Make regex search tool results look more like grep results

src/khoj/routers/helpers.py

@@ -3023,6 +3023,7 @@ async def grep_files(
         file_matches = await FileObjectAdapters.aget_file_objects_by_regex(user, db_pattern, path_prefix)
 
         line_matches = []
+        line_matches_count = 0
         for file_object in file_matches:
             lines = file_object.raw_text.split("\n")
             matched_line_numbers = []
@@ -3031,6 +3032,7 @@ async def grep_files(
             for i, line in enumerate(lines, 1):
                 if regex.search(line):
                     matched_line_numbers.append(i)
+            line_matches_count += len(matched_line_numbers)
 
             # Build context for each match
             for line_num in matched_line_numbers:
@@ -3047,10 +3049,10 @@ async def grep_files(
 
                     if current_line_num == line_num:
                         # This is the matching line, mark it
-                        context_lines.append(f"{file_object.file_name}:{current_line_num}:> {line_content}")
+                        context_lines.append(f"{file_object.file_name}:{current_line_num}: {line_content}")
                     else:
                         # This is a context line
-                        context_lines.append(f"{file_object.file_name}:{current_line_num}:  {line_content}")
+                        context_lines.append(f"{file_object.file_name}-{current_line_num}-  {line_content}")
 
                 # Add separator between matches if showing context
                 if lines_before > 0 or lines_after > 0:
@@ -3065,7 +3067,7 @@ async def grep_files(
         # Check if no results found
         max_results = 1000
         query = _generate_query(
-            len([m for m in line_matches if ":>" in m]),
+            line_matches_count,
             len(file_matches),
             path_prefix,
             regex_pattern,

src/khoj/utils/helpers.py

@@ -613,9 +613,12 @@ tools_for_research_llm = {
             Helpful to answer questions for which all relevant notes or documents are needed to complete the search. Example: "Notes that mention Tom".
             You need to know all the correct keywords or regex patterns for this tool to be useful.
 
-            REMEMBER:
+            IMPORTANT:
             - The regex pattern will ONLY match content on a single line. Multi-line matches are NOT supported (even if you use \\n).
 
+            TIPS:
+            - The output follows a grep-like format. Matches are prefixed with the file path and line number. Useful to combine with viewing file around specific line numbers.
+
             An optional path prefix can restrict search to specific files/directories.
             Use lines_before, lines_after to show context around matches.
             """

tests/test_grep_files.py

@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ async def test_grep_files_simple_match(default_user: KhojUser):
     assert len(results) == 1
     result = results[0]
     assert "Found 2 matches for 'hello' in 1 documents" in result["query"]
-    assert "test.txt:1:> hello world" in result["compiled"]
-    assert "test.txt:3:> hello again" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "test.txt:1: hello world" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "test.txt:3: hello again" in result["compiled"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ async def test_grep_files_with_path_prefix(default_user: KhojUser):
     result = results[0]
     assert "Found 1 matches for 'hello' in 1 documents" in result["query"]
     assert "in dir1/" in result["query"]
-    assert "dir1/test1.txt:1:> hello from dir1" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "dir1/test1.txt:1: hello from dir1" in result["compiled"]
     assert "dir2/test2.txt" not in result["compiled"]
 
 
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ async def test_grep_files_with_context(default_user: KhojUser):
     result = results[0]
     assert "Found 1 matches for 'match' in 1 documents" in result["query"]
     assert "Showing 1 lines before and 1 lines after" in result["query"]
-    assert "test.txt:2:  line 2" in result["compiled"]
-    assert "test.txt:3:> line 3 (match)" in result["compiled"]
-    assert "test.txt:4:  line 4" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "test.txt-2-  line 2" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "test.txt:3: line 3 (match)" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "test.txt-4-  line 4" in result["compiled"]
     assert "line 1" not in result["compiled"]
     assert "line 5" not in result["compiled"]
 
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ async def test_grep_files_multiple_files(default_user: KhojUser):
     assert len(results) == 1
     result = results[0]
     assert "Found 2 matches for 'hello' in 2 documents" in result["query"]
-    assert "file1.txt:1:> hello from file1" in result["compiled"]
-    assert "file2.txt:1:> hello from file2" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "file1.txt:1: hello from file1" in result["compiled"]
+    assert "file2.txt:1: hello from file2" in result["compiled"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -272,4 +272,4 @@ async def test_grep_files_financial_entries_regex_patterns(
 
     # All patterns should find the sailing entry
     assert f"Found {expected_matches} matches" in result["query"]
-    assert 'ledger.txt:8:> 1984-06-24 * "Center for Boats" "Sailing" #bob' in result["compiled"]
+    assert 'ledger.txt:8: 1984-06-24 * "Center for Boats" "Sailing" #bob' in result["compiled"]