The Advanced User Search engine enables LMS administrators to use an array of criteria, comparative terms, and operands to build highly targeted results with just a few selections. There are no limitations on the number of user records returned from a query, and you can set each search to display between 25 to 1,000 results per page, with the exception of mobile browsers which are limited to 250 results per page.

User Search Options

To view or edit a user’s LMS account and profiles, use the left navigation menu to open Users => Search Users page. This page is divided into two parts, as shown here:

• The quick User search is a type-ahead field that will find results using first name, last name, and username data. Matches appear in a list and you can select the known user from that list, then click the Edit User Account, Edit User Profiles, and Impersonate buttons to perform the desired task.
• Otherwise, use the Advanced Search to find an unknown Username, or to generate a well-defined list of accounts. This feature allows you to construct a database query based on a number of user attributes, including profile assignments, user grouping, and training history. Click Search to see all users within your domain of oversight, or select a combination of Criteria and Search Value options to narrow your results.

Building an Advanced Search Query

To build a custom query, select a user attribute from the Criteria column, then a Comparison value from the corresponding field. Depending on your first two selections, you may be provided a final drop-down menu or LMS picker to enter a Search Value. The Advanced Search section is pre-populated with default data Criteria = User Status and Comparison = Is Active. 

1. Click the "+" and "-" buttons under the Add/Remove Criteria column to add or remove search parameters, allowing you to build a more robust query. 
2. Click Search to generate results.
3. Once you have executed a search, click the “+” button next to the Advanced Search header to expand the section, review original criteria, or further refine your query. 

Search Expression in Boolean Logic

Note the Search Pattern expressed as a Boolean formula in the lower right corner of the page. In this example, results will only list users that meet both criteria (1 AND 2). Because the search formula is dynamic, adding or removing criteria from the query will automatically update the Search Pattern or expression.

How Operands Help Build Desired User Lists

• The operand “OR” means “return all users who are meet rule one, and also users who meet rule two".  
• The operand “AND” means “only return users that meet both rule one and two”.  

The following examples demonstrate the importance of applying the correct Operands “AND/OR” by swapping one for the other between the same set of criteria and discussing the vastly different search results.

• In the first example, the Search Pattern conveys that we are searching for users located in either Peoria (1) OR Detroit (2) AND who have a position of Computer Sales (3), AND who are considered Active Users (4). Expressed in Boolean logic: (((1 OR 2) AND 3) AND 4) returns Active users (4) who are part of the ((1 OR 2) and 3) search.
• Now, consider what happens when we change the final operand from “AND” to “OR”. Search Pattern (((1 OR 2) AND 3) OR 4) returns all Active users in portal (4).  It also returns ((1 OR 2) and 3).  This search would yield a far greater number of users than desired, since it would include all active users, independent or exclusive of the first three criteria.

HINT: While it is possible to begin a search with the default “User Status Is Active” as the first element, which would yield all active LMS Users in the Search Pattern (1); it is usually preferable to add it as the last element with operator AND, so that all preceding criteria are subject to this final condition. In reality, the final criteria – when used with the Operand “AND” – operates on the expression in the set of parenthesis immediately to the left. For this reason, if you always want to search users with Active Profiles, you should keep this criteria as the final element so it operates on the entire expression defined and contained in the set of parenthesis to the left. 
Thus, OR and AND are powerful conditions. Building the criteria to meet your desired results may take some experimentation as you work with CRITERIA, OPERANDS, and COMPARISONS. 

Navigating Unlimited Search Results

Depending on the size of your LMS, a robust search can return large numbers of user records. To increase usability, click the Items per page drop-down menu and select the number of results you want displayed on each page. The page will automatically refresh to load the desired number of records and update pagination controls. 

Note that only Primary Profile information is listed in the Position, Role, and Location columns. To sort the list by a data element other than the default Name, simply click on the column header and results will toggle between ascending and descending order.

NOT Retrieving expected Results?

For example, searching for “Position” “Is Not” “Technician” may result in technicians being shown in the result list for those individuals who have a secondary position that is not “Technician”.  The same holds true with a Location search. Executing against criteria “Organization” “Not In Exact” “Chicago” will display users who have primary or secondary profiles not in Chicago.  Some Chicago employees may show up if they have a secondary profile in a different city. When building a query, consider the construction of your criteria, including the Boolean Expression formula and the placement of your Criteria, Comparisons and Operands. 

Criteria and Comparison Definitions

The table below lists all search Criteria, Comparison options for each value, and a brief Definition of search logic when you pair them (Criteria + Comparison = Expected Results).