To access the Federated Search Query Builder choose Search then Global Search. The following options are available:

• Central Catalog Search is used for external content already registered with the system. This is a search of local metadata and is usually a faster search than Remote Repository items.

  It is up to the adapter configuration to make adapter content visible to the Records system server. If the adapter has not made its content available, content will not be found in a search.

• Remote Repositories Search is used to find items stored on external content systems whether they have been cataloged on the Records system server or not. This is a search of all possible content using adapters to schedule the search. The adapters use the criteria entered for a Remote Repository Search as the criteria used for the search on that remote repository. Searching for content in Remote Repository is not in real time and is dependent on adapters to complete the search. This option provides the most accurate and up-to-date results but it may take a long time to complete.

  Note:

  Federated Search adds functionality to the Search Query Builder Form. See Using Oracle WebCenter Content for additional help using the Search Query Builder.

• SES Search is similar to a Remote Repository Search but the search is not scheduled and run by an adapter. Instead, a connection is made to an SES server which has done a scheduled crawl of content on the adapter(s). Records connects directly to the SES server, which has been configured ahead of time. If this option is selected and no servers have been configured, an error message is displayed.

The Federated Query Builder page enables users to build and schedule queries across all repositories. Select the repositories to include in the search from the External Sources list. Multiple sources can be included in the search.

Select a field to use as sorting criteria and click Search when done. When performing a remote repository search, a search name must be entered. Users can only search using fields that are mapped to all of the selected external sources. Errors occur if a search is done against a source using a field that is not mapped.

After pressing Save enter a title for the action. The search is scheduled and the Federated Searches page appears. The list of scheduled searches includes the number of external sources requested in the search, and number of external sources that have completed the search request.

The search is scheduled and waits for the external search adapters to return results.

To return to the Federated Searches page, choose Records then Scheduled then Federated Searches.

1. Choose Search then Global Search.
2. Choose the type of repository search to perform.
3. On the Federated Query Builder page, select the external sources to use in the query from the pull-down list.
4. Select Include Content to retrieve copies of the content matching the search criteria. This option is only available when performing a remote repository search.

   Do not select this box unless search results are certain. Returning a copy of the data takes time and uses space. Fine tune the query first and verify what items will be returned before actually retrieving the content. For more information about content retrieved during a search, see About Returned Content.

5. Choose the fields to use for searching. The Search Builder menu is used to select fields for use in the query. Only search using fields that are mapped to all of the selected external sources. Errors occur if a search is done against a source using a field that is not mapped.

   After a field is selected for use, additional menus are available to further refine the criteria. Boolean operators can be used to combine fields. Click the insert symbol (a plus sign) to access a menu of Boolean operators. Click the remove symbol (a lowercase x) to clear previous selections. Additional wildcard search operators, such as Matches and Substring, enable further flexibility in query building.

6. Enter a search term for full-text searching. If a search is done across all sources, be aware that some adapters may not be able to perform a full text search. When choosing a search type, choose types that are valid for the adapters in use. For example, if a user chooses full-text search to use with an adapter that does not allow that option, an error is returned.
7. Enter a search name. A Federated search is performed on the adapter's schedule, so it may not occur immediately. A search name allows users to check the status of the scheduled Federated search. No uniqueness validation is performed on this field because the unique identifier is an assigned Federated Search ID.
8. Select the result output criteria by indicating a number of results per page and the sorting criteria used for the results.
9. Click Search when done.

   The query is routed to the chosen adapters and is completed according to the adapter configuration.

1. Choose Records then Scheduled then Federated Searches.
2. On the Federated Searches List page, choose Show Search Results from the Actions menu of a search.
3. On the Federated Search Results page, select the check box of the items to freeze then choose Freeze from the Table menu.
4. If freezes have been added to a My Favorites list, they appear on the list in the resulting dialog box. Choose a freeze name from the list or select Show All Freezes to display all defined freezes.
5. Enter a reason for the freeze.
6. Click OK.

   The search results are frozen.

1. Choose Records then Scheduled.
2. Choose Federated Search Freezes.

   The Frozen Federated Search Content page opens, showing all items found during a federated search that are frozen.