The `search()` function in Tkinter's ScrolledText widget should work for searching text throughout the entire widget, including multiple lines. If it's not working as expected and only searching the first line, there may be an issue in how you are using it. Here are a few steps to troubleshoot the problem:
1. **Ensure Proper Use of `search()`**:
- Make sure you're using the `search()` function correctly. It should be used in combination with the `INSERT` index to start searching from the current cursor position.
```python
start = text_widget.index(INSERT)
result = text_widget.search("your_search_text", start, stopindex, stopindex)
```
Ensure that `stopindex` covers the entire text widget, typically specified as `"end"`.
2. **Check for Case Sensitivity**:
- By default, `search()` is case-sensitive. If your search text and the text in the widget have different case, the search may not work as expected. You can make the search case-insensitive by specifying `"nocase"` as an option:
```python
result = text_widget.search("your_search_text", start, stopindex, stopindex, "nocase")
```
3. **Check the Text Content**:
- Ensure that the text content of your ScrolledText widget is correctly set. If the text is not loaded or displayed properly, searching may not work as expected.
4. **Verify Text Wrapping**:
- If your text widget is set to wrap text, it may appear as if the search is limited to a single line. In this case, make sure you use `"1.0"` and `"end"` for the start and stop indices when performing the search.
5. **Confirm the Text Cursor Position**:
- Make sure the cursor (insertion point) in the text widget is at the location where you want to start the search. The search will start from the cursor position.
6. **Check for Looping**:
- If you're using a loop to perform multiple searches, ensure that the loop is working correctly and not resetting the cursor position inadvertently.
If you've checked these points and the issue persists, it might be helpful to provide more details or a code snippet for a more specific diagnosis of the problem.