Advanced topic search / researcher view

[AndreRobitaille]

Summary

A dedicated search/research page for residents who want to dig deeper into topics — distinct from the casual browsing experience on the topics index.

Context

The topics index (#30) serves casual browsers with card-based layout and light filters. But residents doing research (tracking a specific issue over time, cross-referencing bodies, etc.) need a denser interface.

Requirements (Draft)

• Table/row layout (not cards) for information density
• Full-text search across topic names, descriptions, and possibly linked agenda items
• Multi-filter: lifecycle status, governing body, timeframe/date range
• Sortable columns (last activity, first seen, agenda count, etc.)
• Pagination suited to scanning many results
• Possibly linked from topics index as "Advanced search" or "Research view"

Related

• Topics index: filters (status, body, timeframe) #30 Topics index: filters (casual browsing version)
• Phase 5 of topic-first migration plan

[AndreRobitaille]

Status (2026-04-14): still open, no researcher view built.

Current state:

• Topics index (/topics) has card-based browsing with a ?q= search. No filter UI (Topics index: filters (status, body, timeframe) #30 tracks adding filters).
• No separate dense/table research view.
• TopicsController#explore action exists but has no implementation (empty view).

Still in scope. Lower priority relative to surfacing improvements for casual users (homepage + topic-page editorial layout). Revisit once primary browsing path is settled.