About 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 the keyword capability, you are provided with an option to select a different view (search form) with the help of a Forms menu.  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.

Simple Search is used to search based on key words that you identify in the search criteria.  These key words become the searchable content that is utilized in finding objects that share those values in their defined properties.  The properties that are defined as context searchable in the default configuration. This table details the algorithms used for search:

Algorithm Details
Fuzzy Search Performs search, and provides results if words are misspelled.
Soundex / Homonym Search Performs search, and provides results when words have the same phonetics or spelling, but have a different meaning.
Synonyms Words that have nearly the same meaning.
Stem Contains a common linguistic root.

Note: The order in which the algorithms can be used for performing searches are configured in the CES database table. You can specify the logical operators, that is, OR or AND, for performing the search. The operators are used only when the search condition specified is multiword.

Example:

If the CES table has two entries namely, Fuzzy with priority-1, and Soundex with priority-2, then the search results are obtained by performing the Fuzzy algorithm first. If no search results are obtained, CES performs the Soundex algorithm, and the search results are displayed. If the Fuzzy algorithm produces search results, CES does not go ahead with the Soundex algorithm.

If the CES table has two entries namely, Fuzzy with priority-1, Operator AND, and Soundex with priority-2, Operator OR, then the search results are obtained by performing Fuzzy algorithm first with an operator as AND between the words entered in the Keyword field. If no results are obtained, CES performs the Soundex algorithm with an operator as OR between the words entered in the Keyword field to fetch the results. If the Fuzzy algorithm generates search results, CES does not go ahead with the Soundex algorithm.

Oracle uses Context Indexing for the search. Context Indexing provides powerful search, retrieval, and viewing capabilities in addition to advanced linguistic processing.

DB2 uses Text Extender for the search. With the Text Extender, search can be done by Soundex, Synonym, Thesaurus, Proximity, Linguistic, and several other criteria.

This table provides examples of Simple Search to search for items:

Search for these words... Simple Search displays... Method used...
Batteries Battery Common Root (Stem)
Water Line pipe Synonym
Computer Compter Fuzzy (Misspelling)
Compac Compaq Soundex (Homonym)
Rubbed Rubber Stem (Common Root)
Rubber Adhesive Synonym

This table provides examples of Simple Search to search for Company:

Search for these words... Simple Search displays... Method used...
Ace Ace Fastener Stem (Common Root)
Acer Acer America Corp. Synonym
Acount Account Fuzzy (Misspelling)
Compak Compaq Soundex (Homonym)
Compak Halex Company Fuzzy (Misspelling)
You are advised not to use wildcards in Simple Search. However, wildcards can be used, and are helpful in Standard Search.