Searching

Seaching

Using the advanced search function at the Datasheets pane you can do complex searches based by companies, tags, contacts, histories, sold products, reminders, etc.



Basically everything you store in iDeal can be found easily.


The search screen is divided into multiple parts.
Each part is labeled so you know what group you search in.
You can search in one group, or many groups at the same time.

Basic information

There are 4 kinds of search fields on the page.

• Text search field
• Category search field
• Date search field
• Number search field

All of them can be modified to search in the part of the string, the whole string, date range etc. For more information please view the Symbols part of this page.

By default Text fields are programmed to find every string that contains the criteria you entered.
For eg.: you type john in the person name field. It will find every john, but johnsons as well.

Number fields find the number you entered in them, but they can also be tweaked by [[symbols]].
Date fields find the date entered in them, but you can search date ranges in them as well.

Search is NOT case sensitive.

Symbols

You have the ability to adjust what you are looking for with Symbols. Using these the search function can be really extended.

These symbols should be typed, or chosen from the symbol list.

• < Less Than

Finds all the records whose current field are less than what you specified. Sample: <100

• ≤ Less Than Or Equal

Finds all the records whose current field are less or equal to a value that you specified. Sample: ≤1500

• > Greater Than

Finds all the records whose current field are greater than what you specified. Sample: >1500

• ≥ Greater Than Or Equal

Finds all the records whose current field are greater than or equal to a value that you specified. Sample: ≥1500

• = Exact Match

Searches for each full word match for each word specified. Without the operator, a search for John would return records of John Smith, Johnny Williams and Eric Johnson. If you search using the exact operator ( =John ) then your search would return only John Smith and John Williams.

• ... Range

This is used to find the records between two values (usually dates, numbers) in a field. If you type 1500...2000 and execute the find, you would find the records with values between 1500 and 2000 (1500 and 2000 also included).

• ! Duplicates

This is used to find records that have exactly matching data within the search field. Usually used to find accidentally duplicate client records.

• // Today’s Date

This is an easy way to find records that have a date value of the current date.

• @ One Character

This is used as a wildcard character. For example, a search for AB@ will return Abc, Abd or Abf. This one can be only used for 1 character, so Abcd would not be found!.

• *Zero Or More Characters

This will find matches for the wildcard for zero or more characters. So a search for AB* would return matches such as AB, Abc, Abcd and Abcdkksls.

• “” Literal Text

This is used when you are searching for a literal string of text pieces. So a search on Idealisator Company Hungary would not find Idealisator Company Hungary Ltd. However it would find Idealisator Company Hungary, Hungary Company Idealisator or Company Hungary Idealisator. This is because all the matching strings are there.

//Mostly used to find email addresses// (as @ is a symbol, so an email search is done by "xxx@xxx.xx"

• == Field Content Match

This is used for finding exact matches to what you typed in the search field. It will only find the exact same words ( no more or less ) in the order you entered them.
Can be used to find companies with a special initial for eg: ==a* will find every company whose name begin with an a.

Basic search (AND search)

Within each one search criteria (if you choose the Search pane it opens with only one criteria), the fields are meant as a so called "AND" search.
It basically means that every field that you enter are in "AND relation" with the other fields you have previously entered.

For example: You fill the Company name with : Ltd. You also fill the Contant name with John.

This will mean a search where the company name contains Ltf **AND** has a contact who is called John anything.

If you fill the zip, the address, the contact name, and the position, it means that "Find those, who live at that Zip **AND** that address **AND** that's his name **AND** that's his position.

Omitting a search request

If you want to a search request to search for those entries which are NOT the ones you typed in (eg.: You want to list every client who does NOT have a "Potential client" tag), you need to omit the search request.


The omit state can be toggled at the end of the active search request header:

Constrain found set

If you have run a search, and got result back, you now have a so called "found set". It's a list basically, which you can be seen at the List pane.
If you want to constrain this found set, you have to choose Search again.



You must define what you want to constrain (for eg: You have previously searched for Inc. in the company name. You want to constain it, the have the companies that are located in boston, so the new criteria will be Boston is the City).

So you enter this new criteria, then on the top of the Criteria page, you can see a "Constrain found set" button. You must push that, and then do the search.
Your list will constrain.

Extend found set

Extending the found set is the opposite of constraining the found set, and can be done almost the same way.
You already have a list (For example LTDs, but you just realized, that you need Corporations as well).

So you choose Search again, fill out the appropriate field with Corp. and choose "Extend found set" from the top on the search criteria.

Then do the search.

You will get a list with both LTDs and Corporations.

Multiple search criterias (OR Searches)

Many times one search criteria is not enough. This is when you want to do an "OR" kind of search.
For example: find those contacts, who is either John OR Steven OR Adam.

Wherever you say OR, it means a new search request.
New search requests can be added at the bottom bar:


So the first one in this case is Contact name with John in it.
The second one (which you can add by pushing the "Add find criteria" button) is a new find criteria which will have Steven in the contact name field.
The third one is the last find criteria which will have Adam in the name field.

You can add unlimited search criteria.

After you have finished, press the find button, or just press enter.
You will get a list with Johns, Stevens and Adams.

---