Get the most out of search

Mastering Desktop Docs Search

Once you've mastered the basics, explore these advanced search techniques to find exactly what you need, when you need it.

Text Search

Natural Language Queries

Desktop Docs understands natural language, so you can search the way you think:

Examples of Effective Searches:

• "Photos from my vacation in Hawaii"

• "Red floral dress"

• "Slam dunk"

• "Scenes of people celebrating"

• "Couple dancing"

Advanced Search Techniques

Search Optimization Tips

1. Be specific: Instead of "dog," try "bulldog" or "Chihuahua"

2. Add context: Mention colors, actions, or objects when relevant

3. Use natural language: Describe what you're looking for as if explaining to someone

Visual Search Deep Dive

Understanding Visual Search

Visual search uses AI to understand the content of images and find similar visual elements across your entire file collection.

When to Use Visual Search

Perfect for finding:

• Similar photos or variations of the same image

• Screenshots of specific applications or interfaces

• Graphics, logos, or artwork with similar styles

• Images containing specific objects or scenes

• Images containing a person to find that person across other images or videos

How Visual Search Works

1. Upload Reference Image:

   • Click the image icon (📷) in the search bar

   • Select an image file from your computer

   • The app analyzes the visual content of your reference image

2. AI Analysis:

   • Desktop Docs identifies objects, colors, patterns, people, and visual elements

   • Creates a visual "fingerprint" of the image

   • Compares this fingerprint against all indexed images and videos

3. Results Display:

   • Shows images ranked by visual similarity

   • Higher-ranked results are more visually similar

   • Click any result to preview the full image

Visual Search Best Practices

1. Choose Good Reference Images

• Clear and High Quality: Use sharp, well-lit images for best results

• Distinctive Features: Images with unique objects or patterns work better

• Relevant Content: Make sure the reference image shows what you're looking for

2. Use Visual Search for Specific Purposes

• Finding Variations: Locate different versions of the same photo

• Style Matching: Find images with similar artistic styles or color schemes

• Object Recognition: Find images containing specific objects or scenes

• Layout Similarity: Find images or video frames with similar layouts

Visual Search Examples

Finding Similar Photos:

1. Upload a photo of your dog

2. Find other photos of the same dog or similar dogs

3. Great for organizing family photo collections

Locating Screenshots:

1. Upload a screenshot of an error message

2. Find other screenshots with similar error patterns

3. Useful for troubleshooting documentation

Matching Design Elements:

1. Upload a logo or graphic design

2. Find similar designs or variations

3. Perfect for brand asset management

Recent Searches Management

Accessing Your Search History

Desktop Docs automatically saves your recent text searches for quick access:

1. Open Recent Searches:

   • Click the clock icon (🕐) in the search bar

   • Or click the "Recent" tab in the search mode selector

2. View Search History:

   • See your last 10 text searches

   • Each entry shows the search query and timestamp

   • Results count is displayed for each search

Managing Recent Searches

Viewing Recent Searches

• Timeline View: Searches are listed with timestamps

• Quick Access: Click any recent search to repeat it instantly

• Results Preview: See how many results each search returned

Clearing Search History

1. Clear All History:

   • Click "Clear All" at the bottom of the recent searches list

   • Confirm the action to remove all search history

Note: Visual searches are not saved in recent searches due to their complexity.

Search History Benefits

1. Quick Repeat Searches

• No need to retype common queries

• Perfect for checking if new files match previous searches

• Great for ongoing projects or research

2. Search Pattern Analysis

• Identify your most common search terms

• Understand your file organization needs

• Optimize your indexing strategy

3. Workflow Efficiency

• Jump back to previous searches quickly

• Maintain context across work sessions

• Build on previous search results

Troubleshooting Search Issues

If You're Not Getting Expected Results:

1. Check Indexing Status:

   • Ensure your files are properly indexed

   • Look for any failed indexing jobs

2. Try Different Terms:

   • Use synonyms or alternative descriptions

   • Experiment with your search query - be more specific or more general

3. Verify File Types:

   • Make sure the file type is supported

   • Check if the file was successfully indexed

4. Clear and Reindex:

   • If necessary, clear the index and reindex files

   • This can resolve search accuracy issues

Search Performance Tips

Optimizing Search Speed

• Use Specific Terms: More specific searches are faster

• Regular Indexing: Keep your index up to date

Next Steps

Now that you've mastered advanced search techniques:

• Managing Your AI Library: Learn how to monitor and maintain your file index

Happy searching!