Symbol search is the matching engine behind adding and editing symbols. Choose a grid square and it finds the closest matches on the chart, with controls to tighten or relax the search in real time.

You use the same search whenever you add or edit a symbol from Set Symbols.

Controls at a Glance

Tuning the Search

Symbol Search panel with numbered markers for the selected symbol, search type, sensitivity, filter, results and actions

  1. Selected symbol: shows the colour, icon, name and current count. Collapse the search or finish when the matches are correct.
  2. Search by Icon or Colour: choose the most useful starting point. These choices appear when the chart is configured as a colour chart.
  3. Primary sensitivity: move towards Relaxed to find more possibilities or Strict to require a closer match.
  4. Optional filter: narrow an icon search by colour, or narrow a colour search by icon.
  5. Grid Squares: review the possible matches and their match percentages. The heading can collapse the results when you need more chart space.
  6. Actions: finish, refresh the search, edit the icon or delete the selected symbol.

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Combine Icon and Colour

Symbol Search using an icon match filtered by colour

In this example, Icon is the primary search and Colour is the filter. Adjust each sensitivity separately until the result contains the correct grid squares without including too many false matches.

You can reverse the order and search by colour first, then filter by icon. Use whichever order separates the printed symbol most clearly.

Need to correct individual results? The red-and-green results grid can exclude a weak group in one selection or let you change individual grid squares. See Review and Refine Search Results.

Did you know?

  • Backstitch lines across a symbol do not fool it. The search recognises symbols even with backstitch printed over them, a common problem with older tools.
  • Search by colour on coloured charts. When the glyphs are tiny or faint, the hue is often the more reliable signature, so lead with colour-first.
  • Every match comes from your own chart image. There is no generic symbol bank, so the search compares like with like and stays accurate on unusual fonts.
  • Noisy scan? Relax the sensitivity to catch more possibilities, then use the second filter and manual selections to remove the incorrect results.

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