Search Tips
1. Overview
Search words describe the product you're looking for. Typing these words into a search box is normally the first step toward finding products on ComponentSource.
Relevant words include such things as the Publisher's name (e.g. Janus), the product name (e.g. GridEx), the function of what you need a product to do (e.g. display Outlook style grid) or the architecture of a product (e.g. .NET or Java).
Note: ComponentSource searches are not case-sensitive, so whether or not you use capital letters, your results will be the same.
- Every word must match
All searches are "AND" searches which means that all words have to match before you will get search results. A general rule of thumb, the more words you use, the fewer results you will receive. - Use different words
In many cases, how one person describes a product will be different to how another person does - so try using different words that mean the same thing, for example, RS232 and RS-232 or use words that are commonly interchangeable such as compress and zip. - Try removing the letter S
For example, you'll get two different lists of products when you search for grids and grid. Try your search with and without the final s. - "AND" and "OR" are treated as words too
ComponentSource's search engine uses these words to search for just like it would any other word. If you want to specify search logic try using the Search Operators. - Special characters such as ! and @
Only use special characters in your search if you expect it to be in the product you're searching for. Examples include product such as IP*Works! or publishers such as @bit.
2. Search Operators
Search Operators allow you to narrow your search to get more specific results.
- Phrase searches:
Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in double quotes. For example: "extract data from a Web page" will retrieve all matches where the words are present in the specified order and proximity. - * Wild card searches:
By typing an asterisk at the end of a word you can retrieve all products that start with this word. For instance, if you use dat* you will retrieve data, database, DataView, date... - + Searches (i.e. must include):
If a word is essential to getting the results you want, you can specify this by putting a plus sign (+) directly in front of it and preceded by a space, for example: Chart +GIF. - - Searches (i.e. must NOT include):
If you do not want a specific word to be found in the search, you can specify this by putting a minus sign (-) directly in front of it and preceded by a space, for example: Security Protocols -PCT. - () Sets and Parentheses:
It's also possible to create very powerful and complex searches, by combining search words, operators and parentheses.
For example, if you are looking for a charting product that is capable of displaying both GIF and JPEG images then use the following query: chart +(GIF JPEG).
If you are looking for a charting product that is capable of displaying either GIF or JPEG images then use the following query: chart +(GIF,JPEG).
The parentheses denote a logical "set", the plus sign denotes a "must include" and the space or comma between the words GIF and JPEG denote the Boolean "AND" and "OR" respectively. - Part numbers:
If you know the part number for a particular product e.g. PC-512745-24914 enter it in to the search box.
3. Restricting your search to a Category or Publisher
Restricting your search to one category or a specific Publisher can often get you the results you want faster.
Whenever you conduct a search from anywhere on ComponentSource, a Matching Categories and Matching Publishers results box will appear in the left hand column, showing a list of up to five categories and up to 5 publishers that contain products matching your search query. These links are ranked by the number of products found in each category (as indicated by the numbers in parentheses).
When you click on one of these links the search results will be limited to the search query you have used and the category or publisher you have selected. You will also notice that the category or publisher name you selected will also appear in the breadcrumb trail near the top of the page.
To widen you search at any point, click any one of the links higher up in the breadcrumb trail.
If you want to run a new search regardless of category, be sure to select the "All Products" radio button just below the search box.
Or, on each search result item, you can click on the "Primary Category" link to browse all products in that category, without using a search term or the "By ... " publisher link to browse all products by that Publisher.
4. Refining your results by Platform, Architecture or Environment
In many cases, you will know what type of product you are looking for. This may be a component architecture such as .NET WinForms, JavaBean etc or perhaps a compatible development environment such as Microsoft Visual Studio or Borland JBuilder.
To refine any of your search or browse results, click on one of the links displayed in the gray box just below the breadcrumb trail. This will refine the results to match your selection. You will also see the breadcrumb trail change to reflect your selection.
For example,
Start off by searching for the word grid in All Products. Then select the .NET link - the results will be all .NET Products that contain the word grid.
By now selecting the .NET WinForms link will refine the results to just .NET WinForm products.
To re-widen your results at any point, click any one of the links higher up in the breadcrumb trail.
5. Browsing Overview
Try Browse when you're not sure exactly what you're looking for or when you just want to explore the variety of products on ComponentSource.
- Browse Categories:
From Addressing, Postcode and ZipCode Components to XML Tools, ComponentSource's products are organized into hundreds of functional categories. Start by clicking on a category that interests you. - Browse Publishers:
If you know the Publisher of the product you are interested in, for example Janus Systems, start by clicking on their name.
In exactly the same way as refining your search, refining your browse results to a Platform, Architecture or Environment can be achieved by clicking the links contained in the gray box found just underneath the breadcrumb trail.