diff --git a/javadocviewer/src/main/java/qupath/ui/javadocviewer/gui/viewer/JavadocViewer.java b/javadocviewer/src/main/java/qupath/ui/javadocviewer/gui/viewer/JavadocViewer.java
index 47a7ade..97e30f1 100644
--- a/javadocviewer/src/main/java/qupath/ui/javadocviewer/gui/viewer/JavadocViewer.java
+++ b/javadocviewer/src/main/java/qupath/ui/javadocviewer/gui/viewer/JavadocViewer.java
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ public JavadocViewer(ReadOnlyStringProperty stylesheet, URI... urisToSearch) thr
         setUpListeners();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Set the search text field to an input query.
+     * @param input The search query string.
+     */
+    public void setSearchInput(String input) {
+        autoCompletionTextField.setText(input);
+    }
+
     @FXML
     private void onBackClicked(ActionEvent ignoredEvent) {
         offset(-1);
@@ -139,10 +147,6 @@ protected void updateItem(URI item, boolean empty) {
         }));
     }
 
-    public TextField getAutoCompletionTextField() {
-        return autoCompletionTextField;
-    }
-
     private void setUpListeners() {
         back.disableProperty().bind(webView.getEngine().getHistory().currentIndexProperty().isEqualTo(0));
         forward.disableProperty().bind(webView.getEngine().getHistory().currentIndexProperty().greaterThanOrEqualTo(