2 - Searching with CDE Browser

1 - CDE Browser Basics| CDE Browser User Guide | 3 - Finding Information in the Search Tree

This chapter provides instructions to search for CDEs by data element criteria and public ID.

The chapter includes the following topics.

Search Overview

Common Data Elements (CDEs) are represented in the caDSR database using the ISO/IEC 11179 standard and you can search for data elements using ISO/IEC 11179-based attributes. CDE Browser searches are not case sensitive. Searches for Gene and gene return the same results. You can use the asterisk as a wildcard in any editable text field. Also, when you specify search criteria, keep in mind that the criteria are processed as AND statements, so only CDEs that fulfill ALL the criteria are returned.

Helpful Tips for Searching with CDE Browser

The following sections provide some general information about performing searches in CDE Browser.

Use Wildcards to Target or Broaden a Search

If you are not sure of the exact term or phrase you are looking for, or if you want to broaden your search to include CDEs that contain a certain term, use the asterisk as a wildcard. The wildcard character can be used more than once in the search field.

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Adjust Search Preferences to Include or Exclude CDEs

When you select items on the Search Preferences tab, they are excluded from the search tree, the search filters, and the search results. You can adjust the default Search Preferences to restrict or expand groups of CDEs as needed.

By default, CDE Browser excludes the following CDEs from search results

• Test and Training contexts
• Workflow status of CMTE APPROVED, CMTE SUBMTD, and CMTE SUBMTD USED
• Workflow status of RETIRED ARCHIVED, RETIRED PHASED OUT, and RETIRED WITHDRAWN

• Registration status of Retired

To specify search preferences

1. Click the Search Preferences tab on the search panel.
   The Search Preferences tab initially displays default preferences for all CDE Browser searches. Adjusting the selections, expands or reduces the CDEs returned for your searches.
   

2. By default, the Test and Training contexts are excluded. To include a context, clear the check box.

3. To exclude CDEs with a particular Workflow Status and Registration Status from the search results, search tree, and search filters, drag and drop items from the Included to the Excluded box. To select multiple items, see Selecting from a List for keyboard shortcuts.

   

   Resetting defaults

   To return to the default preferences, click Reset to default.

4. When you are done, click Save.

   Return to a search, and note that the previous search criteria is maintained.
   

5. To apply the updated search preferences, click Search on the search tab.

   The search tree, search criteria drop-downs, and search results are adjusted with the new search preferences.
    

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Select Multiple Criteria From a List

When specifying search criteria, you can select multiple items in a list box with standard keyboard shortcuts:

• For multiple items in a row, click and SHIFT-click.
• For items scattered in the list, click and CTRL-click subsequent items.
• For clearing all items, click the space above the top-most item.

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caDSR Database Fields Reviewed for a Keyword Search

When you perform a keyword name search on the Data Element Search or Public ID Search tab, the following caDSR database fields are searched:

• Public ID
• Long Name
• Preferred Name
• Document Text
• Definition
• Reference Documents
• Designations

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Performing a Data Element Search

By default, the Data Element Search tab displays initially. There is a keyword search box, Search Term, with options to specify the scope of the search and additional filters to target the results.

To perform a data element search

1. Click the Data Element Search tab, if needed.

2. In Search Term, enter one or more Names or Definitions, complete or partial, using an asterisk as a wildcard, separating multiple words with a space. The search is not case-sensitive.
   

3. When a text string matches any term in the CDE Long Name or alternate names, select an option from the drop-down list. The more characters you enter, the narrower the result list becomes.
   

   

   The matching terms are not limited by the current position in the tree, so if you do not get a result, clear the filters and search again.

4. Specify the caDSR database fields that you want to search or select ALL Fields to return CDEs where the criteria in any field.
   

5. Select a radio button to adjust the search scope of the caDSR database fields:
   
   • Exact phrase returns CDEs containing the exact term or phrase entered in the search. All words must be in the same order as entered.
   • All the words returns CDEs where all of the terms entered appear in one or more of the search database fields. This is the same as performing a logical AND search operation.
   • At least one of the words is selected by default and returns CDEs where any term entered in the search appears in one or more of the searched database fields. This is the same as performing a logical OR search operation.
    
   
   

6. Once you fill in the Name fields, click Search or continue to fill in search criteria.
   
   

   Search Tips

   Fill in the filters left to right.

   To reset an individual filter, click x next to the selected option, and your selection is removed.

   
   

7. To select more filters

1. 1. Program Area:  If you leave All Program Areas selected, the search time increases.
      
   2. Context
      1. Classification and Protocol or Form are populated once you select a Context. A Classification or Protocol or Form comprise two levels of information. For example, if you click Classification and highlight a Classification Scheme (CS), you can then display and select a Classification Scheme Item (CSI).
         
         1. Select either Classification or Protocol or Form.

         2. Scroll down or type ahead to highlight an item.

         3. You can select the item or click > to display a list of details (Information is blurred in the graphic below for emphasis).
            

         4. From the details, scroll down or type ahead and select an item or click << to return to the previous list.
            

         5. Once selected, the item name appears in the drop down.
   3. Workflow status filters your results based on the administrative workflow status of the data element. In most cases, you will want to search for RELEASED data elements, but any status is available.
   4. Registration status filters your results based on the data element registration status.

   5. Concept Name or Concept Code provides additional semantic support to a data element search. If you are familiar with EVS concepts, this search criteria provide the semantic interoperability for registered models and a powerful way to find data elements.
      
