0010435: Import Window - Replace Search field with filter field and show all the time - MantisBT

ID	Project	Category	View Status	Date Submitted	Last Update

0010435	ardour	features	public	2026-07-10 21:18	2026-07-10 21:18

Reporter	sound8	Assigned To
Priority	normal	Severity	minor	Reproducibility	always
Status	new	Resolution	open
Product Version	9.7

Summary	0010435: Import Window - Replace Search field with filter field and show all the time
Description	I have many observations/suggestions to share about the current layout/behavior of the Import Window. First off, do not care what this is called Search/Find/Filter, just concerned about its functionality. For this post I am going to refer to this as a Filter field. -------------------------------------------------------- ISSUES NOTICED -When the Search field has focus, the common behavior is to be able to hit ESCAPE key to close the `Search` field, but I am suggesting to always be shown so not valid. The next option is to clear the field (which is what Keyboard Shortcuts dialog does). Currently the `Import` window in general uses ESCAPE as a close shortcut, which then closes the `IW`. Constantly do this out of habit, closing the `IW`. `Plugin Selector` field does the same, closes the window when hit ESCAPE in filter field. To me this is unexpected behavior. -`Search` is an actual item at the top of `Places` sidebar. If a user is using keyboard to navigate in this sidebar, a common behavior is to hit HOME key to bring cursor to the top. When this is done in this sidebar, it applies focus to the `Search` entry at the top which then opens and applies the focus out of the sidebar and into the `Search` field. To me this is unexpected behavior. -------------------------------------------------------- SUGGESTIONS -Suggesting to remove the `Search` entry from the left sidebar "Places". -Suggesting to replace the `Search` field with a filter field instead. -Suggesting to make this `Filter` field be visible all the time. (To get idea what this will look like, click on "Type A Name" button. Instead of "Location" it will be a Filter field.) -You may say, well where would the "Location:" field go? For the answer to this question please see the following post https://tracker.ardour.org/view.php?id=10434 -This field would get common layout that all Filter fields do in Ardour (other then the odd layout used in Keyboard Shortcuts dialog search field) Magnifying glass on the left side / then filter field / then button-icon to clear the field on the right side / recursive button at end of right side. -Recursive button when applied will allow filter field to also display results within subfolders of current path, turning this field into a Search. -Add common shortcut CTRL+F to apply focus into the Filter field. -If this field already contains text, when focus is applied back into this field, that text will highlight automatically so user can just type over it with a new keyword. -When Filter field has focus, hitting DOWN ARROW would bring the focus into the results shown in the file pane below. -Not relevant to this post but do not want to make a new post about this. Align the bottom of the left sidebar with the bottom of the file pane. Currently the file pane is slightly shorter. Thank you to anyone who reads this post
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Date Modified	Username	Field	Change
2026-07-10 21:18	sound8	New Issue