Using the E-agent QuickSearch

You use the e-agent QuickSearch feature to quickly locate data based on selecting and running a set of search criteria referred to as a search. You can define your own searches and/or you can select from the system's predefined searches. You can save for future use the searches you define. You can also define a new search based on a copy of an existing search.

Once you run a search, you can sort the search results if desired.

When the search results displayed meet your needs, if you want e-agent to include only the records displayed when this task is processed, you can click [OK] to close the QuickSearch window. The system will display a "Filtered" link when a filter is applied. If you were using the QuickSearch feature just to search the records but do not want to limit e-agent to include only the records displayed when the task is processed, you can click [Clear] to remove the filter and then click [OK]. The system will display an "Include all (no filter)" link when no filter is applied.

If you saved a search that you no longer need, you can also delete the search.

Defining and Running a Basic SearchDefining and Running a Basic Search

You can define and run a basic search with 1 row of filter criteria. The row of filter criteria includes the following:

Column: The column of data to which you are applying a filter.

Comparison Operator: The method by which the Value you specify for this row must relate to the value in the Column by which you are searching for the system to consider the record a match.

Value: The value (or range of values) for which you wish to search.

Note: The system displays the appropriate Value field(s) based on the combination of the Column and Comparison Operator you select for this row.

The Column you select determines the Comparison Operator options that will be available for selection, and the Operator you select—together with the Column you select—determine the field(s) that will be available for specifying the Value.

To define and run a basic search, do the following:

In the unlabeled Column field (the first field in the QuickSearch region), use the drop-down menu to select the column of data you want to search.

In the unlabeled Comparison Operator field (the second field from the left in the QuickSearch region), select the method by which the value you specify for this field must relate to the value in the field by which you are searching for the system to consider the record a match. The available options may include any of the following, depending upon the data type of the column: equals, contains, does NOT contain, begins with, does NOT begin with, ends with, does NOT end with, is less than, is greater than, is in the range, is NOT equal to, and is NOT in the range.

In the unlabeled Value field(s) in the QuickSearch region, which may be a single entry field for specifying a value, a set of entry fields for specifying a range of values, or a set of radio buttons for selecting a specific value, enter the value or range of values for which you wish to search.

Note: Observe these guidelines:

If the field is a monetary/currency field, do not enter the monetary/currency symbol in the field.

If the field is a text entry field, the search is not case-sensitive.

If the operator you select is based on sorted values (e.g., you set Comparison Operator to is greater than), the system sorts data in numeric-alpha order; a search for column values greater than A1 will exclude all values that begin with a number.

To run the search, click the [Go] button.

Defining and Running an Advanced SearchDefining and Running an Advanced Search

You can define and run an advanced search with as many as six rows of filter criteria.

Note: If you add more than six rows, the system will not apply any filter criteria after the sixth row.

If you define a search with multiple rows of filter criteria, then you need to indicate how each row of filter criteria is to be used in conjunction with the other row(s) of filter criteria.

The process below explains how to create an advanced search from scratch. In some cases, you can define a new search based on a copy of an existing search. For information on creating a new search based on a copy of an existing search, see the "Copying a Search" section of this topic.

To define and run an advanced search from scratch, do the following:

In the unlabeled Column field (the first field in the QuickSearch region), use the drop-down menu to select the column of data you want to search.

Note: Observe these guidelines:

If the field is a monetary/currency field, do not enter the monetary/currency symbol in the field.

If the field is a text entry field, the search is not case-sensitive.

To include an additional row of search parameters, do the following:

To add a new row of filter parameters where the search must meet the preceding criteria for the group AND the criteria you specify for the new row, do the following:

Use the drop-down menu at the end of the row to select And. The system displays a new row of filter parameters.

Repeat Steps 1-3 to define the new row of filter parameters.

To add a new row of filter parameters where the search must meet the preceding criteria for the group OR the criteria you specify for the new row, do the following:

Use the drop-down menu at the end of the row to select Or. The system displays a new row of filter parameters.

Repeat Steps 1-3 to define the new row of filter parameters.

To treat the previously specified row(s) of parameters as their own group and to start a new group of filter parameters, do the following:

Use the drop-down menu at the end of the row to select Begin/End group. The system displays: 1) a new row of filter parameters, which becomes the first row at the beginning of the new group, and 2) a drop-down menu, set to And by default, between the new row of filter parameters and the previous row of filter parameters for indicating how the new group of filter parameters works in conjunction with the previous set of filter parameters.

Note: As an alternative to selecting Begin/End group, you can also end the previous group and begin a new group if you use the drop-down menu at the end of a row to select And below a row where Or is selected or if you use the drop-down menu at the end of a row to select Or below a row where And is selected.

Repeat Steps 1-3 to define the new row of filter parameters.

