The more extensive a piece of software, the more nested its settings menus usually become. Finding a particular setting you configured weeks ago then often means clicking through several submenus, level by level, until you reach the right page. It gets especially tedious when you know what you are looking for but can no longer remember under which menu item the setting is actually stored. This search not only costs time, it also interrupts the actual task for which you wanted to open the setting in the first place. That is why the settings pages in 1Tool can be searched with an instant search function based on the specialised search engine Algolia. This lets you find the setting you need directly by typing, instead of navigating manually through the menu structure.
Results as you type
As soon as you start typing in the settings search field, matching settings pages appear immediately as results, without having to confirm a search first. This instant feedback is typical of instant search solutions such as Algolia, which 1Tool uses internally to make the settings pages searchable. After just the first few characters, you can tell whether the search is heading in the right direction, and the result list adapts with every additional letter. This is noticeably different from a classic full-text search, where results are only displayed once you have finished typing and issued an additional search command. For users, this means the search process itself becomes much shorter, because typing and finding the right setting happen practically at the same time. Even an incomplete or only roughly matching search term usually leads to useful hits, as the result list keeps updating while you continue typing.
Breadcrumb path for context
Each search result is also shown with a breadcrumb path that indicates where the setting is located in the menu structure. Instead of seeing only the name of the settings page found, you can also see which parent menu item and, where applicable, which submenu the page belongs to. This helps you place a result correctly before clicking on it, especially when there are several similarly named settings in different areas. At the same time, the breadcrumb path gives you a better understanding of how the settings are structured overall, as over time you learn in which area certain types of settings are typically found. This orientation is retained even when a setting sits deep within several nested menu levels. If you later open a setting via the menu again, you already know where to find it thanks to the path you saw earlier.
Fewer clicks through multiple menu levels
The main practical benefit of instant search is that you no longer need to click through several levels of nested settings menus when you already know what you are looking for. Instead of remembering which main menu a particular setting is in, it is enough to enter a suitable search term and select the right page from the results that appear immediately. In software with many different configuration options, these time savings add up noticeably over the working day. The search function also makes it easier for new users to get started, as they don’t first have to learn the entire menu structure to find a particular setting. The search thus becomes a direct gateway to the settings, regardless of how deeply a particular page is actually nested in the menu structure. Over time, the search becomes the usual first step for many users whenever they want to open a specific setting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to confirm the search before results appear?
No. As soon as you start typing, matching settings pages appear immediately as results.
How can I tell where a setting I found is located in the menu?
Each search result is shown with a breadcrumb path indicating the setting’s position in the menu structure.
What technology is the instant search function based on?
The search is technically implemented with Algolia, a specialised search engine that 1Tool uses internally for the settings pages.
How many clicks would you save if you could find every setting directly via a search?