please add filters to search functionality

[doodhout]

Sometimes when I want to look for the latest (new) videos of a ongoing vlog series (e.g. Equals Three) I want the search results ordered by date.

I know that this problem will be solved when you implement the possibility to view and search in channel playlists, but I'd like the power to adjust the search results nonetheless.

Currently the results that are displayed use the default filter values, one of which is by order of relevance.

I suppose this isn't really hard to make; mostly adding extra arguments in the search() function in the file YoutubeSearchEngine.java, and a nice UI-component to let the user choose which filters he'd like to use, but I reckon it's not the smallest job ever to be done, especially if you take the time to work out a nice UI solution for this - which isn't easy.

Since I have a rough vision on how to do this, maybe I will be able to find the time during the christmas holidays to do it myself and submit a pull request.

[gregarkhipov]

We could add filter button right next to the search bar which will pop out dropdown menu with options just like on YouTube site.
But considering device size, we can make this menu scrollable and use spinners instead of listing all options where it's possible (for instance, upload date and type).

[theScrabi]

Hm consider a NavigationDrawer. It's cleaner, and its also just a mater of time until this is finally coming.

[doodhout]

The search function is still annoying to use if you search for the latest video in an existing series, since I (at least think that I) still cannot have the search results in chronological order.

Is there any view on whether this is a feature that is being considered?

[theScrabi]

You'd have to aplay filters on the result, which wouldn't be that complicated, but id like to focus on rather more importand features first. So unless someone else implements this it's not going to come soon.

[doodhout]

Why wouldn't this be important? (I understand that this is subjective, of course) If I use the search feature in NewPipe, it will give me results in whatever order of importance YouTube deems fit, but that is far from always the best order.

Especially for youtube series (like Equals Three or any poster that regularly posts new videos in the same series or playlist), you get search results where the videos aren't ranked chronologically, so it's almost impossible to know if there is any new video you haven't watched yet. It's stupid that I have to use another client (or the website) first to actually know what to look for, because the search feature in NewPipe cannot find it for me.

Anyway, I might be able to take this up. I'll bother you with a pull request sooner or later. ;-)

[bagelcake]

Any ETA on this @doodhout?

I too believe this is a very necessary feature. I usually search YouTube for the latest uploads and having the ability to sort by upload date (or however else including perhaps duration length) is crucial. Until then, I can't really use what would otherwise be a perfect replacement.

I can't offer help with this but if you need Photoshopping, let me know. Thanks.

[doodhout]

You caught me with my pants down - I haven't picked this up yet. It's been a busy year, but I'm not here to make excuses.

I'll try and actually get things done. If and when I start, I suppose the ETA is... soon.

Tbc...

[doodhout]

@theScrabi @mauriciocolli

I've cloned the repos locally and started some investigation.

Turns out the relevant bits to this problem are located in YoutubeSearchEngine in the project NewPipeExtractor:

        String url = "https://www.youtube.com/results"
                + "?q=" + URLEncoder.encode(query, CHARSET_UTF_8)
                + "&page=" + Integer.toString(page + 1);

        switch (filter) {
            case STREAM:
                url += "&sp=EgIQAVAU";
                break;
            case CHANNEL:
                url += "&sp=EgIQAlAU"; //EgIQA( lowercase L )AU
                break;
            case PLAYLIST:
                url += "&sp=EgIQA1AU"; //EgIQA( one )AU
                break;
            case ANY:
                // Don't append any parameter to search for everything
            default:
                break;
        }

The problem with the current situation is that Youtube sort of "combines" those filters into a single and seemingly random variable value, behind which I cannot see the logic.

For example:

• only filtering by type video: sp=EgIQAVAU
• only filtering by type channel: sp=EgIQAlAU
• only filtering by type playlist: sp=EgIQA1AU
• only filtering by type film: sp=EgIQBFAU
• only filtering by type programme: sp=EgIQBVAU
• only sorting by relevance: sp=CABQFA%3D%3D
• only sorting by date: sp=CAJQFA%3D%3D
• only sorting by viewcount: sp=CANQFA%3D%3D
• only sorting by rating: sp=CAFQFA%3D%3D
• sorting by date and filtering by type video: sp=CAASAhABUBQ%3D
  ...etc

This massive collection of all possible combinations without knowing how to generate such a value ourselves is causing this to be cumbersome and boilerplate. It can be done, of course, but it's not pretty.

Can anyone pitch in with a bright idea to tackle this?

P.S. I searched around a bit and found that the old parameter called "search_sort" still works (for now) AND works in conjunction with the new type filter parameters, so only implementing sort order using this old parameter promises to be much, much simpler.

P.P.S. Should I move this comment to a(n upcoming) Pull Request to keep it all together in one thread?

[theScrabi]

Do you really want to combine those? Have you ever done that? I mean I barely use those, and wen I do I use only one at a time. What do you think.

[bagelcake]

@doodhout Thanks for all your work, I really appreciate this especially when it gets implemented. For now I've been using search commands as a workaround. For example, to sort by upload date, I do "movie trailers, new" and so far it's been an okay workaround. Sometimes I lose the position by scrolling too far down and have to redo the search again.