3.1.6.4.3.2.  Full-text search: Search options in detail
3.1.6.4.3.2.1. Search with one single term
  • Bolt

    The term "Bolt" can occur anywhere, also as substring. Some examples:

    Through boring for bolts

    Stop bolts

    Bolts with flange

    [Note]Note

    A precise spelling is important. With scrambled letters (blot) or empty spaces (b o l t) you won't get any results.

  • Search with exact type designation

    DNC
  • Term of a classification node

    mounting element

    If you get hits inside a classification, this is signalized by the respective icon in the hit list.

    After double-clicking on a hit you can see all parts classified in the same way.

    [Tip]Tip

    For a better overview you can enable the setting option Do not show empty classifications.

3.1.6.4.3.2.2. Singular - Plural

Singular and plural terms lead to the same results.

Also see Section 3.1.6.4.3.2.6, “ Exact search {} ”.

3.1.6.4.3.2.3. Multiple terms

Each term has to exist anywhere in the project.

  • bolt with shank

    You could also search:

    shank bolt

    The sequence plays a certain role, because exact accordances are higher ranked.

  • cylinder manufacturername

    Simply add the manufacturer name into the input field in addition

    or alternately determine a manufacturer (catalog) under Search in

    Search in -> Current selection

    Search in -> Current selection

    or in the docking window Filter, use the Manufacturer filter.

    Manufacturer filter

    Manufacturer filter

3.1.6.4.3.2.4. Search with combination of terms and variable values
  • dnc 500 45
  • hexagon bolt M30x100

    or simply

    hexagon bolt 30 100

When filtering with variable values, a respective icon is displayed in the table of Part view top left. When clicking on the icon the table filter is removed and all rows are displayed.

3.1.6.4.3.2.5. Search only with variable values

A combination of several values may be so specific that stating of terms is dispensable.

63 320 10 75

-> For example, herewith a Festo cylinder can be found.

3.1.6.4.3.2.6.  Exact search {}

In order to perform an Exact search, put the term in curly brackets {}.

Condition: The searched term has to occur in the result exactly in this way. However, in addition, other terms may occur in the result. The Exact search tolerates no stemming and no splitting of words.

Example:

A search with

{Screw}

will find "Screw" or "Lever with screw", but not "Screws" or "Screwdriver".

The syntax has been changed compared to V11.

Syntax in V11: exactdata=Bolt

Syntax in V12: {Bolt}

For a better understanding two important differences between Phrase search and Exact search shall be pointed out:

  • Stemming:[45]

    Phrase search:

    "flared coupling"

    finds "flared couplings" (stemming tolerated)

    Exact search:

    {flared coupling}

    does not find "flared couplings" (stemming not tolerated)

  • Compound words (especially relevant in German):

    Phrase search:

    "Schraube mit Mutter"

    also finds "Zylinderschraube mit Mutter". (The compound word "Zylinderschraube" has been treated split in its subparts.)

    Exact search:

    "Schraube mit Mutter"

    does not find "Zylinderschraube mit Mutter".

3.1.6.4.3.2.7.  Strict search !

In order to perform a Strict search, at the end of the desired term, put an exclamation mark (!).

Condition: In the result, only that is tolerated what has been entered (apart from empty spaces or a separator like a point for example). The Strict search tolerates stemming[46].

Only perform the Strict search as a variable search.

Examples:

  • A search with

    WS=Steel

    for example, also finds "Stainless steel".

    If you want to find "Steel" exclusively, use the Strict search.

    WS=Steel!

  • On the contrary, if you only want to receive hits with "Stainless steel", meaning exclude hits with only "Steel", for example, then combine the Phrase search and Strict search.

    WS="Stainless Steel"!

[Note]Note

If the Strict search shall be used for a combination of multiple terms, it has to be combined with the Phrase search.

[Note]Note

Applied on all catalogs, the Strict search may take some time!

3.1.6.4.3.2.8.  Phrase search "" (exact order of terms)

In order to perform a Phrase search (exact order of terms), put the whole search term in double quotes.

Condition: All search terms have to be found. Nothing may be missing, nothing may be in between. Outside the search term other terms may occur. The Phrase search tolerates stemming[47] and splitting of compound words (especially German).

Example:

A search with

"bolt with nut"

also finds

Hexagonal bolt with nut

Here in this example the hit is made by accordance in the project path.

