search as you type not working properly

[Juan Montoya]

Open a browser window, for example your home directory.
Make sure the files area has focus.
Type 'doc' to select the Documents folder; Documents is highlighted.
Pres Enter to open the Documents folder; the contents of your documents' folder are shown.
Type the name of another file of older you can see to select it.
You'll notice that:
- the previous search is shown and whatever you type is appended to it.
- the backspace key does not delete characters in the search as you type textbox, it moves to the upper folder instead.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: nautilus 1:3.2.1-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Oct 31 23:50:24 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=es_PE:es
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=es_PE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: nautilus
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-26 (5 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Peter-Paul (ppvg)]

In my case, the search-as-you-type feature is complete unresponsive. The search field is never shown and no file or folder is selected.

This is a _really_ frustrating bug. Typing to open folders is as natural to me (and probably many others) as tab-completion. It's easy to forget it's broken, so I'm constantly interrupted by having to grab my mouse and act like my elderly neighbour.

[Anders Aagaard (aagaande)]

Looks like a duplicate of #857710

[John Watson (jwatson)]

This isn't a duplicate of #857710. In that bug report, the backspace key worked to erase characters in the search box. In this bug, the search box keeps the previous search string and backspace doesn't work.

[Godzemo (godzemo)]

Same problem on Ubutu 11.10 i386.

[Elmer van Chastelet (evanchastelet)]

From a usability perspective, I think this bug should have higher priority. I frequently use nautulus, and it is very annoying if I make a typo followed by pressing escape, that the browser goes level up. Also, as mentioned, I now need to wait 5 seconds after entering a folder before I can browse further using find-as-you-type.

[qwpo (qwpo-dfjh)]

I also believe this bug should have a higher priority without doubt.
This multi-faceted bug hinders my work flow many times each and every day.
The bug has existed for months.
Frankly, this is the fix I hope for each time I perform an update.
The bug is mentioned on a variety of Ubuntu 11.10 review sites.

[qwpo (qwpo-dfjh)]

With regard to my own commend #8, apologies. I see progress made in dub bug #879456.