Form a Help Search Query

The search feature provides a way to retrieve specific information from the help system. You can use the form at the top of the page to submit words and phrases. In addition, you can use connectors to create precise search queries.

When you submit a search query, be aware that some characters require special treatment: + - & | ! ( ) { } [ ] ^ " ~ * ? : \

Using Search is perhaps the most powerful option you have for searching the help file. To form a search query, please keep the following in mind:

  • If you want to find a topic that contains two or more terms, regardless of where the terms appear in the topic, enter those terms in the search box. For example, if you want to find a topic on using the instant update feature for a document, you could enter the search words instant update document. All topics that contain all of those search terms are listed in the results.
  • To search for a specific phrase, you can surround the phrase in quotation marks. For example, to find information about the Document Preview feature, enter the search phrase (including quotation marks) "document preview" and de-select the option Match similar words at the bottom of the panel. All topics with that exact phrase are listed on the Search Results page.
  • You can also search using Boolean phrases such as AND, OR, and NOT:
    • Words separated by AND will display results that contain all of the words in your search. (This is the way Search works by default.)
    • Words separated by OR will display results that contain either of the words in your search. For example, you could search using "intake interview" OR "interview template" and view all topics that contain either of those phrases.
    • Words separated by NOT will display results that contain the first word in the search, but not the second. For example, if you want to find all topics that contain the word group but not table, you could enter the search phrase group NOT table.
  • At the bottom of the search tab you have 3 check box options to further help your search. You can choose to Search Previous Results, Match Similar Words, and/or Search Titles Only.

For full instructions on using the help file, see Get Help Using HotDocs.