Searching
- Jelle Roelofs
- Etienne Nijs
- Naourez Chouaibi
Regular search
When navigating to a module, a search page can be presented to the user. This search page works with keywords. By default objects can be searched via fields like the reference or the name of the object. Depending on the object, other information can also be entered via the keywords search.
For example, a building can be searched via the name ‘Spacewell Arnhem' or the reference 'PRP-00001’.
By default this search is executed on objects, which are not yet closed. For example, reservations already ended or requests already handled and closed will not be found by default. Via a toggle, it can be determined if closed objects also need to be included in the search. If the option 'Only open' is set to No, also closed objects can be found by searching on a keyword.
It is possible to change the default value of the 'Only open' filter when searching on user level. This way searching for closed objects can be enabled by default, without having to toggle the option, every time the user searches. The default behavior of the filter can be changed via the users settings.
The user can enter the desired keyword and hit ‘Enter' or click on 'Search’ to execute the search and wait for the results to be found.
Advanced search
Next to a keywords search, it is also possible to do an advanced search. With advanced search, search criteria can be combined and it is possible to search for specific fields. For example, search for reservations created by 'Test User' between 01-11-2024 and 31-12-2024.
Click on the downwards facing arrow next to the ‘Search' button to open the drop-down. Select 'Advanced search’.
The advanced search page shows all relevant fields the user can search on.
The default search operator for each field is used initially. The user has the option to change the search operator for most fields in advanced search to get the correct results the user desires.
Below a lost of the most common search operators:
Method/operator | Description |
|---|---|
= | equal to |
= (exact) | equal to, excluding child objects 1 |
<> | unequal to |
< | smaller than |
<= | smaller or equal to |
> | larger than |
>= | larger or equal to |
Contains | the field contains the searched value |
Not contains | the field does not contain the searched value |
Starts | the field starts with the searched text value |
Ends | the field end with the searched text value |
Matches | an exact match on the searched text value |
Empty | search for objects where the field is empty |
Not empty | search for objects where the field is not empty (filled in) |
Using this operator is only relevant for fields/ objects that have a hierarchy. For example: problem types have a hierarchical structure. When using the operator ‘=’ the results for the sub problem types are also includes. When using the operator '=(exact)' only the results of the selected problem type are includes in the search result.
Save filters
On some advanced search pages it is possible to save pre defined search criteria. If a user needs to perform an advanced search a lot of times, the search criteria can be saved and can be used via a single push of a button.
Via the filter icon on the advanced search page, the saved filter overview can be opened. Via this overview a new filter can be created or search criteria can be assigned to an already created filter.
A new filter can be created with an identifiable name:
The user can now go back to the advanced search page and enter the desired search criteria and select the filter to save the search criteria in.
From now on the filter is directly accessible from the regular search page:
After the search criteria is assigned to a filter, the saved filter can be opened and the search criteria can be consulted for future references:
Saved filters are user specific. The saved filters can only be seen by the user who created the filters.
Search results
After a regular or advanced search, the search results are shown. The search results are shown in a list or in a hierarchy. A hierarchy is used if there is a parent/child relation applicable (e.g. a site with multiple (sub) buildings).
Individual objects in the results can be opened via the hyperlink (the 'Reference' column in the screenshot above). Each of the columns can be sorted A-Z and Z-A by clicking on the column header. The Filter option within the results can be used to filter more.
The filter option in the results is not visible if:
The results are shown in a hierarchy
The results has subtotals
Too many results
The list is from a script report