This chapter describes the methods you can use to search for information in the application.
This chapter covers the following topics:
The fastest way to search the Oracle Advanced Collections database is to use the Lists of Values (LOVs) provided with many fields.
Use the Customer Search window to search for information using multiple search criteria. You can use the window to give you one-click access to information.
You can access the Customer Search window in following ways:
Using the Collections Agent responsibility, the Search link.
The Search option from the Navigator window.
The Find flashlight icon in the form toolbar.
You have to first select the Operating Unit for which the search will be done.
Then you have to select the Customer By option which will decide the search criteria for which you seek information.
The following table lists the Customer By options:
| Search Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Organization | Search results return party by identifying address. |
| Party Relationship | Search results return all the relationships made for the contacts for an organization or a person. |
| Person | Search results return person by identifying address. |
| Customer Key | Search results return all contacts attached to the organization or a person. |
| Transaction | Search results return all transactions for that organization. |
| Account | Search results return all accounts for that organization. |
| Bill To | Search results return all bill-to locations for that organization. |
| Payment | Search results return all payments made by the organization. |
| Dispute | Search results return all disputes made by the organization. |
| Promise To Pay | Search results return all promises made by the organization. |
The Customer Search window has three tabs:
Quick Search: Select one of the predefined quick searches and enter your criteria. See: Performing Quick Searches
Expanded Search: The expanded searches provide a wide range of parameters you can use for your search. See: Performing Expanded Searches
Saved Results: You can save the results of your search as a list or you can save your query for reuse. See: Creating a List and Saving Query for Reuse
You can set the OTS: Default Universal Search Tab profile option to set which tab appears when you open the Customer Search window.
You can search information displayed in dynamic tables by right clicking in the table and making a selection from a pop-up menu. See: Finding Text in Dynamic Tables.
Note: Oracle Advanced Collections does not support the Query Enter / Query Run method of searching common to many Oracle applications.
Related Topics
Viewing a List You Have Created
Searching Using a Query You Have Saved
Many Lists of Values fields let you search for partial words and numbers by using the % sign to indicate missing or unknown characters.
For example, a search for j%n in the First name field retrieves all first names starting with the letter j and ending with the letter n, including John, Jon, and Johann. A search for jo% retrieves all names starting with the letters "Jo". A search for %jo% retrieves all names with the letters "jo" in the middle. To ensure quick performance, it is best not to use this last form of search.
For the fastest performance, you must narrow down the range of information you are searching as much as possible.
For example, if you receive a call regarding 51274 Account Number for New York City at ABC Corp, you should use the Organization LOV to search for ABC Corp, the Account Number LOV to search for 51274, and enter the city as "New York" and search. This will search only those records of ABC Corp for 51274 within New York.
The search combines the different search criteria using the logical AND. This means that entering two search criteria returns only results matching both search criteria. For example, searching on a partial name and a partial phone number returns only individuals whose names and phone numbers match both.
If you are not sure about the best way to search, then use the Customer Search window for the greatest flexibility.
Searches using the Quick Search tab in the Customer Search window are optimized for fast retrieval of basic information. You select search criteria for one of the available queries, fill in the criteria for all the fields, and search. The following table lists the search criteria for each Customer By sort option.
| Customer By | Criteria Options |
|---|---|
| Organization | Organization Organization & State Organization & Postal Code URL Account Number Purchase Order Sales Order Bill Of Lading Delivery Number |
| Party Relationship | First Name & Last Name Organization Organization & First Name & Last Name Organization & State & Country Email Address Job Title Type & Country Job Title Type & State & Country Job Title Type & Postal Code & Country City & State & Country Organization & Country |
| Person | First Name & Last Name Last Name Last Name & City City & State Country & Postal Code Country & First Name & Last Name City & Province Email Address Phone Number Account Number |
| Customer Key | Phone Number & Ext. Email Address Tax ID Party External Ref. Number Account Number Install Base - Serial Number Install Base - System Number Install Base - External Ref. Number |
| Transaction | Transaction Number Organization Account Number Transaction Date & To Type & Organization & Status Due Date & To Organization & Status Purchase Order Sales Order Bill Of Lading Delivery Number Consolidated Billing Number |
| Account | Organization Organization & State Organization & Country Original System Reference First Name & Last Name ID Number Last Name URL Account Number Transaction Number Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Bill To | Organization Organization & State Organization & Country Original System Reference First Name & Last Name ID Number Location & Site Number URL Account Number Transaction Number Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Payment | Organization Last Name & First Name Account Number Receipt Number Account Number & Receipt Status Receipt Date & To Receipt Amount & To & Currency Paid Transaction Paid Transaction & Installment Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Dispute | Organization Account Number Transaction Number Dispute Request Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Promise To Pay | Organization & Promise Status Last Name & First Name Account Number & Promise Date & To Transaction Number & Installment & Promise Date & To Organization & First Name & Last Name Purchase Order Sales Order Account Number |
On the Quick Search tab, select the radio button corresponding to the query you want to use.
Enter search terms in all fields.
Note: Limit the use of the % character to customer-related fields. These include Organization Name, State, and Postal Code. You can use the % character to represent any unknown characters in a search term.
If you want to include inactive records in the search, then select the Include Inactive Records check box.
Click Search.
The window displays the results of your search as a dynamic table on the same tab where you entered your search criteria. You can sort the results by any column.
