Finding Items → Using Search Features → Using Global Search

Using Global Search

The Global Search feature enables you to search for items in multiple primary and auxiliary tables. Privileges determine which tables are available for you to search.

The Global Search page contains all system fields that may be available in all tables in your system. Search criteria that is not applicable to a table is ignored. For example, if you select the Companies table and enter search criteria for the Owner field, which is not available in the Companies table, your search criteria is ignored for that table. To see which tables each field is used, hover over the field name.
Note: The system-provided name identifies system fields available on the Global Search page; these names may be different than those provided by your administrator. For assistance in using system fields in the Global Search, contact your administrator.

If you have appropriate privileges, you can save your search specifications as a Multi-Table report. Your search criteria is automatically added to the Create Multi-Table System Fields Report page. Modify options on the report form as needed, and then preview or save the report. For details, refer to Multi-Table Reports.

To use the Global Search feature:

  1. From the navigation pane, click the Search link, and then click Global Search. The Global Search page opens.
  2. Use the following options to enter criteria for your search:
    Field Description
    Search Tables List of the primary and auxiliary tables for which you can view items. Your preferred primary table is selected by default. Select the tables that you want to search, or select All to search all tables in the list. Use the CTRL and SHIFT keys to select multiple tables. If you save a Global Search as a report, the tables specified here are added automatically to the Tables to Search box on the report form.
    Keyword(s)

    Use the Keyword box to search for information in Text fields that are set up for keyword searching by your administrator. Keyword searches typically apply to the Title and Description fields, but may include other fields as well.

    For multiple keywords, separate each word with a space. To find an exact phrase, enclose the phrase with quotation marks. To find all items, leave the box empty.

    Asterisks (*), percent signs (%), and underscores (_) serve as wildcard characters. A wildcard character matches zero or more consecutive characters.
    Match All Select this option to search for a match to all the keywords that you typed. This is also referred to as an "and" search, meaning that if you type in two keywords, items containing both those keywords are returned.
    Match Any Select this option to search for a match on any of the keywords that you typed. This is also referred to as an "or" search, meaning that if you type in two keywords, items containing at least one of those keywords is returned.
    Submitter The Submitter field contains all users who have privileges to submit items to any project in the system. Use this option to find items submitted by a particular user. Enter the search criteria, such as a user's name, part of a user's name, or an asterisk, and then click the search icon. Any matches populate the drop-down list for you to make a selection.
    Item Prefix Search for primary items by a specific prefix, such as BUG (for bug report) or PRB (for problem). To find items that are Bug Reports, type BUG in the first box, and then click Search.
    Owner The Owner field contains all users who have privileges to own items in any primary table in the system. Use this search option to find items owned by a particular user. Enter the search criteria, such as a user name, part of a user name, or an asterisk, and then click the search icon.
    Advanced Options By default, this section contains system fields that may be available in primary or auxiliary tables. Possible fields available for searching include Last Modifier, Submit Date/Time, and Last Modified Date. This section is collapsed when you first open the Search form. To access the fields, click the plus sign to open the Advanced Options section.
    Advanced Options for Primary Tables By default, this section contains system fields that may be available in primary tables. Possible fields available for searching include Close Date/Time, Last State Changer, and Last State Change Date. The State field is never available on the application Search page. This section is collapsed when you first open the Search form. To access the fields, click the plus sign to open the Advanced Options for Primary Tables section.
    Put Search Parameters in Footer Select this check box to include your search criteria at the bottom of the Search Results page. If you save your search results as a Multi-Table report, select this check box to include your search criteria in the Footer box on the Multi-Table report form.
  3. Click one of the following search options:
    Field Description
    Search Click this button to execute your search. Items matching your search criteria are listed on the Search Results page.
    Save as Report Click this button to save your search criteria as a Multi-Table report. The Multi-Table report form opens populated with your search criteria. Modify the report form, and then run or save the report as your privileges allow. This button is available only if you have privileges to create Multi-Table reports and privileges to create reports in at least one primary or auxiliary table included in the search.
    Tip:   After executing your search, click the Back to Search link to return to the Global Search page and modify your search criteria if necessary.

Related Topics

Using Keyword Search

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