Standard Search

The Standard Search form allows you to enter a certain amount of information about the constituent for whom you want to search. The system will then search the database and return a list of all the constituents who match the information you entered, or whose names are "similar", if you checked that option. Obviously, the more specific you are, the fewer constituents will match and the shorter the list will be.

The standard Search Database form includes a limited set of data fields from the Basic Data, Names, Address, Phone, Education, and Attribute tables, as described below.

If desired, your institution may edit the Search form to remove data elements that are not relevant to your institution's needs by using the Searches version of the Custom Display Designer under the Tools menu.

If you know the ID Number, that information should be used, as it will be the most specific and efficient search. If the ID Number is entered, it is unnecessary to enter any other information since the ID number will uniquely identify a constituent. If the ID number is not known, you should enter as much of the best information that you have available, in order to narrow the search as much as possible. This may include full or partial name information (even if that name information is not exact).

If you do not know the ID Number, the Search form includes several other data fields to capture information that you do have on hand, and this information may uniquely identify one constituent, identify more than one constituent, or fail to identify a constituent, at which point you will be given the opportunity to create a new constituent or create non-constituent rows (such as a non-constituent relationship) depending on the purpose of your Search. See Search Results, below, for further details.

Wildcards are available for use on the Profiles Search screen. There will be a note at the top of the Search screen that states 'Format for Name is Last/First Middle. Partial and blank fields, as well as wildcards ('%' and '_'), are permitted.

The Search Database Form

Within the Profiles World, there are several situations where you will use the standard Search Database form.