Find it. Tag it. Use it.
Finding the right records is useful. Being able to do something with them is even better.
xSearch 5.0 gives your Clarion applications powerful searching, flexible record tagging, and the ability to reuse selected records in reports, processes, and exports.
Instead of creating specialized locators and filters for every situation, add xSearch to an existing ABC Browse and give users a better way to find and work with their data.
Search beyond a single field
Your users don't always know which field contains the information they're looking for, or even the exact value.
xSearch makes it easy to search across multiple fields and related files, including information that may not appear directly in the current browse.
Search capabilities include:
- Multi-field searching: Search multiple fields instead of relying on one locator.
- Substring matching: Find records using partial information.
- Related-file searching: Search parent and child records, including one-to-many and many-to-one relationships.
- Lookup-value searching: Find records using descriptive values associated with stored codes.
- SQL pre-filtering: Optionally reduce data transferred from SQL databases.
Users can choose which fields to search and adjust their search options without changing the application's browse design.
Turn search results into useful selections
Finding matching records is only the beginning.
xSearch lets users tag the records they want to work with, whether those records were found through a search or selected individually.
Users can tag or untag records, tag all qualifying records, clear selections, and switch between viewing all records, tagged records, or untagged records.
Selections can be temporary, shared during an application session, or retained between sessions. Developers choose the storage method that best fits their application.
Unlike an ordinary browse filter, tagged selections can be reused after the original search is finished.
Put tagged records to work
Once users have selected the records they need, xSearch helps them put those selections to use.
Reports and processes can work with tagged records, eliminating the need to recreate the same selection elsewhere in the application. Integration with Fomin Report Builder is also available.
Export directly from your browse
Version 5 adds powerful export capabilities, making it easy to move selected data into other applications.
Seven export formats are supported:
- CSV and UTF-8 CSV
- Tab-separated text (TSV)
- XML and JSON
- HTML tables
- Native Excel XLSX workbooks
Users can export tagged records, all qualifying browse records, or the current browse page.
They can also choose which columns to include, change exported column headings, apply Clarion formatting pictures, and remember their preferences.
Excel XLSX files are generated directly, without requiring Microsoft Excel to be installed.
What's new in xSearch 5.0?
Version 5 is a major enhancement to xSearch, with improved customization, built-in exporting, multilingual support, and additional ways to work with search results.
Seven customizable windows
Make xSearch look and feel like part of your application.
All seven xSearch windows can be imported and customized using Clarion's own Window Designer, including the search dialogs, results windows, and export dialogs.
Import the complete set or just the individual windows you want to change.
The original windows remain available, and xSearch continues to provide the underlying functionality.
English, Spanish, and more
xSearch includes English and Spanish translations for its dialogs and controls.
Developers can also provide their own translation files to support additional languages.
Saved selections and search history
Named tag sets help users preserve selections for later use. Search history makes it easier to repeat previous searches.
Remembered preferences
Search options, window preferences, and export selections can be remembered between application sessions, making xSearch more convenient for everyday use.
More than a search button
xSearch integrates with your existing Clarion ABC Browse procedures. Start with a Search button on one browse, then add tagging, reports, processes, and exporting wherever they make sense.
You don't have to replace your existing browse procedures or redesign your application to take advantage of xSearch.
xSearch 5.0 gives your users a better way to find the records they need, select the ones that matter, and put that information to work.