Searching in Filters and Input Controls
When searching in story and page filters and in input controls, different search parameters return different results.
You can use the wildcard character (*) to control how you search for your IDs or descriptions in story and page filters and in input controls. The placement of the wildcard character determines the search results.
Search only works for flat data, not hierarchical data.
There are some limitations when searching filters for SAP BW (see Searching in Filters and Input Controls (Specifics for SAP BW)).
For best results, display the input control data as either ID or Description, not both.
The following dialog shows a page filter that is displaying descriptions instead of IDs for its members.
You can use a wildcard search in story and page filters and in input controls, but not in the member selector filter.
The following table shows you the search options and the expected search results.
Search parameters | Results | Example |
---|---|---|
a |
Contains “a”. |
Search: J Result:
|
a* |
Starts with “a”. |
Search: J* Result:
|
*a |
Ends with “a”. |
Search: *J Result:
|
*a* |
Contains “a”. |
Search: *J* Result:
|
a*b |
Starts with “a” and ends with “b”. |
Search: L*d Result:
|
a*b* |
Starts with “a” and contains “b”. |
Search: J*n* Result:
|
*a*b |
Contains “a” and ends with “b”. |
Search: *n*r Result:
|
*a*b* |
Contains “a” and “b”. |
Search: *n*r* Result:
Remember
The search strings don't have to be next to each other, but they do need to be consecutive: strings where “b” occurs first won't be returned. |
spaceaspace |
Contains the exact string, including leading and trailing spaces. |
Search: spaceofspace Result:
|
*(1..n) (Multiple wildcard characters) |
Contains the full list, as if there was no search. |
Search: ** Result:
|