Set the drop-down menu between the two groups to And if the search requires that filter parameters in both groups be met or to Or if the search only requires that filter parameters in the preceding group or in the next group be met.

To insert a new row within an existing group, do the following:

At the end of the existing row above the location where you want to add the new row, use the drop-down menu to select Insert new row. The system displays a new row of filter parameters directly below the existing row.

Repeat Steps 1-3 to define the new row of filter parameters.

To delete one or more rows of filter parameters, do any of the following:

To delete a single row of filter parameters, use the drop-down menu at the end of the row to select Delete this row.

To delete all rows of filter parameters below a certain row, use the drop-down menu at the end of the last row you want to keep to select Delete all following rows.

To delete all rows of filter parameters and start over, click the [Clear] button.

To run the search, click the [Go] button.

Note: You can click the [Go] button at any time to see the results your current search.

Note: To save your search for future use, see the "Saving a Search" section of this topic.

Running a Predefined or Saved SearchRunning a Predefined or Saved Search

Some QuickSearch windows include predefined searches. You can also define and save a search for future use. For information on saving a search, see the "Saving a Search" section of this topic.

To run a pre-defined or saved search, do the following:

To apply a pre-defined or saved search, click the [Searches] button and select from the drop-down menu the search you want to use. When you select a search from the [Searches] button's drop-down menu, the system:

Displays the name of the search in the QuickSearch region

Attempts to display the search criteria.

Note: In some instances, the criteria for a pre-defined search is too complex to display. In this event the system displays the message: "This is a complex system filter and can't be viewed or edited."

Displays the search results.

Saving a SearchSaving a Search

If you define a search you want to save for future use, do the following to save your search:

With your search defined in the QuickSearch region (for information on defining a search, see the "Defining and Running a Basic Search" and "Defining and Running an Advanced Search" sections of this topic), click the [Searches] button and select Save as from the drop-down menu. The system displays a window for entering a name to identify this search.

In the Enter a search name field, enter a name to identify your search.

Click [OK] to save your search. The system adds your search to the [Searches] button's drop-down menu.

Copying a SearchCopying a Search

To create a new search based on a copy of an existing search, do the following:

Click the [Searches] button and select from the drop-down menu the search you want to copy. When you select a search from the [Searches] button's drop-down menu, the system:

Displays the name of the search in the QuickSearch region

Display the search criteria

Displays the search results

Edit the criteria you want to use for this search. For information on defining a search, see the "Defining and Running a Basic Search" and "Defining and Running an Advanced Search" sections of this topic.

To save this search with any changes you made, click the [Searches] button and select Save as from the drop-down menu. The system displays a window for entering a name to identify this search.

In the Enter a name field, enter a name to identify the new search you are creating from the copy of the existing search.

Click [OK] to save the new search. The system adds your search to the [Searches] button's drop-down menu.

Working with the QuickSearch ResultsWorking with the QuickSearch Results

Once you run a search, you can determine how you want to use the results. Do any of the following:

To sort the data, click the column header of the column by which you want to sort the data.

If the data was not previously sorted by that column, the system sorts the records in ascending order based on the data in that column. The system also displays an arrow on the far right of the column header, indicating the direction of the sort (i.e., an up arrow for ascending order, or a down arrow for descending order).

If the data was previously sorted by that column, the system toggles the sort. If the values were listed in ascending order, the system lists them in descending order; if the values were listed in descending order, the system lists the values in ascending order.

To apply this filter to the field of the e-agent task from which you accessed the QuickSearch, click the [OK] button to close the QuickSearch window. If you click the [OK] button, the system will display a "Filtered" link to the right of the field from which you accessed the QuickSearch on the E-agent - Edit Task... window.

To clear this filter from the field of the e-agent task from which you accessed the QuickSearch, do the following:

Click the [Clear] button.

Note: When you click the [Clear] button, the system clears the criteria from the QuickSearch region and the results displayed below the criteria. If you defined a search that you want to save for future use, be sure to save the search before clicking the [Clear] button. For information on saving a search, see the "Saving a Search" section of this topic.

Click the [OK] button to close the QuickSearch window. If you click the [OK] button, the system will display an "Include all (no filter)" link to the right of the field from which you accessed the QuickSearch on the E-agent - Edit Task... window.

Deleting a Saved SearchDeleting a Saved Search

To delete a search from a QuickSearch window, do the following:

Click the [Searches] button and select from the drop-down menu the search you want to delete. When you select a search from the [Searches] button's drop-down menu, the system:

Displays the name of the search in the QuickSearch region

Display the search criteria

Displays the search results

Click the [Searches] button and select Delete from the drop-down menu. The system displays a window prompting you to confirm the deletion.

Click [Yes] to delete the selected search. The system removes the search from the [Searches] button's drop-down menu.