Search

Users can find objects using the SampleDB search. There are two modes for the object search:

• A simple text-based search, and

• an advanced search using property comparisons

Simple Search

To use the simple search, users can enter words or phrases into the search field and will find all objects containing these.

Advanced Search

The advanced search allows a more fine grained search by performing comparisons on objects’ properties and supporting Boolean algebra. Users can enter a query into the search field and select ‘Advanced Search’ in the adjacent dropdown, though using operators like = will automatically enable the advanced search mode. Another way to perform an advanced search is by clicking on the search icon next to an object’s property that will search for other objects having the same value.

Search button for finding objects with an equal property

When an advanced search is used, SampleDB will show the search tree that the query has been parsed into, to clearly show which filters were used.

Advanced search tree for the query "Sb" in substance and (temperature < 110degC or temperature > 120degC)

Property Names

To search for objects which have property fulfilling some condition, the internal name of that property must be known. Property names are set in an action’s schema and the easiest way to find a property is to use the search button shown above. When searching for properties inside an object or array, dots are used as separators and a question mark can be used as wildcard for an array index, e.g. layers.?.name == "Base Layer".

Boolean operators

Boolean properties or comparisons of other properties can be combined with the boolean operators and, or and not. not is first in the order of operations, followed by and and or. For a different order, parentheses can be used.

Text comparisons

Text properties can currently be used either for direct comparisons, e.g. name = "Sample", or by checking whether a property contains a text, e.g. "MBE" in name.

Quantity comparisons

Quantity properties can be compared using the basic mathematical comparison operators <, <=, >, >=, = and !=. Comparisons will be performed in the quantities’ base units.

Date comparisons

Datetime properties can be compared using the basic mathematical comparison operators or the operators before, after and on. Dates to compare with must be entered using the format YYYY-MM-DD.

Object or User References

To search for references to an object or user ID, == and != are supported with the ID starting with #, e.g. operator == #15.

Tag search

Objects with certain tags can be found using # and the name of the tag, e.g. #hbs.