Here in this example the hit is made by accordance in the project path.

For a better understanding two important differences between Phrase search and Exact search shall be pointed out:

  • Stemming:

    Phrase search:

    "flared coupling"

    finds "flared couplings" (stemming tolerated)

    Exact search:

    {flared coupling}

    does not find "flared couplings" (stemming not tolerated)

  • Compound words (especially relevant in German):

    Phrase search:

    "Schraube mit Mutter"

    also finds "Zylinderschraube mit Mutter". (The compound word "Zylinderschraube" has been treated split in its subparts.)

    Exact search:

    {Schraube mit Mutter}

    does not find "Zylinderschraube mit Mutter".

3.1.6.4.3.2.9. Wildcard search *

If you only know subparts of a string of numbers, characters or combined numbers and characters, you can use the wildcard search. The searched part may occur at any place.

Example:

Using

*A89*

e.g. 1SF A89 7102R7000 is found.

  • If the unknown places do occur at the beginning, at the end or in the middle, doesn't matter. Also the number of used placeholders is arbitrary.[48]

    1SF*7102R7000

    1SFA8*102R*000

  • In V11, single positions could be replaced by the placeholder (?). This placeholder also works in V12, however, much more easier and flexible is the placeholder (*), as it may stand for no, one or multiple characters.

    1SFA8?
    ?102R?000

  • If the unknown part is separated by empty space, separator such as point, for example, or character of another type (numerical/alphanumerical), a wildcard is dispensable.

  • Alphanumerical search:

    By default, terms are fragmented in meaningful minor terms (substrings according to dictionaries).

    With hex nut you can find hexagon nut without using the placeholder *.

    With hexag you wouldn't be successful. In this case you have to search with hexag *.

  • Numerical search:

    123 * 567 *

  • For a wildcard search, no stemming is performed[49] . *crew only finds screw, not screws. If you want to find both, you have to enter *crew*.

  • A wildcard search is always related with a certain loss of performance. However, it is a question of how many hits will be made. For example, searching with s* is significantly slower than searching with *crew. If a search with s* runs over a lot of catalogs it may happen that the PARTapplicationServer cancels the search, because it would cost too much performance. In such a case an error message like: Wildcard search too general. Narrow down the search by specifying additional letters or numbers. is displayed.

3.1.6.4.3.2.10. Leading zeros in part numbers

Searching with

9876

finds

00009876

[Tip]Tip

Don't use leading zeros for searching. If the desired part actually has leading zeros, it will be found anyway.

3.1.6.4.3.2.11. Search for negative values

You can explicitly search for negative values.

Example:

-5 or ANGLE=-5

Simply enter the negative value. In this way the search for negative values is performed with the highest priority.

3.1.6.4.3.2.12. Number search with units (explicitly and implicitly)

Examples:

  • Numerical values are indexed in their base unit. They can also be searched with a specified unit as search operator in brackets [].[50]

    • Searching for 5 will find both 5 mm and 5 INCH.

    • Searching for 25.4[mm] will find both 25.4 mm and 1 Inch.

    • Searching for 1 [Inch] will find both 1 Inch and 25.4 mm.

  • You can search values in inch notation (e.g. 3 1/2)

    A notation as fraction will be treated as inch by default and in the background, a conversion to mm will happen, so that mm values can also be found.

    1/2

    1 1/2

    38.1 mm and 1 1/2 inch are equivalent.

    38.1 mm and 1 1/2 inch are equivalent.

  • If you want to search for "mm" with a fraction, you have to add "mm" in square brackets.

    [Note]Note

    Only if the unit is explicitly stated, searching is exclusively numerical, otherwise textual.

    1/2 [mm]

  • When wanting to explicitly search for Inch you have to add "inch" in square brackets.

    [Note]Note

    Only if the unit is explicitly stated, searching is exclusively numerical, otherwise textual.

    0.5 [inch]

  • Also with inch, you can search "from-to".

    1/2 - 3/4

    1 1/2 - 1 3/4

    Also when using from-to statements the unit can be added behind.

    1 1/2 [inch] - 1.75 [inch]

    If there is no explicit statement, the last token defines the unit.

    The following search leads to Inch results, because the fraction is automatically interpreted as Inch.

    1.5 - 1 3/4

  • Inch values can also be part of order numbers, for example.

