This is the main function of PBSearch. The string search feature in PowerBuilder is difficult to use, does not always find every hit and is painfully slow.
PBSearch's string search is very easy to use, always finds what you are looking for and is very fast. In many cases it finds what you are looking for in one tenth of the time.
At the top of the window is a field where you can enter the search string. The input field maintains a history of your searches and auto-completes as you type.
Below that you can choose the type of objects to search. There is also a series of search options:
Match on whole words
This option allows it to ignore any hits, which are not whole words. For example, a search on 'Open' would not find 'OpenWithParm' if this were checked.
Match on case
This option allows it to compare the case of strings. For example, a search on 'open' would not find 'Open' of this were checked.
Ignore comments
This option allows it to ignore any hits that are within comments. It only recognizes the // comment marks, it doesn't recognize the /* xxx */ type.
Show line where found
This option changes the result display so that it shows each hit within the result list, rather than a single line per object. This option is required for Global Replace.
Show context
This option causes PBSearch to report the context of each hit. The context tells you the script name and line number. Script name could be a function, object or control level event or other part of the object.
Search in Results
This option allows you to perform a search that is limited to the objects returned by the previous search. The Show line where found option must be turned off to use this option.
Below the result list is the source code view. The string you are looking for is selected to make it easy to see. There is a horizontal sizebar in-between the result list and the source code view. You can slide it up and down to adjust how much you can see.
Actions:
Sort Data (Alt+S): Opens the Specify Sort window.
Copy (Ctrl+C): Copies to clipboard selected text from the source code view if it has focus, otherwise the object name.
Search: Starts the search process. Same as the Search button.
Prior hit (Alt+P): Skips to the prior hit in the result list and source code view.
Next hit (Alt+N): Skips to the next hit in the result list and source code view.
Global Replace: Opens the Global Replace window.
Edit Source: Edit the object source in the external editor.
ToDo List (Ctrl+L): Adds the object to the ToDo List.
Clear History: Clears the search field's dropdown history.