[Pidgin] #5776: improve interaction between "buddy search" and buddy groups in buddy list

[Pidgin]

#5776: improve interaction between "buddy search" and buddy groups in buddy list
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  Reporter:  dmerrill      |       Owner:       
      Type:  enhancement   |      Status:  new  
  Priority:  minor         |   Milestone:       
 Component:  pidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.4.1
Resolution:                |    Keywords:       
   Pending:  0             |  
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Comment (by dmerrill):

 I have about 20 buddy groups, with up to 20 members or so in each.
 Because of the large number of groups, I typically leave the groups
 collapsed (or maybe all but one or two).

 When I need to find a buddy from my list, I need to first remember which
 group they're in, then expand it, then find the buddy.  Because I show
 only the logged in buddies, sometimes when I expand the group, the buddy's
 not visible.  Sometimes this is because they're not logged in, and
 sometimes it's because I didn't guess their group correctly.

 Buddy Search (ctl-f in the buddy list) only seems to find buddies within
 the expanded groups (at least for me).

 Desired behavior:
 Buddy Search (is this the correct name of the feature?) should display
 matching buddies from any group (whether that group is expanded or
 collapsed).  Should show matching buddies, even if (that buddy is not
 logged on and "Show Offline Buddies" is false).

 One way to display these buddies might be:

 1. wait for a pause in user input before conducting the search /
 displaying the results -- perhaps a 1s delay "out of the box"?[[BR]]
 2. display the results below the search box, rather than within the buddy
 list "proper".  (Displaying within the buddy list has several challenges
 with respect to the desired behavior: automatically expanding the
 containing group(s); showing a buddy that the current state and rules say
 shouldn't be shown; how to show multiple matches.)[[BR]]
 3. include all buddies, whether online or offline, independent of the
 "Show Offline Buddies" state.[[BR]]
 4. include buddies in all groups, independent of the groups' expanded /
 collapsed state.[[BR]]
 5. include the Group of which each buddy is a member in the search
 results.[[BR]]
 6. include each buddy's state in the search results.[[BR]]
 7. search result attribute display sequence: [state icon] [buddy]
 [group][[BR]]
 8. search result (buddy record) display sequence: state, buddy,
 group[[BR]]
   a. state should be sequenced by logged in, not logged in (ignore active
 / idle / unavailable etc.)
   a. it's okay for multiple buddies to show (and for multiple entries for
 a buddy, from different groups, too)[[BR]]
 9. display no more than 10 results (perhaps with an indication that there
 are more results not displayed)

 Pidgin 2.4.1, WinXP.

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Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/5776#comment:1>
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