🔍Modeler Search Enhancer Plugin
The Modeler Search Enhancer plugin provides advanced search functionality for QGIS Processing Modeler algorithm inputs and outputs. It enhances ComboBox fields with intelligent filtering capabilities to help you quickly find the algorithm outputs you need.
🎯What does this plugin do?
Key Features:
- 🔍 Smart Search - Adds intelligent search capabilities to Modeler input/output ComboBoxes
- ⚡ Real-time Filtering - Filters results as you type
- 🎯 Intelligent Detection - Only enhances relevant ComboBoxes (algorithm inputs/outputs)
- 🚫 Non-intrusive - Ignores configuration and dependency ComboBoxes
- 🔤 Case-insensitive - Search works regardless of capitalization
- 📝 Multi-term Search - Search for multiple words simultaneously
🚀How to use the plugin
Step 1: Open the QGIS Processing Modeler
Step 2: Create or open a model with multiple algorithms
Step 3: When adding a new algorithm, click on any input ComboBox that contains algorithm outputs
Step 4: You'll notice the ComboBox now has:
- 🔲 A highlighted border indicating it's searchable
- 🔍 Search placeholder text
- ✨ Enhanced filtering capabilities
Step 5: Start typing to filter the available options!
🔍 Search Example
Type "buffer" to find all algorithm outputs containing "buffer"
Type "clip merge" to find outputs containing both "clip" AND "merge"
⚙️How it works
The plugin automatically:
- Detects - Activates as soon as an algorithm configuration window opens in the Modeler
- Analyzes - Identifies ComboBoxes that contain algorithm outputs
- Enhances - Adds search functionality only to relevant ComboBoxes
- Filters - Provides real-time filtering based on your input
⚠️ Note: The plugin only enhances fields that list model inputs and algorithm outputs, and only when they hold at least five entries. Boolean and enumerated parameter dropdowns are left untouched. Detection is structural, so it works the same in every interface language.
🎨Visual Indicators
- 🔲 Highlighted Border: Indicates a ComboBox has been enhanced with search
- 🔍 Placeholder Text: Shows "🔍 Type to filter..." in enhanced ComboBoxes
- 🌗 Theme Aware: The highlight follows your QGIS colour theme, so it stays readable in dark mode
⚠️ Note: If you type text that does not match any entry and then click away, the field returns to the value that is actually selected. The model always uses the selected entry, never the text you typed.
🔧Search Capabilities
Search Features:
- Partial Matching: Search finds text anywhere in the algorithm name
- Multi-word Search: Space-separated terms must all be present
- Case Insensitive: "BUFFER", "buffer", and "Buffer" all work the same
- Auto-completion: Popup shows filtered results as you type
- Smart Selection: Click any result to select it
🛠️Technical Details
The plugin locates candidate fields structurally, without reading their contents:
- Identify Modeler dialog windows
- Find ComboBox fields by their position in the dialog's widget structure and by the type of the data attached to each entry, not by the text shown to the user
- Apply search enhancements only where appropriate
- Maintain compatibility with existing Modeler functionality
❓Troubleshooting
If the search doesn't appear:
- Make sure you're in a Modeler window with algorithm inputs/outputs
- Check that the ComboBox contains algorithm outputs (not just configuration options)
- Restart QGIS if the plugin seems unresponsive
📞Support
This plugin enhances your QGIS Modeler workflow by making it easier to find and select algorithm outputs when building complex models. It's particularly useful when working with models that have many algorithms and outputs.
💡 Tip: The more algorithms in your model, the more useful this plugin becomes! It's designed to scale with model complexity.
Modeler Search Enhancer Plugin
Version 2.0 | Compatible with QGIS >= 3.34, including the 4.x series
Developed by GIS Team | gis@eagleprojects.it