Copy selection to search, but in all tabs

Feature Request: Unified Search Across All Tabs with Command-E

Description

Currently, when using Command-E in Cursor, it only populates the search box in the current tab. This feature request proposes enhancing Command-E to populate search boxes across all tabs with the selected text, creating a more efficient and unified search experience.

Current Behavior

  • Command-E copies selected text to the search box in the current tab only

  • Users must manually copy/paste or use Command-E multiple times to search the same text across different tabs

Proposed Behavior

  • Command-E should populate all search boxes across all tabs with the selected text

  • This would allow users to search for the same term in each open tab

  • The search functionality in each tab would remain independent (i.e., users can still modify the search term in individual tabs after the initial population)

Benefits

  1. Improved Efficiency: Users can add the same search term across multiple files with a single keystroke

  2. Better Workflow: Reduces the need for manual copy/paste operations when searching across different files

  3. Consistent Experience: Aligns with the modern IDE expectation of unified search capabilities

  4. Time Savings: Particularly valuable when debugging or refactoring code across multiple files

Implementation Considerations

  • The feature should maintain the existing Command-E functionality as a fallback

  • Consider adding a modifier key (e.g., Command-Shift-E) for the new unified search behavior

  • Consider adding a preference for which behavior is preferred

  • Ensure the feature works seamlessly with the existing search functionality in each tab

Additional Notes

  • This feature would be particularly useful for developers working with large codebases

  • It would complement existing search features like global search and search in selection

  • The implementation should consider performance implications when dealing with many open tabs