Partial matches does not give the expected resultset

[markba]

When searching for a partial string in the application name, nothing is returned whenever this partial string is *not* the first part of the given application name.

For example: when searching for baobap (the disk utilization tool), and entering 'bao', the expected app is in the resultset; note that only a part of the name (first 3 letters) are entered. But when you start at the back, entering 'bap', nothing is returned.

This becomes a real problem when app names are combined of two separate words and the user only wants to search for the last word.

Other good examples:
- gcalctool, the calculator: searching for calc returns nothing
- gedit, the editor: searching for edit returns nothing

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[joe4379 (joe4379-n)]

http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/opinion/5-problems-with-ubuntu-12-04-part-1-unity-dash-usability-issues/

[Jeff Gosden (jeff-jb-interactive)]

Gnome-do handles these type of partial matches brilliantly and even "learns" what your most popular apps are, thus presenting them as the first hit in your list of matches.

Why doesn't the Dash search use the same search algorithm as Gnome-do?

I'm still using 10.04.4 LTS and the move to 12.04 is going to be do or die when the LTS for 10.04 expires <nervous laugh>.

[Alexandr Novel (normalex)]

Let's all help Wendy the User achieve her goals.

[Marius B. Kotsbak (mariusko)]

This is a duplicate of bug #752259.