Using the Query Frame for Searches

When you choose an item from the Search & Reports menu the Query Frame will display a form that allows you to specify the criteria you want to use for executing a search. There are two types of Query Frames:

1. simple query frames that allow you to specify a sort order, for example Search Repos/Projects: Example Display
2. more complex query frames that allow you to specify the sort order (ascending or descending), the sort sequence (1, 2, 3, etc.) and whether you want to subtotal and/or hide an item; for example the search for Daily MPP Usage: Example Display

Query Frame Components

The query frame consists of one or more "search rows". You control the number of rows by clicking the More or Fewer buttons to add or remove a row. Each search (that you choose from Search & Reports) has a default setting in its corresponding query frame; the Reset button resets this default setting. Use the Submit Query button to execute your search.

Each "search for" row consists of:

1. a logical operator pull-down menu (if you have more than one row): and, or, and not, or not. It is not possible to mix "and" and "or" type operators.
2. a pull-down menu for the items you can search by. Sometimes there's a hint for how to specify the item: (list) means that you should press the List? button to see the list of values available for that search item; e.g. gives you a hint about what to type in the write-box.
3. a logical operator pull-down menu; the operators have the following meanings:

   Operator	Meaning	Example
   =	Equals	Last Name = smith Finds all NERSC Users with a last name of Smith.
   contains	Contains	Username contains ot Finds all NERSC Usernames that contain the substring "ot"
   >	Greater Than	First Name > Ri Finds all NERSC Users with a first name that is after "Ri" in alphabetical order. The search is case insensitive; numerals precede letters.
   <	Less Than	First Name < Ri Finds all NERSC Users with a first name that is before "Ri" in alphabetical order. The search is case insensitive; numerals precede letters.
   >=	Greater Than or Equal To	See Greater Than
   <=	Less Than or Equal To	See Less Than
   <>	Is not	First Name <> Barry Finds all NERSC Users whose first name is not "Barry"

4. a write-box in which to type the value of the search item. If you use List? to select the value do not write anything in this box.
5. a List? button: used to select a value for certain search items (not all search items have pre-defined lists associated with them)
6. a Sort Order pull-down menu (ascending, descending, none)
7. (for some searches) a Seq (sequence) write-box: used the indicate the search order for the item on this row (1, 2, 3, etc.)
8. (for some searches) a Subt? click-box used to indicate whether you want to sub total this item
9. (for some searches) a Hide? click-box used to indicate whether you would like this item suppressed in the display in the Result Frame.

"Complex" query frames also have a Sums only? click-box used to indicate that you wish to see only the summary rows for the search items which have Subt? selected.

After you click Submit Query the results of your query will appear in the bottom Result Frame. See Sorting and Formatting Lists for information on how to change the appearance of your output.