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Search by Topic

Search by Topic

Overview

Search by topic allows users to search only records within a specific functional area. To access search by topic, click the global search bar and select the Search by Topic option.

The global search bar with the Search by Topic option selected

Search Pages

Clicking a functional area on the search by topic menu opens the corresponding search page. Each search page supports both searching and filtering: searching queries the nVIRO database to retrieve a set of records, whereas filtering refines that set based on data in a specific column of the results list.

Example search and filter options on the My Tasks dashboard

Searching

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An example advanced search panel on the Permits Search page

Clicking the search bar on a search page opens an advanced search panel where users can enter additional criteria to narrow results.

Search Result Limits

A search may return thousands of matching records. To optimize system performance, nVIRO limits the number of results displayed. If the number of results exceeds this limit, a warning message appears to indicate that not all matching records are shown and that the search criteria may need to be refined.

Sticky Filters

nVIRO uses “sticky filters” to retain the most recent search criteria, even after navigating away from the page. To clear the saved criteria and start a new search, click the Search Reset button at the top right of the page. Any column filters applied must be cleared individually.

My Program Areas

Users who work within specific program areas can configure those areas as search preferences. To do this:

  • Navigate to the User Profile page (see the Navigation, Searching, and User Profile page).

  • Click the Preferences tab.

  • Select desired program areas in the My Program Areas field.

  • Click the Save button.

Configuring preferred program areas has two effects:

  • Search pages with program area criteria filter results based on the selected program areas by default.

  • The Program Areas toggle on site list pages can be set to “Mine” to show only data for the selected program areas.

Due to nVIRO’s sticky filters, program area search criteria remain selected until the user clicks the Search Reset button.

Filtering

In search results, the row immediately below the column heading contains column filters. Entering text into one or more of these filters instantly narrows the displayed results.

A common mistake is using the column filters to search for a record without first running a search through the advanced search panel. For example, a user might enter a permit number in the Permit Number column filter and, finding no results, conclude that the permit record doesn’t exist. However, column filters only narrow the set of records that have been returned by a search—they do not query the nVIRO database. If a term entered in a column filter doesn’t produce the expected results, revise the search criteria in the advanced search panel to retrieve the appropriate records first, then use the column filters to refine the results.

Due to nVIRO’s sticky filters, column filters remain applied until the user clears them.

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