Link to SMs from within the DM?

Would it be possible to put a URL link to our SMs somewhere closely associated with on inside the DM Advance Search screen? A customer official believes that many users try to search for documents in the DM Advanced Search (or Quick Search); and when they don't find what they're looking for they then want to try the full-text search through an SM. There seems to be frustration in these cases with having to go out of the DM, then look for the appropriate SM short-cut or external link, then start the search again.

Anyone share this need and thought of simpler solutions?
Maybe, adding full text search in the DM would be better; but expect that is a much bigger undertaking.

Comments

Joey Prevo's picture

Mon, 01/12/2015 - 11:17

Full text searching in the DM has been brought up a few times over the years. We recently adjusted the searching framework so that a DM full text search could be implemented in the future; It will be sometime before this feature is completed though. Its quite involved to implement full text searching in the DM.

Most all of our customers have a main web page that features links to their DM(s) and SM(s). That page then usually describes the purpose of each so the user knows what DM or SM to use for the type of data their working with. We could potentially look at adding the ability to list all of the SMs associated with a DM on the DM's Advanced Search screen but I have a feeling that many users would still feel the frustration with this as they would still have to search through each SM potentially before finding what they want.

Joe Prevo's picture

Us automatically listing them is problematic because we have a URL to the SM's servlet URL not the home page. Also, that URL may only work internally and not for external users. I am aware of several systems where parsing the SM's servlet URL and trying to send a user there would not work. My suggestion would be to add the SM links on to the DM's support page. The Support page is editable by using a text editor on the DM to edit the file D:\TechDoc\etc\dmSupport.page. TechDoc provides a skeleton Support page when first installed but then expects you to edit it as appropriate. The nice thing is that all the user has to do is one click on the Support link, which is always on the TechDoc main menu bar whether you are trying to find docs in Advanced Search, Quick Search, Explore, etc.

Joey Prevo's picture

Mon, 09/21/2015 - 10:39

The suggestion Joe is referring to is available now in TechDoc version 8 and back many versions (7, 6, 5, and maybe a bit further). This functionality will also remain available in version 9 and beyond so feel free to customize the dmSupport.page file.

Thanks for the input!