http://www.intellij.net/tracker/idea/viewSCR?publicId=39179 Request : -------- Add an /auto-run query in the background/ option to Structural Search, and Replace How it works : ---------------- After a delay without any user action - ex: 1 sec -, IDEA would automatically run the current query in the background, and display:

• the number of matches found
• the 1st piece of source code that matches.

Motivation: ------------- it's like the live feedback you get from "narrow down.. on typing" of the Ctrl-F12 display. Imagine how ineffective it would be if it were "narrow down.. on typing, AND AFTER you push on /Submit/" ? Back to Structural Seach: Being told - without asking ! - that the current S.S. patterns returns 120 matches is useful, because you know that it's too much: you usually have an idea of the target size. If, after modifying it slightly, you see - still without asking - that it now returns 4 entries, this is rich in info, because you know it's too little. You keep on editing, till you are satisfied. You no longer have to press submit, you just have to be idle during a short time (1 or 2 seconds?). S.S. is as powerful as it is hard to master, and non-intuitive. We need IDEA to help us use if effectively with all possible means, tricks and hings. This is just one idea.