Example #1, Creating a search that will return results for a single phrase:

"wood doors"

This search will return results where the phrase "wood doors" is found. Note: The entire phrase must be found to return a result, not the individual words. (Results simply with the word "wood" will not be returned. Also, results simply with the word "doors" will not be returned.) When you have multiple English words that need to be 1 keyword phrase, place them in quotes. Avoid using special characters. If the term you are using has a hyphen, replace the hyphen with a space ("DC-15" becomes "DC 15").

Other examples:

"oak wood doors"
"Iron clad doors"
"fire alarm"
"steel grade fencing"
"Birmington Hamm Construction Company"

Example #2, Creating a search that will return results for either of two phrases:

"Iron clad doors" OR "oak wood doors"

This search will return results where either the phrase "Iron clad doors" or "oak wood doors" is found. Note: At least one of the entire phrases must be found to return a result. (Results simply with the word "doors" will not be returned.) The format for returning results for either of two phrases is A OR B where A is a single word or single phrase and B is a single word or single phrase.

Other examples:

"oak wood doors" OR “Iron clad doors”
“fire alarm” OR “smoke alarm”
fence OR gate OR perimeter

Example #3, Creating a search that will return results only when both phrases are found:

"Steel doors" AND "oak wood doors"

This search will return results where only both phrases are found. 
Note: Both entire phrases must be found to return a result. The format for returning results only when both phrases are found is A AND B where A is a single word or single phrase and B is a single word or single phrase.

Other examples:

"oak wood doors" AND “Iron clad doors”
“fire alarm” AND “smoke alarm”
fence AND gate AND perimeter

Example #4, Creating an advanced search that excludes a particular phrase:

"Steel doors" NOT ("iron doors")

This search will return results where the phrase "Steel doors" exists, only if the phrase "iron doors" does NOT exist in there as well. If both terms are in the same project report, the project will not be returned. The format for excluding is A NOT (B) where A can be substituted for a keyword or search string as can B. B must be in parenthesis. In the example above, A is replaced with “steel doors” and B is replaced with “iron doors”.

A can be replaced with (“front door” OR “back door”) and B can be replaced with “garage door”. This search would return results where at least one of the phrases “front door” or “back door” exist only if “garage door” does not exist. The system runs B, then runs A, then makes sure B is not with A. This search string would be entered like this:

(“front door” OR “back door”) NOT (“steel door”)

Other examples:

(“back door” AND “front door”) NOT (“wood door”)
door NOT (“garage door” OR “sliding glass door”)
(fence OR perimeter) NOT (gate AND “steel post”) 

Example #5, Creating an advanced search where one form of a word is next to (or near) another:

NEAR((“stud”,”rail”),3,true)

This will return results that contain the words “stud” and “rail” with up to three (3) words between them, including phrases such as “stud rail”, “stud and rail” and “stud appears before the rail” so long as “stud” appears before “rail”. The format for searching for a word near another word is NEAR((A, B),C,D) where:

• A is a single word or single phrase.
• B is a single word or single phrase.
• C is the maximum number of words between A and B. For example, if C is 5 then there are a maximum of 5 words between A and B.
• D is either true or false. True searches for A being found somewhere before B (based on C). False returns A and B near each other regardless of order (based on C).
• Parenthesis must be used around A and B as well as the entire keyword string.

NEAR((“stud”,”rail”),3,false)

A is replaced with “stud”, B is replaced with rail, C is replaced with 3, and D is replaced with false. This works like the first example, but “false” will ignore the order of the search words and will return results containing “stud rail”, “rail stud”, or “rail appears before stud”.

NEAR((“metallic”,”steel”),5,true)

This will return results and/or specifications that contain “metallic coated steel” or “metallic coated high grade steel” but not “metallic paint that is applied over high grade steel” as there are more than 5 words between “metallic” and “steel”.

NEAR((“stud”,”rail*”),1,true)

This search will return results where the word “stud” is found with up to one (1) word between it and forms of the word “rail” (such as “rail”, “railing”, “rails”, etc.) so long as “stud” is first. If the sequence doesn’t matter, use “false”.

NEAR((“stud”,”rail”),3,false) OR NEAR((“metallic”,”steel”),5,true)

This search will return results that contain either stud within 3 words of rail where the order doesn’t matter or return results that contain steel within 5 words after metallic.

