Page Comparison

What is a Query?

Queries do not work like Google, Yahoo, and other search engines where you can use multiple words in a single field and get related results. Though the results will be different, every Query screen will have the same buttons and options for building and saving the search.  The part that changes is the data being searched for within the record.

• A query is a custom search for details about records in AiM.

• After executing a query it will display a "Browse" list of all the records that match the different search elements.  

• Queries can be built for a single search or saved for future use.

• Queries can be shared with other people or groups of people.

• Saved Queries can be made into a Dashboard Widget and shared with a group.

• Saved Queries can be used for Highcharts. These are visual displays of the results in the form of a chart or graph.  These charts can be added to Dashboard Widgets.

• 👉 There is no limit. If the data is in the system, you can query it!

Anatomy of a Search/Query Screen 

1. From the WorkDesk, you can click on any module in the left hamburger icon Menu.

2. In the next screen, you will find additional left menu options, some of which have a magnify glass icon next to them.

3. Click on a magnify glass icon next to your menu choice for which you would like to create a query for.

4. These three buttons can be found at the top-left of a query screen:

• Execute - Runs the query

• Basic Search/Advanced Search - This is a toggle. The button will show which option you will go to by clicking it. NOT which option you are on.

• Reset - Resets the entire query screen. This is useful when your search results appear to be wrong. You can click Reset and start over knowing all fields have been reset to their default settings.

5. Below is a screenshot of the search page for Asset Package, under the Asset Management module. Under Action in the left menu, you will find the link to open and begin creating a New Query.

6. Below Action, View will be empty until the Query has been saved.

Query Screen Descriptions

Starting Your Search

From your WorkDesk, click on the hamburger icon on the left to expand your top-most search options/how you want to start your search.

• The Module - The top level category of records

• The + Sign - Starts a New Record

• The Magnify Glass - Takes you to the search screen

• The Record Name (under the Module) - Takes you to a new blank screen

Opening a Record

• What the screen looks like after opening with the Record Name (under the Module level of data)

• In the next screen, the Record Name can be found at the top: In this example, Personal Query is the record name.

• Next you would click on Search to dive deeper into this screen.

The Search/Query Screen (for the Record Name Selected: Personal Query)

Under Action on the left of the query screen, click on New Query.

New Query Screen

1. In the New Query screen, first complete the Title field. The Description field below it is optional.

2. When Query Listing and Query Count are set to Yes, the Query can be displayed on the Dashboard.

3. Setting the yellow and/or red flag fields will make the query flag turn yellow or red on the WorkDesk or when it reaches the set number. These fields are optional.

4. The Chart Type will identify the different charting options to display a visual representation of the data you are about to build a query for.

5. When you are finished and click on Done, the search will open in build mode.

6. After all criteria are entered, click Save to save the query.

7. Selecting Execute will take you to the results/Browse View of the query.

Query/Search Results (Browse View)

1. In your query search results, click on a Record link to display the details of that record.

2. You can also click the blue Search button to return to the Query screen for the name you chose on the record level under the module you chose (in this example, Personal Query).

How the Query Screen Looks After Saving 1+ Queries

• Before we saved a query, the only option under Action was New Query. Now, Edit Query has been added.

• Under View, there were previously no options. But after saving 1 or more queries, those saved queries are listed under this section.

Query Screen Structure

• Some query screens might have multiple tables involved.

• The primary table is listed first.

• After that, additional tables will have its own headings.

• If the header is indented, the table is subordinate to the table above it.

Display Order

Display Order functionality allows you to specify which fields you want to see and the order you wan to see them in, in the Query Results screen.

Ascending/Descending Display Order

Ascending (Asc) or Descending (Dsc) are additional Display Order options.

Special Operators

• Special Operators will be used with new WorkDesk queries to make them easier to share across the units.

• These operators (=, <, >, null, …) work with dates and allow the query to use the characteristics of dates to pull records in a more focused manner.