You can perform a quick search of the database by entering keywords (including wildcard characters) into the Quick search box in MI:Viewer's toolbar. This will search the currently-selected profile/database for words or phrases across all the tables in that profile/database. For example, searching for the term 'Aluminum 2014' in a Metals profile produces many results; searching for the same term in a Plastics profile returns only a few results.
The text you enter can consist of any number of words or phrases. The words will be combined using the AND operator unless otherwise specified.
All non-alphanumeric characters in the search criteria are treated as a space (unless they are a special character). So the search criteria "Steels/Stainless" is equivalent to "steels stainless".
Any words defined as stop words will be ignored.
Certain characters represent search operators or have a special meaning when searching. These characters include !^ ~ :\{ } [ ]. You should avoid using these characters in your search criteria. Double quotes and parentheses are also special characters (see next section for their meaning).
You can use the following search operators in a text search:
| Operator | How it works | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AND | Matches all of the specified terms
Note that an AND is automatically put between multiple search terms |
steel AND alloy
steel alloy |
Returns records containing both the words steel and alloy. |
| OR | Matches any of the specified terms | steel OR alloy | Returns records containing either the word steel, the word alloy or both. |
| NOT | Matches the first term but not the second (= binary NOT) | steel NOT alloy | Returns records containing the word steel but not the word alloy. |
| Phrase Search
search terms enclosed in double quotes (") |
Matches all of the terms in the specified order.
Note that use of a phrase search does not override stop words or special characters - these will still be ignored. |
"steel alloy" | Returns records containing the words steel
and alloy , next to each
other and in that order.
Results for the phrases "alloy steel" and "steel alloy" will not be the same. |
| * (multiple character wildcard) | Matches the term with zero or more characters replaced within
or at the end of it.
The * wildcard cannot be used on its own or as the first character of a term. |
metal*
|
Returns records containing the words 'metal', 'metals', 'metallic' |
| ? (single character wildcard) | Matches the term with a single character replaced within or
at the end of it.
The ? wildcard cannot be used on its own or as the first character of a term. |
metal?
alumin?um |
Returns records containing the words 'metal' and 'metals' but
not 'metallic'
Returns records containing the words 'aluminum' or 'aluminium' |
| ( ) parenthesis grouping operator | Groups multiple search terms together.
Parentheses must cannot be empty. |
iron AND (ore OR cast) | Returns records containing the word 'iron' that also contain 'ore' or 'cast' |
