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Database Lookup Button Properties - Fuzzy Databases

When a fuzzy database lookup is performed, the number of search criteria provided by a user affects the number of search results differently than with a relational database search. With fuzzy searches, as the number of search criteria increases, so does the number of results. Fuzzy searches use partial matches to return results, and each result is provided in order of its search result confidence. The highest confidence is listed first, and the lowest confidence is listed last. If there are any results with the same confidence, they are listed in the same order that they appear in the database file.

In this simplified example, a user enters "Jane Doe" as a search criteria and the following results and their confidences are returned:

  • Jane Doe - 100%

  • Jane Smith - 50%

  • Jane Jones - 50%

  • Jane Martin - 50%

  • Alex Doe - 50%

  • Brian Doe - 50%

  • John Doe - 50%

Using the above example, the search engine is unable to differentiate between the results that have the same confidence, so it is forced to display all results that have a 50% confidence. This is true even if they exceed the specified maximum number of results. This example only returns seven results, but if this database had thousands of Janes or Does, the results would be significantly higher. Because of this behavior, it is possible to configure the results so that they are paged into groups using the Maximum Results Displayed and the Display Results by Step settings.

You can set the following properties for a Fuzzy Database Lookup button:

Anchor

To change the anchor settings click the arrow next to the list and click the positions where you want to place the anchor. The property is visible only for elements that are located on the validation form and not for the folder pane on the validation form. The value for this setting is set to Top, Left by default.

Database Lookup

Properties for configuring the database lookup.

Data Source Type

Select None, Locator Alternatives, Fuzzy Database, Associative Search Database, or Relational Database.

Data Source

Select the data source from the list.

Dialog Caption

Set the caption of the search results window that displays when the database lookup button is clicked.

When you click the button to the right, the Translations window is displayed, where you can define different translations for the caption.

List Caption

Set the label that is displayed at the top of the search results window to provide guidance to Validation users.

When you click the button to the right, the Translations window is displayed, where you can define different translations for the caption.

Maximum Results

This setting restricts the number of returned search records with unique confidences. If this value is set to 100, and the 100th search result has the same confidence as the 101st and the 2000th result, all 2000 results are returned. The value for this setting is set to 10 by default.

You can use the Maximum Results Displayed and Display Results by Step settings to define how large numbers of the search results are displayed to the user. For example, 100 search results can be displayed in groups of ten.

When using Thin Client Validation, the results are truncated at 1000. Use additional search criterion to further refine your results.

Maximum Results Displayed

This setting is used only when the Display Results by Step setting is set to TRUE. It defines the number of records that are displayed for each portion. The value for this setting is set to 10 by default.

This setting is not supported when using Thin Client Validation.

Display Results by Step

The value for this setting is set to FALSE by default.

This setting is not supported when using Thin Client Validation.

If a fuzzy database lookup returns a lot results, the best practice is to set this setting to TRUE. This means that the search results are displayed stepwise and additional buttons are available to navigate through the returned search results.

The Maximum Results Displayed setting defines the number of records displayed for each page.

Select Next or Previous to show additional search results. Select All to show the entire list at once. Selecting the All setting may cause performance issues if you have a large number of search results.

Optimize for Precision

By default, this setting is set to TRUE and optimizes the database search for precision and accuracy. As the search can be very time consuming you can set the setting to FALSE to optimize the search to be less time consuming as the search is performed less precise.

Instant Search

When set to true, the lookup is performed instantly as you type.

This setting is not available if you are using Thin Client Validation.

Minimum Search Characters

This value determines the minimum number of characters required before a search can be performed. The value for this setting is set to 1 by default.

If Instant Search is enabled, the instant search is not performed in Validation until the user enters this value of characters.

If the user tries a manual search by pressing the Search button in either Validation or Thin Client Validation, the user is informed if they have not met the minimum number of characters required for a search.

Field Mappings

Map the Destination Fields on the validation form with the Sources fields from the data source in the Field Mappings window.

Column Headers

Click on the button to the right to open the Column Headers window so that you can provide column titles and their localizations for your database lookup.

Location

The x and y values for the location of a field on the validation form in pixels. You can change the position of the button on the validation form by selecting it and dragging it to the desired position.

Name

A default name for the button is automatically provided such as "Button0." You can change the name by editing the text field. This value is used when referencing the button in script.

Right-to-Left

Toggle the direction that text is displayed. Set this property to "TRUE" if you are using a language that is written from right to the left. The value for this setting is set to FALSE by default.

Shortcut

A function key (F5 - F12) or any combination of a function key with the Shift or Ctrl key for quick access to the button functionality.

These function shortcuts are not supported when using Thin Client Validation. However, the modal keyboard shortcuts that are part of Thin Client Validation are still available. Press Ctrl in Thin Client Validation to get a list of available keyboard shortcuts.

Size

The width and height of a button or field in pixels. You can change the size of the button on the validation form. Select the button and resize it as needed.

Text

Edit the text to change the button caption. For example, "Search".

When you click the button to the right, the Translations window is displayed, where you can define different translations for the caption.