Unified search: how to display on client

[tobiasKaminsky]

Let us discuss what and how you see the results of unified search (https://github.com/orgs/nextcloud/projects/38) within mobile.

Search on mobile would work, but depending on the search results we can do different things:

• files: easy: open in files app
• talk conversation: open it in talk app (we have currently the other way around, so this would also be feasible)
• deck? same
• notes? same
• calendar, contacts, etc: those we cannot directly show, but then we can at least show a web link, or show it just as an info.

@jancborchardt

[jancborchardt]

So my general question regarding unified search on mobile is: Are we the ones who need to provide this?

Cause operating systems do all have unified search pretty much. On iOS you can swipe down and search to get results from all different apps, be it files, conversations, contacts, calendar etc.
Do we need to duplicate this in our app, or is there something that the unified searches of these operating systems is missing?

cc @rullzer @ChristophWurst @skjnldsv regarding unified search and @marinofaggiana @Ivansss for iOS.

[tobiasKaminsky]

Not sure if we are talking about the same…
But

• have 5 calenders in NC, only 2 synced to mobile: NC unified search would show more than a local search
• have 100 PDF in NC, only 10 downloaded: same here: searching for "top secret" will show all results
• Deck: search for something deck related: you will only find it within Android Deck app, but not on iOS
• …

So my idea was more like: get all search results back from NC, and if possible redirect user to certain app, but stay within NC ecosystem.

[jancborchardt]

You’re right of course @tobiasKaminsky – that’s what I was missing. :)

Your proposal sounds good. When you click on a result e.g. from Deck and you don’t have the Deck mobile app installed, we could have a choice between "Download mobile app" or "Show online"? The "Show online" option would then do the same as what you proposed for Calendar and Contacts:

those we cannot directly show, but then we can at least show a web link, or show it just as an info.

That leaves one group: Things from Nextcloud you have synced to your phone but where we don’t control the apps, namely Calendars and Contacts. Is it possible there to e.g. check:

• If the calendar of that event is synced with the phone, open it locally
• If not, open it online?

[tobiasKaminsky]

* If the calendar of that event is synced with the phone, open it locally

Not sure, but even if, then we cannot redirect user to this location.
In such case I think it is fine to directly open it in web.

[skjnldsv]

@tobiasKaminsky

Results are lister grouped by types.
With a title as a heading for each type (file, room, comment...)

We'll load 5 results max per type initially. Then a button is under it to load the next other 5.
I also plan to add filters so you can in:files in:talk to directly narrow the type to display