Introduction

This page describes how to use the Basic Search and Advanced Search screens.

Basic Search

The Basic Search screen contains a single text box to enter a query string. Clicking the search button returns all matches for that query string.

The query string can consist of one or more words. In addition, the query string can contain special characters. The following table describes rules that apply to the query string.

Note: Text appearing between square brackets represents characters entered into the query string text box.

Rules

Single Word Search

Entering one word finds documents that contain that word.

For example, searching for [Oracle] finds all documents that contain the word "Oracle" anywhere in that document.

Multiple Word Search

Entering more than one word finds documents that contain any of those words in any order.

For example, searching for [Oracle Applications] finds documents that contain "Oracle" or "Applications" or "Oracle Applications".

Compulsory Inclusion [+]

Attaching a [+] in front of a word requires that the word be found in all matching documents.

For example, searching for [Oracle +Applications] only finds documents that contain the word "Applications". Note: in a multiple word search, you can attach a [+] in front of every token including the very first token. A token is a string enclosed in double-quotes ("). It can be a single word or a phrase.

Compulsory Exclusion [-]

Attaching a [-] in front of a word requires that the word not be found in all matching documents.

For example, searching for [Oracle -Applications] only finds documents that do not contain the word "Applications". Note: in a multiple word search, you can attach a [-] in front of every token except the very first token. A token is a string enclosed in double-quotes ("). It can be a single word or a phrase.

Phrase Matching ["..."]

Putting quotes around a set of words only finds documents that contain that precise phrase.

For example, searching for ["Oracle Applications"] only finds documents that contain the string "Oracle Applications".

Wildcard Matching [*]

Attaching a [*] to the right side of a word returns left side partial matches.

For example, searching for the string [Ora*] finds documents that contain all words beginning with "Ora" such as "Oracle" and "Orator". You can also insert an asterisk in the middle of a word. For example, searching for the string [A*e] finds documents that contain words such as "Apple" or "Ape".

Advanced Search

The Advanced Search screen lets you refine searches. Searches can be refined in the following manner:

  1. Restrict searches to certain data groups
  2. Restrict searches by search attributes
  3. Restrict searches to documents written in a specific language

Restrict Searches to Certain Data Groups

A data group represents a collection of documents. Data groups are defined by the Oracle Ultra Search administrator. The administrator then assigns indexed documents to data groups. Indexed documents are assigned to a data group based on common criteria. For example, all documents pertaining to marketing may be assigned to the "Marketing" data group. The data group name should be descriptive enough to explain the commonality that exists in all documents associated with it.

You can choose to search all data groups or restrict searches to specific data groups. If you choose to restrict searches to specific data groups, you will be presented with a checkbox for each data group. If no data groups exist, there will be no check boxes. You can limit your search to specific data groups by selecting the appropriate check boxes.

Note on search portlets: The Ultra Search search portlet provides the option of allowing pre-selection of data groups. By pre-selecting data groups to search in and hiding the data groups selection section, an administrator can constrain searches to specific data groups. In this scenario, the user will not be able to specify which data groups to search in.

Restrict Searches by Search Attributes

A search attribute is a string defined by the Oracle Ultra Search administrator. A search attribute can be one of three types: number, string or date. Each search attribute is mapped to document properties. For example, the "Author" search attribute can be mapped to the "From" header in an email, as well as the "Author" metatag found in HTML documents.

Using the Advanced Search screen, you can require that documents matching your query have specific search attributes values. Follow these steps to specify a search attribute value:

  1. Select a search attribute from the list of search attributes.

  2. Select an operator.
    • For string attributes, you can use choose "Contains" or "Equals" operators.
    • For date and number attributes, you can choose the "Greater than", "Less than" or "Equals" operators.

  3. Enter the search attribute value.
    • If search attribute LOVS (list-of-values) are available, you can select search attribute values from the search attribute LOVs instead of entering them manually. Search attribute LOVs are accessed by clicking their icons.
    • Manually entering values:
      1. String values that contain special characters should be surrounded with double-quotes.
      2. Examples of number values are 150, -150, 1.5e2, -1.5e2.
      3. Enter date values according to the following format: 'MM/dd/yyyy' where 'MM' is the month in the year, 'dd' is the day of the month, and 'yyyy' is the year. For example, January 31st, 2000 would be entered as '01/31/2000'.

  4. By default, you can specify constraints on four attributes. Click Add More Attributes if you need to specify more search attribute restrictions.

Note on search portlets: The Ultra Search search portlet provides the option of hiding the search attributes section. By using this feature, an administrator can prohibit users from specifying search attribute constraints.

Limiting Searches to Documents Written in a Specific Language

Oracle Ultra Search can search documents in different languages. Specifying a language restricts searches to documents that are written in that language. Use the language list box to specify a language.

Note on search portlets: If the search attributes section is hidden, then you will not be able to limit searches by language.