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iDB Tutorial  (cont.)

Keywords

Some database types have 'keyword' fields, usually as the last field at the bottom.

Database types like Logs, Diaries do not have user-defined titles; in such cases keyword fields become particularly important for searching records.

iDB does provide a search mechanism over DBs. For such databases having auto-titles, a 'keywords' field is introduced.
 

Title-and-keyword-only searches are much faster than full-blown searches. We encourage using keywords whenever deemed necessary.

Search

In Console, tapping on 'Search' button at the bottom renders a search screen:

Enter a search term (case insensitive), and optionally select field choices and the desired database type. Then tap on 'Go':
 

      

iDB will render a 'Found' records list. Each row contains two lines, where the first line is the title of the record, and the second line is a fragment of the details in smaller font. In addition, name of the database having the record is provided on upper-right corner of all rows. At this point, you can tap on any row to get into the details of the 'found' record.

In general, title-and-keyword only searches are faster than full-blown searches. Also, searches in encrypted databases is a little slower.

If you tap on any found record, iDB will take you to the record details.

Current Database Searches

'Search' may be requested from 'Console', from 'Database List' and from 'Record List' screens.

In terms of database types, 'search' normally provides the choice of 'All Databases', versus any one of the database types iDB is currently supporting. However, at times none of the above may be a desired option:

We already have some customers with more than 5000 records loaded into iDB. For a such a customer hitting all the records in all the databases, or, all the records in all the databases in a given database types may be a big burden. One might say: "I already know what database I want to search. Why do I have to include all others in my search query?"

To be able to search in current database, iDB has to know what the current database is. In 'Console' or in 'Database List' screens iDB does not have that knowledge yet. However, once you choose a database in 'Database List' and get into the 'Record List' of that database, the notion of current database is clearly established.

Below, the same 'database type' choices of 'Search': when invoked from 'Console' (the second image), and when entered from the 'Record List' (the third image). Once the current database is established, 'Search' can offer it as a legitimate selection:
 

      

To narrow down the search queries to a single database only, you need to go to that database first.
 

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