📄️ Introduction to Search and Browse Types in CollectiveAccess
There are four basic ways to search for records within CollectiveAccess: Find, Browse, Quicksearch, and Advanced Search. Each method generates different results, ranging from general to more specific. Each of these methods also streamlines search queries in CollectiveAccess and generates accurate, and relevant, results.
📄️ Search Syntax
No matter what back-end search engine you configure CA with, the Lucene search syntax is always used to specify queries. This helps to provide a consistent experience for users across implementations and also leverages the Lucene syntax, which is well designed and widely adopted. Note that not all back-end engines support all aspects of the Lucene syntax. In general you can rely upon core functionality always being supported: text searches, field-level limiting, parenthetical grouping and booleans. Features such as boosting, fuzzy matching and range searches may not be available in all engines.
📄️ Browse
Browse filters results by primary table, with additional facets that narrow down a search query within the database. Browse is a method for viewing all records of a specific type, and allows sorting and filtering records based on designated attributes, which are configurable.
📄️ Search Builder
Search Builder is a method of generating advanced and specific searches within records in CollectiveAccess. The search builder screen contains a full list of all metadata elements used in a specific CollectiveAccess system, which can be selected, with different options to further narrow the search within that metadata element. Search Builder is an ideal tool for searches that will be used to generate custom reports or checklists, as what elements are included or excluded can be completely customized.
📄️ Search Engines
SQL Search
📄️ QuickSearch
Using QuickSearch in CollectiveAccess runs a full-text query across the entire database, and organizes results according to primary tables.
📄️ Search Forms
Advanced Search Forms
📄️ Search Indexing
in progress documentation about search indexing in CollectiveAccess