MonsterSearch — Smarter Manager Search for MODX

What is MonsterSearch?

MonsterSearch is a lightweight MODX Manager plugin that supercharges the built-in quick search. It interprets short search operators (prefixes and symbols), handles exact-name queries using quotes, and allows for direct ID filtering.

The idea sparked from a daily frustration: whenever I double-clicked a Chunk or snippet tag like [[$head]], MODX copied the $ symbol too. Pasting $head into the Manager search returned nothing, because the native search couldn't handle the symbol.

MonsterSearch fixes that. Now, you can copy and paste element tags exactly as they appear, and the search instantly finds the right item.

As projects grow and gather hundreds of Chunks, Snippets, Templates, and Resources, finding things becomes a headache. MonsterSearch solves this by delivering precise, flexible, and lightning-fast results directly inside the Manager interface.

Key Features

• Wildcard prefixes — scope your search results to display exactly what you need.
  $ = Chunks (e.g., $head displays all Chunks with head in their name)
  ! = Snippets (e.g., !pdoCall displays all Snippets with pdoCall in their name)
  * = TVs (e.g., *mainImage displays all TVs with mainImage in their name)
  + = Templates (e.g., +mainTemplate displays all Templates with mainTemplate in their name)
  @ = Plugins (e.g., @migx displays all Plugins with migx in their name)
  # = Resources (e.g., #index displays all Resources with index in their alias or title)
  ^ = Users (e.g., ^admin displays all Users with admin in their username)
  ~ = ID (e.g., ~11 displays only the item with ID 11)
  "Footer Snippet" → Displays the exact element with that name, bypassing fuzzy logic (quoted exact-match search)
  
  Combined Examples — string operators together for ultimate precision.
  !~21 → Displays only the Snippet with ID 21 (combines ! for Snippets and ~ for exact ID)
  $@ header → Displays Chunks and Plugins containing header in their name (multiple include prefixes)
  +"main layout" → Displays Templates named exactly main layout (Template prefix + quoted exact search)
  
  
• Include & Exclude — mix multiple prefixes or exclude types entirely using a minus sign (e.g., footer -* -@).
• Fuzzy Search — utilizes the Levenshtein distance algorithm to handle typos gracefully. (Configurable via System Settings).
• MODX 2.x & 3.x — fully compatible with both Manager architectures.

Installation (quick)

1. Install the transport package via Package Manager.
2. Go to System Settings → choose the monstersearch namespace.
3. Tweak the defaults: monstersearch.wildcards, monstersearch.fuzzy_threshold.
4. Clear the site cache and reload the Manager.

Default System Settings

                    $==chunks||!==snippets||*==tvs||+==templates||@==plugins||#==resources||^==users