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Re: Searching in the index is not documented



* On Thu, Aug 17, 2006 Alan Mackenzie (acm@xxxxxx) muttered:
> This manual, fine though it otherwise be, does not describe how to do
> searching within the message index.

It does you just have to know where to look :)

> If I type "/foo":

simple_search

   Type: string
   Default: "~f %s | ~s %s"

   Specifies how Mutt should expand a simple search into a real search
   pattern. A simple search is one that does not contain any of the ~
   operators. See ``[1182]patterns'' for more information on search
   patterns.

   For example, if you simply type joe at a search or limit prompt, Mutt
   will automatically expand it to the value specified by this variable.
   For the default value it would be:

   ~f joe | ~s joe


> (ii) Is "foo" interpreted literally as text or as a regular expression?

Let's check the "Patterns" section:
~f EXPR - messages originating from EXPR
~s EXPR - messages having EXPR in the ``Subject'' field.
"Where EXPR is a regular expression."

> (iii) If there are several instances of "foo", in what order does mutt
>   find them?  I would guess that it would use the order the mails are
>   currently sorted in.

correct.

> (iv) Can I somehow search my mailbox for a pattern?  (e.g. "~fAlan")?

Of course. What good are patterns when you cannot use them to search?

HTH,

Michael
-- 
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Traffic jam on the Information Superhighway.

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