Description: During a search in a complex spreadsheet, it is difficult to visually detect the selected cell with the first result. Having the row and column highlighting automatically or 'intelligently' activated when searching and selecting a result speeds up the data review process. This would allow the selected cell with the search result to be highlighted without activating row and column highlighting. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Click on the View menú. 2. Click on Column/Row Highlighting. 3. Activate/Deactivate Row/Column Coloring. Actual Results: Activated: Column and row highlighting. Deactivated: Column and row not highlighting. Expected Results: 1. Click on the View menu. 2. Click on Column/Row Highlighting. 3. Activate the New Option Auto Highlighting (maybe in a submenu). 4. Find something. 5. The first cell with result is Highlighted. 6. Close the Find dialog. 7. The cell is not Highlighted. Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: No Additional Info: In another menu within the submenu, the user will be able to select the color of the highlighting of their choice. They might be able to set colors that are easily visible or select the desired color from the preferred palette.
Created attachment 198910 [details] Tool in Excel 365 It can be seen that in the menu, you can activate and deactivate the highlighting, the color of the highlight, and there is an option 'Show Automatic Result' that allows highlighting the search results.
Created attachment 203848 [details] Screenshot with English labels I tend to agree with the idea, but dislike the potential checkbox "[x] Show Auto-Highlight", which controls this Focus Cell (in our terminology Col/Row Highlighting) during search.
We discussed the topic in the design meeting. The cell focus rectangle appears to be sufficient but following the example of Excel as an additional indicator might help too. It could be done as an option in the F&R dialog "[ ] Highlight column/row", which temporarily actives the feature.
I've just tried this out and it doesn't seem to be an issue, even in a complex spreadsheet, as the 'next' or 'prev' find is either on screen and highlighted (selected) or the viewport is changed to bring it into view and highlighted (as near centred as possible given proximity to the edge of the sheet). A couple of related thoughts 1. Should highlighting a found cell be conflated with giving that cell focus - I can see circumstances where 'yes' is the best answer and others where 'no' is. On balance, I think 'yes' is best - like it currently is! 2. If identifying the 'first' find is as important as presented in the original post, then is 'last' find equally important? If these are genuine use cases - and I'd love to know why - then perhaps a long-press on the ⋀ or ⋁ could be equivalent to ≙ (first) & ≚ (last)