Navigate back after search and replace

[rillig]

When using Poedit, I'm always afraid of using the search and replace, even if it would be useful. That's because I'm losing the editing position. There are no bookmarks anywhere that I could use, and there is no "Continue where you were before" button in the Replace dialog.

Typically, when I want to use the search and replace function, I want to interrupt my main task of translating the whole file, but only for a brief moment, then I want to return.

I think this is a typical workflow, not only for me but also for other Poedit users, therefore I think supporting it would benefit several translators.

[vslavik]

I understand the problem (I think; although I'm not sure if this applies to just Replace or Find as well). But I'm not sure how to do UI for this. ..

[rillig]

It applies to both Find and Replace.

Another interpretation of that idea is to have a "main editing" window, and when I discover an interesting word while translating, I can open a second editing window. In that window, I can filter the messages like with grep, to see only those that contain the interesting word. The second window contains an editor as well, so that I can fix typos or small wording changes. When I no longer need that second window, I can close it.

As long as a single message is not edited in several windows at the same time, this should be doable in terms of UI, as there are no editing conflicts. There would have to be a notification mechanism though, when a message has been modified in one window and is displayed in another window. Also, the filtering needs to be updated in real time.

[vslavik]

I realize this is not quite what you're asking for (particularly the "small edits" bit), but note that you can use the Terminology tab for reference: searching there searches the current file for other uses of a word.

[vslavik]

JetBrains IDEs do something like you describe very well: the search window shows filtered results inline in what is a small editor usable for exactly the small edits you describe. At the same time, the window remains distinctly search-oriented and won't be confused with the primary editor.