Simple Search

About Using Simple Search

Simple Search provides you with a mechanism to specify the search criteria.  Therefore, by entering known criteria in the keyword field, you can narrow your search to only include those items that meet the criteria entered.  In addition, to change the list of searchable properties, you are provided with an option to select a different view (search form) with the help of a Views menu.  A search form is a configuration on a class which has a set of search and result properties.  Search properties are used as a part o the search criteria while performing the search.  Result properties are visible in the Results set.  Therefore, when executing the search, the search criteria is applied to the selected form and the results are tailored accordingly.  For example, if you enter a keyword in the search field to search for a particular item, you can choose from the following forms:  1) All Items, 2) Manufacturer's  Content, 3) Supplier's Content, or 4) Internal Content.  Based on your selection, the results could be comprehensive enough to encompass all items within the database that meet the criteria of that keyword, or narrow enough to only include the particular content that you defined. 

When using Simple Search

  • When using Simple Search, wildcards are not supported.
  • Simple Search does not support the searching of categories.  For category searches, please use the Quick Search functionality.

Accessing Simple Search

Within CES, there are many methods of accessing Simple Search. To complete the scenario below, select one of the following methods to access the Simple Search window:

 
If You Are Using the... Then...

Advanced Access

  1. In the Main Access Area, click the Advanced Access link

  2. In the Advanced Access window, click the Simple Search tab to access the Simple Search window.

Favorites
  1. From the Favorites pane, expand My Searches to display your list of saved searches.

  2. Select the saved search you wish to view, right-click, and select Open from the shortcut menu.

  3. In the Advanced Access window, click the Simple Search tab to access the Simple Search window.

How To Perform a Simple Search

For the following scenario, the Accessing Simple Search: Advanced Access method is being used to access the Simple Search window.  Perform the following scenario to understand how to conduct a simple search:
  1. In the Simple Search window, select the Environment shortcut menu to view the options available for search.

  2. In the Environment shortcut menu, there are two attributes that can be selected for Simple Search; Item and Company.  Depending on your selection, you can search the database for either items or companies.  If you choose Item from the menu, then the Type field will only display appropriate attributes relating to an item search such as, 1) Internal Items, 2) Manufacturing Items, or 3) Supplier Items.

  3. When searching for items, another option to further define your search is the Search Form field.  With the Search Form field, you are provided with an option to select a different view of the search results.  The options that are available for in the Search Form field are: 1) All Items, 2) Manufacturer's Content, 3) Supplier's Content, and 4) Internal Content as shown below.

  4. In the Environment shortcut menu, if you choose Company from the menu, then the Type field will only display appropriate attributes relating to a company search such as, 1) Companies - All, 2) Companies - Manufacturer, 3) Companies - Supplier, and 4)  Companies - Internal.

  5. Once your selections have been made, you can type in key words in order to narrow your search.  Based on your configuration of the search engine's algorithms within your organization, your search results will return results in the Search Results window.   For more information about how you can organize your search engine algorithms, see About Simple Search.

  6. Click the Search button to perform the search.  The Search Results window appears.  You can also save your search criteria.  See Save Search page for more information.

Simple Search Window

This table describes the fields displayed in the Simple Search window.

Fields Description
Source The CES database that is running the application.
Environment The category that holds all item and company information
Type The category that allows you to separate items  and companies into logical divisions in an effort to narrow your search.
Search Form A configuration on a class which has a set of search and results properties.
Keyword Filter criteria that is matched against the values in the database in an effort to match the keyword with similar results.


This table describes the buttons displayed in the Simple Search window:

Button Description
Conducts the search.
Clears the search criteria defined in the search window.
Saves the search criteria defined in the search window, and places the saved search in the Favorites.