3.1.6.4.3.2.13. Logical operators
  • Relational operators

    When searching with variables, you can use logical operators, not only "equal" (=), but all usual mathematical operators.

    • = : Equal

    • < : Less

    • > : Greater

    • <= : Less or equal

    • >= : Greater or equal

    Example:

    Hexagon bolt L>200

  • Linking operators

    Furthermore you can combine terms and numerical values with "AND" or "OR" and exclude certain terms with "NOT".

    [Note]Note

    Upper or lower case makes no difference for the search term.

    Operators such as AND, NOT, OR have to be upper case.

    • NOT: Exclusion of a certain term

      Examples:

      • Round cylinders shall be excluded.

        cylinder NOT round
        or
        cylinder !round

        [Note]Note

        Between exclamation mark (!) and the term to be excluded, there is no empty space allowed.

      • If a sequence of several terms shall be excluded, you have to set them into parentheses.

        Hand wheel !(Form V)

    • AND: All terms have to exist and all conditions have to be fulfilled.

      [Note]Note

      The AND operator can also be dropped.

      bolt shank
      
      equals
      
      bolt AND shank

      Examples on the AND operator

      • 16.2 21 90

      • Hexagon bolt L = 400

        or

        Hexagon bolt AND L = 400

      • Hexagon bolts AND >200

        Searching for hexagon bolts with any value greater than 200.

      • Hexagon bolt L>=140 L<=160
        or
        Hexagon bolt L>=140 AND L<=160

      • Hexagon bolt L = 120 AND D = 22

      • IDNR>=23012001 AND IDNR<=23012025

    • OR: It is sufficient if one term exists or one condition is fulfilled.

      Examples on the OR operator

      • Sechskantschraube OR Zylinderschraube

        The result will include both "Sechskantschrauben" and "Zylinderschrauben".

      • (Hexagon bolt) OR (Head cap bolt)

        is equivalent to

        Hexagon bolt OR Head cap bolt

        The brackets are dispensable. The empty space is equivalent to AND.

      For more details please see next point.

3.1.6.4.3.2.14. Mixture of AND and OR - Parentheses

[Note]Note
  • Empty space is equivalent to AND

  • AND has higher priority than OR

  • Parentheses has higher priority than AND and OR

Examples:

  • Searched: A hexagon bolt with either M10x50 or M10x60

    hexagon bolt (M10x50 OR M10x60)

    is equivalent to

    hexagon bolt M10x50 OR hexagon bolt M10x60

    If you would omit the brackets in the first case, you would receive much more unclear results.

    -> Result:

  • In English sometimes the term "bolt" and sometimes "screw" is used.

    Search input:

    head cap (bolt OR screw)

  • Searched ISO 4762 or ISO 12474

    Search input:

    ISO (4762 OR 12474)

  • Searched: Head cap bolt with strength class 10.9 or 12.9 (If the values for strength are found in the link database or in the characteristic attribute table doesn't matter.)

    Search input:

    Head cap bolt (10.9 OR 12.9)

  • Searching for a part with two options in length

    Hexagon bolt (L=380 OR L=400)

  • Searching for a cheese head screw or a hexagon screw with thread proximate till head and at the same time an entry "HiHo" or "Hello" (in the link database).

    Search input:

    (Cheese head screw) OR (Hexagon screws thread proximate till head)
     (HiHo OR Hello)

    Result:

3.1.6.4.3.2.15. Topological measures of length

When executing a Full-text search topological measures of length are searched through as well, what is very advantageously, especially when using own part catalogs, because here, often a detailed characteristic attribute table is missing.

Hits from topology are displayed in a dedicated column Topology and are marked in yellow.

(Alternatively Topology search and Geometric search (3D) are appropriate methods.)

Precondition:

Using this feature requires an updated full-text search index plus accordingly set config entry.

In the configuration file partsol.cfg, block INDEX:LUCENE, key TopologyCatalogs enter the desired catalog path in the following form:[51]

cat/<catalog_name>

Details on this can be found under Section 1.3.8.6.15, “ Update Full-text search index (and Geometrical search index) for finding topological values via Full-text search ” in PARTsolutions - Administration Manual.

Example:

The figure shows an example with the search term "Cuboid 50".

The figure shows an example with the search term "Cuboid 50".

In the Part view you can find the docking window Topology information in addition with a detailed listing which also contains the number of each occurrence. See Section 3.1.7.9, “Docking window "Topology information "”.

