Advanced Search

The Advanced Search function is included in Clarity LIMS v6.1 or later. Advanced Search allows you to search for specific criteria and create relationships that are used to locate information stored in the system. You can use Advanced Search to build detailed search strings (including grouped and nested strings). These search strings provide the search engine with precise instructions on what to look for in the system.

Access Advanced Search

You can use the search toolbar to select Advanced Search from the drop-down list. This selection takes you to the Advanced Search page. You can also access the Advanced Search page directly at /clarity/advanced-search.

Users with Read-Only permissions cannot perform a search using Advanced Search. If a user with Read-Only permissions must use Advanced Search, enable access as follows.

1. Locate the file on the server (/opt/gls/clarity/tomcat/current/lib/activity-management-ui-config.groovy). Create a backup of the file before proceeding.

2. Open the file and add the following code:

   // To grant Advanced-search access to Readonly user

   readonly.allowUrlMap = [

   [post: ['/clarity/api/advanced-search']]

   ]

3. Restart Clarity LIMS.

Create Search Strings

1. From the query builder panel, select a category from the Search drop-down list.

2. Select Add to add one or more search conditions to the selected category.

   If a search condition has other conditions following it, an AND/OR operator is displayed. A search condition contains the following components:

   • Constraining Entity

   • Field

   • Constraint

   • Constraint Value

3. To remove a condition, select Delete (X) to the right of the condition.

Grouping Controls

Use grouping controls to group search conditions by selecting the Show Grouping Controls checkbox. When these controls are enabled, select the checkboxes next to the conditions, and then select Group to group them together. The conditions and groups must be adjacent to each other.

The Query Preview field uses the numbers of each condition to display your search string. To separate the conditions, select the checkbox within the group, then select Ungroup.

Use Undo and Redo Operations

The Undo and Redo operations record the state of a search string when you perform one of the following operations:

• Add

• Delete

• Group

• Ungroup

• Clear all groups

When you select Undo, the string returns to the state before the last operation. When you select Redo, the string reverts to the state after the Undo operation.

Advanced Search Result Table

After you perform a search, a table shows the results. This table displays the first 500 returning results by default. Use the Configuration Property tool or Applications Propertiesto change the default display.

To export the search results, select Export (down arrow) to the right of the table. Filters applied to the table are not preserved in the exported search results.

Modify Columns in Result Table

You can use the Show/Hide Columns panel to modify columns display in the result table as follows.

1. Select Show/Hide Columns.

2. Select the columns for display.

   • Select Select All to select all columns.

     or

   • Select Clear to unselect all columns.

3. Select X to cancel any changes made to the selected columns.

4. Select ✅ to apply the selected columns to the result table.

NOTE: Column filters applied to the result table are preserved when a saved query is created.

Save Query

The Save Query operation is enabled after a search is completed using a search string. You can use the Save Query panel to save search strings as follows.

1. Select Save Query.

2. Enter a descriptive name for the search string.

3. Select Save.

The new search query shows in the Save Query panel and can be used in future searches.

View, Modify or Delete a Saved Search Query

• To view a saved query, select the query from the Saved Query panel. The Query Builder panel shows the conditions and details of the selected search query.

• To modify the search query, select the applicable conditions and edit them. When you update a saved query, an EDITED label displays to the left of the query name.

• To delete a saved query, select Delete (trash bin) to the left of the query.

Share or Import a Saved Search Query

• To share a saved query, select Share (right arrow) next to the applicable query in the Saved Query panel.

  A text file is downloaded that contains the selected query details.

• Import a saved search query as follows.

  1. Select Import Query.

  2. Browse for the text file and select Open.

     The query builder panel shows the details of the imported search query.

  3. After performing a search with the imported query, select Save Query.

  4. Enter a descriptive name for the search query.

  5. Select Save.

     The imported search query shows in the Saved Query panel and can be reused in future searches.