Searching for files in Content Station Aurora

One of the actions that you will perform most often in Content Station is finding the files that you want to work on by performing a search and then to fine-tune the search results.

This article describes the various methods you can use to achieve this:

• Performing a general search
• Performing a custom search
• Using predefined queries
• Working with search results
• Sharing searches
• Alternative search methods
• Placed files

Figure: Searching for files is mainly done by using the Search box (A) and subsequently fine-tuning the results using the Filter (B).

Performing a general search

Most of the time you will know what file to look for and what its name is.

The quickest way of finding such a file is by using the general Search box at the top of the page: type (part of) the file name and press Enter.

Performing a Custom Search

Info: This feature requires Content Station 11.3 or higher.

When regularly looking for one or more files based on the same set of criteria, a Custom Search can be created and stored for repeated use. This way, you can quickly run the search without having to enter the criteria each time.

Custom Searches can be created and accessed from the list in the Search box. They can also be shared with other users.

Figure: Setting up a Custom Search.

Figure: Custom Searches (here named 'Recently modified articles') can be accessed from the Search box.

For detailed information, see Using Custom Searches.

Using predefined queries

A predefined query (also known as a Named Query) is very similar to a Custom Search (see above): it is a set of stored search criteria that can be repeatedly used for finding specific files.

The difference with a Custom Search is that a predefined query is set up by the system administrator and cannot be changed from within Content Station.

Predefined queries can be accessed from the list in the Search box.

Figure: A list of predefined queries in the Search box.

Working with search results

After performing a search, you may want to fine-tune or modify the results. There are various ways of doing this:

• Filtering the results
• Removing tags
• Modifying a Custom Search
• Reloading the search

Filtering the results

The search results can be quickly filtered by using the Filter on the left side of the page, for example to only show images and/or only show files that are set to a certain status.

Figure: The Filter after performing a general search.

Note: The Filter is not available when performing a Custom Search.

Which filter options appear depend on the type of search that was performed.

• The Filter of a general search allows you to filter on Brand, Category, Issue file type and Status (see above image).

Note: In order to filter on Category, Issue or Status, select a Brand first.

• The Filter of a predefined query often has its own custom fields for further narrowing down the search results.

Figure: The Filter after performing a predefined query.

Removing tags

Each time you perform a search by using the Search box or narrow down the search results by using the Filter, a tag is created and shown above the search results.

To quickly change your search results, remove one or more tags.

Reloading the general search

To reload the general search, do one of the following:

• Click the Reload icon to the right of the Search box.

• Place the cursor in the Search box and press Enter.

• Click the Refresh button of the Web browser (this refreshes the full page)

Sharing searches

Working in a team means that many team members will regularly be searching for the same files using the same search criteria. To make this process more efficient, searches can be shared between users.

The quickest way of doing this is by copying the URL from the address bar in the browser and sharing that link with other users. Each time a search is performed namely, the search criteria are included in the link.

Example:  http://localhost/Enterprise/contentstation/#/search/?PublicationId=2&CategoryId=4&Type=Image

Note: Whether the users who use the link can see (all) files depends on the access rights that they have been given.

Copying the link for a Custom Search

The link for a Custom Search can also be copied from the list in the Search box by clicking the Share icon. A window will then appear in which the link can be copied.

Figure: Clicking the Share link in the Search box list to access a window to copy the link from.

Using a shared Custom Search link

When another user shares their Custom Search with you and you paste the link into your browser, you will see the Custom Search window appear. Click Save to add the Custom Search to your list in the Search box.

Alternative search methods

Apart from the methods described above to directly search for files, alternative ways of finding files also exist.

Viewing to which Enterprise files a file is linked

Files in Enterprise are typically related to other files in Enterprise:

• A Dossier can contain one or more files
• A file can be part of one or more Dossiers
• An image or article can be placed on a layout or be part of a Publish Form
• A layout can have one or more articles or images (that are also stored in Enterprise) placed on it

It is important to be aware of these relationships, for example to see if other files are affected when making changes to a particular file.

Viewing such relations, known as links, can be done by using the Linked Files panel in Content Station Aurora.

Figure: The Linked Files panel shows to which files in Enterprise a file is linked.

For each file, the relation to the selected file is shown: 'Part of' for files that are part of a Dossier, 'Placed on' for files that are placed on a layout, and so on.

For more information, see Viewing to which Enterprise files a file is linked using Content Station Aurora.

Files that are routed to you

Working on a publication is team work. In a typical workflow therefore, your team members will regularly send you files that you need to edit or review.

You can quickly find the files that have been routed to you by referring to the Inbox.

The Inbox icon at the top of the page shows how many files are currently in your Inbox.

You access the Inbox by clicking the Inbox icon at the top of the page.

Figure: The Inbox shows all files that have been routed to you. It is accessed by clicking the Inbox icon at the top of the page (A).

For more information, see Processing routed files using the Inbox in Content Station Aurora.

Placed files

Files can be placed more than once on a layout. To keep track of this, view the search results in List view and display the 'Placed On' column. If a file is placed on one or more layouts, the name of each layout is displayed in this column. Note though that when a file is placed more than 50 times, only the text 'Multiple objects' is shown.

Document history

• 20 August 2018: Added section 'Placed files'.