- Plan & Spec Keyword Search Guide
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To create a Plan & Spec Keyword Search, begin by clicking Projects > Search Plans | Specs.This action ensures the keyword(s) will look for matches within the plans & specs documentation only, and will not search through the main project report.
- A pop-up window usually appears upon opening this page. If one does not, click the left-hand filter titled ‘Search Plan|Spec Keywords.’
- Enter keywords that will help gain information about project specifics pertaining to a particular trade or role (e.g., “security system” OR “electrical panel”).
- Search operators may be nested or combined to create more complex searches.
- There is a 1,000 character limit in the Plan|Spec Keyword search box.
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Basic Search Term Operators
Operator Example Description AND window AND door both words “window” and “door” found in the same document OR window OR door either the word “window” or “door”, or both words found in the same document NOT window NOT door the word window was found; the word door was not found in the same document Space window door same results as searching “window AND door” Wildcard * landscap* will return landscape, landscapes, landscaped, or landscaping. There is a 3 character minimum before using an asterisk Double Quotes “ ” “wood” contain the exact word wood; will NOT return woods, or wooden Double Quotes “ ” (multiple words) “wood door” contain the exact phrase “wood door” Parenthesis () (steel AND concrete) OR paint contain both steel and concrete, or contain paint NEAR near((intake,screen),3) Search for “intake” within 3 words of “screen”; regardless screen is left or right side of intake NEAR with True near((intake,screen),3,True) Search for “intake” within 3 words of “screen”; intake appears left side of screen Complex Search Terms & Descriptions
AND phrase
This search will return results when both phrases are found in the same document.“Iron clad doors” AND “oak wood doors” - Both phrases must be found to return a result.
OR phrase
This search will return results when either phrase is found in a document.“Iron clad doors” OR “oak wood doors” - At least one of the two phrases “Iron clad doors” or “oak wood doors” must be found to return a result.
- Projects will not be returned if the document only contains the word “doors”.
NOT phrase
This search will return results where the phrase “Steel doors” exists, when the phrase “iron doors” does NOT exist in the document.“Steel doors” NOT (“iron doors”) - When both terms are in the same project document, the project will not be returned.
NEAR proximity search phrase
NEAR((metallic,steel),5) - This will return results when the documents contain the words “metallic” and “steel” with up to 5 words between them
- Returns results when the documents contain “metallic coated steel” or “metallic coated high grade steel”.
- Will not return results when the document contains “metallic paint that is applied over high grade steel”, because there are more than 5 words between “metallic” and “steel”.
NEAR searching with wildcard*
NEAR((stud,rail*),3) - will return “stud” and a form of “rail” (such as “rail”, “railing”, “rails”, etc.), there will be 3 or less words between stud and rail*
Double Quote to find exact match
“Optima” - This will return results when documents contain “Optima” (exact match)
Fuzzy Search, word without double quote
Optima - This will find “Optima” or “Optimum” (plural of Optima)
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Search Term Expression Examples
Search Term Expression Description NEAR((intake,screen),3) Search for “intake” within 3 words of “screen” “metal roof*” OR “metal sid*” Search for phrases which begin with “metal roof” or “metal sid” “compact* surface” search for “Compact Surface” or “Compacted surface” - Zip Code Searches
To find Project/Company location in a zip code area, go to Filter by > Project Location or Company Location, click City | Zip code Search
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Description Example Note to find specific zip codes (56601 OR 43604 OR 20000) can be from anywhere in the country wildcard * 56* to find zip code starting with 56 ? mark search, each ? stands for one digit 200?? to find 5 digit zip codes starting with 200 Searching for a range of zip codes
Operator Example Description to find range of zip codes 80000 to 81000 find zip codes between 80000 and 81000 - Project (Only) Keyword Searching
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There are two types of keyword search, specific to Project information (this guide is NOT relevant to the “Plan & Spec Keyword Search Guide” listed above):Basic keyword searching
Select from the Search in drop-down menu to choose a specific area of the project information to search within, such as Project Name or Project Status, or choose Full Project Report to cover all the areas.
Example #1: projects where overhead OR door appear anywhere in the searched section:
overhead door Example #2: projects where the explicit phrase of overhead door appears:
“overhead door” ~ Basic keyword searching does not support “Boolean” searching logic or complex search strings ~
Advanced keyword searching
From the Search in drop-down menu, choose the last option, Advanced.
Advanced searches allow complex keyword strings using specific operators and syntax; such as NOT to exclude certain words, or, use an asterisk as a wildcard.
You can also perform similar searches to the Basic searches and/or combine multiple terms. i.e title:“overhead door” is going to run the same search as Basic search example 2 above, specifically against the Project name.Example #1: search any section of the project report for the specific phrase overhead door OR overhead doors or other permutations where door is a wildcard:
{!complexphrase}“overhead door*” Example #2: run a search that excludes all projects where the project name contains the word door:
-title:door There are numerous possibilities for Advanced keyword searching; please email our support team with the outline of your search requirement so we can work with you to build the appropriate keyword string.
