Introduction

Beyond filtering and sorting, the grid framework across PqW and PrW consoles provides search capabilities that let you quickly locate specific records by typing keywords or values. Understanding how search works — including its global behavior, fuzzy matching, and limitations — helps you find what you need faster and avoid confusion when results don't appear as expected.

This article explains:

• How global search works in the grid
• How fuzzy search matching behaves
• What search limitations to be aware of
• Tips for getting the best results from search

This is a generic reference article. Search behavior is consistent across all consoles and tabs that use the grid framework — Search Quotes, Search Quote Items, Renewal Manager, Renewal Engineer, and others.

Why & Where It Fits in the User Journey

Filters and sorting help you narrow down and organize data, but sometimes you already know exactly what you're looking for — a specific quote number, a part number, an account name, or a keyword in a description. In these moments, search is the fastest path to the right record. Search fits into the user journey at these key moments:

• When you know the exact record — You have a quote number (e.g., QT-000000102) or a part number and want to jump straight to it without setting up multiple filters.
• When you're looking for a keyword across columns — You remember a word from a quote name or description but aren't sure which column it's in. Global search checks across all visible columns at once.
• When you need a quick check — Before creating a new quote or adding an item, you want to quickly verify whether a similar record already exists.
• During customer calls or meetings — When a customer references a specific quote or product, search lets you pull it up in seconds without navigating through filters.

In short, search is your quick-access tool — use it when you know what you're looking for and want to get there fast.

How Global Search Works

The grid provides a global search box, typically located in the toolbar area above the grid. When you type a value into this search box:

• The grid searches across all visible columns simultaneously — you don't need to specify which column to search in.
• Results are filtered in real time as you type, narrowing down the displayed records to only those that match your search term.
• The search applies to the currently loaded dataset — meaning it works on the data that has already been fetched based on your server-side filters. It does not query the database again.

Example: If you type "Cisco" into the global search box, the grid will show all records where "Cisco" appears in any column — whether that's the Account name, Quote Name, Description, Manufacturer Name, or any other visible column.

How Fuzzy Search Works

The grid uses fuzzy search matching, which means it does not require an exact match. Here's how it behaves:

• Partial matches are supported. Typing "QT-102" will match records containing "QT-000000102" because the search term appears within the full value.
• Case-insensitive. Searching for "cisco", "Cisco", or "CISCO" will all return the same results.
• Matches anywhere in the value. The search term does not need to appear at the beginning of a value. Typing "renewal" will match "Annual Renewal License", "Renewal – Q3", and "Early Renewal Discount" equally.
• Spaces and special characters are included. If you type "QT-000", the hyphen is treated as part of the search term rather than ignored.

Fuzzy search is designed such that you don't need to remember the exact value, just enough of it to narrow down the results.

Search Limitations

While search is powerful for quick lookups, there are some important limitations to be aware of:

Search vs. Server-Side Filters vs. Column-Level Filters

It's helpful to understand how the three filtering mechanisms differ so you can choose the right one:

A common and effective workflow is:

1. Server-side filters — Narrow the dataset from the database (e.g., filter by Account and Status).
2. Global search — Quickly locate a specific record within the filtered results.
3. Column-level filters — Further refine if needed on a specific column.

Tips for Getting the Best Results from Search

• Widen your server-side filters first. If search returns no results, it may be because the record you're looking for was excluded by your server-side filters. Set filters to "All" or broaden them, click Apply, then search again.
• Use the most unique part of the value. Instead of searching for a common word like "Quote" or "License", search for a more distinctive term like the quote number, part number, or a specific account name.
• Check which tab you're on. If you're searching for a part number but you're on the Search Quotes tab, you won't find it. Switch to Search Quote Items.
• Make hidden columns visible. If you suspect a match should exist but search isn't finding it, check whether the relevant column is hidden. Click the settings/gear icon to review and enable columns.
• Clear the search box to see all records again. After searching, clear the search box (delete the text or click the ✕ icon) to restore the full filtered dataset.
• Don't rely on search alone for critical lookups. For important or audit-sensitive searches, use server-side filters with precise operators (e.g., Is Equal To) rather than global search, which is fuzzy and may return partial matches you didn't intend.

Summary

Global search in the grid is a fast, flexible way to locate records when you know what you're looking for. Its fuzzy matching and cross-column behavior make it forgiving and convenient for everyday use. However, it works only on loaded data and has limitations around hidden columns, wildcards, and multi-term searches.

For the most effective results, combine search with server-side filters and column-level filters — use server-side filters to load the right dataset, search to quickly find a specific record, and column-level filters for precise refinement.