RibbonSearch — short summary
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What it is: a “ribbon search” feature found in many applications (e.g., MicroStation/PowerDraft, Bentley PROMIS.e, DevExpress controls, file-management tools). It lets you type a tool, dialog, command, or UI control name into a single search field on the ribbon (often F4) and quickly locate and activate that item across ribbon tabs and workflows.
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Core behavior:
- Search field on the ribbon (often top-right) accepts partial or full names.
- Results are categorized (Ribbon, Backstage, Quick Access, Most Recently Used).
- Hover shows details and access points; clicking a result navigates the ribbon to the tab and/or activates the tool.
- Frequently used items move into a Most Recently Used list.
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Typical uses:
- Find commands without hunting through multiple ribbon tabs.
- Discover where a tool lives (which tab/group).
- Quickly open dialogs or run commands from keyboard.
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Implementation notes (common patterns):
- Trigger key (e.g., F4) focuses the search box.
- Results update as you type (incremental search).
- Search indexes ribbon labels, command IDs, and sometimes help text.
- Some implementations allow customizing or extending search results (e.g., DevExpress/third‑party controls).
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Example apps that include ribbon search:
- Bentley MicroStation / PROMIS.e documentation: “Ribbon Search” (F4) to find tools and dialogs.
- DevExpress RibbonControl (customizable search results).
- Various file/explorer tools and productivity apps use a ribbon with a search area or context-sensitive Search ribbon.
If you want, I can:
- Write a short user guide for a RibbonSearch field (keybindings, tips), or
- Draft sample UI/UX requirements for implementing RibbonSearch in a desktop app.