Using Advanced Search

You can use the advanced search function from the main Search page to further limit the number of items returned as a result of the search. The advanced search lets you search by any attribute of the type of item you are searching for (not including hidden attributes). You can include details about as many attributes as you want. If you do not want to use a specific attribute, leave its value as *. By default, all fields are case-sensitive, unless your Oracle database has been configured for case insensitivity. Matrix/Db2 environments are always case-sensitive.

To use advanced search

1. From the global toolbar, click Search or select a search option from the Search menu. For details, see Searching for Objects.

The Search page opens.

2. Click next to the Type field at the top of the page to select the type of object you want returned in the search results. See Selecting a Type for details.
3. Click More.

The search criteria for the type of search you selected appears.

4. At the top of the advanced search section, select whether you want to use an "Or" search or an "And" search.

Or--Search results contain items that include any attributes specified.

And--Search results contain items that include all attributes specified.

For example, suppose you search for parts and specify the following attributes:

• Modified greater than Dec. 1, 2003
• Target Cost less than $1000

If you select "And," the search results contain only those parts that have been modified since Dec. 1, 2003 and have a Target Cost less than $1000.

If you select "Or," the search results will show all parts that have been modified since Dec.1, 2003, regardless of what their Target Cost is. It will also include all parts that have a Target Cost less than $1000, regardless of when they were last modified. "Or" searches often produce a larger number of results than "And" searches.

5. For each attribute that you want to include in the search criteria, choose an operator and enter the data you want to search on:
1. Choose an Operator. The operators for text attributes are:

Begins with--The system looks for attributes whose data begins with the text you enter (like including a wildcard * at the end of the text you enter).

Ends with--The system looks for attributes whose data ends with the text you enter (like including a wildcard * at the beginning of the text you enter).

Includes--The system looks for attributes whose data includes the text you enter (like including a wildcard * before and after the text you enter).

Is exactly--The system looks for attributes with data that exactly matches the text you enter (like not including a wildcard in the text you enter).

Is not--The system looks for attributes that do not contain the text you enter.

Matches--The system looks for attributes with data that matches text you enter.

The operators for numeric attributes are Is at most, Is at least, Does not equal, Equals, Is between, Is less than, Is more than.

The operators for date/time attributes are Is on, Is on or before, Is on or after.

2. Enter the data you want to search on in the Enter Value column.

If range values have been predefined for the attribute, a drop-down list is provided in the Select Value column.

For date attributes, click the calendar icon to select a date. See Entering Dates Using the Calendar for details.

If you are using Is Between for numeric values, include both values in the Enter Value field, separated by spaces.

6. When you have entered your search criteria, click Search.

The Search Results page appears, listing summary information for all items that match your search criteria. You can use the pagination controls to navigate to other pages. For details, see Navigating Within a Table.

Use the check boxes in the first column to select items to delete or to add to a collection.

7. Work within the search results page:
• If the search results do not contain the item you want, click Revise Search from the page toolbar to change some or all of the previously-specified search criteria.
• To add items to a new or existing collection, check the items and click Add Selected to from the page toolbar. See Adding Items to a Collection.
• To delete items from the database, check the items and click Delete from the page toolbar. You must have delete access to perform this task.