How to run a search

Vitalware has a powerful search engine that can search across multiple fields and modules within one operation. A search can include both Boolean operators and wildcards.

To run a search:

  1. Click Search in the Tool bar

    -OR-

    Select File>Search from the Menu bar

    -OR-

    Use the keyboard shortcut, CTRL+F.

In the following example, we search for all parties with a Person party type from the Fayettville City Hospital in a Clerk role:

  1. Open the Parties module:

    In this example, the Party Type: (Party Details) field on the Person tab already has a value of Person. This is a default search value. It is possible for default values to be assigned to a field in Search mode; if set, the default value will display whenever a new search is begun. As with any value in a field (except for read-only values), the default value can be overwritten if it is not relevant to the search you are performing.

    Tip: Different coloured text can be used to indicate each screen mode. See Interface options for details about changing screen colours.

  2. Select the Organisation tab.
  3. Click the Organisation field Lookup List Lookup List button

    -OR-

    Select the Organisation field (so that the flashing cursor is in the field) and press F12.

    The Lookup Selection box for the Organisation field displays:

    Tip: See How to select a value from a Lookup List for details about alternative methods for using Lookup Lists.

  4. Begin typing Fayettville City Hospital in the Look For box.

    The (blue) highlight moves to the closest match in the list of values as you type:

  5. Double-click Fayetteville City Hospital in the list

    Select Fayetteville City Hospital from the list (so that it is highlighted) and then click OK.

    -OR-

    With Fayetteville City Hospital highlighted, press ENTER.

    The Organisation field is populated with "Fayetteville City Hospital" .

    Note: In Search mode when you use a Lookup List to enter a value in a field, it is entered between quotation marks. If you were to type Fayetteville City Hospital into the field, you would not need to use the quotation marks.

  6. Select the Roles tab.
  7. Use the Lookup List to enter Clerk in the Roles field:
    1. Type Cle into the field before clicking the Lookup List Lookup List button (F12).

      The Lookup List is filtered to matching values and the Roles field is automatically populated with "Clerk".

  8. Click Search (CTRL+F) in the Tool bar.

    The Searching Progress box displays and the search runs using the search criteria you specified.

    Note: If you need to cancel a search while it is processing, click Abort in the Searching Progress box.

    When the search is complete all records that match the search criteria will display:

    • In List View, the Status bar indicates the total number of records returned.
    • In Details View, the Status bar displays the number of the currently displayed record relative to the total number of records returned, e.g. 1 of 3.

You've run your search and a list of records has been returned. Now you want to run a completely new search:

  1. Click New Search New Search in the Tool bar

    -OR-

    Select File>New Search from the Menu bar

    -OR-

    Use the keyboard shortcut, ALT+F+E.

    The module returns to Search mode and clears any search terms you previously entered.

You've run your search and a list of records has been returned. Perhaps you don't find the record you were looking for or you decide that you need to modify the search criteria for some reason.

To modify a previous search:

  1. Click Previous Search Previous Search in the Tool bar

    -OR-

    Select File>Previous Search from the Menu bar.

    The window returns to Search mode and all search terms used in the previous search are retained.

  2. Add or remove search terms.

    Tip: To clear all search terms, select Edit>Clear All (or use the keyboard shortcut, SHIFT+DEL).

  3. Click Search to re-run the search.