# TWiki Formatted Search Results _Inline search feature allows flexible formatting of search result_ The `%SEARCH{...}%` variable documented in [[TWikiVariables]] has a fixed format for the search result, that is, a table consisting of topic names and topic summaries. Use the `format="..."` parameter to specify a customized format of the search result. The string of the format parameter is typically a bullet list or table row containing variables (such as `%SEARCH{ "food" format="| $topic | $summary |" }%`). ## Syntax Two parameters can be used to specify a customized search result: 1. `header="..."` parameter Use the header paramter to specify the header of a search result. It should correspond to the format of the format parameter. This parameter is optional.
Example: `header="| *Topic:* | *Summary:* |"` 2. `format="..."` parameter Use the format parameter to specify the format of one search hit.
Example: `format="| $topic | $summary |"` Variables that can be used in the format string:
Name: Expands To:
$web Name of the web
$topic Topic name
$topic(20) Topic name, "- " hyphenated each 20 characters
$topic(30, -<br />) Topic name, hyphenated each 30 characters with separator "-<br />"
$topic(40, ...) Topic name, shortended to 40 characters with "..." indication
$text Formatted topic text
$locked LOCKED flag (if any)
$date Time stamp of last topic update, like 29 Jun 2010 - 15:36
$isodate Time stamp of last topic update, like 2010-06-29T15:36Z
$rev Number of last topic revision, like 1.4
$wikiusername Wiki user name of last topic update, like Main.JohnSmith
$username User name of last topic update, like JohnSmith
$summary Topic summary
$formfield(name) The field value of a form field; for example, $formfield(TopicClassification) would get expanded to PublicFAQ. This applies only to topics that have a [[Main/TWikiForms]]
$formfield(name, 10) Form field value, "- " hyphenated each 10 characters
$formfield(name, 20, -<br />) Form field value, hyphenated each 20 characters with separator "-<br />"
$formfield(name, 30, ...) Form field value, shortended to 30 characters with "..." indication
$pattern(reg-exp) A regular expression pattern to extract some text from a topic. For example, $pattern(.*?\*.*?Email\:\s*([^\n\r]+).*) extracts the email address from a bullet of format * Email: ....
$n or $n() New line
$nop or $nop() Is a "no operation". This variable gets removed; useful for nested search
$quot Double quote ("). Alternatively write \" to escape it
$percnt Percent sign (%)
$dollar Dollar sign ($)
**_Note:_** For `$pattern(reg-exp)`, specify a [[RegularExpression]] that scans from start to end and contains the text you want to keep in parenthesis, like `$pattern(.*?(from here.*?to here).*)`. You need to make sure that the integrity of a web page is not compromised; for example, if you include a table make sure to include everything including the table end tag. ## Examples ### Bullet list showing topic name and summary **Write this:** `%SEARCH{ "FAQ" scope="topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" header="   * *Topic: Summary:*" format="   * [[$topic]]: $summary" }%` **To get this:** # TWiki Installation Error Incorrect format of searchformat template (missing sections? There should be 4 %SPLIT% tags) ### Table showing form field values of topics with a form **Write this in the Know web:** `| *Topic:* | *OperatingSystem:* | *OsVersion:* |`
`%SEARCH{ "[T]opicClassification.*?value=\"[P]ublicFAQ\"" scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" format="| [[$topic]] | $formfield(OperatingSystem) | $formfield(OsVersion) |" }%` **To get this:**
Topic: OperatingSystem: OsVersion:
IncorrectDllVersionW32PTH10DLL OsWin 95/98
WinDoze95Crash OsWin 95
### Extract some text from a topic using regular expression **Write this:** `%SEARCH{ "__Back to\:__ TWikiFAQ" scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" header="TWiki FAQs:" format="   * $pattern(.*?FAQ\:[\n\r]*([^\n\r]+).*) [[$topic][Answer...]]" }%` **To get this:** # TWiki Installation Error Incorrect format of searchformat template (missing sections? There should be 4 %SPLIT% tags) ### Nested Search Search can be nested. For example, search for some topics, then form a new search for each topic found in the first search. The idea is to build the nested search string using a formatted search in the first search. Here is an example. Let's search for all topics that contain the word "culture" (first search), and let's find out where each topic found is linked from (second search). - First search: - `%SEARCH{ "culture" format="   * $topic is referenced by: (list all references)" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%` - Second search. For each hit we want this search: - `%SEARCH{ "(topic found in first search)" format="   $topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%` - Now let's nest the two. We need to escape the second search, e.g. the first search will build a valid second search string. Note that we escape the second search so that it does not get evaluated prematurely by the first search: - Use `$percnt` to escape the leading percent of the second search - Use `\"` to escape the double quotes - Use `$dollar` to escape the `$` of `$topic` - Use `$nop` to escape the `}%` sequence **Write this:** `%SEARCH{ "culture" format="   * $topic is referenced by:$n      * $percntSEARCH{ \"$topic\" format=\"   $dollartopic\" nosearch=\"on\" nototal=\"on\" }$nop%" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%` **To get this:** # TWiki Installation Error Incorrect format of searchformat template (missing sections? There should be 4 %SPLIT% tags) -- [[PeterThoeny]] - 16 May 2002