Based on initial user feedback, we are contemplating some enhancements to Pattern Search. If you're not familiar with pattern search, the discussion here may not make much sense. Click here to watch a short video on pattern search.
Search Areas
Pattern Search currently has the ability to search a specific part of the drawing. This is done by dragging a rectangle on the drawing for each search. We've found that users repeatedly search the same area and that the area often isn't rectangular.
We intend to add the ability to define and reuse both rectangular and irregular search areas. These will be created much like annotations with the ability to color them, name them, add them to a layer, etc. When starting a search, you can select one of the pre-defined areas, search the entire drawing or drag an ad-hoc search area (as you currently can).
When working with PDF files, we will save a copy of the predefined search areas so that the conversion to a searchable format has to be done only the first time.
Pattern Search Editing
Many users have found the "Move" button difficult to use. So we're eliminating that and adding drag buttons to all sides of the dialog. You can change the size of the pattern by dragging the edges or corners.
Pattern Search Review
We are going to move the "Select Minimum" percentage from the pattern edit window to the review window. During the review process you can change this percentage and the matches found will immediately be revised to select according to the new percentage. (Matches manually selected or de-selected will not be changed.)
We're adding a Re-do button. Pressing this will take you back to the Pattern Search Edit window to modify the pattern or any of the other search criteria.
We've found that some of the patterns searched for have a large area that is repeated for many different types of objects. A smaller area within that may have a specific symbol or text identifying the desired pattern. For example, all light fixtures might be shown as a large rectangle with a letter in the upper-left corner indicating the fixture type. The search algorithm is unable to find all possible large areas (the rectangles) and simultaneously differentiate between the smaller patterns (the letter).
We're adding a "refine" capability to handle this situation. First, you search for the large area. Then during the review, you have the ability to perform a more specific search for a smaller area. The first step in the process is to identify the smaller area. The original pattern is displayed and you can select the smaller area to be used for the refined search.
All matches originally found are searched for the refined pattern. Those with a match are selected and those without are de-selected. (Again, matches manually selected or de-selected will not be changed.)
Pattern Search Toolbar
We're adding a (small) search toolbar. It will have buttons to start a search, create pre-defined search areas and turn the display of pre-defined search areas on and off.
We hope to release these enhancements by the end of April, 2011. We'll probably finalize the features in this release in mid March. Feedback on these ideas and other suggestions are welcome. Please share your thoughts by adding a post to this topic.