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Submission details

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13 +30/-17 votes
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Windows Search UI Overhaul + Search Wizard

Submitted by hoopla_punta on November 19, 2008 to Aesthetics, Usability

See image before voting!
Related post: http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/226
http://www.windows7taskforce.com/view/33

Well a lot of people had complained that the search window in Vista is difficult to use, and ugly. I agree with that. And a new pop out menu under the search bar is not going to be very useful for novices. (see video link) So I suggest a Windows Search overhaul and a new feature, Search Wizard.

Search Wizard helps users like the XP agent, except there's no agent. (see image).
The search wizard shows a list of common search terms one would use, and allows the user to type in the term.
The sidebar is like the Live Mesh sidebar in Windows, where it sticks to either side of the window, this full view of the windows and controls give the user a feeling of "control"
If users are still so dumbfounded by all the confusing (in Singapore we call it "Chim") terms, click help and a simplified version comes out in natural language.

Video link: http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Dan/Windows-7-Fi...1-The-User-Experience/

1. New Search button in explorer bar and little triangle to open wizard in the search bar (bottom right)

2. New search welcome page to hyperlink to wizard and windows help on searching

3. New save search button and "add search term" button in search window. UI simillar to Library allows user to sort by: Folder, Date etc...

4. New Search Wizard to make everyone happy searching. Sidebar a great UI overhaul, allowing full view of controls and window items, a great sense of control.

Thanks to LongZheng's ppt Toolkit for helping to design wizard.
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071018/powerpoint-prototype-toolkit-01/

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High

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Discussion (7 comments)

hoopla_punta wrote on November 19, 2008, 10:53am

Changed problem description.
Changed solution description.

hoopla_punta wrote on November 20, 2008, 12:40am

Why are people demoting???

tino wrote on November 20, 2008, 1:18am

This would be a little bit of overkill. And I personally never had a problem to find what I'm looking for inside the Start Menu. They should just make the existing search window easier. No need for a wizard IMO. Sorry ;)

Jalaj wrote on November 20, 2008, 5:48am

Yeah, no need for search wizard...but when some thing is typed in the search box in explorer, the navigation pane in the left should change to "refine your search" thats it :)

Any ways you have put real good thots in it, gr8 screen mockups!!

hoopla_punta wrote on November 20, 2008, 7:24am

@jalaj: The navigation pane should not be changed as users cannot access the places when they want to. Not bad an idea.

Jote wrote on November 20, 2008, 9:41am

Much better than the current (Vista) design. +1

Jalaj wrote on November 21, 2008, 1:08am

@hoopla_punta: When the little cross is clicked on the extreme right of the search box to cancel the search term, the navigation pane should be restored.

nitrous9200 wrote on November 24, 2008, 2:31am

You should just be able to type in your query and have your search narrowed down to a few files, then have the advanced options. I don't think there's a need for a wizard.

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