NEAR((“Dav*”,”Smit*”),1,true)

This search will could be used to return a person’s name. It will return results that contain words (or names) that begin with Dav (possibly followed by other characters) followed by a word that starts with Smit or 1 word in between Dav and Smit.

For example, this will return David Smith, Dave Smith, David G. Smith, Dave G. Smith, Dave Smite, David Smite, David T. Smite, and Dave T. Smite.

NEAR((“stud”,”rail*”),1,true) NOT (“steel”)

This search will return results where the word “steel” is not found and “stud” is found with up to one (1) word between it and forms of the word “rail” (such as “rail”, “railing”, “rails”, etc.) so long as “stud” is first.

Common mistakes to avoid:

"NEAR(“stud,rail”),3,false”

Parenthesis is missing after NEAR and after false.

(NEAR “stud,rail”,3,false)

Two parenthesis is missing after NEAR and after “stud,rail” and parenthesis not need before NEAR

NEAR((“stud,rail”)3,false)

A comma is missing after (NEAR(“stud,rail”)

Example #6, Creating a search that will return derivatives of a single word:

“fence”

This search will return results that are English derivatives of the word “fence” which include fence, fences, fencing. This process is known as stemming and only works for single words (not phrases).

This includes the single and plural version of the word as well as other derivatives stemmed from the word. The single word does not have to be in quotes and stemming is done automatically.

Example #7, Creating a search that will return results that begin with certain characters:

“steel fenc*”

This search will return results where phrases begin with “steel fenc”. This includes “steel fence”, “steel fences”, “steel fencing”. The asterisk (*) is a wildcard character which where the system can replace the asterisk with any number of letters or numbers connected to the word. Note: The asterisk must be placed at the end of the phrase or word and cannot be placed anywhere else so “steel* fenc*” is not a valid phrase. When placing the asterisk at the end of a single word (not phrase), the single word must be at least 3 characters long.

Other examples:

"oak wood door*"
landscap*
fenc* OR gat*

Once you select the Projects section in the side navigation bar you are taken to the Search Results page.

To sort your results in List view, click on the column headers that contain arrows. You can sort the results ascending or descending.

The "Applied Filters" section is displayed at the top of the Search Results page. This section reflects the current filters that have been applied to create the current set of project results listed on the page.

Filters may be removed by clicking the X to the right of the filter.

At the top of this section is the ability to save your search criteria. Simply click on "Save Search”, you are then presented with a screen to name your search and options to setup notifications to be delivered to your email.

“Clear All” can be selected to reset to your default search settings and will clear any criteria you set.

The "Filters" section appears on the left side of the Search Results page. This section allows users to easily refine their searches by selecting the filters. The results are updated in real time in the Search Results section on the right.

The number in parenthesis after a filter option indicates how many projects will be returned when the filter is applied. This number is based on your license restrictions, as well as other filters currently in place.

All remaining filters allow the user to customize specific attributes of that filter. In most cases, each filter will display the top selections for each category and a "See More" link that will provide more filter options.

Once a filter is applied, it will be displayed in the "Applied Filters" area.

Saving a Search:

After you search for projects and apply any filters that best fit your needs, you may save your search. From the Search Results page, click the orange "Save Search" button at the top. You are then presented with a screen to name your search and options to setup notifications to be delivered to your email.

Running a Saved Search:

Once a search is saved, from the search results page, click "Saved Search" at the top. You are then presented with a list of saved searches. Click on the name of a saved search to run it.

Editing and Deleting Saved Searches:

To edit or delete the email features or name of saved searches, click "Saved Search" at the top of the search results page. When you are presented with a list of saved searches, check the box next to the saved search you wish to edit, then click on the gray EDIT button in the upper right. After editing, you may choose to replace the search or save the search under a new name. We recommend you keep a copy of your original search until you’ve fully tested the new search. Please note: If you are deleting a saved search, there is no "undo" or "restore" feature to recover it.

Email Notifications on a Saved Search:

You can set email notifications on your Saved Search to be delivered daily or weekly with the choice of a template based on how much information you want.  If you are sending the email to someone who is not on your license, only the project list will be sent. If the email recipient has access to the project, they can view the full details when they log into their Dodge Construction Central service.

You can customize the information shown on your project list view by selecting the gear. Sort by clicking on the arrows available on the column headers.