aACE features a variety of tools to help you build, save and reuse even the most complex search queries. For the purpose of this help topic, we will use an advanced search screen from the Contacts module.
To perform an advanced search:
- Navigate to the module you wish to work with.
- Click the arrow next to the Search button located in the quick search bar (bottom right of the list screen).
- When the pop-up menu appears, select Advanced Search. A search screen appears.
- Enter the criteria for the search, then click Perform Find.
- aACE returns a list of the records matching the criteria you entered.
Overview of the advanced search screen:
Below is a sample screen from the Contacts module. Notice how the layout resembles the detail screen in Contacts. You have access to all the fields, including notes and logs. You can also access relevant fields for related records, such as companies and lists.
The Advanced Search Tool Bar:
The tool bar at the top of the screen gives you the power to build even the most complex search queries. You can even save the requests, which is a big time saver.
Find Requests Navigator
In the example above, the search query consists of two find requests. Use the arrows or the slider to navigate between them.
New Requests Button
Click this button to add an "OR statement" to the search query. For example, if you want to search for all contacts with the last name of Smith "OR" the last name of Jones, you must complete one query screen for Last Name "Smith" and another query screen for the Last Name "Jones".
Delete Requests Button
Click this button to remove a request from the query you are building.
Perform Find Button
Click this button when you are ready to find the records matching your query.
Cancel Find Button
Click this button to dismiss the query and return to the list screen.
Save Finds Button
The Save Finds button displays a menu that allows you to save a query or use an existing one. You can also edit a saved query using this menu.
To save a query:
- Click the Save Finds button and select Save Current Find.
- When the dialog appears, enter a meaningful name and click Save.
To use a saved query:
- Click Save Finds button and select the query name from the menu displayed.
- The saved criteria will appear in the screen. (You can modify the criteria if you wish.)
- When ready, click the Perform Find button in the tool bar at the top of screen.
- aACE returns a list of the records matching the criteria.
To edit an existing query:
- Click the Save Finds menu and select Edit Saved Find.
- Select the query you wish work with.
- From the bottom of the list window, you can enter Edit mode and make changes, or you can duplicate or delete the query.
Matching Records - Include or Omit
This is a toggle switch that will further refine your query statement.
When the Include button is active, records that match the criteria on the screen will be included in the found set.
When the Exclude button is active, records that match the criteria on the screen will not be included in the found set.
Insert Operators
Use operators to further define the acceptable values for a given field. To add operators to your search, simply make the selection from the Operators menu while entering the field criterion.
For example, you can use the <, >, and = in date fields and numeric fields to restrict the returned results. The ellipse (...) can also be used to define a range of numbers or dates.
=12/31/2010 (equal to the date)
>1000.00 (greater than $1,000.00)
12/1/2010...12/31/2010 (a date range starting with December 1 and ending with December 31, 2010)
Advanced Search Requests Menu:
There are additional search options available in the Requests menus at the top of the screen:
Many of these options are available in the tool bar, but a few are specific to the menu:
Constrain Found Set
This will run a search based on the criteria entered beginning with the list of records in the list prior to entering the advanced search screen. In other words, your found set will be constrained by the search criteria.
Extend Found Set
Similar to Constrain Found Set, Extend Found Set will begin with your current list of records. However, the search will add to the found set all records found based on the new search criteria.