Example: Search for "Cuboid 50". "Cuboid" is found in the table, "50" via topological information (even if there are no table values).

Example: Search for "Cuboid 50". "Cuboid" is found in the table, "50" via topological information (even if there are no table values).

Explicit Topology search

Use an explicit topology search when searching for details.

If, for example you are searching for "3 holes with diameter 5", then add the Topology search.

On this see Section 3.1.6.4.12, “ Topology search ”.

3.1.6.4.3.2.16. Search options with ERP integration

It doesn't matter where the search term is contained. The link database is searched as well. So you can search for ERP numbers, material, release state, stock, etc.

12345 steel released
3.1.6.4.3.2.17. Wildcard query for a whole directory

Performing a wildcard search (*) in the Full-text search input field all projects of the directory set under Search in are outputted.

This can be interesting for a Cloud Map Search or also the export of the search result of a whole directory.

Cloud Map Search:

Example: All handles of the set directory are displayed in the Cloud Map.

Example: All handles of the set directory are displayed in the Cloud Map.

Save search results in a file :

Click on the button .

The respective dialog box opens. Here you can specify the columns to be exported. You can save all search results or only the selected ones.

3.1.6.4.3.2.18. Background information

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.1. Automatic splitting of search terms

In V12 the search term is automatically split into single subterms what can be useful especially in German with its many compound words.

For example, Radialwellendichtring to Radial-wellen-dicht-ring

For all resulting combinations, searches are performed, and in this case it really makes sense because there are different spellings over all catalogs.

Radial-Wellendichtring

Radialwellen-Dichtring

Also a turn of single parts leads to desired results.

Dichtring Radialwellen

With correct sequence even a phrase search would lead to the desired results, so for example:

"Radial Welle"

In V11 there were only hits with exact accordance compared to the search term.

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.2. Toleration of wrong divisions in strings

A combination of characters, numbers and signs is automatically fragmented in its subparts internally at empty spaces, separators and transitions between different types of characters (numerical/alphanumerical), so that at these places also divergent separations will be tolerated.

  • 89AB123.567

    In this case the following search would be successful as well:

    123 567
  • Searching with

    ABC1234DEF

    or

    ABC-1234-DEF

    will find

    ABC 1234 DEF

    as well.[52]

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.3. Ranking
  • Words in the beginning of a field are ranked higher (NN, NT and NB)

  • In compound words (only concerns German), the last component has a higher rank.

    For example, when searching for schraube the result Sechskantschraube has a higher rank than Schraubendreher.

  • When searching for multiple words, results where these words are in the same order are ranked higher.

  • Exact word matches receive a higher rank.

    Example:

    A search for bolt prioritizes bolt before hexagon bolt.

    This means, hits with only bolt will be listed before hits with hexagon bolt.

  • In V11, an accumulation of same words reduced the rank. This is removed in V12.

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.4. Find order numbers with empty spaces and special characters

In V12, order numbers with empty spaces and special characters are also found even if the spelling is not quite correct.

Example:

The following order number contains empty spaces.

XVEWO NW 10 HL

It is even found when searching without empty spaces.

XVEWONW10HL

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.5. Extraction of zeros from search terms

If a search terms includes zeros, the search is performed both with the original search term and in addition with extracted zeros. If both methods lead to results, exact accordances are higher ranked and so are listed on top.

3.1.6.4.3.2.18.6. Search for values of value range fields

In V12, you can search for values of value range fields (if they do not depend on others).

In the search result and in the part view the searched value is set and marked.

Search result: Searched value set

Search result: Searched value set

Part view: Searched value set

Part view: Searched value set




[45] Reduced basic and cardinal forms in languages, e.g. singular and plural

[46] Reduced basic and cardinal forms in languages, e.g. singular and plural

[47] Reduced basic and cardinal forms in languages, e.g. singular and plural

[48] In V11 the placeholder (*) was only allowed either at the beginning or at the end of a search string.

[49] Reduced basic and cardinal forms in languages, e.g. singular and plural

[50] Works with all units specified in the configuration file unitbase.cfg.

[51] The tolerance is set via configuration file and normally has not to be changed. See $CADENAS_SETUP/partsol.cfg -> block [FULLTEXTSEARCH] -> key TopologyTolerance.

[52] Other special characters as hyphen are treated in the same way.