Search

The Search routine searches a file and displays the items found in the Search list.  You can use Search to find a record for maintenance or to find a specific code if you don't already know it.  You can sort the Search list, select a specific record, and set conditions to narrow the results displayed in the Search list.  The Search uses a type-ahead feature to narrow the search list as you enter the search variables.  In addition, there are 2 types of wildcard searches available.

Directions:

The following procedure describes the basic steps for using Search.

1.  Display the window for the type of data you want to search.

2.  Start the Search routine using one of the following methods:

• Click the Search  icon (also called the magnifying glass) next to a data field (where available).
  Keyboard shortcut:  [CTRL + f]

• Or, click the Search button .

The following section describes the Search features in more detail.

• Basic Search Functions:  To learn about the basics, such as Select and Sort, click More.

   

  Basic Search Functions
  Function	Description
  Active Search Field	First, select the Active Field to search, by clicking a choice in the drop-down list.   Or, to search all fields of information with the search value, click Search All. Example:   Notes: The Active Field is used by the Search functions for Sorting records. The Active Search Field selections vary for each search window and are determined by the fields of information for the particular database table.
  Search Value	Second, enter the search value.  As you enter the search value the Search type-ahead feature refines or narrows your search results based on the entered characters.  This helps you to quickly find the desired record. Tip:  To narrow your search, you may need to specify another search field, by clicking a choice in the drop-down list.  Press [Ctrl + f] to quickly return to the search parameters.
  Select	To select a record, use one of the following methods: To highlight the record you want, enter a full or partial field value in the Search field and then, press [ENTER]. Or, scroll through the list and double-click anywhere in the record you want. Tip:  To simply highlight the record, single-click.
  Additional Search Options
  Wildcard Options	Wildcard searches are not exact string matches, but are based on character string matches around the wildcard symbol.  There are two types of wildcard searches. Wildcard (*) search: To match, based on character string matches around the wildcard symbol (*), enter the string of known characters and enter the Wildcard symbol *. Example:  Enter *hill and the Search returns Downhill, Underhill, Uphill, and Hemphill. Wildcard search (?) replacing a specific character: Not sure of a specific character in the search entry, then use the question mark ? in place of the unknown character.   Example:  If you are looking for a vendor named Smithfield, but are not sure if it's Smithfield or Smythfield, enter sm?thfield as the search value.
  Match from beginning of Field	To search fields from the beginning, click to check this box.   Or, to search fields for matches from anywhere within the field, leave this box blank. Example:  If you leave this option unchecked and enter a Search of Hill, the search results will display all addresses with 1 Hill Rd, 2 Hill Rd, 300 Hillside Rd, etc.  Or, if you select this option and enter Hill, the search results will only display addresses that begin with Hill.
  Match case	To specify that the search results must match the letter case, click to check this box.   Or, to return search results regardless of case, leave this box unchecked.
  Other Search Features
  Sort	To sort the Search list by a specific field, click the field name at the heading of the appropriate column. To change the sort sequence to ascending or descending, click on the column heading a second time to toggle from ascending order to descending, or descending order to ascending. Note:  Sorting a field causes it to become the Active Field.
  Print	To print the Search list as it currently appears in the window, click the File menu, and then click Print. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT] [f] [p]  Caution:  Depending on the size of the file, the report can be quite lengthy.  You can limit the records by setting Search Conditions.
  	You can refresh (or rebuild) the Search list to display recent file maintenance changes, or to activate new Search Conditions. To rebuild the Search list, click Refresh. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT + e]
  Exit	To close the Search window, use one of the following methods: Press the keyboard shortcut [CTRL + x]. Or, click the File menu and then click Exit. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT] [f] [x] Or, click the Close  button for the window.

   

• Advanced Search Functions:  To learn about additional features, such as choosing the Displayed Fields and setting Search list conditions, click More.

   

  Advanced Search Functions
  Function	Description
  Displayed Fields	To choose which fields display in the Search list: 1.  Click the Fields menu and you will see a list of available fields in the top portion of the menu. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT] [i] 2.  Select or de-select the fields as follows: To display the field in the Search list, click the field name so a check mark appears. To omit a field from the Search list, click the field to clear the check mark. 3.  To rebuild the Search list with the new fields, click Set View. Notes: To lock in the displayed fields, use Save Preferences. To reset the displayed fields to the program defaults, click Reset View.
  Save Preferences	To lock in your search settings (for the displayed fields and column size), click the File menu and then click Save Preferences. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT] [f] [s] Notes: Saved preferences apply only to your User ID. Saved preferences endure until the next save, even if you exit and re-enter the module. Saved preferences do not include the Active Field for sorting, moved column locations, or Search conditions. To reset the settings to the program defaults, click Reset View.
  Set View	To activate any changes to the displayed fields and column widths, click the Fields menu, and then click Set View.
  Reset View	To change the displayed fields and column widths to the default program settings, click the Fields menu, and then click Reset View.
  Conditions	For more information about entering criteria to limit the records displayed in the Search list, see Search Conditions. To open the Search Conditions window, click the Options menu, and then click Condition. Keyboard shortcut:  [ALT] [o] [c]
  Resize Columns	To change the width of a column, use one of the following methods: To resize a column to any width, drag the left or right border of the column heading to widen or narrow the column. To automatically resize all columns so that the entire heading and field contents are visible (without truncation of any of the values): 1.  Point anywhere in the Search list. 2.  Click the right mouse button to display the shortcut menu. 3.  Click Set Column Size. Tip:  To lock in the new column sizes, use Save Preferences.
  Move Columns	To move a column, drag the column heading to the left or to the right of another column.