Highlighting items for search results

摘要

The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily lo­cate a preference control, file, folder, control, or other system resource or data item associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field associated with one or more resource types that may be searched. The user may be presented with a pop-up menu containing a list of likely matches. The user selects the desired preference control from the pop-up menu, and the corresponding preference pane, or other container, containing the se­lected data item, control, or other resource is displayed. In one aspect, as the user enters the search term (or portion thereof), certain icons are highlighted. Specifi­cally, those icons that represent containers containing matching data items (such as preference panes having controls that match the search term) are highlighted. Dif­ferent types of highlighting can be used depending on the degree of certainty as to which container is likely to contain the correct match.