Search syntax and operators
When searching on multiple words, the search engine interprets the search text based on how it is constructed. Search results may be more precise if the criteria is quoted, or if you included Boolean operators.
Boolean operators
You can specify search criteria more precisely using Boolean operators. Boolean operators define the relationships between words or groups of words. You use them to specify if all words or if any of the words will satisfy the criteria, or if objects containing specified words should be eliminated from satisfying the criteria. For example:
| To search for | Operator | Examples | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both terms in the same object | AND & + | content AND management content & management content + management | Objects with both words "content" and "management". |
| Either term in a object | OR | , <space> | content OR management content | management content management content, management | Objects with the word, content, or the word, management. |
| Objects that do not contain the term | NOT ! - | -management | Objects that do not contain the word, management. |
You can combine operators to define a more complex search string. For example the following search string can be used to search for objects with the word, content, but not, management: +content -management.
Grouping characters
Use parenthesis to ensure that a search containing different operators performs as you intend. The parenthesis group Boolean strings so that you can use them as separate criteria.
For example:
| To search for: | Example: | The results include: |
|---|---|---|
| (word1 and word2) or word3 | (content and management) technologies | All objects that contain the word content and the word management, or objects that contain the word technologies. |
| (word1 not word2) and word3 | (content not management) and technologies | All objects that contain the word content but not the word management, and must also contain the word technologies. |
An even more complex string may be defined, for example, to search for objects with either the words research and development in that order or customer service in that order, but not objects that contain the word SDL: ("research and development" or "customer services" support) -SDL
Quotes
Quotes affect the search results in the following ways.
- If you enter the search string in quotes, the exact phrase is used as the search criteria. The result shows objects that contain all the words in the exact order as entered.
- If you enter unquoted text, each individual word in the search string is used as separate criteria. The result shows any object containing any of the words.
For example:
| If the search criteria is: | The result is: |
|---|---|
| content management technologies | Objects with the words "content" or "management" or "technologies" in it. |
| "content management technologies" | Objects with the phrase "content management technologies" (words in that exact order) in it. |
You can combine quoted criteria and non-quoted criteria to define a more complex search string. For example the following search string can be used to search for objects with the exact phrase, content management technologies, or with the word CMS: "content management technologies" CMS
By default, some words and characters have a special meaning for the search engine and are not interpreted as part of the criteria unless they are enclose them in quotation marks ("). The special words and characters fall into three categories as discussed above.
- Boolean operators
Characters Are interpreted as the Boolean operator: + (plus sign) & (ampersand) AND , (comma) | (bar) OR - (minus sign) ! (exclamation point) NOT - Grouping characters
Characters Are interpreted as: ( open parenthesis Beginning of a criteria 2 group, to be evaluated together before proceeding to the next criteria ) closed parenthesis End of the criteria group - Wildcard characters
Characters Are interpreted as: * asterisk Multi-character wildcard.