Search projects

This function searches several projects at once without opening them one by one. Typical questions such as “which installation has a Modbus master” or “where does this text occur in the parameters” can be answered in a single pass.

You will find the function on the start page above the project list (button Search projects) and in the context menu of the list.

Changing directories

Besides the projects, the project list on the start page also shows the subdirectories with a folder icon. Double-clicking a folder enters it, the entry .. leads back again. Folders always stay at the top, regardless of which column the list is sorted by.

Browsing the list does not change where a project is saved. Only opening a project sets the working directory anew.

Which projects are searched

The Projects field defines the scope:

• List shown on the start page – exactly those projects that are currently visible in the list. The filter of the start page therefore narrows the search in advance: filter first, then search.
• Recently opened and Favourites – the corresponding lists of the start page.
• Directory including subdirectories – the directory currently shown and everything below it.

For the latter three you can narrow the selection further with File name contains. The number of projects that will be searched is shown next to the selection.

What is searched for

The Search text is looked for in every area ticked under Search in. Case sensitive and whole field only make the search stricter; without these options it is enough for the text to occur anywhere in the field.

Using Blocks/controls you can additionally, or instead, select certain elements. The selection menu can be searched: simply type the beginning of the name. A click sets a tick and the menu stays open, so you can select several elements. With at least one or all selected and the minimum count you define how strictly the check is applied.

If both a search text and an element selection are given, a project is first checked for the selected elements; only then is the text searched within it. If the search text is left empty, the elements found are the result themselves.

Besides comment, parameter values and addresses, the Parameter caption and the Standard parameters can be searched as well. Standard parameters are the settings every element has – for a block for instance Update cyclically, for a control element Transparency. If you enter the name only, just those elements are found whose value differs from the default.

If Condition is ticked you may enter a condition instead of a text, for example Update cyclically > 0. The rules are described under Searching in the project.

The result

Each project appears as one row with the number of hits, and below it the individual locations with page, element, location and the text found. Double-clicking a location opens the project and jumps straight to the element; double-clicking the project row only opens the project. If the currently open project has unsaved changes, you will be asked first.

Use Export to write the list of hits to a CSV file. Projects without hits are shown only on request.

What you should know

• The search always covers the last saved state of a project file. Save the open project beforehand if its most recent changes are to be found as well.
• Project files are read only. Neither their content nor their modification date is changed by the search.
• Lua source code protected by a password is neither searched nor shown.
• For controls only the value of a parameter is stored with the project, not its caption. The location is therefore given by the parameter number there, whereas function blocks show the name of the parameter.
• Projects in an older file format, and files that are not projects at all, are listed with a note in red and skipped.