Search using underscores

[sdswriter]

My Help system contains descriptions of several commands that include the underscore character -- i.e., read_layout. However, Search in WebHelp doesn't appear to fully recognize underscores. I can get the search query to work if I use a space instead of an underscore, along with quotations, but our customers won't be satisfied with this workaround. Also, a search query will work if I search for a command option that begins with a dash (-scan_enable). But it won't work if only part of the string is used in the query -- i.e., entering -scan_enab in the text field won't find -scan_enable. Has anybody else encountered this issue or know what contributes to this limitation?

thanks,

Steve

[NorthEast]

I know the search uses some special characters and words for 'advanced' searches, but I think these are just: " |
+ & ! ^ ( ) or and not

Underscores don't appear to be used as a special character though, so I'd log it as a bug if it causes you problems.

[sdswriter]

Thanks for your reply, Dave. I filed a bug with Madcap Support...

[doc_guy]

Welcome to the forums, sdswriter!

Let us know if we can help in any other way.

[forfear]

have you added the topics (with underscores) as index entries? that might help search the system faster than freeword search

[sdswriter]

Thanks for the suggestion on the keyword / index search, forfear...

Yes, I've added the commands with underscores as keywords in the index, and this works well. It's unfortunate that these same keywords don't show up when using the freeword search, though...

[forfear]

My pleasure sdswriter.
But i guess i learned something new about the Search and underscores well. Interesting exercise though!