Using the E-automate QuickSearch

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.

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.

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

You can define and run an advanced search with as many as 12 rows of filter criteria.  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.

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.

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, 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, and 3) a set of brackets to the right of the filter rows, showing which rows belong to which group.

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.

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:

Click the [Searches] button.  The system displays a window listing all the saved searches from which you can select.

Select from the list the search you want to use.

Click the [Select] button. When you click the [Select] button, the system:

Displays the name of the search in the QuickSearch region.

Attempts to display the search criteria.

Displays the search results.  

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's drop-down arrow and select Save as.  The system displays the Save Search As window.

In the 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 and to the window that is displayed when you click the [Searches] button.

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

Click the [Searches] button. The system displays a window listing all the saved searches from which you can select.

Select from the list the search you want to copy.

Click the [Copy...] button. The system displays the Copy Search window.

In the 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 closes the Copy Search window, adds your search to the [Searches] button's drop-down menu, re-displays the window that is displayed when you click the [Searches] button, and adds your search to that window.

To edit the search you just created, do the following:

Select the search in the list window using the name you assigned to this copy of the existing search.

Click the [Select] button. When you click the [Select] button, 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's drop-down arrow and select Save.

Once you run a search, you can work with the QuickSearch results by doing 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 export the data, click the window's Export icon.  

To delete a search, do the following:

Click the [Searches] button to display the search list window.

Select from the window the search you want to delete.

Click the [Delete] button. 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 list window and from the [Searches] button's drop-down menu.