## Find layout content

Search returns a hierarchical result set that shows the matching object or
context, component, object type, field, and matching value. Use the result
rows to decide what to inspect, select, navigate to, or record in Notes.

![Inspector Search showing a Lifter query, hierarchical results, match highlights, and the Replace entry point](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/search-lifter-results.png)

## Search

1. Open **Search** from the Inspector group on the Visual Components **HOME**
   tab, or press `F3`.
2. Choose a matching mode:
   * **Contains** checks for text inside a value and can show more than one
     match in the same value.
   * **Wildcards** uses `*` for any characters and `?` for one character. The
     expression matches the whole value and supports `\n`, `\r`, `\t`, and
     `\s` escapes.
   * **RegEx** evaluates the query as a regular expression.
3. Use **Aa** to enable case-sensitive matching. Use **Sel** to limit the
   search to the objects currently selected in Visual Components.
4. Enter the query and select **Search**. Search starts explicitly when you
   select the button or press `Enter` in the search box.

The status line reports matches, searched objects, and elapsed time. A search
can present one object in several rows when different fields or extracted
values match.

## Narrow or hand off results

Select rows in the result tree, then use the context menu for the next action:

* Use **Go to selected** or double-click a row to navigate to the result. See
  [Go To and navigation behavior](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/reference/goto-navigation/).
* Use **Select objects** to replace the Visual Components selection with the
  objects represented by the selected rows.
* Use **Inspect selected** to send one object or a collection to Object
  Inspector.
* Use **Create note from selected** to create a Notes entry containing the
  selected result references.
* Use **Selected rows to clipboard** or **Selected matches to clipboard** to
  preserve result data outside the tree.
* Use the result-column filters when only visible rows should be handed to
  Search & Replace. **Replace...** opens the replacement review window.

The tree also provides **Expand all**, **Collapse all**, **Expand selected
subtrees**, **Reset filters and columns**, and **Repeat search**. Press `F5` to
repeat the current search. Press `Escape` while a long search is running to
stop it and keep the results collected so far.

## Adjust search coverage

Select the gear button to open **Inspector search settings**. The window has
separate trees for:

* **Enabled search traversers**, which decide which related objects and areas
  are visited.
* **Enabled text extractors**, which decide which names, fields, values, code,
  metadata, or other supported text is tested.

Clear a traverser or extractor when its content adds noise or cost to the
investigation. Use the reset button above either tree to restore that side to
its default selection. Changes are used by the next search.

## Interpret an unexpected result

* **No matches found** means the active matcher and enabled coverage found no
  matching text. Try **Contains**, broaden the query, or review the settings.
* **Search was limited to selection but nothing is selected** means **Sel** is
  enabled without a Visual Components selection. Select an object or clear
  **Sel** before searching again.
* Repeated rows can represent different fields or extracted values, not
  duplicate layout objects. Use **Object or context name**, **Field**, and
  **Matches in value** together before deciding which row to hand off.

Search itself only observes the layout. Use [Search & Replace](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/workflows/search-and-replace/)
when the next step is an intentional text change.