In my first flex app, non-sample viewer, I had a parcel search that used parts of the 'zoom to found' sample.
It adds the found features as a graphic and zooms to the extent of the graphic. You can zoom out a little by putting a ratio in the code.
 
"// zoom to extent of all features
var graphicProvider:ArrayCollection = myGraphicsLayer.graphicProvider as ArrayCollection;
var graphicsExtent:Extent = GraphicUtil.getGraphicsExtent(graphicProvider.toArray());
map.extent = graphicsExtent.expand(1.1); // zoom out a little "
 
The viewer widgets all seem to use zoom scale specified in the xml file.
The parcels service that I am using the search widget on has rural parcels of over 100 acres and small city lots, so the zoom scale does not work as well.
 
Has anybody incorporated the "old" style zoom to selected in to a search widget?
I hope to do that, but any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill