Search Variable Values in Attributes (DM)

Records in which a variable has been assigned as an Attribute (DM) – e.g., items, CTO BOMs, sales/assembly lines, checklists, service BOM headers, and so on – can be quickly located via the Attribute Value Search function.

The Attribute Value Search function can be accessed:

using the Tell Me feature by entering Attribute Value Search.
by choosing Actions > Value Search from the Variable/Attribute Types page.
from the Actions section in the Configure to Order Design Engineer Role Center.
in filter mode from the Items page by choosing Attributes > Filter by Attributes (DM).

When opened from Tell Me or the Role Center, you will need to enter the variable to search for either with a template or manually in the Attribute (DM) field in the Attributes FastTab. When opened from the Variable/Attribute Types page, the selected variable is automatically set in the Attribute (DM) field.

In the Search Type field, choose Numerical or Alphanumerical and then enter the value(s) to search for in the Filter Input field. Variable options assigned to the attributes can be accessed via the ellipsis button. Choose the Find action to search for the specified attribute(s). In filter mode, the Find action is not available; choose the OK button to apply the filter.

The lines show the related tables where the attribute was found. You can open the records for a line by choosing the Show Related Records action or by choosing the value in the No. of Records field.

To remove the search settings, choose the Clear action.

Show References to Checklists

If the Follow References toggle is turned on, the references to found checklists are added to the results (e.g., if a Checklist has been found, the Sales Line pointing to that checklist is added as a search result). This will look to archived documents as well.

Usage Modes

The Attribute Value Search page can be used in different contexts:

Document-line lookup mode (for example, via Search Item by Attribute (DM)), where you select a result and confirm by choosing the OK button.
General search mode (for example, via Tell Me or Role Center actions), where you can search and review related records.
Filter mode (via Filter by Attributes (DM) on the Items page), where the page filters items based on attribute criteria (see Filter Items by Attributes).

The available controls can differ depending on how the page is opened.

Save and Reuse Searches

Search criteria can be saved for future use with templates.

Save Existing Criteria

After entering all settings, choose the Save As action.
In the Save current search filter as template dialog, enter a short identifier in the Code field.
Choose the Yes button.

Create New Template

Open the Attribute Value Search page.
Choose the Templates action and then choose the New action.
In the Code field, enter a short identifier of the template.
In the Description field, enter a short description of the template.
Turn on the Follow References toggle as needed.
In the Attributes FastTab, enter the search criteria.
Close the Attribute Value Search Template page when finished.

Assign Template

Open the Attribute Value Search page.
In the Template Code field, enter the template with the required search criteria.
The Follow References toggle is set accordingly and the search criteria is assigned in the Attributes FastTab.
Choose the Find action to start the search process.

Modify Template

You can modify an existing template with the same code or create a new template from it.

Open the Attribute Value Search page.
In the Template Code field, enter the template with the required search criteria.
Adjust the Follow References toggle and the search criteria in the Attributes FastTab as needed.
Save the changes:
- Choose the Save action to save the changes to the current template.
- Choose the Save As action and then enter a new code.

Filter Items by Attributes

The Attribute Value Search page can also be used to filter items by DM attributes on the Items page.

Choose the icon, enter Items, and then choose the related link.
On the Attributes menu, choose the Filter by Attributes (DM) action.
The Attribute Value Search page opens.
Choose a template or choose the Edit List action and then enter one or more attributes and define the value filters in the Attributes FastTab.
Choose the OK button to apply the filter.

The Items page is filtered to show only the items matching the attribute criteria. To remove the filter, use the standard filtering controls or choose the Clear Attributes Filter action on the Attributes menu.