Users will use this section to define search criteria for documents in the document structure; that is, these search criteria can be applied to usage instances and/or documents referenced at levels N-1 and/or N+1.

The search result is always displayed in relation to the Level N.

Let's look at two examples to illustrate the definition of multilevel research.


Example 1:

has the following documents:


 


The user wants to search for " Manufactured " assemblies that contain stainless steel fasteners with a diameter of 10.

It defines an initial search criterion for assemblies (namely, level N): the "Description" variable containing the value "FABRIQUE."


  

The user can set up a second search criterion for the parts in the assembly (namely, level N-1) to filter by screw type. The drop-down list then displays the available options: STAINLESS STEEL SCREW and ALUMINUM SCREW. The user selects STAINLESS STEEL SCREW.

A third N-1-level criterion allows you to filter by the "Diameter"variable. The drop-down list then displays only one value: 10


Example 2:

We want to find all SolidWorks assemblies that contain at least one subassembly with a part made of a material whose name includes the word " Graphite." The assemblies being searched for have, as criterion N+1, a drawing with an Author variable equal to Visiativ. Here’s how to define the criteria:


  • Level N determines the result. Therefore, only the location is specified.


  

  • Then we click on the button in order to indicate the search criterion for the subassembly containing the part in question, only the location is specified.
  • Then click again on the button The specified location is the folder containing the SolidWorks parts. We add the variable Material equals Graphite.


  


For performance reasons, it is not possible to set search criteria below N-2.

  • Finally we can click on the button to specify the search location for the drawing. We add the variable Author containing the word VISIATIV. In the options from PDMSearch it is allowed to be case-insensitive, so you can search for both the name Visiativ than VISIATIV.


 


Click on the search result is displayed in the lower area of the window in the form of a table with the columns defined in the options from PDMSearchHere only one file was found that met the search criteria:


 


The search result is always displayed in relation to the Level N (line in blue in the list of levels).

If the search results display multiple items, you can select multiple items to open the files or add them to the DocPublication list.