This function allows you to search for information in your database, using a virtually unlimited range of search criteria. You may search using any combination of the "Description", "Detail" and “Notes” fields.  The results of your Search will be put on the Search List and will appear on the Spreadsheet View.  On this window you will notice a spreadsheet type display right below the toolbar.  This area is the Search Grid.  Below the search grid you will see several buttons and a progress bar.  These buttons allow you to configure your search.

To perform a search, fill in the Search Grid using the following three steps:

(1)    Click on an empty space in the field column on the Search Grid.  A pop-up menu will appear.  Select the field you want to search from the pop-up menu.

(2)    Next click on the corresponding type column on the Search Grid.  A pop-up menu will appear where you can select “includes” or “does not include”.   Select “includes” if you want records with a specific value included in your search.  Select “does not include” if you want to exclude records that contain a specific value from the search.  The default is “includes”.

(3)    Last click on the corresponding value column on the Search Grid.  Depending on the field you are searching on of three things will happen.  If you are searching a Description category field (i.e. the fields that appear on the left hand side of the main data entry screen) a pop-up menu will appear where you can select the value you are searching for.  If you are searching any other Description field (i.e. the fields that appear on the right hand side of the main data entry screen), a dialog box will appear where you can enter the data you are looking for.  On this dialog box you can enter either a specific value in the top or a range of values in the bottom.  If you are searching any other field in the database you will be able to directly type the value you are searching for in the Value column.

To search more then one field at once press the “Add Term” button and repeat the above process for the new fields.  After you have filled in the Search Grid with exactly what you are looking for, press the “Search” button to perform the search.  If any items are found during the search they will be added to the Search List and displayed on the spreadsheet.  After you are finished with a search you can press the “New Search” button to clear the Search Grid.   Remember that this will only clear the Search Grid, not the Search List.  Since the Search List is not cleared before a new search, you can combine several different searches for reporting and browsing purposes.   If you do need to remove all items from the search list press the “Clear” button.

You can also add a range of records to the Search List using the “Add Search Range” fields.  This feature may be useful if you need to split up your database for a large report.  For example you could add the first 500 records to the search list, generate a report with these records, and then add the next 500 records and generate the report again.  You can also use it to split your database into several smaller databases using the “Extract” features.  The “Extract” features allow you to save records that appear on the search list into a separate database.  You can also entirely remove these search list records from the current database.  Press the first button on the toolbar to access the extract function.

The toolbar contains 3 buttons specific to the Search screen:

The extract button allows you to access the extract function (described in detail above).

The Save Search button allows you to save the current search to disk.  This function may be useful if you often need to repeat the same search.

      The Load Search button allows you to load a previously saved search.

You can also use the “Print” button on the toolbar to printout the Search Grid.

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