For administrators looking to make it easier for WebLink users to find the information they need within Laserfiche repositories, learning to use the new Search Form Designer in WebLink 8 to make targeted, custom searches is the perfect place to start. It enables administrators to create customized searches, taking the burden of configuring a search and knowing what search types to configure off their users. As an administrator, the new Search Form Designer will give you complete control over how users find and view documents in WebLink 8.

For example, you have a repository containing white papers, KB articles and videos covering Web Access, WebLink and Audit Trail. White papers contain a “white paper” resource tag, KB articles contain a “KB article” tag, and videos contain a “video” tag. If the resource covers Web Access, it will have a Product field applied to it with the value “Web Access,” and the same goes for resources on WebLink and Audit Trail. As an administrator, you can take the burden off your users and configure a field and tag search so they can find a specific type of resource (white paper, KB article or video) on a specific product (Web Access, WebLink or Audit Trail). Users don’t even know they are performing a field and tag search. They just select the resource and product from drop-down menus and click Search.

To create a field and tag search to go with the example above:

1. Open the Laserfiche 8 WebLink Designer.
2. At the top of the designer, in the Select a virtual directory drop-down menu, select the repository you want to add the customized search to.
3. Select the Welcome Page tab.
4. Select the Search Forms tab and click Add Search Form.
5. A dialog will appear asking you to provide appropriate credentials to the repository you are adding the search to.
6. In the New Search dialog box, name your new search and give it a description.

Field (Product)

1. In the Toolbox Pane, select Text.
2. In the Properties Pane, under Text, enter the term Product.
3. In the Toolbox Pane, select Input.
4. In the Properties Pane, under Bind to select the Field radio button.
5. In the drop-down menu, select the Type field.
6. Under Input type, select List (single-select).
7. Click Define List and add the three product names: Web Access, WebLink, and Audit Trail. (Note: There are two fields for each list item: Text and Value. Text is the text displayed in the list. The Value is the actual search term that will be searched. By default, these two are the same.)
8. When finished click OK.
9. In the Toolbox Pane, click Link Break twice to insert space between the two search types.

Tag (Resource Type)

1. In the Toolbox Pane, select Text.
2. In the Properties Pane, under Text, enter the term Type.
3. In the Toolbox Pane, select Input.
4. In the Properties Pane, under Bind to select Tags.
5. In the drop-down menu, select the Type field. Under Input type, select List (single-select).
6. Click Define List and add the three tag names: White Paper, KB article and Video. (Note: By default, all the tags in your repository will be listed. If you just want these three tags, you can remove the rest of them.)
7. When finished click OK.
8. In the Toolbox Pane, click Link Break twice to insert space between this search type and the Submit button.

Add a Submit button

1. In the Toolbox Pane, click Submit.
2. Click Save, then Close.

A dialog will appear asking if you want to add the bookmark to your new search form, click Yes. In the New Bookmark dialog, enter a name for the search that will be linked from the Welcome Page next to Text, ensure Search Form is selected under Type, and select the search form you just created. Click OK.

When your users open WebLink, they will see a link on the Welcome Page to the new search. When that link is clicked, the search form you just configured will be displayed.

Tip: Administrators can copy and paste the URL for the customized search and send it directly to users. Users will be able to click on the link, log in, and will be taken directly to the customized search.

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Author Info

Laserfiche
Staff

The User Education team at Laserfiche consists of the technical writers responsible for all Laserfiche software documentation, including help files, white papers, and instructional videos.

Tags: WebLink

Posted on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at 4:02 pm under Support. You can comment on this post.