      

2. To start the search, click Search. To clear all the search criteria and search results, click Clear.
   The Search Results appear at the bottom of the home page.use

   Still Cannot Find What You Need?

   If you cannot find the CDEs that you need, expand your search by using an asterisk as a wildcard at the beginning, end, or middle of your search term. If your result set is too large or too small, adjust your search preferences or include additional search criteria to better target your search.

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 Searching for Standards

To search for all preferred standards, select Preferred Standard on the Registration Status list on the Data Element Search panel.

To search for all standards, select Standard from the Registration Status list on the Data Element Search panel.

To search for both preferred standards and standards, select Preferred Standard, and Ctrl-click Standard on the Registration Status list on the Data Element Search panel.

and

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Including Additional Search Criteria

For a more targeted search, you can access additional search criteria that will be limited to the context and previously-selected filters at the top of the Data Element Search tab.

To specify additional search criteria

1. From the Data Element Search tab, click Include Additional Search Criteria.
   More search criteria are displayed. Click Exclude Additional Search Criteria to collapse the extra criteria.
   

2. The following table lists and describes each field.

   Search Criteria	Description of Search Criteria
   Data Element Concept	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified data element concept(s). As you type, a drop-down of matches is available to select from. You can also use wildcards to broaden the search.
   Object Class	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified object class(es). As you type, a drop-down of matches is available to select from. You can also use wildcards to broaden the search.
   Property	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified property(ies). As you type, a drop-down of matches is available to select from. You can also use wildcards to broaden the search.
   Value Domain	specify whether to search for an Enumerated or Non-Enumerated value domain or Both.
   Permissible Value	Enter a value to return a list of data elements based on or limited to a permissible value(s). Enter a Permissible Value and adjust the search scope of the value: Exact phrase returns CDEs containing the exact term or phrase entered in the search. All words must be in the same order as entered. All the words returns CDEs where all of the terms entered appear in one or more of the search database fields. This is the same as performing a logical AND search operation. At least one of the words is selected by default and returns CDEs where any term entered in the search appears in one or more of the searched database fields. This is the same as performing a logical OR search operation.
   Alternate Name	A data element may have multiple alternate names in multiple contexts. Enter an alternate name or keyword, and then specify an Alternate Name Type (required). Use wildcards to broaden the search. You can select multiple items in the list.
   Latest Version	Data Elements are assigned version numbers by the Context administrator. Specify whether to search for the Latest Version of the CDE or All Versions.
   Context Use	Data elements are owned by the context that has administrative authority to edit and update them. In addition to the owning context however, a data element can be designated for use by another non-owning context. Selecting a particular Context Use allows you to return only data elements that are Used, Owned, or Owned By/Used By the current context. Owned By/Used By is the default setting.
   Search Only Derived DEs	If you only want derived data elements returned, select Search Only Derived DEs.

3. To start the search, click Search. To clear all the search criteria and search results, click Clear.
   The Search Results appear at the bottom of the home page.

   Still Cannot Find What You Need?

   If you cannot find the data elements that you need, expand your search by using an asterisk as a wildcard at the beginning, end, or middle of your search term. If your result set is too large or too small, adjust your search preferences to better target your search.

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Performing a Public ID Search

The search panel includes the Public ID search. The Public ID tab also includes a keyword search box, Name, where you can search for terms in the database search fields. The Name search works the same as the Name search in the Data Element Search tab.

To perform a Public ID search

1. Click the Public ID Search tab.
2. Add a Public ID or add multiple public IDs separated by a space. You cannot use wildcards in the Public ID field.
3. Specify whether to return the Latest Version or All Versions of the CDE.
4. In the Name field, enter one or more words, either complete words or a partial, using the asterisk as a wildcard.
5. Specify the caDSR database fields that you want to search or select ALL Fields to return CDEs where the criteria in any field.
6. Select a radio button to adjust the search scope of the caDSR database fields:
   
   • Exact phrase returns CDEs containing the exact term or phrase entered in the search. All words must be in the same order as entered.
   • All the words returns CDEs where all of the terms entered appear in one or more of the search database fields. This is the same as performing a logical AND search operation.
   • At least one of the words is selected by default and returns CDEs where any term entered in the search appears in one or more of the searched database fields. This is the same as performing a logical OR search operation.
    
   The following example returns the latest version of CDEs with the public ID 62, 63, 64, or 65 with the word "gender" in one of the caDSR database search fields.
   
7. To clear the search criteria and search results, click Clear.

8. To start the search, click Search.
   The Search Results appear at the bottom of the home page. 

   Still Cannot Find What You Need?

   If you cannot find the CDEs that you need, expand your search by using an asterisk as a wildcard at the beginning, end, or middle of your search term. If your result set is too large or too small, adjust your search preferences or include additional search criteria to better target your search.

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Copying/Pasting a Search URL in a Browser

When you perform a search in CDE Browser, you can copy the URL to display filtered search results.

To copy a search URL

1. Fill in the search criteria and click Search.
2. Copy the URL displayed in your browser's address bar.
   

3. Paste the URL into a document, web page, or new browser window.

4. Click the link, and CDE Browser opens to the same filtered search results.

   In a pasted Search, the search criteria are blank.

   

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1 - CDE Browser Basics | CDE Browser User Guide | 3 - Finding Information in the Search Tree