Using Query Builder

About Query Builder

Query Builder is a search engine that allows you to build queries (simple or complex) in order to find a part to source within your various categories while designing or manufacturing a product.  In addition to CES's existing search capability, Query Builder assists you in setting up filter conditions while searching for a part in order to find its sourcing equivalent or alternates based on the attributes that each share.  Query Builder can be used for a single or multiple search attributes.

You can build queries in two methods namely, Simple and Compound. A Simple query entails selecting the pre-configured options available for search based on the attribute you have selected.  The Compound query allows you to specify AND or OR conditions for multiple options.

When Using Query Builder

  • In the Query Builder window, depending on the Attribute selected for the query, the Operators for that attribute may vary.
  • Query Builder can only be used in the Standard Search window.

Accessing the Standard Search window

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

How to Use Query Builder

This task explains how to build the query or queries:
  1. In the Advanced Access window, click the Standard Search tab. The search attributes in the Standard Search tab appear.

  2. Select the Query Builder/Valid Values button next to any of the attributes to launch the Query Builder window, and click the Query Builder tab.  For the exercise below, the Manufacturing Item No. attribute has been selected to define the query.  The Query Builder/Valid Values window appears.

  3. Notice that the Attribute defined for the search is Manufacturer Item No.  Therefore, all options for the search are based upon this attribute, and the operators available are also dependent based on the values that have been defined as applicable for this attribute.  Therefore, when selecting attributes for your query, be aware that the operators will vary based upon your selection.

  4. For a simple query, selecting a option from the Operator menu and then entering a value in the Value field for the search will result in all manufacturing item numbers that contain that value.  Clicking the Add button moves the query from the definition area into the list of defined queries.

  5. To create more complex queries, the combination of AND and OR operators can be used to further narrow your search results.  In the example below, the query is defined as any manufacturing item number that either begins with the value PER, or contains the value PER. 

  6. To apply this query to the existing search criteria, click the OK button.  Notice that you are returned to the Standard Search window, and that the query has been defined for the Manufacturing Item No field.

  7. To apply the defined search criteria, click the Search button to conduct the search.  The Search Results window appears displaying all the items that meet the criteria of the defined query.

The Query Builder  Window

The following table defines the operators available within Query Builder:

Option Description
Contains Contains the value you have specified in the query.  For example, the internal item might contain a character after a numeric value, say 1E4. The display in the attribute field would be *1E*
Equals Equals with the value you have specified in the query. For example, if the value is equal to 2 for internal items, the display would be =2.
Begins With Search is made according to the criteria specified with the specified value in the beginning. For example, if the value is beginning with 6 for the internal items, the display in the attribute would be 6*.
Ends With Search is made according to the criteria specified with the specified value in the end. For example, if the value specified ends with 8 for the for the internal items, the display in the attribute would be *8.
Does not contain Search is made excluding the values specified. For example, if the value specified is does not contain Z, the display in the attribute would be !*Z*.
Does not begin with Search is made excluding the values specified in the beginning of the attribute selected. For example, if the value specified does not begin with Q, the display in the attribute would be !Q*
Does not end with Search is made excluding the values at the end of the attribute selected. For example, if the value specified does not end with R, the display in the attribute would be !*R.

The following table defines the fields available within Query Builder:

Fields Description
Operator A quantifier that asserts that there exists at least one value of a variable within the query definition.
Value A numerical quantity that can be determined by calculation or measurement
Combination An ordered sequence of values that are combined in order to complete a query expression.

The following table defines the buttons available within Query Builder:

Button Description
Adds the query to the table.  This field is mandatory in order to apply the query to the search criteria.
Discards the defined query from the list.
Moves the defined query into the selected attribute field of the Standard Search window.
Terminates the query operation and returns you to the Standard Search window.