Last modified: 2014-10-13 14:46:17 UTC
The search box on [[Special:Search]] only uses the "traditional" method of search suggestions; that is, only pages with page titles starting with the inputted text. So, Q1234 can only be in the suggestions box if "Q123", "Q1234", etc is typed in, and when suggested, the item's label is not shown, and the page title is shown instead. Note that since using this "broken" search box is currently the only effective way to search outside the mainspace, it might make sense to not fix this bug until Bug 46251 is fixed.
I am not sure I understand this bug. When I go to https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:Search and search for "foo" I get a bunch of results as I would expect. Can you please clarify?
The "search suggestions" I'm referring to are those that appear in the small box below the input field while typing. If you type in "Foo" (without pressing enter or clicking the "Search" button) into the box, there are no suggestions immediately given below the box. If you type "Q123" into the box (again, without pressing enter or clicking the "Search" button to the right of the box), it gives various items beginning with "Q123", such as "Q12378080" and so on.
Ok now I understand it. Thanks. This search field currently doesn't use the entity suggester and therefore doesn't know about labels and aliases.