If you set Alt+Letters as the hotkey for quick search you have to keep Alt pressed while typing the first letter which can be uncomfortable for some keys, it also blocks shortcuts like Alt-c to access the Commands menu
If you set Letter only as the hotkey you loose the intuitive functionality of the command line box
Pressing Alt and releasing it gives the menu focus, which duplicates the functionality of F10
So, I would like to propose adding the option to start quick search by pressing the Alt key and releasing it, like in for instance Dos Navigator. I think it gives a good combination of the above options:
You can perform a quick search with multiple letters without breaking your fingers
The command line box works as before
You can use Alt-shortcuts to access specific menu items
You can use letter with search dialog mode.
In DN and NC there was no menu, so Alt key was free from such situations. In Windows Alt key opens menu.
BTW, you can start quick-searching with Alt+<any_key>, then remove this key with Backspace, and continue entering search string.
Also you may assign any key for cm_ShowQuickSearch command to open search dialog.
MVV wrote:Did you try to use letter with dialog search mode? Or to assign cm_ShowQuickSearch command to more convenient key combination?
Letter with dialog search mode has the same drawbacks as letter only (using the command line is not as easy and intuitive).
Binding quick search to some other hotkey would require more keypresses to activate it.
I appreciate your suggestions a lot, and I'm glad at least someone read the post, but I did try the available options in the configuration dialog and checked the forums (where others seem to have problems with Alt-letter clashing with other hotkeys btw).
I agree with you, Alt sometimes not so good. But I can't suggest any better cases. Maybe Win+Z? On my keyboard I can press this combination with one finger. Or any similar combination of Win key and a key close to it. Why Alt? Maybe you should try to assign F11-F12 key for cm_ShowQuickSearch? Also you can add a button on button bar. Therea are a lot of such suggestions. Maybe I choose one of them for myself.
I could probably bind it to the scroll wheel on my mouse .. I might be able to make it so quick search starts when I open the tray on my DVD drive .. heck I might even be able to bind quick search to the power switch on my coffee machine .
But what I wanted was to suggest adding the option to start quick search by tapping Alt (or alternatively tapping Ctrl, but that's slightly more awkward to hit) because I feel that is a better option than what I can do .
I guess using Ctrl instead of Alt might be a good option since tapping Ctrl has no effects at all, whereas some users might use Alt to open the menu even though F10 does the same. Either key is reasonably easy to hit.