Advanced Search Plugin

nooyenb

Hello,

I am wondering if someone has, has started, or is thinking about creating an Advanced search plugin. In short here are my ideas for the plugin features:
1) This could replace or supplement the current search. If it supplements the normal search an advanced search link would be shown under the current search box.
2) The link would take you to a dedicated page showing all available tags and providing instructions on how to do an "and search" or an "or search"
3) The biggest feature I was thinking about would be the ability to search within your current results to narrow in on exactly what you want shown and have the option to select what you want returned. (individual images, albums, news, or pages)
4) Improved display of search results allowing for sorting of search results by type, name, date taken, date added etc...
5) Lastly, the ability to click view slide-show of any remaining search results if only images are returned.

The reason for a plugin as I see only a portion, maybe 50/50, of the people who use Zenphoto using this feature. With that said it would be nice to have this feature built into future releases of Zenphoto.

If anyone has any suggestions to build onto this idea or if anyone would like to help make this plugin the client I represent is willing to pay a negotiated fee to get this built sooner rather than later.

Let me know and thank you in advance.

sbillard

2) The link would take you to a dedicated page showing all available tags and providing instructions on how to do an "and search" or an "or search"

The tag_suggest plugin will provide this. The search already takes you to a dedicated theme page (search.php)

3) The biggest feature I was thinking about would be the ability to search within your current results to narrow in on exactly what you want shown and have the option to select what you want returned. (individual images, albums, news, or pages)

This could be done (I think) by retaining the original search as an AND element of the new search. This would probably require JavaScript to modify the new search when the button is pressed.

4) Improved display of search results allowing for sorting of search results by type, name, date taken, date added etc...

The next_XXXX() method of search allows you to pass a sort criteria.

5) Lastly, the ability to click view slide-show of any remaining search results if only images are returned.

This request is unclear. The typical search.php script returns image thumbnails and has a slideshow link. What did you want different?

Anyway, all the above should be possible by making your own custom search.php script for your theme.

nooyenb

With number 5 their is no change, it was a feature that I would like to maintain. However, with number 3 the big item is to search within your existing search results.

How would you recommend proceeding in getting someone to code this and getting it as a supported plugin? I created a case on trac about a year ago, but nothing ever became of it and the client was just hinting of going through with it. Now he is more than ready to get this done and he knows exactly what he wants. Any other suggestions or path forward, or who to contact would be greatly appreciated.

I have the ability to hire someone outside of the Zenphoto Community, but I would prefer to work with someone who is familiar with Zenphoto.

Thank you,

Bryce

acrylian

Trac tickets are suggestions and there is never a guarantee that those are done or considered. Since there were no requests for this at all we didn't do it (I can't even remember the ticket to be honest).

Other than sbillard I am actually for hire but I am not really familiar with the search stuff and assume that is not that easy. I am really lacking time for possible getting into it. I am sorry. How about as a quicker workaround using Google's site search for example?

nooyenb

The way google returns results would not allow for sideshow preview very effectively and not without any wrinkles. Also having this developed using that api would make it less likely of becoming a supported plugin and in the end, even if it costs more, that is one of the primary goals. I am extremely open to more thoughts on this matter including ways the zenphoto community would like an advanced search to work.

Let me know your thoughts.

Bryce

sbillard

Best to create the ticked. I think that search within search would be a good addition, so it probably will get done.

BTW, I estimate that this is about a day's work. According to Acrylan 60 Eruo/hour is a standard rate, so maybe a donation to Zenphoto could accellerate this effort.