Search for Documents

Use the Document Search (DSRCH) program to search for PDF documents that match parameters that you specify. See also Document Management: Advanced Features Setup.

Special Characters

  • Use a backslash before each non-alphanumeric character in search strings. For example, to look for item 100-A-999. you would enter 100\-A\-999.

  • You can only use * (asterisk) and ? (question mark) wildcards as the first or last character you enter in the Search value field; the Text to search for function does not support wildcards.

 

  1. The program prompts for the following fields:

Field Name

Type / Max length

Action / Description

Document folder Optional Select a document folder or leave blank to search the base path (Document archive path in System Options Maintenance - Help and Other Path Options).
The drop-down lists subfolders where document copies reside (specified in Document Output Parameters Maintenance) and those defined for imported documents (specified in Imported Document Types). The selected folder must be one that can be accessed and has read permissions set.

Search tag
(and) Search tag
(and) Search tag

Conditional

Select the search tag that you want to search. A search tag is a generic name for a field or data element. For example, the search tag Order can refer to a purchase order, receiver, manufacturing order, bill of lading, etc. See Document Search Tags for a list of available search tags by document.

If you do not specify a Search tag and Search value, you must enter a date range.

Note
If two search tags (and values) are specified, both must be true for a document to be returned. Similarly, if three are specified, only documents that match all criteria will be returned.

Search value

Conditional

For each search tag entered, enter a value to search for.

Use a backslash before each non-alphanumeric character in search strings. For example, to look for item 100-A-999. you would enter 100\-A\-999.

Note
You can only use * (asterisk) and ? (question mark) wildcards as the first or last character you enter in the Search value field.

Text to search for

Optional
64 alphanumeric

Enter the words or text to search for. The text you enter is not case sensitive (i.e., if you enter ITEM XYZ or item xyz, documents that have the text "Item xyz", "item XYZ", etc. are all returned.

The Text to search for function does not support wildcards.

From file creation date

Conditional

Enter a date shortcut or select the earliest creation date of files you want to find.

Leave both "from" and "to" dates blank to use 01/01/1900 as the start date and 12/31/9999 as the end date.

If you specify a "from" date and leave "to" date blank, the search assumes they are the same: it will find documents created on that date only.

Note
If you did not specify a search tag and value, you must enter a date range.

To file creation date

Conditional

Enter a date shortcut or select the earliest creation date of files you want to find.

Leave both "from" and "to" dates blank to use 01/01/1900 as the start date and 12/31/9999 as the end date.

f you specify a "to" date and leave "from" date blank, the search assumes they are the same: it will find documents created on that date only.

Note
If you did not specify a search tag and value, you must enter a date range.

  1. Click OK. A viewing window is launched and the program searches PDF files in the specified folder for matching text. Start another search (see step 1) or click Exit to return to the menu.

  2. When the search completes, your search parameters, the number of files searched and the number of files that include the matching text are displayed with the prompt Select the file to display.

    Note
    Records returned may be "close" matches as well as exact ones. The search engine tries to compensate for human errors, and returns values similar what you are searching for.

    1. Click the down-arrow next to the Select button to list of the documents that include the searched-for text. Click on the document you want to display then click Select.

    2. Use the back button in the PDF viewing window to return to search results.

    3. Click the down-arrow to select a different file to display or close the viewing window.