engine part is complete!



try to compare it with the same search in xplorer2 and see if you get the same results

still a long way to go, you can't do anything with the results at present...

[Tuxman]

Two failed assertions on the first start, one when exiting.

I like the "This does nothing" sidebar.

The "search" button should be greyed out unless it's ready (because just echoing an error sound is weird). BTW, the error sound is also played when I drop a folder.

The search itself works.