Select the item in the table and open the relative window in one of the following ways:
If you want to view this item in a separate window, then select the Multiple Windows check box.
If you want to display one item and close the search window, then click OK.
If you want to display an item but leave the search window open in the background so you can come back and select another item, then click Apply.
The application displays an item in the Collections window.
You can view all of the publicly accessible notes associated with an item and create new notes by clicking View Notes in the search results.
Related Topics
If you require a search based on a different set of search criteria than those available on the Quick Search tab, or you want to search by a range of values, then enter queries on the Expanded Search tab instead of performing a quick search.
The following table lists the search criteria for each Customer By sort option.
| Customer By | Criteria Options |
|---|---|
| Organization | Organization Number URL Account Number Customer Category DUNS Number Phone Tax ID Purchase Order Sales Order Country Address Style Address Line 1 Address Line 2 Address Line 3 Address Line 4 City County |
| Party Relationship | First Name Last Name Organization Number Job Title Type Account Number Phone Country Address Style Address Line 1 Address Line 2 Address Line 3 Address Line 4 City County |
| Person | First Name Last Name Tax ID Account Number Person ID Person Number Phone Country Address Style Address Line 1 Address Line 2 Address Line 3 Address Line 4 City County |
| Customer Key | |
| Transaction | Transaction Number Organization First Name Last Name Account Number Type Transaction Date & To Transaction Amount & To Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Account | Organization Address City State Postal Code Province Country (Any two options of the above minimum required.) URL Customer Category Code Phone Purchase Order Sales Order Original System Reference |
| Bill To | Organization Address City State Postal Code Province Country (Any two options of the above minimum required.) URL Customer Category Code Phone Purchase Order Sales Order Original System Reference |
| Payment | Person Last Name Person First Name Organization Account Number Receipt Number Receipt Date & To & Receipt Status Receipt Amount & To & Currency Paid Transaction Installment Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Dispute | Organization Account Number Invoice Number Dispute Request Purchase Order Sales Order |
| Promise To Pay | Organization Contact First Name Contact Last Name Promise Date & To Promise Amount & To Promise Status Purchase Order Sales Order |
Select the Expanded Search tab.
Enter search criteria in any of the fields in the Basic region or in the Advanced region or both. In the Advanced region, select a search term using the Item List of Values (LOV), enter an operator using the Condition LOV, and enter the value of that condition in the Value field.
If you want to include inactive records in the search, then select the Include Inactive Records check box.
Click Search.
The window displays the results of your search as a dynamic table on the same tab where you entered your search criteria. You can sort the results by any column.
Select the item in the table and open the relative window in one of the following ways:
If you want to view this item in a separate window, then select the Multiple Windows check box.
If you want to display one item and close the search window, then click OK.
If you want to display an item but leave the search window open in the background so you can come back and select another item, then click Apply.
Related Topics
Use this procedure to save the results of a search as a list. The lists you save appear in the Saved Results tab of the Customer Search window and can be used elsewhere in the application. You may want to create a callback list or a list of contacts you want to export to a spreadsheet. The list is a static snapshot of data at the time the list is created.
Perform a search using the Customer Search window.
Click Save Results.
The Save Results window appears.
Enter a list name.
Optionally, enter a description.
Check to make sure that Active is displayed in the List field.
The list you have created can be viewed in the Saved Results window.
You can modify the description or active status for the list in the Saved Results tab. Click Update to save the changes.
Related Topics
Viewing a List You Have Created
Use this procedure to view a list you have created using the Customer Search window.
PREREQUISITES:
You can only view and use lists you have created.
Select the Saved Results tab.
The tab displays the lists you have created in a dynamic table which you can sort by selecting a column heading.
If you want to filter the list by list status, then select Active or Inactive.
If you want to view all lists, select All.
Select a list you want to view.
Click Open to view the list.
The tab displays the list in a dynamic table.
Related Topics
Lists are static. They give you a snapshot in time of your data. If you want to keep track of information that is changing all the time, then you can save your search criteria rather than creating a list. That way you can reuse the same query as often as you want and get the latest information each time. For example, you can refresh a list of your current delinquent customers and last payment dates on a daily basis.
Use this procedure to save queries for reuse in your searches.
Click the Expanded Search tab.
Enter search criteria in any of the fields in the Basic region or in the Advanced region, or both. For each search term in the Advanced region:
Select the search term using Item LOV.
Enter an operator using Condition LOV.
Enter the value of that condition in the Value field.
If you want to include inactive records in the search, then select the Include Inactive Records check box.
Click Save Criteria.
The Save Criteria window is displayed.
Enter a name for the query you are saving. For example: my delinquent customers.
Optionally, add a description for the saved query.
Related Topics
Searching Using a Query You Have Saved
Use this procedure to search using a query you have saved.
PREREQUISITES:
You must save your query first.
Select the Expanded Search tab.
Click Open Criteria.
The Open Criteria window opens.
Select the query you want to use from the list.
Click OK.
The query criteria are populated in the Customer Search window.
Note: You can, modify the populated search criteria, if required.
Click Search to view the results.
Related Topics
You can search information displayed in dynamic tables by right clicking in the table and making a selection from a pop-up menu. You can search all information including text within notes, information entered using the lists of values and drop-down lists, as well as information supplied by the application, such as transaction and account numbers.
You can recognize a dynamic table by its striped rows and headers.
Related Topics