[ARCHIVED] inbox search

[cholling]

I generally use Chrome or Firefox. Using Chrome, when I type a keyword that I can see in the list, nothing happens. In Firefox, the FIRST time I try a search I get a spinner like it's working but then it finally stops with no results. Subsequent attempts in Firefox, doesn't even get me the spinner. Clicking "Search Recipients" in either browser has no reaction. It also won't allow me to highlight my search term to delete, I have to use the backspace key.

Browsers are up-to-date. Cache is cleared. Browsers have been restarted. I'm technologically savvy and am a key Canvas support for our schools, so I don't think it's user error, but anything's possible.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

Cindy.

[kona · Accepted solution]

cholling​, just checking, but when you enter something in the search box, are you entering a name? As far as I'm aware the search box only works with student/faculty names. I did a check in Chrome (version 44.0.2403.157) and Firefox (39.0) and when I searched for a name it worked in both browsers; it actually worked better and more quickly in Chrome. If you are searching for a name, have you tried a different computer?

[cholling]

Yes, the name vs. the keyword was the first problem. I simply missed see the "username" prompt. The second issue is that it often is taking in excess of a minute before the spinner churns out a list of possible names for me to select from, and sometimes never stops until I happen to look in on it later and the spinner has disappeared with no result.

Thanks for the info, everyone.

[Stef_retired]

cholling, that seems like an awfully long time. On my test in Chrome, the spinner took around seven seconds to return results, and that's in a Canvas instance in which I'm an admin in an account with thousands of users and hundreds of courses. I also tested in Firefox, in an instance where I only have teacher permissions, thus fewer users to search, and the search took just over a second (obviously I'm approximating, but it was quick). I will be the first to admit I don't have the world's fastest internet connection (88/12 today, but it varies), so I wonder what's clogging the pipes at your end. :smileyshocked:

[Stef_retired]

cholling, further to what  @kona ​ has said, I checked the Canvas Guides -- How do I filter Conversations?  -- and see that according to the screenshot there the search box defaults to "Search by user" (although that message doesn't appear in the search window of my own live Inbox).

So I tested what you described in Chrome (44.0.2403.157 m) by searching for a word I could actually see in one of the conversations, and the spinner spins for a few moments, after which I get the response "no results." However, when I entered a name, the spinner did its thing and then that name appeared in the dropdown; clicking on the name revealed all of the conversations involving that user.

There was a feature idea surrounding the ability to search the inbox by keyword or something other than user or course, but it's been archived due to lack of interest:   If you feel you can develop a strong use case for this, you might want to resubmit it.

Or did I completely misunderstand what's going on? Are you in fact entering a user name and encountering the errors you described?

[kyh802]

Holy crow, how was their lack of interest in this? It's one of the worst things about Inbox that it's only searchable by name. For example, I know that I messaged several students on Inbox over the last few days about how I found plagiarism in their paper. Can I remember which students? Nope. Sure can't. Can I search the word "plagiarism" in the inbox to find those messages? Nope. Sure can't.

[mhebert]

Hi - I have this same issue. I put in the first name of a student, and the spinner spins sometimes for a very long time. Yes, this is for students whose names are spelled correctly. Sometimes if I refresh a few times and try it again it may work - or it may never work and I just have to go scrolling through the inbox.