: [[image:iciclesimage]] || *Previous:* [[Icicles - History Enhancements]] || '''[[Icicles]]''' || IciclesIndex || *Next:* [[Icicles - Search Commands, Overview]] || ---- == Isearch Enhancements == '''Icicles''' provides two different enhancements for searching: * '''Icicles''' search: Top-level '''Icicles''' [[command]]s that provide an entirely new and different way for you to search. This is described in [[Icicles - Search Commands, Overview]]. * Extensions to standard Emacs incremental search, '''[[Isearch]]'''. These are described here. ** Search string [[completion]] against previous search strings. ** Reuse of the content-matching pattern for `icicle-buffer' and `icicle-file' as the [[Isearch]] [[regexp]]-search pattern. ** OccurMode interface for Isearch hits. ** '''Icicles''' search (`icicle-search') interface, reusing the Isearch search string (by default). '''See Also:''' [[Icicles - Support for Projects]] for information about using `grep' to search all of the files in a project. [:SearchStringCompletion] === Isearch Completion Against the Search History === When you search incrementally (`C-s'), Emacs lets you use `M-TAB' (`M-tab' or `C-M-i', aka `ESC-TAB') to complete your input to a string that you have sought previously, that is, a string in the current search history (`search-ring' or `regexp-search-ring'). In ''Icicle'' mode, this feature is enhanced so that you can use all of the completion enhancements provided by '''Icicles''': `M-TAB' is bound to `icicle-isearch-complete' during Isearch. Some operating systems grab `M-TAB' for their own use, making it unavailable for Emacs. They normally do not grab `##ESC TAB##', which in Emacs is typically the same ase `M-TAB'. For this reason, '''Icicles''' also binds `icicle-isearch-complete' to both '''`##ESC TAB##'''' and '''`C-M-TAB''''. (Note: For some versions of MS Windows, you can use ##(w32-register-hot-key (icicle-kbd "M-tab"))## to allow Emacs to use `M-TAB'.) '''Icicles''' users are in the habit of using '''`[[Icicles - History Enhancements#M-o|M-o]]'''' to complete the current minibuffer input against previously entered inputs. Because of the similarity, you can likewise use `M-o' during Isearch to append previous isearch strings to the current string. During Isearch, '''`M-o'''' is bound to minibuffer [[multi-command]] '''`icicle-isearch-history-insert''''. The keys bound by default to `icicle-isearch-complete' in `isearch-mode-map' are thus `M-TAB', `##ESC TAB##', and `C-M-TAB', and the only key bound by default to `icicle-isearch-history-insert' is `M-o'. But you can change the keys to use for these commands by [[Customize|customizing]] [[option]]s '''`[[Icicles - Customization and General Tips#icicle-isearch-complete-keys|icicle-isearch-complete-keys]]'''' and '''`[[Icicles - Customization and General Tips#icicle-isearch-history-insert-keys|icicle-isearch-history-insert-keys]]'''', respectively. When you use `M-o' (or `M-TAB') while searching, Isearch exits momentarily, giving way to '''Icicles''' completion in the [[minibuffer]]. You can then use either `S-TAB' or `TAB' to complete your search string. After you finish completing (e.g. by hitting `C-g' or `RET'), Isearch resumes with the new, modified search string. It's pretty seamless, and easier to try than to describe. ''Reminder:'' Using `S-TAB' vs `TAB' for [[regexp]] vs non-regexp ''completion'' against previous search strings has nothing to do with regexp vs non-regexp incremental ''searching''. You can of course use either kind of searching before or after having used either kind of completion. Isearch uses different search histories ([[search ring|rings]]) for regexp and non-regexp searching. The kind of search in progress (regexp or not) at the moment you use `M-TAB' or `M-o' determines which search ring provides the candidates for completion. [:ContentMatchingPatternAsIsearchRegexp] === Content-Matching Pattern as Isearch Regexp === When your multi-completion input for commands such as `icicle-buffer' (`C-x b'), `icicle-file' (`C-x C-f'), and `icicle-Info-goto-node' (`g' in [[Info]]) provides a content-matching pattern for completion against buffer, file, or Info node content, and at least one candidate matches, the pattern is saved to the [[Isearch]] [[regexp]] history, `regexp-search-ring'. If you then visit a matching buffer or file, you can immediately search for each match using `C-M-s' or `C-M-r'. This gives you another way to search a set of [[buffer]]s, files, or [[Info]] nodes. You can use [[progressive completion]] to narrow down the search hits, either by container (buffer, file, or node name) or by content. (This content-searching behavior is available for `icicle-file' starting with Emacs 23, and for `icicle-Info-goto-node' starting with Emacs 22.) See also [[Icicles - Searching Named Containers]]. [:OccurFromIsearch] === Launch Occur using the Isearch Search String === If you use library [[color-moccur.el]] or library [[occur-schroeder.el]], then '''`C-o'''' is bound during Isearch to `isearch-moccur', which provides an OccurMode buffer interface for search hits. This has nothing per se to do with '''Icicles''', but you might find it useful. (Library ##color-moccur.el## itself binds `M-o' for this, but `[[Icicles - History Enhancements#M-o|M-o]]' is used in '''Icicles''' for search-string completion.) [:IciclesSearchFromIsearch] === Launch Icicles Search using the Isearch Search String === '''Icicles''' search is described in section [[Icicles - Search Commands, Overview]]. You can start '''Icicles''' search from Isearch: Hit `S-TAB' to choose the Icicles search initial regexp -- the default value is the current Isearch search string, but you can edit that. Completion is available for your input -- completion against your previous Isearch regexp search strings. For example, use `##C-s C-w C-w S-TAB##' to pick up the next two words at the cursor, then type `##.*##' before and after them and hit `RET'. That puts you in '''Icicles''' search with the completion candidates being all of the lines in the buffer that contain that two-word phrase. Type some more text to narrow the candidate lines to those that match what you type. Then use `C-next' to visit search hits. With Emacs 22 and later, and provided option `isearch-allow-scroll' (a misnomer) is non-`nil', you can use a [[prefix argument]] with `S-TAB' to change the behavior. You still choose an Isearch search string using completion. But in this case the string does not define the '''Icicles''' search contexts. Instead, you are prompted for a search-context [[regexp]] to do that. The Isearch string is copied to the `kill-ring', so you can yank it into your minibuffer input anytime, to search for it ''within'' each of the search contexts. The key to initiate '''Icicles''' search from Isearch is `S-TAB' only by default. You can change this key by customizing option '''`[[Icicles - Customization and General Tips#icicle-search-from-isearch-keys|icicle-search-from-isearch-keys]]''''. ---- || *Previous:* [[Icicles - History Enhancements]] || '''[[Icicles]]''' || IciclesIndex || *Next:* [[Icicles - Search Commands, Overview]] || DrewsElispLibraries referenced here: Lisp:highlight.el, Lisp:icicles.el CategoryCommands CategoryCompletion CategoryRegexp CategoryRegion CategoryModes CategoryDirectories