Searching for objects

With the Search menu option, you can search for objects based on criteria that you define and show the relationships for objects. The Search Results tab lists the forms whose fields or the objects whose attributes, properties, and field references match a text string or field ID that you specify. For example, use Search to find:

• All forms with fields whose name is, begins with, or contains the search string
• All objects of a given type whose name is, begins with, or contains the search string
• All workflow objects of a given type that have an associated form whose name begins with or contains the search string
• All workflow objects of a given type that reference a field with a specified name

To search for objects,  uses object relationships that the  records. For the Show Relationships option to be available, you must enable the relationships feature. See Viewing-related-objects. Sample data objects in Set Fields and Push Fields actions have meaning only at design time, so the server does not record relationships for sample data objects, and a search cannot find sample data objects.

The Search menu option does not support searching the work flow action functions in the String Search tab.

To find objects that are related to a specific field or object, see Viewing-related-objects.

To search for objects that contain specified text

1. Select Search > Search to open the Search dialog box.
   
2. Click the String Search tab.
3. In the Server field, select the server to search in.
4. In the Search Text field, enter the text to find.
5. To search for a field ID, select Treat as Field ID and ensure that Search Text specifies a positive integer.
6. From the Search In list, select the option that describes the types of object lists in which you want to search:
   • Views; Fields
   • Forms; Workflows; Guides (the default)
   • Applications; Packing Lists
   • Groups; Roles
   • Menus
   • Web Services
   • Associations
   • Distributed Mapping; Distributed Pools
   • Flashboards; Flashboard Alarms; Flashboard Variables
   • All
   • More Options
      If you want to select a different combination of object lists, select "More Options."
7. (Optional) Open the Qualifications panel and select options that further narrow your search.
   
   
   The options on this panel are:
   • Only Selected Objects—Enables you to select a specific set of objects on which to search.
   • Objects Modified Between—Searches for objects that were modified in a specific date range.
     • Only These Locations—Searches for objects by type and location:
     • Object Type—Defines the objects in which you want to search (for example, forms, fields, active links, and so on).
   • Target Text Location—Defines where you want to search (for example, you might want to search only fields IDs or only form names).
      To search two or more object types or locations, select additional object types and locations in other rows.
      To add a row, click a plus (+) button. To remove a row, click its minus (-) button.
   • Only the Following—Enables you to narrow your search to specific options (such as execution options for workflow objects).
8. (Optional) Open the Match panel, and select options that further narrow your search.
   
   
   
   1. Select an option in the Match area:
      • Match Target Text Exactly
      • Match the Beginning of the Target Text

      • Match Anywhere in the Target Text
         String constants are stored in encoded format in . Although the goal of the search functionality is to use the option that you specify when searching in string constants, the "Match Anywhere in the Target Text" option might be used when string constants cannot be matched with the option you selected.

        You cannot search on the Change History field with the Match Target Text Exactly or Match the Beginning of the Target Text option selected. Change History is stored on the server with a timestamp and a user name, so you cannot obtain an exact match or beginning match.

   2. To search by using string constants, select Match String Constants.
       To narrow the search further, select Match Only String Constants, Not Names. When you select this option, the Match option automatically becomes "Match Anywhere in the Target Text."
   3. To search by using keywords, select Match Keywords.
       To narrow the search further, select Match Only Keywords, Not Names.
9. (Optional) To save the search as a working list:
   1. Open the Working List panel.
   2. Select the Save Results as Working List check box.
   3. In the Name field, enter a name for the working list.
10. Click Search.
     The Progress tab displays the search progress. When the search is complete, the Search Results tab displays a list of fields and objects.