Keyword Searches Using Wildcards

Windchill Fundamentals > Windchill Search > Advanced Search Examples > Keyword Searches Using Wildcards

This topic describes search behavior when Windchill Index Search is installed and enabled and using the default preference settings. The following examples do not apply to scenarios in which you are performing a database search or non-indexed keyword search.

See Search Wildcards for additional use case examples.

When you perform an indexed keyword search that includes an asterisk character wildcard (*), the placement of the wildcard in your search string might limit the fields that are searched:

• Trailing asterisk (keyword*)�The keyword, followed by zero or more characters, is compared against all object attributes and text within primary content files.

• Leading asterisk (*keyword)�The keyword, preceded by zero or more characters, is compared against the Name and Number attributes. The keyword is also compared against text within primary content files, but this does not return results for the keyword preceded by one or more characters.

Wildcard characters cannot substitute for white space between keyword strings. This might be potentially confusing, given the fact that Windchill Index Search replaces some special characters with white space. An example of this behavior is provided below.

Example: Trailing Wildcard

In this example, you perform a search for the keyword �form� followed by zero or more characters:

Keyword

form*

Search Results

The keyword, followed by zero or more characters, is compared to all indexed object attributes and indexed primary content text:

Example: Leading Wildcard

In this example, you perform a search for the keyword �form� preceded by zero or more characters:

Keyword

*form

Search Results

◦ The keyword, preceded by zero or more characters, is compared to the Name and Number attributes.

◦ Attributes that are not Name and Number (for example, Description and Created By) are ignored.

◦ The keyword is compared against primary content. However, the preceding wildcard is ignored. Therefore, the primary content is only searched for the word �form.�

• �QA Meeting Minutes� is not returned as a result because Windchill does not apply the leading wildcard when searching primary content text. Therefore, the word �platform� in the primary content is ignored.

However, the object named �Primary Platform Specs� is returned because Windchill does apply the leading wildcard when searching the Name and Number attribute values.

• �TR-Suppliers� is not returned as a result even though �reform� is included in its Description attribute value. This is because when you use a leading wildcard, only the Name and Number attribute fields are searched.

Example: Leading and Trailing Wildcards

In this example, you perform a search for the keyword �form� that can be surrounded by zero or more characters:

Keyword

*form*

Search Results

In this search, the results from the previous two searches are combined:

◦ The keyword, preceded by zero or more characters, is compared to the Name and Number attributes.

◦ The keyword, followed by zero or more characters, is compared to all indexed attributes.

Because these two rules are combined, the search also includes objects whose Name or Number includes �form� surrounded by one or more characters (for example, �performance� or �reformat�).

◦ The keyword is compared against primary content. The preceding wildcard is ignored, but the trailing wildcard is kept.